Mecum Auctions, Houston, April 4-6, 2019

Just over a thousand lots crossed the Mecum auction block at the NRG Center in Houston, Mecum’s eighth year at this venue.

The car count was the Houston sale’s second highest. The sell-through rate also was second highest. The sale total, however, was the second lowest, a performance traced to a paucity of high priced cars (the top sale was a Ferrari F12 Berlinetta for $203,500).

There was a huge assortment of low-priced lots: 108, 10.8% of the lots offered, sold on hammer bids of $5,000 or less. Many were motorcycles, projects and parts offered as part of the 142-lot “Mur the Blur” collection on Thursday. Nine of them sold on hammer bids of $100.

If you wanted a Ducati 996 on the cheap, this was the place to find them. There were eleven among a total of 38 Ducatis. The cheapest Ducati 996 was only $4,750 hammer, $5,225 including the buyer’s commission, while the most expensive, a 996 R, brought a hammer bid of $12,500, $13,750 with commission.

The result was a rather relaxed median transaction of only $19,800 and an average of just $25,646.

Here are the numbers:

Year	Cars Sold/ Offered	Sale %	Average Sale	Median Sale	Total $
2019	725/1001	72.4%	$25,646	$19,800 [77.2%]	$18,593,245
2018	604/868	69.6%	$34,972	$27,500 [78.6%]	$21,123,135
2017	551/790	69.8%	$38,034	$27,500 [72.3%]	$20,956,976
2016	542/851	63.7%	$37,007	$24,750 [66.9%]	$20,057,785

Andrew Newton attended. I am solely responsible for the final edits and content.

There are no motorcycles reported here although the report describes 90 of the 1,001 lots that crossed the block, sorted by Marque, Model and Year.

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Lot # S90 1962 Alfa Romeo Giulia Spider; S/N AR373944; Gray/Grey vinyl piped in Red; Older restoration, 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $66,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $72,600 – Single dual choke downdraft Weber, correct air cleaner, hub caps, Vredestein tires, original radio. – From the Mario Sueiras collection. Dull older paint and chrome. Clean and restored but lightly used underneath. Dull steering wheel and old carpets. Restored on a budget a while ago and yet another unremarkable driver out of this collection. – This is a generous result more appropriate for a dual sidedraft Weber engined Veloce than for this Normale. Giulias are seductive little cars, however, and the model’s reputation may have caused the bidders to minimize the single carburetor configuration.

Lot # T169 1968 AMC AMX Fastback; S/N CA954133; Alamosa Aqua/Black vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $13,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $14,850 – 390/325hp, 4-speed, Radial T/A tires, power steering, woodrim steering wheel, Hurst T-handle shifter, later Pioneer stereo. – Cheap respray with numerous runs and painted over chips. Part of the rear window frame is missing. Badges are missing off the nose and trunk lid, with just holes in their place. Cracked taillight lenses. Pitted rear brightwork. Lightly scratched window glass. Loose mirror. Decent original interior in condition that matches the outside. Thick old undercoating underneath. AMXs are cool, and this one has the big engine and a 4-speed, but it’s rough around the edges and needs a lot. – Not sold at a respectable (for a mediocre AMX like this) $22,000 hammer bid at Mecum Glendale a few weeks prior. The seller decided to go no reserve this time around and got barely project car money for it. It’s an “ouch” result, but no less than this challenged AMX with a California assigned VIN deserved.

Lot # S55 1939 American Bantam Deluxe Roadster; S/N 63473; Blue, Light Blue/Oyster; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $23,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $25,300 – 45/19hp flathead four, 3-speed, hub caps and trim rings, fender skirts, wind wings, rear-mounted spare. – From the Mario Sueiras collection. Scrape on the left front fender. Rub through in front of where both doors touch the body but at their bottoms they don’t touch at all. The trim behind the seats is missing. The whitewall portions of the tires are stick-ons and the white part is cracking and coming loose. Decent upholstery, but the gauges look ancient. Tidy but used and a little grimy underneath. Bantams are fun and charming little cars, but this is a rough one. – For those of a certain age Bantams are marked by a singular memory, namely “How many clowns can emerge from a ridiculously tiny car?” In extreme irony, designer Alexis de Sakhnoffsky gave these diminutive microcars sweep panel two tone paint, like gigantic Duesenbergs. It’s all in fun and that’s the way they’re taken today, at this price even with this car’s many needs a realistic result. How many grandkids can fit in it? More than enough to be ticketed by the enforcers of political correctness for lack of seat belts and rear-facing car seats.

Lot # S56 1967 Austin Mini Cooper 1275S 2-Dr. Sedan; S/N CA257L931704; Engine # 8FSAYH2604; Blue, White roof/Black vinyl; Older restoration, 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $22,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $24,750 – Wing mirrors, aftermarket steering wheel, hydrolastic suspension, Minilite wheels, Falken tires. – From the Mario Sueiras collection. Decent older chrome. Good older paint other than several big chips right behind the front bumper. The right side of the car is sagging a bit. Tidy, correct engine bay. Excellent interior. A real deal Cooper S with tons of charm. Not the world’s best, but clean and correct, finished in attractive colors, and more than good enough to go have a blast with. – Arguably the sportiest of the small cars out of this collection, but it has plenty of small issues and while top-notch 1275 Ss have brought over 40 grand, this is a realistic number for a good driver and both parties can be satisfied.

Lot # S85 1965 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III Phase 2 Convertible; S/N HBJ8L29264; White/Red; Black top; Enthusiast restoration, 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $30,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $33,000 – Painted wire wheels, dual wing mirrors, boot cover, banjo steering wheel, BMC radio, Lucas driving lights, badge bar. – From the Mario Sueiras collection, the final iteration Phase 2 model. Tidy and restored but used engine bay. The grille and bumpers are fairly dull. Good older paint. The driver’s door sticks out and the weather stripping is coming loose. The driver’s side outer seat bolster is worn and lightly ripped, but the rest of the interior is good. Looks like fun, but no more than a casual driver. – This isn’t a great Healey, but it’s a better one than this low no-reserve result would suggest. The car doesn’t need anything to just enjoy it casually on the weekends, and at this price the new owner got a sweet deal.

Lot # S87 1970 BMW 2002 2-Dr. Sedan; S/N 2579949; Tan/Brown vinyl; Enthusiast restoration, 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $20,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $22,550 – Wheel covers, Vredestein tires, aftermarket radio. – From the Mario Sueiras collection, and one of the better cars of the group. Clean and correct mostly restored engine bay. Older chrome but very good, relatively fresh paint. Very good restored interior. A little dirt and grime on the underbody but it looks restored, and the exhaust looks almost brand new. A basic car equipment-wise and finished in boring colors, but a well-kept round taillight 2002 that looks ready to enjoy. – Despite all the attention lavished upon BMWs lately the 2002, a breakthrough model for the company, is still overlooked among collectors. While not the world’s best, this 2002 is better than most of the drivers out there and it brought a deservedly strong result. If it wore a more exciting ’70s color (like Inka Orange, perhaps) it conceivably could have brought even more, but this is a good number for both parties.

Lot # F224 2000 BMW M Coupe Hatchback; S/N WBSCM9341YLC61535; Black/Black, Grey; Unrestored original, 4+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $11,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $12,100 – Alloy wheels, Kumho tires, S52 3,246/240hp engine, 5-speed, power windows, air conditioning, CD stereo. – Showing 178,651 miles, but even without looking at the odometer it’s easy to see that car is clapped out. No service history represented. The paint is rough even from a distance, with numerous chips and scratches all over. Light crack on the left rear wheel, and the tires look old. Lightly worn seats and the seat belt buckles are dull and faded. These cars can bring a lot of money, but it’s the ones with the later engine, far fewer miles and much better condition that get the attention of people with deep pockets. – This is probably the lowest price anyone has paid for an M Coupe in a while, but it bought a thoroughly worn out car and is a fair result.

Lot # S50 1957 BMW-Isetta 300 Coupe; S/N 508085; Blue, White/Blue vinyl; Older restoration, 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $31,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $34,100 – Hub caps, whitewalls, luggage rack. – From the Mario Sueiras collection. Long crack on the left side of the nose. Otherwise good older paint. The windows are a little cloudy. Good interior. Clean older restored underbody. Paint is coming off the wheels and the hubcaps are dirty. A sound and usable Isetta, but not a great one. – It may be $2,623 per horsepower, but this is a spot-on result for a driver-quality Isetta that, despite its numerous flaws, will still charm everyone who sees it, and thrill those privileged to ride in it.

Lot # S125.1 1938 Buick Century Sport Sedan; S/N 63398477; Blue/Grey cloth; Older restoration, 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $19,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $20,900 – Hub caps and trim rings, wide whitewalls, suicide rear doors, banjo steering wheel, wood interior trim, dash clock. – Sound, shiny chrome and brightwork. Decent older respray other than some chipping around the hood. Restored underneath, but a while ago and the exhaust looks ancient. Slightly uneven gaps. The rubber around the rear glass is cracking. Good, lightly worn interior. A solid casual driver but nothing more serious than that. – Sold for $24,200 at Mecum’s Las Vegas auction six months ago, then chased a chimera at Kansas City and Kissimmee where it was bid to $20,000 both times. The consignor read the tea leaves of the prior auctions and prudently elected to take the money. The question is: why buy it if all it does is go onto transporters from auction-to-auction? In today’s largely static collector car market there’s scant opportunity to profit from a Thirties 4-door sedan, even a big-engined Buick Century. This Buick should have had a respite on some weekend drives and a tour or two to relish the experience, then been flipped after a season’s enjoyment.

Lot # F230 1964 Buick Riviera 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N NCS99294; White/Red vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $22,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $24,200 – 425/340hp, wire wheels, narrow whitewalls, Protect-O-Plate, bucket seats, floor shift, factory radio, manuals, power steering, brakes and trunk release. – Scratched and lightly pitted old bumpers. Older repaint that is on the tired side. Scratched window frames. Well kept, lightly worn interior with newer carpets. Tidy unrestored but maintained engine bay and underbody. A solid driver but offered with a VIN that relates to no known 1964 Buick. – A lot of style, performance and luxury for the price, but Rivieras are a bit undervalued in general and for this good but imperfect one the result is appropriate.

Lot # S165.1 1965 Buick Skylark GS 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 444275H205819; Flame Red/Red vinyl; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $33,000 plus commission of; Final Price $33,000 – 401/325hp, 4-speed, red line tires, power steering, power brakes, tilt steering column, factory air conditioning, bucket seats, floor shift, console, underdash gauges and AutoMeter tach, pushbutton radio. – Represented as matching numbers. Nearly spotless fully restored engine bay. Old, tired chrome. Two chips on the right front fender. Otherwise good but older paint. Erratic fit on the passenger’s door. Good, rare equipment on a seldom seen early muscle car and it was fully restored at some point, but that point was a while ago. – This is restored 401/325hp Skylark GS hardtop money, a generous result for an older restored example with issues, even with the A/C. It should have been taken in a heartbeat if there was money at this bid, or even at $32,000 but frequently consignors will try to eke out “just one more bump” and squander a perfectly reasonable offer.

Lot # S184 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Convertible; S/N 5762080902; White/Red, White leather; Unrestored original, 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $63,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $69,300 – 365/300hp, automatic, silver Sabre wheels, whitewalls, parade boot cover, rear seat speaker, factory air conditioning, pushbutton radio. – All original with well-kept paint that has plenty of blemishes from age, including a big chip by the right headlight. Dull brightwork. Older tires. Lightly worn seats but the interior is too nice to redo. The doors stick out at the bottom. Would make a relatively straightforward project, but it would still be expensive. At the same time, it’s enjoyable as is. – There is no bonus for originality in this price, only a whopping big discount for its tired condition. It will be expensive to restore, but there is plenty of room at this price to give that project serious consideration. For any rational collector the optimum course is to drive it for years even while explaining its originality and condition. No matter, it is a great buy at this price.

Lot # F227 1954 Cadillac Fleetwood 60 Special 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N 546034854; White/Dark Blue, Grey cloth; Visually maintained, largely original, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $20,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $22,000 – Wheel covers, whitewalls, fender skirts, air conditioning, power windows, steering and brakes. – Formerly owned by golfer Ben Hogan. Good original interior with lightly worn steering wheel. Good possibly original chrome. Good older paint with some cracks in the left front fender. Lightly scratched window frames. Looks unrestored underneath and in the engine compartment which is dusty and grimy. A seldom seen four-door in attractive colors and well presented. Never fully restored because it never really needed to be. – Sold for $24,200 in Kissimmee back in January and flipped here for a minimal loss. It is an unattractive, staid old Cadillac sedan valuable more for its ex-Ben Hogan history than for its intrinsic worth.

Lot # S204 1947 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible; S/N 8440729; Gray/Red leather; Tan cloth top; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $50,000 plus commission of; Final Price $50,000 – Wheel covers, whitewalls, fender skirts, dual mirrors, power windows, power seat, fog lights, dash clock, factory radio. – Small touch up on the nose but mostly very good older paint and chrome. A little bit of dirt on the top. Clean but not spotless older restored engine bay. Very lightly wrinkled leather but the interior is very good. A handsome and high quality but older restoration on a CCCA Full Classic(TM) Cadillac. – A much too low high bid for a fundamentally good and handsome early postwar Caddy, especially since it sold for $67,100 at Leake Tulsa in 2013.

Lot # S232 1973 Chevrolet C20 3/4 Ton Fleetside Pickup; S/N CCZ243Z174586; Light Yellow, White/Green vinyl; Truck restoration, 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $12,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $13,200 – 454, Edelbrock carb, added air conditioning, power steering, power brakes, later JVC radio, spray-in bedliner. – Slightly dirty but restored engine bay and underbody. Rough bumper chrome. Decent truck quality respray. Imperfect masking for the bedliner. Good newer seats but the rest of the interior is original. A basic but neat enthusiast restoration done to utilitarian truck standards. – A modest but fair result at no reserve here in Houston given the truck’s inconsistencies. The $14,000 high bid that this Cheyenne got at Mecum Dallas last year now looks like a missed opportunity.

Lot # T60 2002 Chevrolet Camaro SS 35th Anniversary Convertible; S/N 2G1FP32G422147367; Red, Gray graphics/Black, Grey leather; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $13,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $14,300 – 346/325hp, 6-Speed, CD stereo. – 35th Anniversary car with desirable 6-Speed. Represented with 17,250 miles. Very good paint and interior. Barely any wrinkling to the seats. Not factory fresh, but very close, and still a collector-grade car. – Each 35th Anniversary Camaro came with a glovebox case with inscribed tire pressure gauge, tread depth gauge, pen, post-it pad, history booklet and polish cloth, in addition to the loud graphics. Chevy sold 3,369 of the cars to customers who paid $2,500 for the package. Even though they’re relatively rare, 35th Anniversary cars aren’t worth much more than a standard SS. That said, this was a surprisingly low price a good car with such a low odometer reading, and even more surprising that the seller dropped the reserve and let it go. Somewhere on the other side of 20 grand would have been a reasonable number to expect.

Lot # S100 1968 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 124378N363362; Tuxedo Black, White stripes/Black vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $43,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $47,300 – 302/290hp, Rally Sport trim, cowl induction, Rally wheels, Radial T/A tires, rear spoiler, 5-speed swap, Protect-O-Plate, window sticker, power brakes, Hurst shifter, factory radio, headers, chrome valve covers (originals included). – The engine bay is a bit grimy, and the engine number isn’t readable. It’s maintained but unrestored, and lots of orange paint is flaking off the block. Lightly swirled and scratched older paint. Tidy but unrestored underbody. Worn steering wheel, but the rest of the original interior is very good. Represented as a genuine Z/28 and there isn’t reason to doubt that, but its presentation is a little disappointing and it deserves better. – There is room for some relatively simple improvement in the presentation of this Z/28 that could give it a little boost in value from the price it brought here. The 5-speed doesn’t help value, either, nor the RS trim which probably didn’t come from the factory. This result recognizes its issues and is realistic.

Lot # S171 1954 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster; S/N E54S003349; Sportsman Red/Red vinyl; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $65,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $71,500 – Spinner wheel covers, whitewalls, pushbutton radio. – Very clean but not overly detailed engine bay. Several small cracks right in front of the hood. Otherwise good but older paint and chrome, but some of the window trim is a little dull. Good, lightly worn interior. Fully restored in 2008, but probably wasn’t a show quality redo to begin with and it’s starting to show its age. – Discounted for the age of its restoration but still a fairly strong price for a ’54 and the seller should be quite pleased.

Lot # S67 1956 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible; S/N E56S002525; Venetian Red, White coves/Beige vinyl; Older restoration, 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $62,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $68,200 – Dual quad 265/225hp, 3-speed, spinner wheel covers, whitewalls, heat and defrost, pushbutton radio. – From the Mario Sueiras collection. A fair amount of dirt and grime under the hood but it’s presentable. Tired older paint and chrome, and the doors don’t quite fit flush with the body. Lightly worn interior with dull gauges and light discoloration on the seats. The tires look very old. A driver-quality C1, unremarkable in both equipment and condition. – On the expensive side for an aged car with no history represented. Not an outrageous price, but the new owner already has too much in the car to address anything other than minor cosmetic stuff. This result is more money than the car’s condition warranted.

Lot # F148 1966 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible; S/N 194676S103678; Engine # 6103678; Sunfire Yellow/Black vinyl; Black top; Unrestored original, 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $55,000 plus commission of; Final Price $55,000 – 327/350hp L79, 4-speed, side exhaust, spinner wheel covers, Firestone tires, 3.70 Positraction, tinted glass, Protect-O-Plate. – Represented as matching numbers. One big scratch on the right rear bumper, but the chrome is mostly fantastic for being original. The paint has crazing on the tail, scuffs along the boot, a few touch ups on the door edges and a handful of cracks on the front, but it looks quite good from even just a short distance. Very tidy unrestored engine bay and underbody. The interior is phenomenal and doesn’t even look five years old, let alone over 50. Preservation recognized by an NCRS Top Flight award, and a stunning testament to how well a car will hold up if it is taken care of. – This car has a long auction history with the kind of consistency that is hard to argue with. It sold at Mecum St. Charles in 2007 for $50,400 and again for $50,600 at Auctions America Fort Lauderdale in 2013. It then hammered not sold at a $47,000 high bid at Mecum Indy in 2017, but sold for $64,900 at Kissimmee last year ($59,000 hammer, only $4,000 more than this bid), again for $55,000 at Mecum Dallas last year and was reported bid to $52,000 at Kissimmee this year. Given those results, the car could have been let go at this reported high bid and the consignor is unreasonable to expect a windfall in the present market.

Lot # S114 1966 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe; S/N 194376S111647; Engine # 611647; Silver Pearl/Black leather; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $82,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $90,200 – 427/425hp L72, 4-speed, centerlock wheels, gold line tires, side exhaust, teakwood steering wheel, Vintage air conditioning, power steering, power brakes, later radio. – Represented as matching numbers but no other documentation represented. Restored but used underneath. The chrome is a little tired and the headlight doors are a little uneven. Uneven door gaps. Very good older paint other than a few small chips behind the passenger’s door. Very good fully restored interior. A fundamentally attractive car and body-off restored at some point, plus it has a lot of good equipment, but it looks older. – An appropriate balance struck here among this Corvette’s desirable equipment, the age of its restoration and the departures from stock that make it a better cruiser than show car.

Lot # S98.1 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe; S/N 194377S109446; Engine # 7109446; Sunfire Yellow/Black leather; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $75,000 plus commission of; Final Price $75,000 – 427/400hp L68, 4-speed, Rally wheels, red line tires, headrests. – Two-time NCRS Top Flight and represented as matching numbers. Restored but lightly run engine bay. The chrome is a little dull. Older paint with crazing on the hood scoop, a crack at the top of the left A-pillar and some blisters above the windshield. Lightly wrinkled seats. An older body-off restoration from 2014 that is no longer fresh but has no huge needs or problems. – This car sold at Mecum Kansas City at the end of 2016 for $143,000 and has been chasing that result ever since with a long string of no-sales at smaller and smaller hammer bids. It hammered not sold at $143,000 at Kansas City in 2016, $120,000 at Kissimmee in 2017, $130,000 at Indy in 2017 and $125,000 at Louisville. It then finally sold for $110,000 in Kissimmee last year, but then the no-sales started up again. It hammered at $120,000 here in Houston last year, again at $105,000 in Harrisburg last year, at $90,000 in Chicago, and at $82,000 in Kissimmee back in January. It’s a six-figure car, but on the auction circuit it’s stale. It’s time to either try another method of selling, or take whatever is offered, but take mercy on the Corvette and quit giving it rides to Mecum auctions. It has now probably covered more miles in the back of car haulers than the 47,695 miles on its odometer.

Lot # S135 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible; S/N 194679S726031; LeMans Blue/Blue vinyl; White top; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $55,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $60,500 – 427/390hp L36, 4-speed, narrow whitewalls, side exhaust, F41 suspension, Positraction, headrests. – Very good chrome and gorgeous paint other than a small crack at the back of the hood. Tidy but used engine bay with light pitting on the exhaust. Long crack in the padding on the right A-pillar but otherwise very good, mostly restored interior. Represented as matching numbers and well restored at some point, just showing some inevitable flaws that come with age and even careful use. – This is a strong price for an imperfect car even considering the desirable value-adding equipment. While not outrageous, it’s favorable to the seller.

Lot # F68 2013 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Coupe; S/N 1G1YW2DWD5101276; Torch Red, Black/Black; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $36,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $40,150 – Automatic, chromed wheels, 3LT Package, red calipers. – Represented with 6,954 miles. No wear or age to speak of. Looks barely broken in, because it is barely broken in. – The Grand Sport started at around 57 grand when it was new, and the C6 generally still exists more in the realm of used car than collector car. Given the usual depreciation but also the impressively low miles, this was a reasonable result.

Lot # S256 1996 Chevrolet Corvette GS Convertible; S/N 1G1YY3259T5600232; Blue, Red/Black leather; White vinyl top; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $40,000 plus commission of; Final Price $40,000 – 350/330hp, 6-speed, Goodyear Eagle tires, CD stereo. – Represented with 5,904 miles. Very good paint and clean wheels. A few very light smudges on the top. Very light wrinkling on the seats. Inherently collectible in this configuration and with these miles, although not quite showroom fresh even if it is close. – Chevrolet did offer a Collector Edition Corvette in 1996, but the really collectible car from that year is the Grand Sport, which offered real performance upgrades and was limited to just 1,000 copies (810 coupes and 190 convertibles). It’s not uncommon to see a GS with extremely low mileage, so this one’s 5,904 miles isn’t as special as one might think, including the seller. It hammered not sold here last year at a $41,000 high bid, and the market spoke again this year with another fair and nearly identical offer.

Lot # S239 1978 Chevrolet Corvette Pace Car Coupe; S/N 1Z87L8S900060; Black, Pace Car graphics/Silver; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $23,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $25,300 – 350/185hp, automatic, Goodyear GT Radial tires, air conditioning, tilt steering column. – Very clean original engine bay. The paint is a little aged and faded but there are no blemishes. Perfectly preserved interior. Showing just 48 miles and not likely to ever get much past 50. – Sold for $38,880 at Mecum Dallas in September 2014, then $31,320 at Mecum Austin in 2014, the trend is clear. They were “instant collectibles” in 1978 but in 2019 it’s hard to find anyone who cares about delivery mileage ’78 Corvette Pace Cars unless they’ve been in the parade at the Speedway. This is the going market.

Lot # S161.1 1961 Chevrolet Impala 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 11837L116601; Roman Red/Red, White vinyl with Red cloth inserts; Older restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $53,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $58,300 – Tri-Power 348, 4-speed, wheel covers, whitewalls, factory air conditioning, rear seat speaker, pushbutton radio, bench seat, floor shift. – Correct and tidy but lightly used engine bay. The paint and chrome are a little dull but don’t have any major issues. The driver’s door sticks out a little at the bottom. Good restored interior that shows light general wear. A solid and attractive but older restoration that’s starting to show its age just about everywhere. – Not sold at a $55,000 high bid at Kissimmee in January with the consignor taking the prudent course of accepting the bidders’ judgment here in Houston.

Lot # F122 1956 Chrysler New Yorker St. Regis Hardtop; S/N N5611598; White, Red, Black/White, Grey leather; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $29,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $32,450 – 354/280hp, automatic, wheel covers, whitewalls, hood ornament, performance cam, power steering, power brakes, power windows, Vintage air conditioning, Town and Country radio. – Restored four years and 1,700 miles ago. Very clean engine bay but some wear and dirt underneath. Uneven door gaps. Light discoloration on the seats but mostly excellent interior. Lightly used, but a mostly high quality redo and needs nothing to take out, enjoy and be proud of it. – Surprisingly rare and unusual, dramatic colors and comprehensive equipment that’s ideal for weekend drives and even longer tours, particularly at this price which indicates the bidders were distracted by other things when it crossed the block. It is a good value.

Lot # T67 1973 Citroen SM Coupe; S/N 00SD0265; Blue/Black; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $50,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $55,000 – Wheel covers, Goodyear tires, power windows, factory air conditioning, later JVC stereo. – Represented with an up to date service. Tidy engine bay. Lightly scratched bumpers. Old respray with flecks in the paint. Good, well-kept original interior. Unrestored but tidy underneath. Good enough for casual fun provided everything works, but nothing more serious than that, and if the suspension needs work consider borrowing from the 401K. – Gooding sold this car for $81,400 in Scottsdale two years ago, but this is a much more realistic price considering its several issues.

Lot # T100 1972 Datsun 240Z Coupe; S/N HLS3070470; Persimmon/White; Enthusiast restoration, 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $12,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $13,750 – American Racing wheels, 5-speed, built 180-hp engine with Crane cam, limited-slip, covered headlights, rear spoiler, dual mirrors, wood shift knob. – Crudely heat-wrapped exhaust, but otherwise a tidy engine bay. Decent chrome, but cheap older repaint with blisters on the hood. Deep wiper scratch in the windshield. Crack in the dash top. Discoloration on the seats. Worn steering wheel and switchgear. A cool, presumably quick car with tasteful mods and it’s a decent 20-footer, but best described as an amateur redo. – Another example of modifications hurting a car’s value rather than helping it. Some of the changes may make the car objectively better to drive, but it’s hard to tell at first glance how well everything was done and it’s hard to bid with confidence on some random person’s work. This is a seriously low price for a usable 240Z, but it’s also understandable.

Lot # S255 1969 Dodge Charger R/T 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N XS29L9B178343; White, Black vinyl roof/Black leather; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $65,000 plus commission of; Final Price $65,000 – 440/375hp Magnum, automatic, Magnum 500 wheels, Radial T/A tires, factory air conditioning, leather bucket seats, console, floor shift, factory radio, wood tone dash. – Represented as matching numbers. Very clean engine bay. Very good paint and chrome. Factory gaps. Clean roof vinyl. Very light pitting on the quarter window trim. Lightly wrinkled leather but otherwise good restored interior. Fully and correctly restored to high standards, just a while ago. – This car sold for $77,000 at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale this year then went to Mecum Glendale a couple of months later and hammered not sold at a $70,000 high bid. For an R/T with the SE package (which added leather and woodgrain), the reported high bid here is a little light, but the one in Glendale wasn’t and it should sell if it gets another offer close to it.

Lot # S133 1968 Dodge Coronet R/T Convertible; S/N WS27L8G123089; Blue/Black vinyl; Black vinyl top; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $57,500 plus commission of; Final Price $57,500 – 440/375hp, automatic, red line tires, power brakes, power steering, power top, bucket seats, floor shift, factory radio, modern underdash gauges, Tic-Toc-Tach. – Represented as matching numbers. Restored 11 years and 3,000 miles ago. Very clean, recently detailed engine bay. The chrome is good, but the paint is starting to show its age, the window frames are scratched and the steering wheel is a bit worn. It needs nothing major and it’s an attractive desirably equipped car, but the freshness has worn off. – The reported high bid was a fair and reasonable offer, especially considering this car sold for $60,500 at Mecum Chicago last year, although it did hammer not sold at a $67,000 high bid at Kissimmee this year, which was a missed opportunity.

Lot # S73 1968 Dodge Coronet R/T 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N WS23L8G173229; Yellow, Black tail stripe, Black vinyl roof/Black; Older restoration, 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $30,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $33,000 – 440/375hp Magnum, automatic, Cooper Cobra tires, power steering, power brakes, heat and defrost, tinted glass, bucket seats, floor shift, factory radio, column-mounted Sun tach, hood pins. – Mario Sueiras Collection. Tidy engine bay with a little dirt. Lightly scratched bumpers. Large crack below the windshield as well as a scuff and some microblisters on the tail. The doors stick out at the bottom. Good, lightly worn interior. Old undercoating underneath. A 20-footer. A usable driver, but one that has many needs. – Bought appropriately for its sketchy condition and presentation, a car to be enjoyed at a realistic price.

Lot # S106 1970 Dodge Coronet Super Bee 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N WM23V0A136152; Hemi Orange, Black bumble bee band/Black vinyl; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $57,500 plus commission of; Final Price $57,500 – Hub caps, Polyglas tires, 440/390hp Six Pack, automatic, power steering, bucket seats, console, floor shift, factory radio, Tic-Toc-Tach. – Correct replacement block. Fully restored, lightly used engine bay. Light pitting on the window frames and scratched door handles. Very good paint. Very good interior other than the dash, where the woodgrain is coming loose around the radio. Fully restored to high enough standards a while ago, and lightly used since. – This car sold for $44,000 at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale in 2012, then again there a year later for $55,000. Those were both reasonable results for the time given the lack of matching numbers, and so is the reported high bid here.

Lot # F174 2001 Dodge Viper RT/10 Convertible; S/N 1B3ER65E31V702791; Viper Red/Black leather; Unrestored original, 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $22,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $24,750 – Nitto tires, CD stereo. – Later RT/10, offered on salvage title and might be a flood car. A little dirty underneath. Wrinkled seats. Some cracks on the nose and the paint on the hardtop is very tired. Looks like a used car despite the 18,202 miles showing, and the title issue is of course a red flag. – This car sold for $30,800 at Mecum Dallas in 2016, and although it looks decent, it will never be able to escape the salvage title stigma and is destined to trade for rock-bottom numbers like this.

Lot # S91 1977 Ferrari 308 GTS Spider, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 23003; Rosso Corsa/Black, Red leather; Unrestored original, 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $40,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $44,000 – Cromodora wheels, later added Scuderia shields, later digital stereo, power windows, air conditioning, aftermarket exhaust, Clifford alarm. – From the Mario Sueiras collection. Showing 96,401 km, or 59,901 miles. Dirty but maintained engine bay. Lightly wrinkled seats. Dull switchgear. Dull bumpers and slightly tired but presentable paint. A desirable early carbureted 308 in good colors, but a used one with no history represented. – The bidders seriously discounted this 308 GTS’s condition and the lack of documentation or service history, as they should have. It’s almost certain to need work or at least a thorough mechanical freshening, most if not all contemplated in this appropriate price.

Lot # S137 1988 Ferrari 328 GTS Spider, Body by Pininfarina; S/N ZFFXA20A8J0076827; White/White leather; Unrestored original, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $70,000 plus commission of; Final Price $70,000 – Pirelli tires, cassette stereo, books, tools, window sticker. – Two-owner 328, and a relatively desirable 1988.5 car without ABS. Belt service last year. Showing 28,814 miles. Tiny crack in the tail but otherwise very good original white paint. The seats are another story, with serious wrinkling and light cracking in the leather, made all the worse by the fact that they’re white. Tidy and well cared for, plus it’s finished in unusual and very `80s colors, but driven plenty and not perfect. – This is a perfectly fair offer for a good but used 328 GTS. Values for these cars are fairly flat at the moment, this one is unlikely to get a higher offer somewhere else and this is all the money even taking the recent belt service into account.

Lot # S41 2000 Ferrari 360 Coupe; S/N ZFFYU51A5Y0120207; Rosso Corsa/Tan leather piped in Black; Unrestored original, 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $56,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $61,600 – Alpine stereo, books and tools. – The Scuderia shields are aftermarket, and the right one has paint chipping off it. The headlight lenses are cloudy and there are lots of chips on the nose. The rest of the paint isn’t terrible, but by 20-year-old Ferrari standards it should be better. Slightly flattened driver’s seat but mostly good interior. The 360 is one of the more usable Ferraris, so this one’s 34,687 miles aren’t unusually high, but it definitely wasn’t pampered along the way and is now only in driver condition. – While easier to live with and maintain than the 355 it replaced, the 360 is still a modern Ferrari, so this one’s wear and tear and its lack of a service history aren’t reassuring. The price was low, but no less than the car really deserved.

Lot # F116 1998 Ferrari 550 Maranello Coupe, Body by Pininfarina; S/N ZFF2RU9800011192; NART Blue/White leather; Unrestored original, 3 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $80,000 plus commission of; Final Price $80,000 – Modular wheels, Michelin tires, clear bra on the nose, 6-Speed, Tubi exhaust, Kenwood CD stereo. – Showing 49,214 miles and represented with a belt service last year. There are several chips on the nose and hood, including under the clear bra. Tiny dent on the passenger’s door. The rest of the paint is lightly detail scratched and there are a few larger cracks on the trunk lid. Lightly wrinkled driver’s seat and lightly warped dash top. A late manual shift Ferrari GT car is inherently collectible, but by Ferrari standards this is a rough example. The handsome colors and recent service do little to help it. – The 550 is still a decent value in terms of performance and style these days. In the right condition it can be a six-figure car, but a worn one like this doesn’t deserve much if any more than the reported high bid here and it should have sold at this price.

Lot # F158.1 2002 Ferrari 575M Maranello Coupe, Body by Pininfarina; S/N ZFFBV55A220126972; Grigio Titanio/Black leather; Unrestored original, 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $76,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $83,600 – Michelin tires, Daytona-style seats, factory radio, clear bra on the nose. – Represented with 15,000 miles and a service 800 miles ago. Very good paint. Clean wheels. Light wrinkling to the driver’s seat. Pampered in typical Ferrari fashion and seldom driven. – This car has made a bunch of Mecum auction appearances in a short time. It sold here last year for $99,000 when it had 15,183 miles, then hammered not sold at Mecum Monterey at an $85,000 high bid, then again at Mecum Dallas a few months later at a $90,000 high bid. This year, it hammered not sold at an $80,000 high bid at Kissimmee and again at an $85,000 high bid at Mecum Glendale this year. All modest numbers for a good low-mile 575, but another online listing reveals that the CARFAX reported damage to the right front in 2006. The seller decided to cut losses and drop the reserve, a reasonable, if painful, decision.

Lot # S116.1 2011 Ferrari 599 GTO Berlinetta, Body by Scaglietti; S/N ZFF70RCA9B0176914; Black, Silver roof, Red stripe/Black, Red leather; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $525,000 plus commission of; Final Price $525,000 – Matte Grey 5-spoke alloy wheels, Pirelli PZero tires, carbon fiber interior trim and side skirts, Red calipers, carbon brake discs, SF shields, Yellow gauge faces, Daytona-style seats. – Represented with 7,902 miles, Classiche certification and a recent service. It looks like it’s been out in the rain recently and could use a detailing, but there’s nothing seriously wrong and there aren’t even any wrinkles in the seats. Like new and barely broken in. – Nearly 8,000 miles is on the high side for a late model high performance Ferrari. It could have sold at the reported high bid here if there was money close to it, and it was already a decent amount higher than the $490,000 it got bid to at Bonhams Quail Lodge last year.

Lot # S121.1 2014 Ferrari F12berlinetta Coupe, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N ZFF74UFAXE0201312; Rosso Corsa/Black leather; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $185,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $203,500 – Paddle shift, Yellow calipers, P Zero tires, tinted glass, Scuderia shields, dual-zone climate control. – Represented with 6,452 miles and looks pampered from new, which was after all only five years ago. – A $330,000 car when it left the factory, the f12 is still more used exotic GT than collector Ferrari and most prices are in the mid-200s. This one hammered not sold at a $195,000 high bid at Mecum Glendale a few weeks previously, and although this is a lower price than most, the seller here prudently decided to cut the car loose rather than drag it to several more Mecum auctions watching it depreciate while racking up entry fees and transportation costs.

Lot # S53 1970 Fiat 500L 2-Dr. Sedan; S/N 110F3040175; Yellow/Black vinyl; Enthusiast restoration, 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $12,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $13,200 – Hub caps, whitewalls, luggage rack, folding sunroof. – From the Mario Sueiras collection. The driver’s door sticks out a little bit. Good driver quality repaint. Scratched up door handles and dull brightwork. Very good interior. Tidy and lightly restored underneath. Dull Fiat badge. In good enough shape to casually enjoy. – It is amazing that Fiat kept the 500 in production by this example’s 1970 date, let alone later into the 70’s, but a 22hp 2-cylinder 499cc engine wasn’t doing it for much longer. This is a sound value in a preternaturally cute Fiat, just don’t take it on the freeway.

Lot # S52 1956 Fiat 600 Multipla 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N 202944; Green, Light Green/Green, White vinyl; Enthusiast restoration, 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $35,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $38,500 – Hub caps, whitewalls, Veglia gauges. – From the Mario Sueiras collection. Dull grille trim. Good older paint other than some light cracking around the door hinges. Clean lightly run engine and orderly engine compartment. Good interior. A sound, basic, microcar quality restoration that needs nothing to go out and enjoy. – This is a sound and basically restored Multipla that needs nothing to be used and brought an appropriate price for what it is.

Lot # F178 1982 Ford Bronco XLT Lariat Wagon 4×4; S/N 1FMEU15G1CLA31990; Brown, Tan/Tan vinyl with cloth inserts; Unrestored original, 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $9,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $10,450 – 302/130hp with added Edelbrock intake and carb, automatic, power steering, power brakes, air conditioning, power windows, tinted glass, rear-mounted spare, factory radio. – Showing 24,210 miles. No major rot or oxidation underneath but it’s unrestored and dirty. Tired original chrome. Scratched up grille. The Lariat badge on the right side is loose. Very good, possibly original paint and very good interior. The rubber on the front bumper is a little loose. A used third gen Bronco, but not a bad one. – As prices for first gen Broncos get crazier and crazier, there is likely some upside for later Broncos, even used ones like this. This is a fair and straightforward result now, but it could very well be worth another couple grand in the not-too-distant future.

Lot # S160 2017 Ford F-150 Shelby Super Snake SuperCrew Pickup; S/N 1FTEW1CFXHFC21849; Shelby Blue, White stripes/Black leather; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $81,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $89,100 – 750 supercharged horses, automatic, sunroof, chromed wheels, Toyo tires. – 321 miles and essentially new. Represented as truck 64 of 110 built in 2017. – Ford hasn’t offered a Lightning in years, but Shelby has scratched the sporty F-Series itch with the 750-hp Super Snake, and the base price for this one two years ago was about $100,000 even. Given how rare it is, one could argue that this one should have sold for more, but we can chalk this one up to standard depreciation on a (very) lightly used truck. Load it up with four burly guys and all their tools and it’ll still smoke most everything it comes up against at a stoplight.

Lot # F117.1 1965 Ford Galaxie 500 XL 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 5U68Z171045; Ivy Green/Gold vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $35,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $38,500 – Z-Code 390/300hp, 4-speed, wire wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, bucket seats, console, pushbutton radio, window sticker, receipts, owner’s manual. – One owner until November of last year, and mostly original other than a repaint. The chrome also looks too good to be original. The paint is a little older, with light detail swirls and a few microblisters on the trunk, but it mostly looks good. Very good original interior that looks nearly new apart from light pitting on the console and steering wheel. Very clean underneath. Rare equipment, attractive colors, remarkable preservation and a short list of owners. A car to watch for Ford fans. – The bidders put a high value on originality and known ownership history to pay this much for a $25,000 Ford, even with the 4-speed adding to the value equation.

Lot # S130.1 2005 Ford GT Coupe; S/N 1FAFP90SX5Y401968; Black, Silver stripes/Black; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $280,000 plus commission of; Final Price $280,000 – Red calipers, BBS wheels, stripes. – 54 miles from new, which is fairly low even for these often never-driven cars. It has three of the four available and desirable options, only missing the McIntosh stereo. – Given the mileage, it would be reasonable to expect over 300 grand for this car, so refusing the reported high bid would seem to make sense, but there is no shortage of ’05-’06 Ford GTs and a whole production run of 2017 GTs is in the wings ready to steal their thunder. It’s a good time to sell, and this offer was realistic.

Lot # S82 1936 Ford Model 68 Deluxe Station Wagon; S/N 184674760; Tan, Wood/Brown; Older restoration, 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $56,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $61,600 – Hub caps and trim rings, Firestone wide whitewalls, amber fog lights, heater, three-row seating, banjo steering wheel, dome courtesy light, rear-mounted spare, grille guard. – From the Mario Sueiras collection. The wood on this car is its best feature. It’s straight, clean and stunning. The paint is good as well with no major blemishes to speak of. Excellent interior. There is light dirt on the underbody and the radiator looks very old, but the engine bay is restored and tidy. One look at the exquisite wood on this car, though, which is the main appeal of these anyway, makes it easy to forget about most of the other issues. – ’36 Ford woody wagons have brought over $100,000 in the past, and not been substantially better or better equipped than this. While this result is not a bargain, neither is it expensive: it’s just right, like Baby Bear’s porridge.

Lot # T72 1991 Ford Mustang 5.0 GT Convertible; S/N 1FACP45E1MF147926; White/White leather; White vinyl top; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $11,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $12,650 – Automatic, alloy wheels, luggage rack, factory cassette stereo. – Represented as a one-owner car with 30,661 miles. Very good original paint. Clean wheels. Some smudges and dirt on the top. Very good interior with almost no wear to the seats. It looks like this was someone’s baby for many years, which is reassuring. Lots of Fox-bodies were driven hard and put up wet, but this isn’t one of them. – Some low-mile Fox-bodies, even cars with standard equipment like this, have gotten truly staggering results at auction recently. What commands the really high prices, though, are the lowest odometer readings of under four digits. This car isn’t in much worse shape than a like-new time capsule and since it does have a few miles it could be actually driven and enjoyed, but car collecting isn’t always a rational hobby and this car brought a fairly modest result given current Fox-body Mustang values.

Lot # S109 1957 Ford Thunderbird Convertible; S/N E7FH235018; Red/Red; Black top; Recent restoration, 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $95,000 plus commission of; Final Price $95,000 – 312/270hp dual quad E-Bird, automatic, wheel covers, whitewalls, fender skirts, power steering, power brakes, power windows, Town and Country radio. – Nearly spotless fully restored engine bay. Very good paint, chrome and interior. Nothing to criticize, other than that there is no hardtop. Even so, it’s been redone to very high standards without overdoing it, and needs nothing. – The reported high bid here is light but not unreasonable for this car, but the seller already has two missed opportunities with this T-Bird, having turned away a $110,000 reported high bid at Mecum Monterey last year and a $130,000 high bid at Kissimmee this year, a notable missed opportunity. It’s time to take the money that’s on the table.

Lot # S48 1962 Goggomobil T400 Coupe; S/N 3181613; Turquoise, White roof/Tan vinyl; Older restoration, 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $20,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $22,000 – Hub caps, pre-selector, Sapphire pushbutton radio, suicide doors. – From the Mario Sueiras collection. Older paint and chrome. The driver’s door just does not want to close all the way. There are also a few concerning paint bubbles along the bottom of the passenger’s door, but the underbody looks restored. The window rubber is a little loose. Lightly worn seats. Charming, but an unremarkable driver. – The T400 certainly brings the cute factor, but it isn’t as cute as the TS-spec Goggomobil coupes and there were several other, better microcars out of this collection that may have taken some attention away from this mostly mediocre example. It’s a reasonable price even if it is slightly favorable to the buyer.

Lot # S49 1960 Goggomobil T600 Sedan; S/N 60025785; Turquoise, Cream/Blue, White striped cloth; Enthusiast restoration, 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $17,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $18,700 – Hub caps, whitewalls, original AM radio. – From the Mario Sueiras Collection. Dull chrome. Cracked badge on the nose. The grille trim doesn’t fit flush. Cracking windshield gasket. The doors stick out at the bottom. Older restored underneath. Some microblisters in the paint, and a tiny dent on the right front. Good interior other than a stain on the passenger’s side cloth. Another cute but driver-quality microcar out of this collection. – The problem with a microcar like this is that it looks like a real car that shrank, losing some of the masochistic appeal of microcars with odd designs and ergonomics, not to mention a horsepower rating even smaller than the vehicle. This is a realistic result for this Goggomobil.

Lot # S59 1957 Heinkel 153 Kabine Coupe; S/N 1534867; Turquoise/Blue tartan cloth; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $28,600 plus commission of; Final Price $28,600 – Steel wheels, reverse gear, front-opening door (like an Isetta), folding sunroof, bubble side windows. – From the Mario Sueiras collection. Tired old paint. Dry window rubber. A bit grubby underneath. Decent seats but the upholstery in the back is coming apart. Like an Isetta but more obscure and more bulbous. This one isn’t so bad that it isn’t cute and attention-grabbing, but it’s fairly rough. – It is difficult to see why this car (if the word “car” applies) wasn’t sold. It’s rare, but not very good, and there have been similar examples sold for similar money. The offer here is reasonable and should have been accepted.

Lot # T110 2002 Honda S2000 Convertible; S/N JHMAP11452T000552; Sebring Silver Metallic/Black leather; Black top; Unrestored original, 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $12,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $13,750 – APZ valves, intake and exhaust, aftermarket springs. – Represented with 63,373 miles, but looks well-kept and a VTEC Honda will go for many more. There are a few forgivable and small chips on the nose and hood, but otherwise very good paint. Very good interior with very light wear to the seats and some scratches on the aluminum shifter. Certainly not perfect, but looks like a better car than the mileage would suggest and doesn’t look to have ever been flogged too hard, unlike many of these cars. – Low-mile S2000s are now $20,000-plus cars, and drivers can be had in the mid-teens, so this was a fairly modest but not rock-bottom price for a solid car with some miles and light mods. The new owner is in for an exhilarating experience on the road at a bargain price even with the modifications.

Lot # S57 1965 Honda S600 Convertible; S/N AS2851007397; Red/Black vinyl; Black vinyl top; Older restoration, 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $37,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $40,700 – 606cc/57hp, 4-speed, hub caps, narrow whitewalls, dual wing mirrors, woodrim steering wheel, original radio. – From the Mario Sueiras collection and one of the better cars out of the group. Good newer replacement top. Dull chrome. Good older repaint. Tidy, lightly used engine bay and underbody. Cracked steering wheel center cap but the rest of the interior is very good. A good, basic older restoration. Styling like an MG Midget and about the same size, but rarer as well as more sophisticated and interesting with its twin-cam, four-carb engine and chain drive to the rear wheels. – More sophisticated than a Midget, and a lot more expensive. This is a very high result, but it isn’t easy to find an S600 in any condition. Mecum got even more for a restored S600 at Monterey in 2014, with a black over red car selling for $44,100.

Lot # S89 1955 Jaguar XK 140 Fixed Head Coupe; S/N W32868; Ivory/Red leather; Older restoration, 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $68,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $74,800 – Painted wire wheels, whitewalls, Lucas driving lights, spare, fender mirrors, leather hood strap. – From the Mario Sueiras collection. Tidy, lightly run engine bay. Older restored underneath. Uneven door gaps. Very good upholstery and interior wood. Very good but not show quality older paint. Attractive colors and mostly very good presentation other than a few details. It would make a great event car. – A perfectly appropriate result for an attractive but older restored fixed head coupe and one of the strongest results for the Mario Sueiras collection.

Lot # S96 1969 Jaguar XKE SII Roadster; S/N 1R9602; Red/Black; Black top; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $47,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $52,250 – Wire wheels, modern Michelin tires, 4-speed, boot cover, woodrim steering wheel, later radio. – Mario Sueiras collection. Terrible bumper chrome, especially on the rear. Long, light scratch on the left side of the hood and chips at the back of it. Reasonably tidy engine, but the frame is dirty and oxidized. Decent original interior other than lightly wrinkled and cracked seats. The doors stick out a little. A restoration would be relatively straightforward and that’s where it’s probably headed. – And at this low but perfectly reasonable result, the new owner isn’t too far into the car already to get started on said restoration.

Lot # F238 1971 Jaguar XKE SII Roadster; S/N P1R12662; White/Black leather; Black top; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $70,000 plus commission of; Final Price $70,000 – 4-speed, chrome wire wheels, Goodyear tires in back, store brand tires in front, boot cover, Nardi woodrim steering wheel, wood shift knob, factory pushbutton AM-FM radio. – Represented with 12,710 believable miles and original other than a repaint 20 years ago. Tidy, maintained and correct engine bay. The paint is starting to show its age, but it’s sound and has no major blemishes other than some discoloration below the driver’s door. Erratic panel fit. Lightly aged leather but there’s no reason to replace it, while the dash and switchgear are very good. Tidy underneath. Dull but presentable chrome. Better than an average driver and an attractive, usable SII. – While it is commendably well-preserved, it’s not a time-warp car, either, and at the end of the day it’s still a less desirable Series II car. The reported high bid wasn’t generous, but it was fair, and it’s not likely to get much higher at another venue.

Lot # F300 1981 Jeep Wagoneer Station Wagon 4×4; S/N 1JECE15N9BT059225; Brown, Woodgrain/Beige leather with cloth inserts; Unrestored original, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $18,000 plus commission of; Final Price $18,000 – 258/115hp six-cylinder, automatic, narrow whitewalls, roof rack, power windows, cassette stereo, air conditioning. – Scratched and flaking grille trim. Light flaking on the woodgrain in a few places but it mostly looks good. Something corrosive looks like it dropped on the back of the hood and caused paint damage, but otherwise the older repaint is quite good. The roof rack is completely loose on the top left side and not screwed down at all. Tidy undercoated frame. Very good interior with only light wear to the driver’s seat leather. Represented with a recent service and 58,000 miles, which must be a mistake since the odometer clearly reads 92,357 miles. A well-equipped and presentable pre-Grand Wagoneer, but it’s just a solid driver. – Woodgrain may not exactly be coming back into style, but vintage Wagoneers and Grand Wagoneers are gaining an audience and prices are going up. Even so, the reported high bid here is ahead of the curve if there was money close to it, and the seller’s head is in the clouds to refuse such an offer.

Lot # S186 1999 Lamborghini Diablo VT Coupe; S/N ZA9DU01B7XLA12265; Blue/Snowcorn Yellow leather; Unrestored original, 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $210,000 plus commission of; Final Price $210,000 – Alpine Edition, chromed wheels, P Zero tires, climate control, original window sticker. – Represented with 7,916 miles. Well kept, shiny metallic paint with no chips or scratches. Light wrinkling to the seats but the interior looks mostly almost new. A gorgeous late AWD Diablo with a special edition package to boot. – Given that this car sold for a reported $253,000 only a few months ago at Mecum Monterey, the decision to hold out for more at the reported high bid in Houston might have been reasonable, but is questionable in today’s market environment. It was represented a 7,915 miles in Monterey and 7,916 here, meaning it’s barely been driven off the preview lot, into a transporter, and back into the preview here in eight months. Expecting a profit is optimistic in 2019.

Lot # S92 1967 Lancia Flaminia Coupe, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 826030001693; Silver/Red leather; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $30,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $33,000 – Hub caps and trim rings, Talbot Berlin mirrors mounted on the fenders, pushbutton radio, Nardi woodrim steering wheel. – From the Mario Sueiras collection. Grubby engine bay. Dull chrome and brightwork. High quality older paint. Scuffs and cracks in the tail lights. Wrinkled and cracked original leather, but the rest of the interior is holding up very well. Thick old undercoating on the chassis. Shiny paint and the handsome Pininfarina shape catches the eye, but this car has lots of problems. – These Flaminias aren’t worth as much as their Pininfarina lines and powerful engine would suggest, and this was a driver-quality price for a driver quality car. Provided it doesn’t have any needs that are too serious, it’s a good value.

Lot # F263 1983 Land Rover Defender 110 Wagon 4×4; S/N SALLDHMG8AA196003; Green, White roof/Black; Truck restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $55,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $60,500 – Diesel, 5-speed, mud flaps, rear-mounted spare, rear step, grille guard, knobby tires – First year for the 110. The odometer shows 93,340 km. Sound repaint with light orange peel on some of the white parts. New exhaust. Clean older undercoated frame. Very clean and well-kept original interior. Restored to reasonably good standards, and not too good to actually go out and enjoy off the pavement. – Sold here in 2016 for $41,250 and again last year for $66,000. It has done just 427 km since 2016. This is another expensive result for a 60hp diesel-powered 110 but, then again, it isn’t easy to find one this good.

Lot # S81 1932 LaSalle 345-B Town Coupe; S/N 1101142; Black/Tan cloth; Older restoration, 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $42,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $46,200 – 353/115hp V8, 3-speed, painted wire wheels with hub caps and trim rings, dual enclosed sidemount spares with chrome horns, Super Ray lights, luggage rack, rear seat curtains, Jaeger dash clock. – From the Mario Sueiras collection. Tired, lightly swirled but presentable paint. Decent chrome. Older restored underneath. Cracked running boards. Uneven door gaps. Worn steering wheel but good interior wood and upholstery. An attractive car with good presence, but in driver condition. – Differing from its big brother Cadillac V8 only in wheelbase and coachwork embellishments, this 345-B Town Coupe offers style, comfort and performance. It’s also rare, with only 3,290 built in all models for 1932. It’s a handsome and unusual car that appealed to the Houston bidders and brought a realistic price that’s fair to both the buyer and the seller.

Lot # S112 1935 Lincoln Model K Convertible Roadster, Body by LeBaron; S/N K3948; Bright Yellow/Tan leather; Tan top; Older restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $115,000 plus commission of; Final Price $115,000 – Painted wire wheels with hub caps and trim rings, Silvertown wide whitewalls, greyhound mascot, fog lights, dual enclosed sidemount spares with mirrors, boot cover, luggage rack, rumble seat, golf bag door. – Older paint that looks great from a distance, but there are touch ups at the back of the hood, scratches on the right headlight, and a tiny dent on the right rear fender. Very clean underneath, though, and the chrome is still very good even if it isn’t show quality. The interior is mostly excellent, although the gauges look a little aged. About as far from subtle and humble as one can get, it’s a grand automobile and would be a highlight in most collections, but wouldn’t take home a trophy at a major concours. – There is a message being sent loud and clear to the consignor of this handsome old Lincoln but it’s not being recognized. It was a no-sale at Auctions America Ft. Lauderdale in 2016 at a reported bid of $160,000 followed by a string of no-sales at Mecum auctions in the past fifteen months: $125,000 Kissimmee 2018, $120,000 at Monterey 2018 and the same at Kissimmee in January. The trend is about as clear as can be and it is time to get the message.

Lot # F226.1 1958 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Convertible; S/N 121042502077; Cream/Tan leather; Beige cloth top; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $75,000 plus commission of; Final Price $75,000 – Solex carbs, hub caps and trim rings, Cinturato tires, pushbutton radio. – Tidy engine bay with newer hoses and wires as well as rebuilt carbs. Good older replacement top, but there is some discoloration on the underside of it and it fits loosely. Slightly dull older chrome, and the rear bumper looks a little beat up. Shiny older repaint with a run under the passenger’s door, touch ups at the back of the door and masking errors around the trunk lid. Good original interior with lightly worn but very good leather. Tidy underbody. A sound but superficial cosmetic restoration. – While 190SLs have fallen off quite a bit from their peak in 2015-16, any decent example should be worth a lot closer to six figures than the reported high bid here, but this car was bid to only $60,000 at Kissimmee in January and the same $75,000 as offered here at Glendale two weeks ago. Holding out for more was an understandable if optimistic decision, but evidence is piling up that this what bidders think it is worth.

Lot # S245 1966 Mercury Comet Cyclone GT 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 6H26S598001; Red, White/White vinyl; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $32,000 plus commission of; Final Price $32,000 – 390/335hp, automatic, power steering, power brakes, red line tires, added air conditioning, bucket seats, console, floor shift, later radio. – Represented as matching numbers. Very clean restored engine bay. Mostly sound older paint and chrome, but there is a big crack in the rear bumper. Small chip in the right rear quarter window. Old tires. Cracked steering wheel cap and light pitting on the console. Very good newer seats, but the rest of the interior is original and a little aged. Restored on a budget but a good car and a neat high-performance Mercury that is not seen very often. – This is ample money for a good quality Cyclone GT with an automatic, even be generous and the seller missed the opportunity to turn it into cash. It would have been adequately valued at $20,000.

Lot # F219 1965 Mercury Montclair 4-Dr. Sedan Breezeway; S/N 5Z52Z585587; Light Blue/Light Blue vinyl, cloth; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $7,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $8,250 – 390/300hp Z-code, automatic, wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, power steering, power brakes, factory air conditioning, pushbutton radio. – Grimy, oxidized original engine bay, although some of the hoses and the exhaust system look new. Dirty but not rotten underneath. Several big scratches on the bumpers. Pitting on the mirror. Old respray that shines but has runs below the windshield, blisters in several spots and orange peel above the windows. The original interior is well kept and looks better than the rest of the car. As a four-door, it’s not economical to restore it, but it would make a rewarding and relatively straightforward project. – For anyone looking to seriously restore this car, it needed to be this cheap, so it’s a solid buy at this price. It was sold at Mecum’s Spring Classic in Indy last year for $9,900 and it might be inferred that the project proved to be more daunting than expected by the buyer there.

Lot # S33.1 1954 Mercury Monterey Sun Valley 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 54SL87355M; White, Green roof/White vinyl, Green cloth; Older restoration, 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $42,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $46,200 – 256/161hp, automatic, wheel covers, whitewalls, fender skirts, Continental kit, power steering, power brakes, dash clock, pushbutton radio. – Light pitting and scratching on the front bumper. Large chip to the right of the hood, long crack on the right side of the tail and bad orange peel on and around the spare wheel cover. Worn steering wheel rim but the rest of the interior looks very good. Very tidy and lightly used underneath. Body-off restored and looks great from a short distance, but there are lots of details that take away from its mostly good presentation. – This car sold at no reserve for the low, low price of $24,200 in Kissimmee back in January. It had a lot more luck in the less crowded field in Houston, and this result is actually on the expensive side. It’s rare to see a car flipped in a few months at auction for any profit, let alone this much, and the seller found the moon and the planets aligned in Houston.

Lot # S47 1963 Messerschmitt KR200 Bubble Top; S/N 79641; Red/Red; Enthusiast restoration, 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $29,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $32,450 – Wheel covers, dual mirrors, tinted canopy. – From the Mario Sueiras collection. The canopy top has a few long cracks in it. Dull older paint and brightwork. Dull windows. Good interior with a lightly worn driver’s seat. A little grubby underneath but not bad. Rather rough around the edges, but it takes little away from the Messerschmitt’s inherent cute factor. – The “rough around the edges” is fully discounted with this result which could have been $10,000 more without being excessive. Some detailing and attention to presentation could return good money for the buyer in Monterey.

Lot # S94 1953 Nash-Healey LeMans Roadster, Body by Pinin Farina; S/N 2378; Engine # NHA1393; Red/Beige leather; Older restoration, 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $75,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $82,500 – Wire wheel covers, whitewalls, dual wing mirrors, pushbutton radio, side curtains, spare. – From the Mario Sueiras collection. Represented as matching numbers. Tidy but run engine bay. Dull older chrome. The mirrors are incorrect and look to be from a Jaguar. The shifter is incorrect as well, but those are both little things. The door is tough to get open. Good but older paint and brightwork. Lightly wrinkled seats. Plenty of little problems, but a fundamentally good car and these exquisite hand-built Italo-Anglo-American hybrids are very rare in any condition. Just 162 were built in 1953. – Thanks in part to their mixed genes, Nash-Healeys aren’t worth very much considering their rarity, build quality and Pinin Farina lines. If it had something Italian under the hood it would probably would have sold for well into the six figures these days. Given the age of the restoration, some incorrect details and the lack of any type of history with this car, this is a realistic result.

Lot # F146.1 1971 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 Convertible; S/N 344671M199793; Lime Green Metallic, White stripe/White vinyl; White vinyl top; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $40,000 plus commission of; Final Price $40,000 – 455/340hp, automatic, Radial T/A tires, power steering, power brakes, cruise control, Hurst dual gate shifter, factory radio. – Represented as matching numbers and fully restored in 2013. Fully redone and lightly run engine bay. Very good still fresh paint and chrome other than a tiny, tiny chip on the driver’s door. Good, tight-fitting top. Very good interior, fully restored other than the dash and lightly worn switchgear. Not perfect but mostly gorgeous. – Not sold at a similar $45,000 high bid at Kissimmee this year. The seller is probably hoping for somewhere north of 50 grand, which isn’t realistic for this 4-4-2’s condition but is what it brought ($56,160) at Kissimmee in 2015 when the odometer showed 333 fewer miles than it does not. The market has moved on and the owner isn’t getting the message.

Lot # S79 1932 Oldsmobile L-32 Sport Coupe; S/N SC4626; Beige, Brown roof and fenders/Beige cloth; Older restoration, 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $35,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $38,500 – 240/87hp inline eight, 3-speed, artillery wheels with hub caps and trim rings, wide whitewalls, dual sidemount spares, dual horns, rumble seat, luggage trunk, golf bag door. – From the Mario Sueiras collection. Very clean engine bay. The wheels are very good and clean but the tires look old. Good but older repaint with a tiny chip behind the driver’s door. Good, lightly worn interior. A handsome, rare little car with good features and in a good body style. Not ready for a show field but certainly ready for a weekend on the road. – This is a unusual automobile bought for a notably reasonable price with 87hp eight-cylinder power for little more than a Model A coupe in comparable condition, an inherently good value for the money albeit one bought appropriately in the market’s perception.

Lot # F225 1954 Plymouth Belvedere 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 13595149; Rose, White roof/White vinyl, Pink cloth; Older restoration, 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $14,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $15,950 – 217/100hp six, 3-speed, wire wheels, wide whitewalls, power steering, heater, pushbutton radio, column shift, overdrive. – Fully restored, but done a while ago. Uneven gaps and the body side trim doesn’t fit quite right. Big chip at the edge of the trunk lid. Very good interior other than a rough-looking steering wheel and paint coming off the shifter. An attractive but basic driver. – Sold for $28,600 here two years ago, and its odometer shows just 2 more miles. Before that, it sold at Mecum Indy in 2014 for $13,230 then at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale in 2015 for $24,200. In 2017, it was sold next to an identical convertible version, which added some charm and contributed to that expensive result. This is a realistic price as interest in basic postwar domestic cars like this wanes.

Lot # S175.1 1970 Plymouth ‘Cuda Hemi 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N BS23R0B157143; Rallye Red, Black hockey stick stripes/Black vinyl; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $165,000 plus commission of; Final Price $165,000 – 426/425hp Hemi, 4-speed with pistol grip shifter, shaker hood, Super Track Pack, power brakes, Polyglas GT tires, console, factory radio, rally gauges, hood pins. – Clean but lightly run engine bay. No big chips or scratches in the paint but it does look older. The window frames are all scratched. Very good interior. Restored in the late 80s and doesn’t exactly need another round of major work, but it is showing the restoration’s age. Regardless, what really sets this car apart is the combination of equipment and options. – What is missing here, and is reflected in the reported high bid for an otherwise >$200,000 quality if older restoration, is anything about the driveline’s origins. The chassis number is correct for its configuration, but nowhere does the seller represent the driveline’s source, not even “date-coded”. The bidders factored that uncertainty into their offer for it, as they should, and this is the real money unless the seller can present better documentation.

Lot # S143 1969 Plymouth GTX 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N RS23J9G223732; Blue, Black vinyl roof/Black vinyl; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $70,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $77,000 – 426/425hp Hemi, automatic, power steering, power brakes, air grabber hood, Radial T/A tires, bucket seats, console, column-mounted Sun tach, factory radio. – The engine bay looks unrestored but is tidy and maintained. Older paint with light detail scratches. Good but older chrome. Clean, straight roof vinyl. Looks restored underneath. The console is scratched up and looks original, as do all the gauges and switchgear. The seats and carpets look newer. Inconsistently presented and not fully restored, but well-kept enough that it might as well be upon a cursory look that doesn’t delve into details. – Sold at Mecum Dallas in 2014 for $54,000 then at this sale two years ago for $82,500. This result is on the light side, but the serious money is chasing more serious restorations or more thoroughly preserved originals. It is a sound value at this price, taking its erratic details into account.

Lot # S198 1958 Pontiac Bonneville Convertible; S/N F558H1731; White/Light Blue, Dark Blue leather; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $75,000 plus commission of; Final Price $75,000 – 370/300hp Tri-Power, automatic, wheel covers, whitewalls, fender skirts, boot cover, spotlight mirror, WonderBar radio, rear seat speaker. – Dull original brightwork. Tired older repaint. Sound but aged original chrome. Original underneath with light oxidation but nothing serious. Wrinkled and lightly cracked original leather. The dash and carpets look very good. The trim on the door panels is a little warped. Never restored because it never needed it, and still a car to drive without feeling self-conscious. – Pontiac’s makeover began in 1956 when Bunkie Knudsen became general manager at only 43 years old. By 1958 the funky “Silver Streak” hood stripes were gone, a Pete Estes-designed V8 replaced the flathead eights and Pontiac was no longer a staid grandma’s car. The ’58 Bonneville stands tall in this evolution and there were only 3,096 convertibles built, fewer still with Tri-Power. The result here is silly low, even taking condition into account, and bears no relation at all to reality and by this time on Saturday ennui may have set in among the Mecum Houston bidder.

Lot # F243 1968 Pontiac Firebird 400 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 223378U145680; Yellow/Black vinyl; Older restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $30,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $33,000 – 400/330hp, 4-speed, Rally wheels, double red line tires, power brakes, hood tach, factory radio. – Lightly run restored engine bay, and older exhaust. Decent but older paint with a large chip at the bottom of the left A-pillar. Lightly scratched rear glass. Very good restored interior. An attractive early Firebird, but just a solid and fun driver. – Sold for $19,400 at the Atlantic City auction in 2003 and for $27,560 here six years ago, the seller is fortunate to get this much for it.

Lot # S223 2009 Pontiac G8 GT SLP Firehawk Supercharged Sedan; S/N 6G2EC57Y09L199737; Silver, Black/Black, Red leather; Unrestored original, 3 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $13,000 plus commission of; Final Price $13,000 – Very rare SLP-modified G8 with red calipers, cross-drilled and slotted rotors, supercharger, sunroof, tinted glass. – Showing 70,649 miles and clearly driven hard. The engine bay is dirty. There are a few paint bubbles in the hood. Cloudy headlight lenses. Small scrapes on the bottom front lip. A few scratches on the left rockers. Decent interior with wear that matches the mileage. Very rare, very cool and very fast, but a used car. – It’s rare and fast, but it’s also used and ugly. To the casual observer, it really doesn’t look like much and although real Pontiac fans will take notice of an SLP G8, they either weren’t at the auction on Saturday night or they turned their noses up at what is probably the worst one of the small handful of these cars built. It got only a handful of halfhearted bids when it crossed the block but that’s all it deserved.

Lot # S153 1966 Pontiac GTO Convertible; S/N 242676Z114354; Martinique Bronze/Black vinyl; Black vinyl top; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $55,000 plus commission of; Final Price $55,000 – 389/335hp, automatic, red line tires, woodrim steering wheel, bucket seats, console, floor shift, pushbutton radio, 3.23 Safe-T-Track, PHS documents. – Represented as matching numbers. Fully restored but lightly worn and dirty engine bay and underbody. Excellent paint and chrome other than a big chip on the left side of the tail. Erratic trunk fit. Excellent tight-fitting new top. Very good interior, although the console and shifter look a little aged. Body-off restored a while ago, lightly used and well-maintained. – A really good if not quite exceptional car, this GTO deserved the reported high bid, as it received at Kissimmee three months ago, but not much more, and if it joins the traveling Mecum circuit the fees will add up to the point that holding out for higher bids won’t make sense.

Lot # S65 1964 Pontiac LeMans GTO [Replica] 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 824P118095; Silvermist Gray/Blue vinyl; Enthusiast restoration, 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $32,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $35,200 – Tri-Power 389/348hp, 4-speed, spinner wheel covers, red line tires, radio and heater delete, console-mounted tach. – From the Mario Sueiras collection. Tidy but not detailed engine bay. Older exhaust, and the underbody is a little dirty. Dull chrome. Scuff on the tail but otherwise good older paint. Good, lightly worn interior with cloudy gauges and cracks in the steering wheel cap. A well-equipped first year GTO, but its presentation leaves quite a bit to be desired and there is no documentation of the original configuration. – With a ’64 GTO it is absolutely essential to have PHS documentation, which is missing here and the bidders effectively treated it as a fake with this result. The seller recognized the deficiency by accepting this bid and it has been described accordingly here.

Lot # S86 1960 Porsche 356B (T5) 1600 Super Coupe; S/N 108981; Engine # 743437; Black/Red; Enthusiast restoration, 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $75,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $82,500 – Blaupunkt radio. – From the Mario Sueiras collection. Detail swirled and scratched older paint. Dirty, dusty engine bay. Good interior with newer seat covers. Dirty but not grimy underneath. Not the kind of expertly restored, pampered 356 we’ve become accustomed to seeing. This is an intermittently restored driver-quality 356. – Considering the lack of known history and the aged, inconsistent presentation of this 356, it wound up being an expensive car. This is the kind of price a freshly restored example would ordinarily bring and is notably expensive for its condition and specifications.

Lot # S107 1997 Porsche 911 Turbo S Coupe; S/N WP0AC2997VS375971; Speed Yellow/Black leather; Unrestored original, 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $290,000 plus commission of; Final Price $290,000 – Turbo twist wheels, yellow calipers, Potenza tires. – Showing 38,365 miles, quite high for a 993 Turbo S, but serviced late last year and pampered since new. There are a few tiny chips on the nose so it isn’t quite like new as many of these cars are, but it’s a strong example for somebody who wants one of these to actually drive and enjoy, and Speed Yellow is one of the most desirable colors. – This car is never going to bring as much as the near factory fresh cars with four-digit odometer readings, but it deserves more than the reported high bid and holding out for more was the obvious choice.

Lot # S201 2012 Porsche 911 Turbo S 918 Spyder Edition Coupe; S/N WP0AD2A94CS766209; Black, Acid Green graphics/Black; Unrestored original, 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $100,000 plus commission of; Final Price $100,000 – Black centerlock wheels, Acid Green calipers, Potenza tires, sunroof, clear bra on the front. – Number 34 of the small batch of these special editions made for 918 buyers. Represented with 13,600 miles, so this just wasn’t a collector’s garage decoration. Someone actually drove it to tide them over while waiting for their 918. Sizable scratch in the left front part of the nose, but it may not have made it down to the paint. Otherwise very good paint and interior. – Limited-production 911s tend to get more expensive than they were new very quickly, but this car is a little different. There’s something a bit poser-ish about buying something called a 918 Spyder Edition without actually owning a 918, and that definitely limits the appeal here. The high bid was well off the 160 grand original price, but it wasn’t unreasonable.

Lot # S95 1969 Porsche 912 Targa; S/N 129010431; Silver/Black leather; Enthusiast restoration, 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $36,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $39,600 – Sumitomo tires, Momo-Lita woodrim steering wheel, pushbutton radio, electric fuel pump. – From the Mario Sueiras collection. Tidy engine bay, but the engine cover doesn’t stay up. The seats look almost brand new, but they’re the wrong material. Cloudy original gauges and dull switchgear. Pitted front vents. Decent older paint. Light scratches on the roll hoop. A driver quality car, far from perfect but not terrible. – A driver-quality final-year 912 bought for driver money, a straightforward transaction both parties can be satisfied with, and the new owner got ’60s Porsche style for relatively little money.

Lot # S285 1967 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N SRX2013; Gray, Dark Gray/Black leather; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $21,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $23,100 – Wheel covers, whitewalls, factory air conditioning, rear seat tables, factory radio, tinted glass. – An early Silver Shadow with some show awards to its credit, but not major shows. The bumpers are lightly scratched. There are a few cracks in the drip rails and the paint isn’t super fresh even though it’s mostly sound. The body sides are a little wavy. The leather and wood are very good. Tidy and restored underneath but not done yesterday. A fundamentally good car in encouragingly well-kept condition. Better than most Silver Shadows. – Silver Shadows were built in very large numbers by Rolls-Royce standards, and they have been relatively inexpensive tickets to Rolls-Royce ownership for many years. They don’t have as many expensive-to-fix gotchas as some later models do, but plenty of them have suffered from deferred maintenance and it pays to buy a well-cared for car like this. It’s a fairly expensive price for a Silver Shadow, but it will probably be cheaper to own in the long run than a lower-priced, rougher example.

Lot # F265 1993 Rolls-Royce Silver Spur II Sedan; S/N SCAZN02D0PCX46277; Light Blue, Dark Blue vinyl roof/Beige leather piped in Blue; Unrestored original, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $15,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $16,500 – Wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, rear seat tables, cassette stereo. – Well-kept Florida car showing 51,175 miles. All the interior lights and features work. Dull brightwork. Two small chips in the clear coat on the left front but mostly good original paint. Clean roof vinyl. Very good interior with remarkably good leather and wood, but the controls for the power seats are worn. Silver Spurs have been the low-cost way to get into a Rolls for years now and many of them are very rough and neglected as a result. This one doesn’t have a service history represented, which is a concern, but it looks like someone has taken very good care of it. – While it looks very well kept, there is no service history represented with this car, meaning a steep four-figure shop bill could very well be right around the corner. The bidders seem to have prudently taken that into account with this middle-of-the-road price for an otherwise good-looking car that sold for the same price at Auburn Fall in 2017.

Lot # S120 1967 Shelby Mustang GT350 Fastback; S/N 67200F40022; Wimbledon White, Blue stripes/Black vinyl; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $170,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $187,000 – 4-speed, Shelby Magstar wheels, Goodyear Speedway tires, power steering, power brakes, woodrim steering wheel, pushbutton radio, hood pins. CSM 0022. – Represented as matching numbers original engine and transmission, documented history including one family ownership from 1973-2016. Fully restored and nearly spotless engine bay. Restoration finished in 2017 using NOS parts. Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Showable, fresh, gorgeous and fast. – A top drawer price for a top drawer GT350 that needs nothing. This may not be “the best” ’67 GT350 in the world but anything better would be overdone and pervert the concept of a quality, historically accurate, restoration.

Lot # F298 1986 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ62 Utility Vehicle 4×4; S/N FJ62052533; White/Brown vinyl, pattern cloth; Truck restoration, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $29,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $31,900 – All Terrain T/A tires, 5-speed, Old Man Emu suspension, Blaupunkt stereo, power windows, air conditioning. – Foreign market FJ-62 with metric instrumentation represented as a recent restoration. Very clean but not overly detailed engine bay. New exhaust. Lightly scratched bumpers and window trim. Very good fresh paint. Nearly spotless restored frame. Very good interior with newer upholstery. Nearly like new. – FJ-62s are starting to get old and collectible enough that they’re going from rugged workhorse to collector truck, so we shouldn’t be surprised if we start seeing more restored examples like this hitting the market soon, especially if they keep selling for strong prices like this.

Lot # S58 1961 Vespa 400 Cabriolet; S/N 23655; White/Blue-Grey vinyl; Blue cloth top; Enthusiast restoration, 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $13,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $14,300 – Hub caps, whitewalls, suicide doors, framed sides with fully retracting folding roof. – From the Mario Sueiras collection. Dull chrome. Scratches around the grille. Decent older respray. Tidy engine bay. Cloudy plastic rear window. A few tears in the seats. A basic redo with a lot to criticize, but a fairly decent and charming example of Vespa’s brief foray into four wheels, which was actually built in France from 1957 to 1961. – This is hardly a “cabriolet” even if Vespa claimed it was, but rather a coupe with a fully retractable folding fabric roof, like a Deux Chevaux. It’s way cute, however, in decent condition and will bring smiles to everyone who sees it, let alone those who get to ride in it. Not recommended for freeway driving.