Mecum Auctions, Dallas, September 9-11, 2021

Mecum Auctions’ Dallas appearance fluctuates between September and October, probably depending more upon the availability of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center than any other reason.

This year’s thousand-car consignment is a return to track for this sale which has had over a thousand cars in all but two years (2017 and, for obvious reasons, 2020) since it began in 2012. The $36.3 million sale total, however, is the second highest in this venue’s history, surpassed only in the second year here when a 1,480-vehicle consignment produced $37.6 million in sales.

Results this year continued the trend shown in live auctions over the past few months: high sell-through rates and sometimes generous prices.

One of the transactions that follows, Lot T76 a 1979 Toyota 4×4 pickup, is worth highlighting even though it changed hands for just $10,450. The first reason might be the dearth (and expense) of new pickups so that even when one is available is loaded with features, options and glitzy trim it sells for luxury car money (if you can find a luxury car on a dealership’s lot.) That makes even a tired but functional pickup a useful acquisition, especially for Ten Grand.

The second reason is more interesting: A Ten Grand vehicle, whether it’s an old Toyota pickup or a Plymouth Valiant (also reported in this auction, but not for Ten Grand) means someone can acquire a collector vehicle without taking out a second mortgage or borrowing from a kid’s college fund.

At Mecum Dallas there were 124 lots bid to $10,000 or less. 108 of them were sold, an 87.1% sale rate. $5,500 (including commission) bought, among many others, a 2006 Mercedes SLK350 or a 2003 BMW Z4. Even if used only for driving to and from the airport to be left in long term parking, that’s a strong dose of both style and utility for $5,500. The repair bills might mount up, but $3,850 bought a 1980 Honda Civic which isn’t known for inhaling service dollars.

So while some may despair at the rising cost of recognized collector cars there are still plentiful opportunities to become a “car collector” for under Twenty Large.

Here are the numbers:

Year Cars Sold/ Offered Sale % Average Sale Median Sale Total $
2021 907/1050 86.4% $40,062 $28,600

[71.4%]

$36,336,076
2020 517/673 76.8% $45,024 $29,700

[66%]

$23,277,375
2019 712/1068 66.7% $31,499 $22,000

[69.8%]

$22,427,600

On-site observations and photos are by Andrew Newton.


Lot # T76 1979 Toyota Pickup 1/2 Ton Long Bed Pickup 4×4; S/N RN47032822; Beige, Brown, Orange graphics/Beige vinyl, cloth; Unrestored original 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $9,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $10,450 – 2,189/95hp, 4-speed, 4×4, cassette stereo, tow hitch, factory air conditioning. – Showing 92,694 miles. Clean, maintained original engine bay and frame. Chipped, faded paint and cracked decals plus a handful of dents substantiates its claimed New Mexico history in bright sun. Seriously beat up inside the bed and on the wheels. Very good interior compared to the body. All the wear and tear adds to the charm, and it’s solid underneath. Cool to use as-is. – This Toyota pickup definitely carries an appeal for those people who are into patina on top of a solid vehicle underneath. So while this price looks high for a heavily used 42-year-old compact pickup, it’s a sweet little truck for modest money. The A/C is a bonus.

Lot # F71 1996 Chevrolet Corvette GS Coupe; S/N 1G1YY2254T5600617; Admiral Blue, White stripe, Red hash marks/Black leather; Unrestored original 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $45,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $49,500 – 350/330hp LT4, 6-speed manual, Goodyear Eagle GS-C tires. – Represented with 3,000 actual miles and like new other than the inevitable scrape that all C4s get on their plastic bottom front lip. – Just 1000 Grand Sports (810 coupes and 190 convertibles) were sold for the C4’s final year in 1996, and the GS is one of only a very few C4s to see significant appreciation in value over the past few years. This one sold for $37,950 at Mecum Kissimmee in 2016, which was a strong result at the time. It sold for $33,000 at the Leake Scottsdale auction in 2020 and was then bid to $30,000 on Bring a Trailer last year but didn’t sell. This result in Dallas is more in line with what other GS coupes have sold for at auction recently.

Lot # F71.1 1993 Chevrolet Corvette 40th Anniversary Convertible; S/N 1G1YY33P4P5105698; Ruby Red, Ruby Red hardtop/Ruby Red leather; Unrestored original 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $26,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $28,600 – 350/300hp, automatic, hardtop, Bose CD stereo. – Represented as a one-owner car with 4,000 miles. Mildly scraped bottom front lip but otherwise presents like a nearly new car. – Afforded a healthy premium for its mileage, its anniversary paint and its hardtop, this was a surprisingly expensive C4, bringing a bit more than the $24,000 it was bid to at Mecum Orlando back in July.

Lot # F72 1978 Chevrolet Corvette Pace Car Coupe; S/N 1Z87L8S901401; Black, Silver/Silver vinyl, cloth; Unrestored original 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $40,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $44,000 – 350/185hp, Goodyear GT Radial tires, glass T-tops, CB radio, original window sticker. – One of 6502 Pace Cars sold in 1978. Showing 88 miles that are represented as actual. Indy 500 decals included but never applied. Lots of these were viewed as instant collectibles, parked, and then never driven. This one, though, wasn’t stored all that carefully. The paint is aged with crazing in the nose and there is significant oxidation in several areas under the hood. The interior at least does look like new. Unlikely to accumulate many more miles, and judging by the state of the engine bay it probably isn’t ready to drive very far anyway. – The two-digit odometer reading is noteworthy even by the standards of the often-hoarded ’78 Pace Car, but this is a generous price for one that shows signs of neglect.

Lot # F93 1971 Austin America 2-Dr. Sedan; S/N AA2SDUB3051M; British Racing Green/Black vinyl; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $12,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $13,200 – 1,098 with single 2-barrel carb, 4-speed, wheel covers, leather-wrapped steering wheel, added tach, original BMC pushbutton radio, Camero rally timers, Lucas driving lights. – Sound older repaint. Lightly scratched rear glass and bumpers. Tidy older restored engine. Good interior. Solid older restoration done to appropriate standards for this little Austin’s value. Looks like it was set up for vintage rallying and would still be great for that. – This is the sort of presentation that is expected for a Mini, not a boxy, practical, family-hauling Austin America and it promises to be a practical and enjoyable driver in condition that is unusual for its model. It is a reasonable value at this price.

Lot # F103.1 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Convertible; S/N 59E022620; Blue/White leather; Older restoration 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $300,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $330,000 – 390/345hp, automatic, wheel covers, whitewalls, fender skirts, parade boot, factory air conditioning, bucket seats, pushbutton radio, power windows. – Fantastic paint aside from a few tiny chips on the driver’s door edge. Fresh chrome and very good brightwork other than a few flaws in those huge side spears. Clean wheels and tires. Hardly any sign of use underneath. Excellent interior with some very light wear on the driver’s seat. Well-restored a while ago and still gorgeous, still huge, and still an eye-catcher anywhere it goes. – Designed at the height of the fins and chrome era, the ’59 Cadillacs were among the flashiest cars in a decade jam-packed with opulent automobiles. They were also among the most expensive, and such top-level cars from the ’50s still command healthy prices even as demand for other domestic ’50s cars softens. This one has been to auction before, hammering not sold here in 2016 at a $180,000 high bid and again at a $260,000 in Indy last year. A $330,000 final price here in Dallas is a jaw-dropping result. Curiously, although the car is represented as sold on Mecum’s website the price has been removed. As a consequence this result has much-diminished significance.

Lot # F119.1 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Convertible; S/N 5762084380; Red/White, Red leather; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $200,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $220,000 – 365/325hp with dual quads, automatic, Sabre wheels, Firestone whitewalls, Autronic Eye, power steering, power brakes, power windows, factory air conditioning, power bench seat, parade boot, gold brightwork. – Represented as one of 50 built with factory A/C and dual quad engine. Body-off restored. Very good older paint. Light scratches in the front bumper and parts of the trim but mostly sound brightwork. Nearly spotless underneath. Very good restored interior. A flashy Caddy in the best way, and restored to high standards a while ago. – One of the most famous examples of Harley Earl’s postwar styling at GM, the ’57 Eldorado Biarritz carried a $7,286 sticker price at a time when that much money could buy you two Corvettes. Naturally, then, a Biarritz was synonymous with success and has been a symbol of ’50s American automotive exuberance ever since. So even as we’ve observed softening demand among American cars from the 1950s generally, elite-level cars like the big Cadillacs have an enduring appeal, as this and other recent results show. Both this and the 1959 Biarritz in Dallas this year sold for massive, expectations-beating prices.

Lot # F128.1 1978 Ford Bronco Ranger XLT Wagon 4×4; S/N U15HLBG6353; Medium Copper, Wimbledon White/Brown vinyl with pattern cloth inserts; Visually maintained, largely original 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $45,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $49,500 – 351/156hp, column shift automatic, alloy wheels, All-Terrain T/A tires, power steering, power brakes, factory air conditioning, CB radio, 3.50 Traction-Lok. – Represented as 67,413 miles from new. Faded but sound original paint with some older touched up areas on the hood and tailgate. The pinstripe decals are all cracking. Unrestored but maintained underneath. Small dent on the inner part of the tailgate. Excellent original interior that hardly shows any sign of use other than that aforementioned dent. A very well-kept and almost entirely original second gen Bronco that was spared the tough life of a work truck or weekend off-roader. – Essentially an F-100 from the doors forward, the second gen Bronco saw the model grow from its more Jeep-sized origins into a larger pickup-based vehicle to better compete with the Chevy Blazer/GMC Jimmy and Dodge Ramcharger. On the classic market the larger, later Broncos lack the charm of the groundbreaking and very popular originals, but just about everything with the word “Bronco” attached to it is in vogue these days. If this result is any indication, demand isn’t slowing down. This same impressively preserved ’78 Ranger XLT sold for $44,000 in Indy just a few months ago.

Lot # F143 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible; S/N 30867S110381; Daytona Red, Red hardtop/Black vinyl; Unrestored original 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $69,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $75,900 – 327/300hp L75, 4-speed, hardtop and soft top, spinner wheel covers, Firestone tires. – NCRS Top Flight award and Bloomington Gold certified. The odometer shows 51,630 believable miles. All original and far too good to restore. Unremarkable in terms of equipment but the lightly aged paint and chrome, the nicely mellowed interior, and the consistently maintained engine bay make this `63 a preservation class highlight. – There are vintage cars out there that are so impressive in their originality that they can sell for as much as or more than an objectively cleaner restored car. This ’63 convertible is one of them. It attracted a middling $52,000 high bid at Leake’s August online sale last year and a $50,000 high at Mecum Tulsa this year but the seller reasonably said no both times. Although it rarely works out that way for cars making the auction rounds, the third time was the charm in Dallas and it got the attention it deserved. This is a sensible price for it.

Lot # F170 1998 Chevrolet Corvette Indy Pace Car Convertible; S/N 1G1YY32G1W5116769; Radar Blue, Yellow graphics/Black, Yellow leather; 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $38,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $41,800 – 346/345hp, automatic, Goodyear Eagle F1 tires, Bose stereo. – Production number 215 of 1163 Pace Cars built. 1,576 miles and no serious wear to speak of. Clearly treated as a collectible since new, just like most of these purple and yellow convertibles. – It ain’t easy on the eyes, not by any means and especially when you look at the interior, but the ’98 Pace Car has a following in the Corvette world. Pace Cars are worth around 10 grand more than a regular C5 convertible. Most of them have low miles like this, possibly because it’s hard to look cool in a Barney-purple car with yellow wheels and seats, but mostly because people treat limited-edition Corvettes as collectible from new. This one brought an expensive but not crazy price considering the odometer reading.

Lot # F175 1957 Chevrolet Corvette FI Convertible; S/N E57S101575; Engine # F1207EL; Inca Silver/Red vinyl; Older restoration 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $64,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $70,400 – 283/283 fuel injection engine now with dual quads, 3-speed, spinner wheel covers, wide whitewalls, WonderBar radio. – Represented as matching numbers. Originally a 283/283 Fuelie but now topped with two Carter four-barrels. That doesn’t sacrifice much performance in the name of simplicity, but the original fuel injection system isn’t advertised to come with the car. Very good paint aside from a few tiny chips on the tail and a big crack above the fuel filler door. A few more cracks at the top of the driver’s door. Slightly erratic panel fit. Tidy engine bay with some fuel stains around and below the carbs. Very good interior. Rare colors and unusual equipment, and in good but unexceptional condition. – This is an interesting proposition since the dual quads atop the EL coded engine go to the heart of its value as a Fuelie and even putting a Rochester injection setup back will go only part way to satisfying serious Corvette collectors. Then, it’s further confused by the rare color and lack of contrasting coves. In the end this is a Fuelie Corvette bought for less than the value of a comparable condition 283/270hp dual quad ’57 and a sound value for the new owner.

Lot # F176.1 1963 Plymouth Valiant V100 2-Dr. Sedan; S/N 1135107524; Light Blue, White roof/Blue vinyl, cloth; Recent restoration 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $11,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $12,100 – 225/145hp six, column shift 3-speed, Toyo tires, bench seat, original radio. – Very good relatively recent paint and chrome with a handful of chips and scratches. Other than the bumpers, the rest of the brightwork is original. Restored and clean underneath. The wheels look brand new. Excellent interior with a cracked center cap on the steering wheel. Plymouth sold plenty of Valiants, but they’ve never been all that valuable and most got used up years ago. For someone to put this kind of effort and money into restoring one to such a high standard is remarkable. – This has to be one of the best 1963 Valiants around, but it will never be worth all that much and if the seller is the one who restored it, they have to know that there’s no hope of making their money back. The car was a $10,000 no-sale at Mecum Tulsa a few months ago, but the seller wisely adjusted expectations and the next owner has a neat, like-new budget classic for barely five figures.

Lot # F182 1979 Jeep J-10 1/2 Ton Townside Long Bed Pickup 4×4; S/N J9F45NC153995; Yellow/Tan vinyl, cloth; Truck restoration 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $30,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $33,000 – 258/110hp six, 4-speed, 4-wheel drive, 3-inch lift, ION wheels, power steering, power brakes, spray-in bedliner, air conditioning, later Jeep-branded radio. – Rough original chrome and brightwork. Old truck-quality respray, and the hood doesn’t quite match the rest of the body. Several dents in the bed. Very good, freshly restored interior. A used, budget, truck-quality restoration of a relatively rare J-10. – The collector truck world doesn’t give much guidance for the value of this J-10 Jeep pickup. Remarkably rot-prone and usually fated to being obsessively used up, survivors are seriously rare, which adds to the allure of this reasonably attractively presented and competently restored example. In the absence of divine guidance the Mecum bidders’ assessment is a good indication of value.

Lot # F186 1990 Ford Mustang GT Convertible; S/N 1FACP45EXKF195911; White, Red side stripe/White leather; Black top; Unrestored original 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $30,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $33,000 – 302/235hp, 5-speed, Cooper tires, luggage rack, boot cover, power windows, air conditioning. – Showing 57,599 believable miles. The front bumper looks repainted, and the rest of the finish looks original and good. Lightly discolored seats and lightly worn switchgear. Tidy but used underneath. The condition matches the mileage and age. Lightly used and never abused. – We’re used to seeing super-low-mile and super-clean Fox-bodies sell for this kind of money, but 33 grand for this car is still surprising. It’s a solid car but far from like-new, so top of the market money for it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.

Lot # F190 1965 Ford Falcon Ranchero Pickup; S/N 5H27A228638; Ivy Green/Black vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $26,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $28,600 – 289/225hp, floor shift 4-speed, Magnum 500 wheels, Hankook narrow whitewall tires, added air conditioning, console, factory radio, dash-mounted tach, tonneau cover. – Represented with the same owner from 1969-2020. Original paint with the nicks, chips, touch ups and faded areas that accumulate over the course of 56 years, but it presents quite well. Sound chrome. Newer wheels. Cleaned up and maintained underbody. Dull dash and tired upholstery but nothing is ripped or broken. Clean, maintained engine bay that looks partially restored but never fully taken apart. A charmingly original and impressively equipped Ranchero. – And it sold for an impressive price, too, but it would be tough to find another one this original with this drivetrain. Another Falcon sold for Mustang money in Dallas this year.

Lot # F192 1964 Ford Falcon Sprint 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 4R13F108903; Gold/Tan; Older restoration 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $27,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $29,700 – 260/164hp, column shift automatic, spinner wire wheel covers, store brand narrow whitewalls, bucket seats, console, original radio, dash-mounted tach. – Older repaint with some light fading on the top and a long scratch on the right front. Light pitting on the rear bumper. Lovely interior with newer seats and carpets but otherwise original. Restored engine bay and underbody. A basic but handsome Falcon. – 1964 was the first full model year for the range-topping Falcon Sprint, which provided the basis for the 1964 1/2 Mustang. The breakout success of Ford’s new pony car vastly and quickly overshadowed the Falcon Sprint, but even though prices for clean well-equipped Falcons aren’t exactly cheap, this one is seriously expensive. It’s top-notch show-car money for a car that isn’t quite to that level, and several thousand dollars more than a ’65 Mustang with this drivetrain ordinarily sells for.

Lot # F195 1973 Pontiac Firebird Formula 400 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 2U87T3N111154; Maroon/Maroon vinyl; Enthusiast restoration 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $25,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $27,500 – 400/230hp, automatic, Rally wheels, Radial T/A tires, console, power steering, power brakes, Sony cassette stereo, PHS documents. – Represented as 31,158 original miles. Some visible wear around the grille and some large cracks on the front bumper just ahead of the hood. Light detail scratching and a few particles in the rest of the paint. Lightly pitted door handles and scratched window frames. Tidy, partially redone engine bay with brand new-looking air cleaner. Looks partially restored underneath as well. A cool, casual cruiser. – This much money could have, and should have, bought a better Firebird Formula but the new owner got the Formula look with wheels, scoops and spoiler without paying the massive premium for a 455 engine. The low mileage is an added bonus that contributes to the transaction’s value.

Lot # F199 1974 GMC Sprint Pickup; S/N 5D80Y4R500635; Beige, Beige vinyl roof/Tan; Visually maintained, largely original 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $17,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $18,700 – 454/235hp LS4, automatic, Cooper Cobra tires, tonneau cover, factory air conditioning, original radio, dash clock. – A rare GMC Sprint (essentially an El Camino with GMC badges) made even more interesting by the factory 454 (most got a 350 or 400). Represented as 89,814 miles. Some blemishes on the rear bumper and solid older repaint with some chips at a few of the panel edges. Excellent original interior. Maintained and tidy underneath. – We just saw this GMC Sprint at Mecum’s Tulsa auction in June, where it brought $14,850. The odometer shows 17 more miles and we still think it would make a nifty, conversation-starting tow vehicle for a vintage race car. The higher price just three months later is mostly just down to the fact that Dallas was a much larger auction with more bidders keeping an eye out for interesting vehicles like this.

Lot # F206 1984 Chevrolet K5 Blazer Silverado Open Top Utility; S/N 1G8EK18H9EF158495; White, Tan/Tan vinyl in front, cloth in back; Unrestored original 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $16,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $17,600 – 305/160hp, column shift automatic, All-Terrain T/A tires, tow hitch, bucket seats, console, factory air conditioning, Audiovox cassette stereo, Grant GT steering wheel. – Represented as an Arizona truck, showing 12,720 miles but that figure probably isn’t accurate. Tired chrome and brightwork. The trim at the top of the grille is loose and about to fall off. Decent mostly original paint and faded pinstripe decals. Lightly oxidized underneath. Well-kept original interior, although that steering wheel looks more at home in a track car, not an `84 Blazer. A well-kept, dry truck that is usable as-is but would also make a solid candidate for restoration or restomodding. – A solid truck bought for a modest price in K5 Blazer terms.

Lot # F252 1991 Lotus Esprit Turbo SE Coupe; S/N SCCFC20B7MHF60072; Monaco White/Raven leather; Unrestored original 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $27,000 plus commission of; Final Price $27,000 – 2174/264hp, turbocharged and intercooled, 5-speed, white wheels, Falken tires, air conditioning, power windows, power mirrors, Alpine CD stereo. – Showing 43,244 believable miles. Represented with a belt service in 2015, but that was of course six years ago. Several chips and cracks in the paint, as well as a long scratch on the right rear fender. Several paint chips on the wheels. Delaminating in the rear quarter windows. Reasonably good leather for the age and miles although the car card says it’s a new interior. Worn shift knob. A few cracks in the dash wood, but for a Lotus it’s pretty good. A standard, lightly used and aged Esprit. It’s a relatively rare SE model, but also probably has an expensive shop bill in its near future. – The late, four-cylinder turbo Esprits still offer a tempting value in terms of rarity, looks and performance per dollar, especially compared to 911s of similar vintage, but the reported high bid here was appropriate for an average quality example like this. Especially since it sold for $21,525 on Bring a Trailer last year.

Lot # S34 1967 Dodge Dart GTS 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N LP23H72311552; Red/White vinyl; Enthusiast restoration 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $30,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $33,000 – 383/325hp, 4-speed, bucket seats, steel wheels with hub caps, red line tires, factory radio and older added cassette under the dash. – Represented as the matching-numbers engine. Dull older paint and chrome. Heavily scratched body side trim. Tidy engine bay. Several small chips in the original windshield. Faded, warped dash top. Lightly discolored white seats. Rare equipment and some restoration work done, but overall just a driver. – There’s enough restoration to elevate the value of this Dart GTS 383, but the quality of the work and many oversights don’t give any confidence about how the rest of the car was done. For this much money it should be more thoroughly restored and presented in much better condition and it is expensive in this transaction.

Lot # S39 1972 Chevrolet C10 1/2 Ton Pickup; S/N CCE142A125141; Green, Light Green roof/Green vinyl; Truck restoration 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $42,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $46,200 – 350/175hp, column shift automatic, narrow whitewalls, power steering, power brakes, tilt steering column, spare wheel in the bed, pushbutton radio, factory air conditioning converted to R134, bed side rails, bumper overriders. – Represented with one owner and 36,796 actual miles. Light scratches around the grille and on the rear bumper but the rest of the chrome and brightwork looks very good. Good relatively fresh repaint with a few minor chips in the clear coat on the passenger’s door. A few light dents in the bed but it’s mostly straight. Newer weather stripping and seat covers. The rest of the interior looks original but solid. Newer exhaust and suspension, and paint on the frame looks fresh. A well-loved Cheyenne with fresh restoration work. – It’s unclear if it was the one-owner history or the clean presentation excited the Dallas bidders more, but this is a super-high, beyond top of the market result for a 1972 C10 and the seller should be ecstatic with it.

Lot # S45 1999 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 30th Anniversary Coupe; S/N 2G2FV22G2X2218746; White, Blue stripes/White leather; Unrestored original 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $34,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $37,400 – 346/305hp, automatic, Goodyear Eagle F1 tires, CD stereo, WS6, metallic blue factory alloy wheels. – Number 575 of 1065 built. Represented with 2,530 miles, one owner, and even the original tires. Some bubbling in the stripe decals on the roof but otherwise looks like a new car. – While not quite an “in-the-wrapper” car, this Firebird is still the kind of like-new limited-edition model that appeals to a certain kind of collector who really does buy cars to collect rather than drive. This is a rational price for it, corroborated by the slightly higher $41,800 price for Lot S62, a similarly clean 9,582-mile 30th Anniversary Trans Am convertible.

Lot # S64 1967 Pontiac GTO 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 242177B120413; Gold/Gold vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $41,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $45,100 – 400/255hp 2-barrel, automatic with Hurst dual-gate shifter, Rally II wheels, red line tires, power steering, power brakes, Gardner exhaust, 8-track, Soft Ray tinted glass, PHS documents. – Represented as the matching-numbers engine. Older quick repaint with particles in the finish on the trunk lid and a few scratches elsewhere. Tired chrome and brightwork. Dull rear glass. All original interior with a slightly tired look to it but nothing is broken or glaringly bad. Some refurbishment underneath including a new exhaust but not fully restored. A very gold Goat in no-so-golden condition. – This would have been a spot-on result for this GTO had there been two more throats on the carburetor, carrying 80 more lusty Goat horses than this optional economy engine. As it is, though, the new owner got the look, and not many people explore the ultimate performance of their half century old Pony cars. It’s expensive for its equipment and cosmetic restoration work.

Lot # S68.1 2002 Porsche 911 Turbo Coupe; S/N WP0AB299X2S685143; Carrara White/Black leather; Unrestored original 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $73,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $80,300 – 3,600/415hp, 6-speed, Techart exhaust, Gemballa front splitter and adjustable rear spoiler, red calipers, Michelin Pilot Sport tires, sunroof, carbon fiber interior trim. – Represented with 12,450 miles and presents like a lightly driven 996 Turbo should. Solid paint aside from a small chip on the driver’s door handle and another on the right rear fender. Very good interior. Clean wheels. Nothing to nitpick. – This car sold for $58,850 at Mecum Kissimmee 2017. While that was during the massive run-up in values for all things Porsche during the 2010s, the 996 Turbo was late to the party. Unfairly linked to the not-so popular base 996 and its infamous IMS bearing failures despite having different engine architecture, it was a great value in exotic performance for those in the know. But people have caught on and 996 Turbos have gotten considerably more expensive since then, as shown by this one’s auction history.

Lot # S75.1 2007 Ford Mustang Saleen Parnelli Jones Edition Coupe; S/N 1ZVFT82H675264997; Grabber Orange, Black hood stripe/Black, Orange leather; Unrestored original 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $31,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $34,100 – 302/400hp, 5-speed, Saleen Racecraft suspension, Saleen wheels, stainless exhaust, rear window slats, shaker hood with hood pins. Signed by Parnelli Jones and Steve Saleen. – From the “Triple B” collection of late model Mustangs. Represented with 15,030 miles. Number 274 of 500 built and characteristically in Grabber Orange (although Bud Moore called it “School Bus Yellow.”) Some dirt and grime under the hood. Good but not quite like new paint. No wear to the interior. A rare, lightly used example of one of the quickest live axle Mustangs. – Several years before Ford revived the Boss 302 nameplate, Saleen sold a Parnelli Jones Edition Mustang that was a clear homage to Jones’s 1970 Trans Am-winning Boss. Just 500 sold for a steep (especially for the time) $60,000 price. They have a bright future in terms of collectability but they aren’t there yet since for the most part even high-performance fifth gen Mustangs are still in used car territory.

Lot # S81 1986 Ferrari 328 GTS Spider, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N ZFFXA20A7G0063611; Rosso Corsa/Tan leather; Unrestored original 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $46,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $50,600 – 3185/270hp, 5-speed, Dunlop SP Sport tires, air conditioning, Momo steering wheel, Alpine cassette/Blaupunkt stereos. – Showing 64,025 miles and not represented with any recent service. Filthy engine bay, and the struts for the engine cover are dead. Decent paint with a few chips and a crack at the bottom of the right A-pillar and minor blistering on the right rear. Scuffed right rear wheel. Lightly worn and discolored seats and door panels. A used 328. – This 328 was a $55,000 no-sale at Mecum Tulsa back in June and it doesn’t look any better than it did then. Its odometer also shows just 2 more miles, likely all from moving on and off transport trucks and puttering around auction venues. The offer in Tulsa was reasonable considering the condition and the uncertainty about service, and the bidders in Dallas were even more cautious. The seller got the hint and let it go, and while there’s no such thing as a cheap Ferrari when it comes time to pay for maintenance, the new owner here at least paid bottom-dollar for what hopefully turns out to be an easily sortable and rewarding 328.

Lot # S82.1 1959 Ford F-100 1/2 Ton Pickup; S/N F10C9K33824; Indian Turquoise, Ivory roof/White vinyl, Turquoise cloth; Recent restoration 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $50,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $55,000 – 292/160hp, floor shift 4-speed, 4-wheel drive, white steel wheels, tinted glass, factory AM radio, heater. – Very good fresh paint and chrome. Light scratches on the grille and light pitting on some of the badges. Straight bed with spray-in bedliner. Very good restored interior. Fresh restoration with good equipment and sharp `50s colors, better treatment than most trucks get. – The third generation (1957-60) F-Series was a significant and much more modern redesign for Ford’s bread-and-butter pickup, and 1959 was the first year for factory 4-wheel drive rather than expensive aftermarket conversions. This is a clean, correct and well-equipped example so it naturally attracted a lot of attention at an auction where trucks generally did very well. It brought $46,200 at Mecum Indy only a few months ago, and that was already a very strong number. This one seems downright expensive, but that’s an observation we’re making a lot these days.

Lot # S109 1970 Plymouth GTX 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N RS23V0A109423; Red, Black stripes/Black vinyl; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $80,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $88,000 – 440/390hp, Six Barrel, 4-speed with Hurst pistol grip shifter, Air Grabber hood, Firestone Wide Oval tires, hood pins, Super Track Pak, pushbutton radio. – Tidy engine bay. Older paint with an overbuffed spot in the left rear. Lightly pitted chrome. Scratched window frames that don’t fit quite evenly on the rear. Very good mostly restored interior. An honest, sharp-looking Mopar. – This is a high price considering the age of the restoration, but the car does have a desirable combination of equipment that appealed to the Dallas bidders. It also appealed to the bidders in Denver three years ago, when the same car sold for a similar $80,300 final price.

Lot # S110 1969 Shelby Mustang GT350 SportsRoof; S/N 9F2M480544; Candy Apple Red, Gold/Black vinyl; Older restoration 2 condition; With Reserve; Post-block sale at $107,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $117,700 – 351/290hp, 4-speed, Shelby wheels, Goodyear Wide Tread GT tires, Traction-Lok, factory air conditioning, sport deck rear seat, power steering, power front disc brakes, Deluxe Marti Report. – From the William Scott collection. Body-off restored, represented as matching numbers, and an MCA Gold award winner. Clean engine bay. Very good paint, chrome and interior with nothing major to pick on. A straightforward, slightly older restoration that was never overdone, just refreshed to factory like new standards. – This car has a long history of crossing an auction block, first going to Russo and Steele in Arizona in 2007 where it sold for $107,800. It then brought $79,200 at their Monterey auction in 2015 and for $90,200 at Mecum Houston in 2018, and finally for $107,250 at Mecum Denver in 2018. It hammered not sold at a $105,000 high bid here in Dallas but was later reported sold at a $117,700 final price. Either way, it’s a big number for a dressed up Mustang, even with the distinction of Shelby badges.

Lot # S125 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 Sport Coupe; S/N 136370R228901; Cranberry Red, Black stripes/Black vinyl; Older restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $125,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $137,500 – 454/450hp LS6, M21 4-speed, 3.31 Positraction, Radial T/A tires, hood pins, power disc brakes, power steering, tilt steering column, Hurst shifter, console, pushbutton AM/FM radio, Protect-O-Plate and broadcast sheet copy documented. – Represented as matching numbers engine and transmission. Tidy, lightly run engine bay. Decent older paint and chrome that show light detail scratching and have lost some shine. Original, aged glass and trim. New-looking tires. Good lightly restored interior with original console and dash. Highly desirable equipment and good colors, but condition-wise this LS6 is unremarkable. – As an LS6 with all the driver aids that could be asked by today’s collectors and matching numbers at that this is a desirable car that deserved better attention since restoration but still has bragging rights and brought a realistic price that reflected both its pros and its cons.

Lot # S126 1966 Ford GT40 Replica Coupe; S/N RCRGT40FVF8802020; Red, White/Black; Non-factory replica 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $185,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $203,500 – 5.7-liter V-8, 6-speed, centerlock wheels. – One of six cars built by RCR for the film Ford v. Ferrari and used in the 24 Hours of Daytona scene. Plenty used with lots of wear and tear from hard driving and movie production. Has a title and may be street registered – The buzz has worn off a bit from 2019’s Ford v Ferrari but it’s still fresh in the minds of many car people, and although this car isn’t a correct GT40 replica in all the details, it would at least be an exhilarating track car and it looks the part. This result is a balance between performance and the limited opportunities in which to use it, plus a healthy movie car premium.

Lot # S132.1 2013 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 Coupe; S/N 1G1YN2DT7D5800350; Velocity Yellow, Carbon fiber roof/Ebony leather, Alcantara; Unrestored original 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $77,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $84,700 – 376/638hp, 6-speed manual. – 7,420 miles and nearly like new other than minor blemishes on the carbon front splitter and very light wrinkling on the driver’s seat leather. – Just 482 ZR1s were sold in the C6’s final model year at an MSRP in the low $100,000-range, over twice as much as a base coupe. Being Corvettes, they then depreciated as they aged, but C6s across the board have been selling well lately and over the past year the cleanest low-mile ZR1s have become six-figure cars again. Two ZR1s crossed the block in Dallas this year at no reserve (the other was Lot S153.1, sold for $74,800), with both bringing relatively modest prices considering their mileage and what other ZR1s are selling for right now. Both are solid buys, especially since it would be tough to find a faster car for the money.

Lot # S135 1965 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu SS 396 Convertible; S/N 138675K173610; Engine # F325EC; Mist Blue/Blue vinyl; White vinyl top; Recent restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $85,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $93,500 – 327/350hp L79, M20 4-speed, 12-bolt 3.31 Positraction rear, F41 suspension, wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, dual mirrors, bucket seats, factory radio, power steering, power brakes, boot cover. – Represented as matching numbers and showing 291 miles on a full body-off restoration. Spotless, factory correct engine bay. Very good paint from a distance but up close there are small blisters in the hood from poor prep. Uneven gaps. Scratched window frames. New top and restored top frame. Very good fresh interior mostly, but there is serious pitting around the shifter and the trim between the seats. A lovely car with rare equipment and a fresh restoration, but it falls short of perfect in a few areas which does not create a good impression. – The Dallas bidders either didn’t notice those details or didn’t care. To find a ’65 Malibu with this combination of rare factory equipment, fresh condition and good colors would be a seriously difficult task, and at least two of the people waving their paddles were willing to overpay and save themselves the trouble.

Lot # S136 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 Sport Coupe; S/N 124379N632792; Dusk Blue, White stripes/Blue vinyl; Recent restoration 2+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $90,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $99,000 – 302/290hp with cross-ram intake and cowl induction hood, M20 4-speed, 12-bolt 4.88 Positraction rear end, power disc brakes, radio and heater delete, front and rear spoilers, Goodyear Wide Tread GT tires. – Restored four years ago. Not represented as matching numbers. Spotless engine bay and underbody. Excellent paint, chrome, and interior. Top notch restoration, good colors, and all the right equipment. – Sold by Mecum at Harrisburg in 2015 for $100,000, then here two years ago for the same price. It’s hard to imagine a ’69 Camaro with better equipment, missing only the JL8 4-wheel disc brakes. The cross-ram alone elevates this Camaro to near-sanctified stature although without any representation at all that this is the way it was built. The uncertainties are manifest in the price it brought but at this price it will be a rare prize for the new owner willing to overlook the gaps in its story.

Lot # S144 1937 MG VA Drophead Coupe, Body by Tickford; S/N VA0966; Silver, Burgundy fenders/Burgundy leather; Black cloth top; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $50,000 plus commission of; Final Price $50,000 – RHD, 1,549/55hp, 4-speed, painted wire wheels, single sidemount spare, landau bars, dual chrome horns, badge bar, single Lucas driving light, wood interior trim, full tool tray. – Tickford coachwork. Solid older restored engine bay and underbody. Light age to the paint, chrome and wheels but no major flaws aside from a scuff and a touch up on the left front fender. Very good interior with lightly aged wood. A rare (especially in this country), charming, well-appointed prewar MG ready for tours and events or casual shows. – VA is an unusual MG model not often seen in the U.S. but model rarity is an ephemeral quality when it comes to MGs and the reported high bid here is ample even for the Tickford Drophead Coupe coachwork.

Lot # S164 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302 SportsRoof; S/N 0F2G181975; Bright Gold, Black hood stripe and trunk lid/Black vinyl; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $65,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $71,500 – 302/290hp, 4-speed, Goodyear Polyglas GT tires, front spoiler only, dealer-installed cruise control, Hurst pistol grip shifter, Elite Marti Report, Owner Card, dealer invoice copy, original build sheet documented. – Represented as a matching numbers three-owner car with 20,292 miles. Very good fully restored engine bay. Decent older chrome. Very good paint other than orange peel on the mirrors. Very good restored interior. Rare configuration in neat colors and a quality restoration on a genuine Boss 302. – This Boss sold for $74,200 at Mecum Indy 2010, and despite all that has happened in the collector car market since then, Boss 302 values aren’t far from where they were 11 years ago. The same car was a $70,000 no-sale at Mecum Indy in 2013 and 2018 then sold for $77,000 at Mecum Indy in 2020. Back in 2013 it was described as “21,000 miles”, consistent with the odometer reading today, a car that has sat on display (or in transporters to and from auctions) for many years. This similar number is an appropriate result for a good but older restored example that has been, if anything, overexposed at auctions.

Lot # S179 1932 Ford Model B Victoria Sedan; S/N 18226514; Light Green, Black fenders, Maroon coach line/Gray cloth; Enthusiast restoration 3- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $20,000 plus commission of; Final Price $20,000 – 201/50hp four, 3-speed, yellow wire wheels with hub caps and trim rings, wide whitewalls, rear-mounted spare, cowl lights, clock in the rearview mirror, steering column mounted Philco radio controls – Tired, ancient paint with numerous chips. Old, dry tires. A few smudges on the cloth seats and door panels. Oxidized frame but no serious rust. No carpets on the floors in the front, just bare wood. A tired but solid and complete `32 Ford that was never left to rot or turned into a hot rod. – Out of a total of almost 76,000 Model Bs built by Ford in 1932 only 521 were Victoria Sedans like this. The Model B was popular, an improved, updated and more powerful evolution of the Model A 4-cylinder and for risk-averse buyers at the beginning of the Great Depression an attractive alternative to the sexy, but unproven and flawed V-8. How this Vicky survived without being street-rodded is something of a miracle and while its condition isn’t the best it’s still a rare and largely unmolested survivor that is worth something like 50% more than the reported high bid here, a missed opportunity.

Lot # S198 2004 Ferrari 360 Spider Convertible, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N ZFFYT53A740135611; Red/Black leather; Black cloth top; Unrestored original 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $85,000 plus commission of; Final Price $85,000 – 3,586/400hp, paddle shifters, Scuderia shields, red calipers, Michelin Pilot Sport tires. – Represented with $40,000 in service receipts, but no mileage indicated. Numerous chips on the nose and headlight covers. Several blemishes around the roll hoops. Lightly worn seats, some dirty switchgear, and waviness on the right side of the dash. An average used 360. – The consignor should have been all over the high bid here in a heartbeat, a generous offer for a mediocre Ferrari with sketchy service history and showing the effects of ambitious use and sketchy care. The reported bid was all the money and then some.

Lot # S210 1968 Pontiac Firebird 400 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 223378L104016; Nightshade Green/Green-Gold vinyl; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Post-block sale at $39,545 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $43,500 – 400/360hp YZ-code engine, 4-speed, Rally II wheels, Firestone red line tires, power steering, original radio, PHS documents. – Represented as matching numbers. Former museum car. Glovebox signed by Smokey Yunick and Jim Wangers. Good older paint and chrome aside from some microblisters in the hood and some bubbling in the drip rails. Gorgeous, show-ready engine bay. Delaminating windshield along the left edge. Lovely restored interior. Body-off restored and very green in its original colors, this Firebird has few flaws and looks more than ready to go. – I’m a little uncomfortable with calling this YZ engine in the Firebird chassis 360hp, which it is in the more commodious ’68 GTO. So, maybe it’s 335hp in the Firebird, but it’s still a whomping great torque-monster engine with all the other stuff that makes owning a ’68 Firebird an experience. This is an heroic Pony Car bought for a reasonable price.

Lot # S211 1963 Chevrolet Corvette FI Coupe; S/N 30837S114292; Saddle Tan/Saddle leather; Older restoration 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $150,000 plus commission of; Final Price $150,000 – 327/360hp L84 Fuelie, 4-speed, power windows, spinner wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, original AM/FM radio. – Represented as matching numbers engine and correct replacement 4-speed as well as a barely credible 27,143 miles. NCRS Top Flight. Small paint bubble in the nose but the finish everywhere else looks great. Lightly scratched older chrome. Clean, recently detailed engine. Very good interior. A solid, show-worthy but maybe no longer show-winning Split Window Fuelie. – Sold for $144,450 at Mecum Dallas in 2013, this result would have been $165,000 with commission added and was a realistic bid for a quality ’63 Corvette Fuelie coupe with no offered documentation other than NCRS Top Flight judging. Mecum could at least have given us an engine number photo to substantiate the matching-numbers claim instead of several photos of glass etchings. This car also is reported sold here (S212) for $99,000. All in all, a confused and confusing set of transactions that gives no guidance at all except to be very skeptical in the absence of thorough documentation and expert attestations.

Lot # S213 2016 Porsche Boxster Spyder Roadster; S/N WP0CC2A89GS152328; Agate Gray/Black leather; Black cloth top; Unrestored original 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $75,000 plus commission of; Final Price $75,000 – 3.8/375hp, 6-speed manual, black wheels, Michelin Pilot Sport tires, red calipers, Bose stereo, tinted windows. – Relatively rare Boxster Spyder, represented as one of 850 sold in the US and with 14,600 miles. A few minor, inevitable rock chips on the bottom of the nose, but the rest of the paint looks nearly new. The top looks like it has hardly been used and the interior looks hardly sat in. – It may be “just” a Boxster, but it’s a rare model that has been pampered, and as a late-model driver-focused sports car it’s the kind of thing that is in high demand among enthusiasts, and it will continue to be. And although the $75,000 high bid sounds close enough to the Boxster Spyder’s $83,000 MSRP, rare Porsches don’t always depreciate like most cars and dealers across the country are asking in the $100,000 range for their Spyders. The consignor can’t be blamed for holding out.

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