A Southern California Drive Through Elegance Matching Iconic Cars to the Roads They Deserve.

There’s a particular feeling when a car and the road sync in perfect rhythm. It doesn’t happen often—maybe on a cliffside turn above Malibu or under the amber glow of Sunset Boulevard. But when it does, it’s kinetic poetry. For the rare machines that define automotive excellence—Aston Martins, vintage Mercedes-Benz builds, McLarens that hum like symphonies—it’s not just about horsepower. It’s about place, emotion, and history.

This June, ahead of the Rodeo Drive Concours d’Elegance, we’re looking not just at cars, but the settings that elevate them. From hypercars to heritage sedans, here’s a Southern California drive-through of what makes these vehicles more than just machines.

Aston Martin DB12 + Pacific Coast Highway

An Aston Martin DB12 carving through the Pacific Coast Highway isn’t transportation—it’s theater. The ocean crashes just yards away as you command a V8 coupe engineered with Bond-level poise. Start your morning at Point Dume, catch a sunrise surf at Zuma, then wind your way through the coastal bends to Neptune’s Net for oysters and octane. Windows down, soundtrack up, and maybe a detour into the hills of Topanga for that extra taste of elevation. It’s not a car you drive. It’s one you wear.

Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing + Mulholland Drive

The gullwing doors lift like a Hollywood premiere, and suddenly the 300SL becomes more than a collectible—it’s a character in a noir film. Winding along Mulholland Drive, this postwar legend, born of motorsport DNA and German precision, feels perfectly cast against L.A.'s most cinematic road. Pair it with a golden-hour cruise past Laurel Canyon, wrap up with espresso at a tucked-away café on Ventura. Each corner whispers nostalgia.

Pagani Huayra + Angeles Crest Highway

The Huayra doesn’t ask for attention—it demands it. There’s nothing subtle about a twin-turbo V12 encased in carbon fiber that looks like it belongs in a sci-fi opera. Drive it into the clouds along Angeles Crest, and you’ll swear you’re navigating the edge of another planet. Pull off at Inspiration Point and watch the sun throw shadows over the valley as your engine ticks cool. It’s otherworldly—and yes, totally street legal.

Rolls-Royce Phantom + Rodeo Drive

Nothing says presence like a Rolls-Royce Phantom gliding silently down Rodeo Drive. This is where luxury gets subtle, where power becomes a whisper. You’re not just driving through Beverly Hills. You’re curating an image, even if no one sees you step out. But they will. Pull into the Beverly Wilshire for afternoon tea or cruise past the designer storefronts as if you’re floating. Because in a Phantom, you are.

Bentley Continental GT Speed + Ortega Highway

If the PCH is for Aston and elegance, the Ortega Highway is for the bruisers in velvet gloves. The Continental GT Speed is brutish in the best way—a luxury grand tourer with fists of fury and a massage seat. Wind inland from San Juan Capistrano through sweeping mountain passes. Stop at Lookout Roadhouse for pie and coffee before hammering back toward Lake Elsinore, every turn a test of grip and grace.

Lamborghini Temerario + Sunset Strip

Lamborghini’s newest beast, the Temerario, is debuting its attitude for North America at this year’s Concours. But imagine it prowling the Sunset Strip. Hybrid-powered, futuristically styled, and bred for drama, it looks like it should have a guest list. Park it outside the Chateau Marmont, drift past the Viper Room, then light up the night in West Hollywood. It’s not just about being seen—it’s about being unforgettable.

Rodeo Drive Concours d’Elegance — Where Dreams Idle

On Sunday, June 15, Rodeo Drive becomes the showroom of fantasies. Celebrating its 30th year with the theme "Luxury in Motion," this open-air museum of automotive legends is the ultimate Father's Day dreamscape. From Aston Martin to McLaren, Rolls-Royce to Pagani, the lineup curated by O’Gara Coach Beverly Hills promises power, rarity, and precision design.

Also making waves: the North American public debut of Lamborghini’s Temerario and PHEV Urus SE, plus bespoke merch, food trucks, and a performance by the Beverly Hills Police Motor Unit. More than a car show, it’s a celebration of style, speed, and story—and it’s free to attend.

With proceeds benefiting the Beverly Hills Police Foundation and Firefighters' Association, the Concours isn’t just about chrome and curves. It's about community. And this year, it also raises funds to restore a 1975 Cadillac ambulance, a piece of Beverly Hills fire history.

And for film fans: keep your eyes peeled. The upcoming F1 movie, starring Brad Pitt, will undoubtedly add cinematic adrenaline to the car culture conversation.

So come for the horsepower, stay for the harmony. Southern California was made for machines like these, especially for this upcoming summer, designed to be driven with purpose, along roads that are as unforgettable as the rides themselves. 

Learn more. ▶︎   Food and Beverages Guide  ▶︎  Map ▶︎

Photo Credit: 2023 green Aston Martin DB12 V8 courtesy of Sue - stock.adobe.com. Pagani Huayra courtesy of Brandon Woyshnis - stock.adobe.com. Mercedes Benz Gullwing courtesy of Mike Mareen - stock.adobe.com Rolls Royce Phantom courtesy of art_zzz - stock.adobe.com. Bentley Continental courtesy of Виталий Сова - stock.adobe.com. Lamborghini Temerario courtesy of Mathias Weil - stock.adobe.com

About Lorenzo Dela Rama:

You're a storyteller forged in coffee shops, cultural collisions, and curiosity. A marketer who doesn’t just chase trends — I decode them. With a Design Thinker’s lens, I map out the why behind the wow. My words carry weight, my stories travel light, and my ideas stick because they’re built from real human moments. I don’t just design narratives — I live them, break them open, and let them breathe.

ISSUE 25 AVAILABLE

In this 25th edition of the ACCA Journal, we are honored to shine a spotlight on outstanding artists and entrepreneurs who have distinguished themselves in their respective fields. Read the Issue. Purchase the Issue.