Mecum Auctions, Kissimmee, Florida, January 4-15, 2023

Mecum Kissimmee is a remarkable story.

From its start in 2010 Kissimmee has always had a 1,000 plus car consignment. It passed 2,000 lots only two years later in 2012 and has never looked back. The car count exceeded 3,000 in 2019 and after retrenching during Covid popped back over 3,000 in 2022 before reaching the 2023 total of 3,897 (which includes motorcycles).

Kissimmee came close to $100 million ($94.1 million) in 2020, breached that milestone the next year and then jumped over $200 million in 2022. It’s now a 12-day marathon including one day of “Road Art” only, ending with barely enough time to go home, grab some clean clothes and head to Arizona for “Scottsdale”.

It’s probably not an exaggeration to infer that Mecum’s expansion to Glendale, Arizona in March owes some of its success to Kissimmee simply having too many cars consigned to be managed realistically. The 12-days in Florida is more than enough time to spend in one place, not to mention the intense pressure it puts on the Mecum Auctions staff to pull off an event of this magnitude.

Here are the numbers:

Year Cars Sold/ Offered Sale % Average Sale Median Sale Total $
2023 3079/3897 79% $72,960 $42,900

[58.8%]

$224,643,340
2022 2843/3313 85.8% $71,849 $37,400

[52.1%]

$204,267,329
2021 1825/2203 82.8% $62,259 $35,200

[56.5%]

$113,621,932
2020 1983/2873 69% $47,450 $26.400

[55.6%]

$94,092,955

On-site observations and photos are by Andrew Newton. Lots are sorted by year. The W lot is Wednesday 1/11, the T, F and S lots are Thursday 1/12, Friday 1/13 and Saturday 1/14 and the U lot is Sunday 1/15.


Lot # U069.1 1929 Duesenberg Model J Blind Quarter Brougham, Body by LaGrande; S/N 2210; Engine # J-189; Maroon, Burgundy, Black cloth roof/Maroon cloth; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $900,000. – 420/265hp DOHC inline eight, 3-speed, wire wheels, blackwall tires, dual sidemount spares with mirrors, dual Jerome horns, Pilot-Ray lights, suicide doors, wood running boards, smoker’s kit and vanity, luggage trunk, engine-turned dash. – ACD certified body, drivetrain, chassis, and firewall although originally a Weymann sedan, replaced by this body by Duesenberg in 1933. Discoloration and fading on the black cloth roof. Red paint is coming off one of the wheel caps. The body paint is good but older with some blemishes and cracks on and near the doors, same with the chrome. Very clean underneath. Good, lightly worn interior with some age on the wood trim on the passenger’s side. Restored in 1994 and lightly aged, but still a magnificent automobile with attractive coachwork. – Offered by Mecum at Monterey last August but unsold on a bid of $1.1 million. It came back here to even less acclaim. It is still a remarkably handsome and distinguished automobile with lovely but still practical and luxurious coachwork. The nearly 3 decades old restoration still presents well and has had marvelous care. The reported high bid here, however, is not unrealistic for a closed body Duesenberg with an older restoration.

Lot # S170.1 1935 Auburn 851 Boattail Speedster; S/N 2988E; Engine # 3777; Duck Egg Blue/Red leather; Estimate $850,000 – $975,000; Recent restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $625,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $687,500. – 280 cid Lycoming straight-eight, floor shift 3-speed, 2-speed rear axle, red wheels with hub caps and trim rings, blackwall tires, golf bag door. – Represented as the only 851 Boattail Speedster delivered without a supercharger, reportedly because it was sent out to the Boston Automobile Show before the blowers were ready. Not sure how much of a boast that is, but it does make this Art Deco icon a rare example. Body-off restoration finished in 2021 with original chassis and body (but not, because it’s not mentioned, the original engine). The paint is attractive and of high quality except for two long cracks behind the driver’s door and paint coming up a bit along the creases down the body sides. The chrome, interior and underbody are near show quality. The Boattail Speedster is among the most beautiful and valuable Prewar American automobiles, but how much of a difference this one’s unblown engine makes in value is up to the bidders. – In 2009, this possibly unique Boattail Speedster sold for $243,000 at auction in Branson. That was a significant discount then and a $687,500 final price is a significant discount for it now. For reference, a blown Boattail (Lot U68.1) hammered at $800k the next day, and it didn’t even sell. The supercharger is a big part of the 851’s story and gave the car a well-deserved reputation for performance. Let’s face it, though, no collectors are out there racing their Auburns between the lights. People buy them for leisurely drives and to admire them in the garage, and this blue Boattail is just as good for both. The more mundane engine arguably makes it more interesting and no less attractive, so let’s call it a very good buy.

Lot # T204 1949 Oldsmobile 98 Futuramic Convertible; S/N 499K2706; Maroon/Light Red leather; Black top; Estimate $65,000 – $80,000; Older restoration 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $65,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $71,500. – 303/135hp Rocket V8, column shift automatic, hub caps and trim rings, fender skirts, boot cover, pushbutton radio, dash clock, power windows. – Formerly part of the John Staluppi collection and before that on display at the Shanghai Auto Museum. Rare Plexiglass cover used to show off the then-new Rocket V8. This one has tired chrome and old paint with numerous cracks, scratches, and discolored spots. The interior looks mostly good and the engine is tidy, but that nifty Plexiglass cover has a long crack in the right side. – Charles “Boss” Kettering’s high compression overhead valve V-8 of 1949 was the dawning of American V-8 power. Everything that followed – the Small Block Chevy, thinwall Ford 260/289, even the Chrysler Hemi – owed their basic principles to Kettering’s ’49 Olds. It inspired Ike Turner to write “Rocket 88”, widely credited as the first rock’n’roll song. A later version is on YouTube and it still rocks today. The Olds is largely forgotten today, succeeded by lighter, more developed V-8 engines, but the history remains as important. This car was sold, in somewhat better condition, at The Auction in Las Vegas in 1991 for $34,125, then at B-J Las Vegas in 2015 for $55,000. The Kissimmee bidders understood and brought a choice dealer-display car featuring the Rocket 88 under Plexiglass, and a convertible at that, for a moderate number.

Lot # F231.1 1951 Hudson Hornet Convertible Brougham; S/N 7A122578; Newport Gray/Maroon leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $90,000 – $120,000; Older restoration 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $90,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $99,000. – 308/160hp Twin-H six, automatic, windshield visor, spotlight, chrome wire wheels, heater, pushbutton radio, fender skirts, power windows, grille guard. – From the David Disiere collection. Tidy engine, good older paint and chrome. Uneven gaps and the passenger’s door sticks out at the bottom. Very clean interior aside from mildly wrinkled leather front and back. Rare, good specs on an older restored step down Hudson. – Sold by RM at Amelia in 2018 for $72,800 and only slightly the worse for the ensuing five years, no matter how it is sliced this is surprising performance, style and rarity for the money.

Lot # S028 1954 GMC 100 Pickup; S/N 10124PZ1518; Green/Green, Mint vinyl; Estimate $40,000 – $50,000; Truck restoration 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $90,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $99,000. – 248/125hp six, column shift 3-speed, hub caps and trim rings, Firestone wide whitewalls, 5-window cab, heater, single bed-mounted spare, black painted wood bed floor, varnished wood bed rails, chrome grille surround and bumpers. – From the “Tagalong Low Mileage Collection.” Original drivetrain. Clean engine with mild dirt and grime. Very good paint and chrome. Straight body, but the doors stick out slightly and the driver’s side is hard to close. A clean and correctly restored as well as somewhat rare vintage GMC. – Much better than the usual pickup restoration, generally done to the standards of a good car restoration although the restoration’s age is starting to show. Reported sold at Mecum Indy in 2015 for $43,200, a price that makes far more sense than the amount it brought here, a staggering result even for such a well-restored truck.

Lot # S160 1955 Chrysler Ghia ST Coupe, Body by Ghia; S/N N558768; Gold, White roof/Gold, White leather; Estimate $500,000 – $600,000; Concours restoration 1- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $700,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $770,000. – 331/250hp Hemi V8, Powerflite automatic, chrome wire wheels, whitewalls, power steering, power brakes, Town & Country radio, power windows. – One of four built, two each for French and Italian customers, by Ghia on a Chrysler New Yorker chassis. Exhibited at the Turin Motor Show and purchased by a French plastics executive but later left to rot at a Paris shop. Fully restored for Wayne Davis in 2014 and looks like it has mostly been used as a show car since. Given its origins, that makes sense. Other than slightly imperfect panel fit and two scratches on a rear quarter window, it’s pretty much perfect. The engine looks hardly run and the seats look hardly sat in. – It is a lot of car, with a beautifully presented and preserved nine year-old restoration in eye-catching colors. Chrysler in Michigan and Carrozzeria Ghia in Turin had quite a fling in the 1950s, collaborating on both wild Jet Age concept cars and limited production automobiles. Their prices vary depending on many factors, but all Chrysler Ghias are fascinating to look at and expensive to buy. If you think you’ve seen this one at auction before, you may very well have. In Paris 11 years ago, still in run-down barn find condition, it sold for $106,000. After it was restored to its former glory in 2014, it hit the US auction circuit to a no-sale in Scottsdale in 2015, a $527,500 sale at Monterey 2018, a $450,000 no-sale at Mecum Glendale 2019, and a $375,000 no-sale at Kissimmee 2020. Sold at RM Monterey 2018 for $527,500. $450k no-sale at Glendale 2019. $375k no-sale at Kissimmee 2020. Very mixed results, then, not helped by the fact with a rare car of mixed heritage like this, finding comparable sales isn’t exactly straightforward. This result is surprisingly high given its recent string of results, Mecum’s presale estimate, and other, more dramatically styled and unique Ghia-bodied cars selling for less. It is a car that will not be overlooked on any show or concours field.

Lot # F206.1 1957 Nash Rambler Custom Station Wagon; S/N D373306; Sierra Peach, Cinnamon Bronze/Pink vinyl, Black cloth; Estimate $35,000 – $50,000; Cosmetic restoration 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $28,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $30,800. – 196/125hp six, automatic, wheel covers, whitewalls, roof rack, dash clock, heat/defrost. – Cosmetic restoration done in the 1990s. The bumpers look good but most of the body trim is dull. The paint looks good for its age but it is old. The tires are older with yellowed sidewalls. There is uneven panel fit throughout, and the gaps between the doors are so big you could put your finger through them. The dash is largely original but holding up well, and the upholstery is very good. The quarter windows are delaminating. The underbody is clean, not restored but not totally left alone either. Rare, charming oddball `50s wagon. Who needs a Nomad when you could cruise in this? Tom Martin Collection. – Astoundingly cool and funky, a Fifties relic in good if aged cosmetically restored condition. It is not for everyone, but for a collector who wants something at a reasonable price that isn’t going to meet itself coming the other way very often, if ever, this is an appropriate choice. Plus, 1957 is the last year for Nash production. A terrific weekend cruiser at a modest price.

Lot # S149 1957 Dual-Ghia Hemi Convertible; S/N DG104; Hazel Mist/Kalahari leather; Estimate $600,000 – $650,000; Older restoration 2+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $440,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $484,000. – 315/230hp Dodge D-500 Hemi, automatic, spinner wheel covers, Firestone wide whitewalls, boot cover, Town & Country radio, power windows, power steering, power brakes, engine-turned dash. – One of 117 built and supposedly one of 32 known to exist. One of the better known Chrysler/Ghia collaborations. A gorgeous, well-appointed car in any condition, but this one is clean top to bottom. The seats look barely sat in. The paint, chrome and engine all look fresh. Showable. – Offered at Mecum’s Indy auction in 2021 where it was reported bid to $450,000 and now with just 5 more miles on the odometer, it is still in better than new condition and a solid value in this transaction. A car the new owner should be proud to own and show even if it doesn’t have the Hemi that would make it worth closer to the optimistic estimate range.

Lot # F230.1 1958 DeSoto Firedome Convertible; S/N LS23881; Spruce Green, Willow Green/Light Green; White top; Estimate $180,000 – $220,000; Older restoration 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $180,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $198,000. – 361/285hp, pushbutton automatic, Electro-Touch radio, clock, power brakes and steering, dual rear antennas, wide whitewalls, wheel covers. – From the David Disiere collection. AACA Junior and Senior Awards in the early 2000s, then Grand National First Place in 2014. Mostly still a beautiful car, but there are two small paint blisters on the nose and there is discoloration from fuel on the manifold below the carburetor. There is some dirt in the seats which should clean out, but also a rip in the cloth portion of the driver’s seat that won’t. The passenger’s door sticks out at the bottom, and small crack is showing in the bottom right taillight. Its show-winning days are behind it, but this massive, stately DeSoto with big tail fins has no major issues and still makes quite a statement. – Reported sold at Auburn Fall in 214 for $192,500 where it showed the same 52,049 miles as it does today. It’s not as fresh today as it was in 2014 but this result is only $5,500 more than it brought then balancing the age it has accumulated against negligible use and a realistic price increment.

Lot # F230 1959 Chrysler 300E Convertible; S/N M591100459; Black, Red grille/Tan leather; Black vinyl top; Estimate $200,000 – $240,000; Older restoration 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $260,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $286,000. – 413/380hp, dual quads, pushbutton automatic, power steering, power brakes, power windows, power swivel front seats, wheel covers, whitewalls, dual antenna, boot cover, power top, Electro-Touch pushbutton AM radio, dash clock, tinted glass, Auto Pilot cruise control, air conditioning. – From the David Disiere collection. Represented as one of 140 300E Convertibles, AACA Junior and Senior awards in the early 2000s. Formerly in the John Staluppi collection. Good older paint with light detail scratching and general age but no major flaws. Lightly worn leather but otherwise great interior. Straightforward, forgivable age takes little away from how desirable this rare Chrysler Letter Car really is. – Sold at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale in 2001 for $71,280, at Mecum Indy in 2018 for $286,000 and at Leake Scottsdale in 2020 for $242,000. It has been judged exceptional so many times that it has only a few age-related flaws and the Kissimmee bidders ignored them in favor of this prime price for a beautiful 300 convertible. Not many 300E convertibles are this good nor so distinctive and menacing in black.

Lot # S216.1 1964 Shelby King Cobra Roadster; S/N CM564; Guardsman Blue, White stripes/Black; Estimate $900,000 – $1,200,000; Competition restoration 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $600,000. – 289 Ford, 5-speed transaxle, new bodywork, Stack tach, Shelby modified Cooper Monaco. – Raced in period by Bob Bondurant and Roy Salvadori at Riverside and Laguna Seca. Restoration finished in 2020 with new aluminum body and a “date-coded” 289 Ford. Lots of spare parts included, but they’re located in Virginia. It has been tested at VIR since completion but hasn’t been raced in anger, and it’s in fresh condition. – Beautifully presented but probably created from a pile of spares, a car that wasn’t successful in 1964 and leans on the “King Cobra” label for its value. It needs a much better history than it got at Kissimmee… or maybe it was left out on purpose. The result here means nothing except that the bidders were terminally uncertain.

Lot # S146 1965 Shelby Cobra 289 R&P Roadster; S/N CSX2517; Black/Black leather; Estimate $1,100,000 – $1,300,000; Rebodied or re-created 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $925,000. – 289 with Webers, 4-speed, Halibrand wheels, Pirelli P5000 tires, braced paperclip roll bar, side exhaust, rack and pinion steering, SC fender flares, woodrim AC steering wheel, Stewart Warner gauges. – It’s the real deal but, like many Cobras, this one has some stories. The original body was removed in 1969 and used on a jet-powered drag racing show car (really). Then rebuilt to street specs in the 1970s using body pieces from other Cobras. Owned by Tim Allen from 2007-22. The paint has some issues, namely orange peel in spots, especially on the hood. The wheels also have a few dings, the windshield is delaminating on the right side, and the leather is noticeably worn. Not perfect and not entirely correct, but still badass. – Sold by Russo and Steele at Scottsdale in 2007 for a reported $440,000 to Tim Allen. There are enough twists and turns in this Cobra’s history to make the reported high bid here enough for it even with the celebrity history and it was expensive back in 2007 for a rebodied, much modified early rack & pinion Cobra.

Lot # F177 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 Roadster; S/N CSX3270; Guardsman Blue/Black leather; Estimate $1,500,000 – $1,700,000; Older restoration 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,300,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,430,000. – 427, single 4-barrel, cold air box, 4-speed, side exhaust, Halibrand centerlock wheels, Goodyear Eagle tires, paperclip roll bar, woodrim steering wheel, Raydyot mirror, grille and trunk guards. – Originally a 428 car, run off the road in the late 1960s with body damage, converted to 427 S/C appearance in 1971. Then restored in the `80s and has competition suspension replicating a factory competition car. It got another full restoration that wrapped up last year. With a replacement 427 Ford and many upgrades It isn’t close to as it left Shelby American in 1966, but it is a real deal big-block Cobra restored to showable standards and hardly driven since. – Impressively presented, but emphatically not what it appears to be, this is a beautiful car with so many modifications and updates it is barely recognizable as the Shelby Cobra that left Shelby’s in 1966. Its value is discounted from a correct 428 Cobra and even the discount here may not hold up over time. There are many 427-swapped 428 Cobras, but few as thoroughly updated as this.

Lot # S204 1966 Jaguar XKE SI 4.2 Fixed Head Coupe; S/N 1E31281; Opalescent Silver Blue/Dark Blue leather; Estimate $200,000 – $250,000; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $140,000. – 4,235/265hp, 4-speed, wire wheels, narrow whitewalls, woodrim steering wheel, pushbutton AM/FM radio, books and tools. – Represented as the original engine. Mostly excellent paint but there is a blister on the right front fender. Very good chrome as well, but the rubber around the bumpers is starting to crack. Good interior with light but significant wrinkling to the leather and mildly cloudy gauges. Tidy and correct. A former show car that has been lightly used but still looks nearly perfect. – Meticulously maintained and presented after an older restoration with a one-owner history but now showing the restoration’s age and some use, the reported high bid here would have been appropriate for a hump-backed 2+2 but is inadequate for this sleek FHC. The 4.2 engine has more torque than the earlier 3.8, the gearbox has synchromesh on all four speeds and the interior accommodations are improved, all without losing the faired-in covered headlights that would later interrupt the front fenders’ sleek shape. The $200,000 low estimate is not unreasonable..

Lot # S212 1968 American Motors Javelin ‘Bonneville Speed Spectacular Fastback; S/N A8M795T294596; Red, White, Blue, Gold script/Black; Black vinyl roof; Competition car, original as-raced 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $80,000. – 304 with Mondello heads and Edelbrock prototype dual quad intake, 4-speed, Cragar wheels, roof spoiler, roll bar, Sun tach. – From the Motor City Muscle collection. One of three Javelins prepared by Craig Breedlove and Edelbrock Engineering in 1968. Breedlove drove it to 161.733 mph at Bonneville, a C-production class record that stood for several years. Some wear and dirt under the hood but all is presentable. Scratches on the window frames but mostly good paint and chrome. Clean seats but worn floors. A star car for any AMC or Bonneville fan showing 24 miles which is suggested all it has done including 19 miles at Bonneville – It served its purpose, earning Car Craft and Hot Rod magazine coverage and sitting undisturbed since then, a Bonneville relic. It was reported sold at Mecum Indy in 2012 for $90,100 and that’s as good a reason as any not to accept this conservative bid. The problem is finding a collector who gets light-headed about an AMC Bonneville record holder. They are thin on the ground.

Lot # T146 1969 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Coupe; S/N 223379N118086; Cameo Ivory, Blue stripes/Blue vinyl; Estimate $375,000 – $450,000; Older restoration 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $400,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $440,000. – 400/345hp Ram Air IV, close-ratio 4-speed, 3.89 Safe-T-Track, AM radio, Rally gauges, Soft Ray tinted glass, PMD Rally III wheels, Goodyear Polyglas tires, factory radio, PHS documents. – From the Lindley collection. One of 55 built in 1969 and supposedly one of six still with its original drivetrain. Good older paint with a few small runs on the driver’s door. Mild pitting on the chrome around the grille. Very good interior. Minor nags aside, this is an ultimate spec early Trans Am and a very special car. – Pontiac’s “Trans Am performance and appearance package” became an extremely popular one. It’s unusual to see a Firebird without it. When the Trans Am first debuted in 1969, though, GM didn’t sell it in large quantities. Fewer than 700 Trans Ams sold in 1969. It came standard with the 335hp Ram Air III engine, but this one has the rarer, hotter, pricier Ram Air IV. It’s the finest of first gen Firebirds. Appropriately, it brought the finest of prices. Nothing outrageous, just strong enough in the current market, and another example of how the best examples of the highest spec muscle cars with the most originality, even from defunct brands like Pontiac, are always in high demand. That there was a glut of other Ram Air IV Pontiacs to attract Pontiac fiends to Kissimmee this year probably helped, too.

Lot # T143 1969 Plymouth Road Runner Coupe; S/N RM21J9G144803; Black Velvet, Black vinyl roof/Black vinyl; Estimate $175,000 – $200,000; Older restoration 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $195,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $214,500. – 426/425hp Hemi, 4-speed with Hurst shifter, A34 Super Track Pak with 4.10 gears, air grabber hood, power brakes, hub caps, Goodyear red line tires, Solid State pushbutton radio, Sun tach. – From the Lindley collection. Represented as the original drivetrain. Mostly good body, but paint is chipping off around the grille. Otherwise a lovely restoration. Not worth as much as a Hemi ‘Cuda, but the Road Runner puts all that power down better. – This Road Runner ticks all the right boxes even with the noted paint chips and brought a superior but understandable price even among the many examples of Mopar Muscle at Mecum Kissimmee.

Lot # F142 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N XX29J9B412548; Copper Metallic, White bumblebee stripe/Tan vinyl; Estimate $1,300,000 – $1,600,000; Older restoration 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,300,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,430,000. – 426/425hp Hemi, TorqueFlite, A36 Performance Axle, Goodyear Polyglas GT tires, Tic-Toc-Tach, AM radio, power steering and brakes. – From the Gary Edwards collection. Represented as the lowest mile Hemi 4-speed Daytona around with 6,942 miles on the odometer. 1970s ISCA show car that wore custom paint. Well restored, as expected, but there is a scuff in the tail stripe as well as some mild road wear underneath. No matter, the rarity and specs on this car make it a standout even in this circle of aero Mopars. – Out of 503 Charger Daytonas produced during its single model year, just 70 came with the big fat 426 Hemi engine. And just 22 of those also got a 4-speed, so this is part of a small herd of Mopar unicorns. It’s also the most expensive Dodge Daytona ever sold at auction. The history as a custom-painted ISCA show car is indicative of the disdain which these needle-nosed Dodges attracted in the 70’s but the meticulous restoration has largely erased that sad chapter with this generous but not mindless premium. And the Charger Daytona nose cones fit better than the ’70 Superbirds’ did.

Lot # S127 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Yenko Sport Coupe; S/N 124379N549828; Hugger Orange, White stripes, black vinyl roof/Black vinyl; Estimate $400,000 – $425,000; Older restoration 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $400,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $440,000. – 427/425hp, M22 4-speed with Hurst shifter, 4.10 Positraction, Stewart Warner auxiliary gauges, Goodyear Wide Tread GT tires, radio. – Prototype car reportedly loaned to Don Yenko to design his unique trim package. Never even on an MSO and never sold to a dealer. Fully restored in 2009, then shown at SEMA and featured in numerous muscle car magazines. The paint and chrome are starting to show their age, and there’s a small crack on the right A-pillar, but this is still a very tidy car inside, outside and underneath. It’s historically significant and correct. Standing out at a muscle car Mecca like Kissimmee is pretty damn difficult, but this Camaro does it. – Offered at Kissimmee in 2012 where it no-saled on a $200,000 bid. Eleven years later it’s hitting its stride but has no representation that the drivetrain is original, only that the CE block has appropriate date codes. It carries a sizable premium for its unique history and a result that ignores the drivetrain’s indeterminate originality.

Lot # T144 1970 Plymouth ‘Cuda Hemi 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N BS23R0B157065; Deep Burnt Orange Metallic, Black spoiler and hockey stick stripes/Black vinyl; Estimate $250,000 – $300,000; Older restoration 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $280,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $308,000. – 426/425hp Hemi, 4-speed with Hurst pistol grip shifter, A34 Super Track Pak, power brakes, shaker hood, hood pins, fog lights, factory radio, added Vintage air conditioning, Broadcast sheet documented. – From the Lindley collection. Represented as matching numbers drivetrain. Very good paint and chrome plus clean wheels. Nearly perfect gaps and panel fit. Excellent interior. Fully restored underbody. A real deal Hemi ‘Cuda done right with some upgrades. – Offered at Mecum’s Indy auction in 2013 when it had 12,287 miles showing and brought an unsuccessful bid of $180,000. That was $100,000 less than the successful hammer bid here for a car that is essentially as good now as it was then and shows only 106 more miles at 12,393 today. The added air conditioning since 2013 is a knock to its originality but contributes to utility, an intriguing use-case in its value determination. The current price is a bit generous but reflects its condition and gorgeous color.

Lot # T150.1 1970 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Twister Special SportsRoof; S/N 0F05R118857; Grabber Orange, Black stripes and graphics/Black vinyl; Estimate $350,000 – $400,000; Recent restoration 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $300,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $330,000. – 428/360hp Super Cobra Jet, close-ratio 4-speed with Hurst T-handle shifter, Drag Pack with 3.91 Traction-Lok, shaker hood, Magnum 500 wheels, Goodyear Polyglas tires, tinted glass, AM radio, Elite Marti Report, build sheet. – Represented as a special Ford test vehicle used in advertisements, and one of 24 Twister Specials with a 428 and 4-speed. Recently restored to high but not over the top standards. Other than light track scratches on the window, it looks new. Represented as the original drivetrain. – With a unique story even among the already rare Twister Specials, this Mustang attracted a lot of attention, as it should have. Its condition and restoration are above reproach and it is as expensive as its history and condition deserve to be, just don’t use it as a comparable for the rest of the 96 Twister Specials built. It stands alone among its contemporaries.

Lot # T152 1970 Ford Torino Twister Special SportsRoof; S/N 0A38J131625; Vermillion, Black hood/Black vinyl; Estimate $185,000 – $225,000; Unrestored original 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $100,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $110,000. – 429/375hp Cobra Jet, Toploader 4-speed with Hurst T-handle shifter, 3.50 Traction-Lok, shaker hood, Goodyear Polyglas tires, bench seat, radio delete, Marti Report, 3 build sheets. – Represented as one of 90 Torino Twister Specials built for 1970, and one of 30 4-speeds. Almost totally original including the drivetrain other than one muffler, some seals, the trunk mat, the fuel tank, and the master cylinder. There are some chips and scrapes on the front of the car and some more minor one on the sides and the trunk lid, but the finish is still looking good. The chrome is faded but the glass looks clean and clear, and the interior is excellent for its age. The underbody is a little dirty but no cause for concern under there. Rare specs and far too good to restore at this point. – A bit of Mustang trivia from the `60s – Ford sold a batch of Twister Specials to its Kansas City District Sales Office in late 1969, and built a few “Sidewinders” as well for sale in Iowa and Nebraska. It was mostly just decals, but they’re cool decals, and anything to differentiate from the crowd counts for a lot in a car as ubiquitous as the Mustang. Even more obscure are the Torino and Ranchero Twister Specials. Same concept, just rarer and apparently cheaper given what Twister Mustangs have sold for (Lot T151 brought $143k). This one sold well but, given its equipment, rarity and originality, it could have brought closer to Mecum’s presale estimate without being surprising. Good value.

Lot # F146.1 1970 Plymouth Road Runner Superbird 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N RM23R0A176668; Vitamin C Orange, Black vinyl roof/White vinyl, Black headliner; Estimate $700,000 – $800,000; Older restoration 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $510,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $561,000. – 426/425hp Hemi, TorqueFlite, A36 Performance Axle, Goodyear Polyglas GT tires, Rallye wheels, Tic-Toc-Tach, AM radio, power brakes and steering, broadcast sheet documented. – From the Gary Edwards collection. Not much history represented and although it is a Hemi car originally if it was matching numbers it would have been represented as such, but it has been restored to high standards. The nose cone fits as well as any Superbird’s, the paint is clean and blemish-free, and the roof vinyl is tight. The interior and underbody look fresh as well. – Although this collection’s 4-speed Hemi Daytona broke a world record in Kissimmee, most of the 18(!) other winged Mopars there this year sold well under their estimates. Still high compared to aero Mopar values just a year ago, but not home run prices, including this one. This car also provides a decent glimpse into how Hemi values have really bounced around over the years. It sold at Russo and Steele in Scottsdale in 2006 for $379,500 and at Barrett-Jackson the following year for $330,000. Post-recession, at Mecum Indy in 2012, it brought just $177,550. This result is far and away the most this Superbird has ever brought. What goes up in the car world doesn’t often come down, but sometimes it does, and it will be interesting to what happens to high-dollar muscle in the coming months although there is no upside in this car’s generous pricing here in Kissimmee.

Lot # F145.1 1970 Plymouth Road Runner Superbird 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N RM23R0A170175; Lime Light, Black vinyl roof/Black vinyl; Estimate $750,000 – $850,000; Older restoration 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $675,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $742,500. – 426/425hp Hemi, 4-speed, hub caps, red line tires, Tic-Toc-Tach, factory 8-track stereo, power steering and brakes, broadcast sheet documented. – One of 58 Hemi 4-speed Superbirds, the most desirable spec. There are some tiny scuffs, scratches and touch ups on or near the front bumper plus some iffy prep work around the taillights, but the paint is mostly good. Interior looks mostly original but very good. Clean underneath, good engine compartment. – If you’re feeling a little déjà vu, remember that once upon a time, at this same auction back in 2015, comedian David Spade bought the Daytona s/n XX29J9B412548 (today’s Lot # F142) for $990,000, and that was a wing car (1969/70 Dodge Daytona/Plymouth Superbird) record that stood for years until, in the craziness of 2022, another option-laden 4-speed Hemi Daytona sold for $1.32M at Mecum’s Indianapolis sale. This car had fewer stories than the one in Indy and was the standout among the 23 Hemi-powered cars in Kissimmee this year, including 7 Hemi wing cars, so its higher estimate and result aren’t out of line. This is also another example that the rarest top-spec muscle cars continue to sell strongly regardless of what is happening further down in the lower budget brackets.

Lot # F115 1970 Pontiac GTO Judge 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 242370R129543; Atoll Blue, Red Judge graphics/Sandalwood vinyl; Estimate $150,000 – $175,000; Unrestored original 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $120,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $132,000. – 400/370hp Ram Air IV, close ratio 4-speed with Hurst T-handle shifter, Safe-T-Track, Rally wheels, Goodyear Polyglas GT tires, buckets and console, clock, hood tach, power steering and brakes, PHS documented. – Replacement block from the early 1970s. Fading, blemishes, cracks and discoloration in the paint is all forgivable because it’s completely original. Gorgeous original interior and wheels. Clean unrestored chassis and engine, although the exhaust looks newer. A high spec survivor that’s a highlight even among this collection of Ram Air IVs. – The odometer shows 95,593 miles and every bit of that is visible in the car’s originality. It is, however, a rare and prized survivor with a rare and prized set of options. It is not too good drive, either. It was reported sold at Mecum Kissimmee seven years ago for $74,800 ($68,000 hammer). Its originality is exceptional and was recognized in the price it brought here.

Lot # F111 1970 Pontiac GTO Judge Convertible; S/N 242670B129099; Orbit Orange, Judge graphics/Black vinyl; Black vinyl top; Older restoration 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,000,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,100,000. – 400/370hp Ram Air IV, automatic, Safe-T-Track, Wide Oval tires, clock, hood tach, power steering and brakes, wing, Rally II wheels, Formula leather rim steering wheel, AM-FM, PHS documented – Represented as a factory exhibition car. Concours awards from the late 1990s and early 2000s. One of 7 Ram Air IV GTOs with an automatic. Still gorgeous, and other than a tiny paint crack above the trunk lid there isn’t anything on this car to criticize. Restored to high standards then kept as the piece of muscle car royalty that it is. – One of seven built with this powertrain, a gorgeous exterior color and generously equipped but this is a handsome result that fully accounts for its restoration, documentation, awards and equipment.

Lot # S150 1970 DeTomaso Mangusta Coupe, Body by Ghia; S/N 8MA1190; Red/Black leather; Estimate $450,000 – $475,000; Older restoration 2+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $380,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $418,000. – 289/306 Ford, ZF 5-speed, Campagnolo alloy wheels, Michelin tires, Ansa exhaust, Ferrero woodrim steering wheel. – One of just 401 Mangustas built. Restoration completed by Wayne Carini’s F40 Restorations for David Robinson from The Cars (the band). The engine compartment and interior are spotless, and although the paint and wheels look a little older, they’re still fine. This precursor to the Pantera was a flawed car, but it is rare, fast and gorgeous, and that gullwing hinged engine cover is a cool gimmick. It is also a more desirable four-headlight, 289-powered car (other Mangustas had two headlights and/or a less powerful 302). – DeTomaso’s second production model, after the four-cylinder Vallelunga but before the more famous Pantera, the Mangusta (Italian for “mongoose”) wears a Giorgetto Giugiaro-designed body by Ghia with its trademark center-hinged engine cover over a backbone chassis. Performance was good in a straight line, but chassis flex at the limit left it with handling that many road testers described as unpredictable. The shape is one of Giugiaro’s best designs, though, and few people would drive this car at ten tenths, anyway. Another appeal of Italian-American hybrids like the Mangusta is that the Ford bits underneath are easy to source. The DeTomaso-specific bits, however, are not, so a beautifully restored one like this is ideal, and a rare buying opportunity. The bidders thought so, too. While not a record price, this result is close.

Lot # T147.1 1971 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 W-30 Convertible; S/N 344671M142415; Cameo White, Black stripes/Black vinyl; White vinyl top; Estimate $200,000 – $250,000; Recent restoration 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $125,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $137,500. – 455/350hp, automatic, Force Air hood, BFG Radial T/A tires, Anti-spin rear axle, factory air conditioning, power steering, Strato bucket seats, Hurst dual gate shifter, Deluxe steering wheel. Comes with Protect-O-Plate and original title, warranty booklet, build sheet, and window sticker. – From the Lindley collection. Represented as matching numbers. Very good paint, chrome and interior. Clean wheels. Some very light scratches on the rear bumper. Good gaps and panel fit. Recently restored and good specs. – A lovely and rare Olds with impressive documentation but the price paid for it here is much more appropriate than the exaggerated pre-sale estimate.

Lot # S165 1972 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 Coupe; S/N 1Z37L2S514976; Bryar Blue/Black leather; Estimate $175,000 – $225,000; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $150,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $165,000. – 350/255hp LT1, M22 4-speed, Rally wheels, Firestone Wide Oval tires, T-tops, Protect-O-Plate and warranty book documented. – One of 20 ZR1s built for 1972, one of the last gasps of serious Corvette performance. Very good paint other than orange peel below the windshield. Good chrome and brightwork other than scratched door handles. Some dirt and grime under the hood but easily remedied. Very good interior. Represented as the original engine. Bloomington Gold certified and 2019 Special Collection displayed. – The Stingray ZR-1 is one of the rarest of all special production Corvettes, a package put together under Zora Arkus-Duntov’s guidance to be a winning car in SCCA. This car was bid to $150,000 at Mecum Indy in 2013, the same bid that bought it today, and it isn’t likely to have been used much if at all in the ensuing decade, it’s that clean and crisp. This result is a lot more than a plain LT1 coupe but it deserves to be.

Lot # S158 1973 Ferrari 246 GTS Dino Spider, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 05966; Rosso Corsa/Tan leather with Black inserts; Estimate $650,000 – $700,000; Recent restoration 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $525,000. – 2,419/195hp, 5-speed, Cromodora wheels, Michelin XWX tires, Daytona-style seats, Becker Europa radio, Momo leather-wrapped steering wheel, power windows, air conditioning. – Represented as matching numbers. Very clean engine and underbody. Very good paint and chrome. Clean interior. Nothing to nitpick, it’s a fresh Dino GTS done to like new standards. – 28 years ago this Dino was offered at the AutoClassic auction in Vancouver, BC where it was a no-sale at $40,719. It’s had plenty of work since then but got little love in Kissimmee. The reported high bid is realistic, but not realistic enough to satisfy the consignor.

Lot # T111 1975 Bricklin SV-1 Coupe; S/N 00041BX5S001997; White/Tan; Visually maintained, largely original 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $23,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $25,300. – 351/175hp Ford, automatic, BFG Radial T/A tires, factory air conditioning, factory radio. – From the Tom Martin collection. Not much history represented but the paint finish is good with some minor chips, scratches he’s and cracks spread throughout. Aged wheels and oxidized underneath but nothing scary. Rubber has come loose under the driver’s door and is hanging out. Good original interior other than a worn steering wheel. When something is both rare and infamously not a good car, clean examples are very hard to come by. Objectively this car is a little bit scruffy, but by Bricklin standards it’s very good. – Current emphasis on safety vehicles notwithstanding, the Bricklin doesn’t get much love. This is a decent example and unusual in White instead of the more common “Safety” colors like Orange (which is like driving around in a traffic cone) and its price here makes sense.

Lot # S224 1984 Lamborghini Jalpa P350 GTS Coupe; S/N ZA9J00000ELA12127; Rosso Siviglia/Black; Visually maintained, largely original 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $105,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $115,500. – 3,485/255hp V-8, 5-speed, OZ wheels, Bridgestone tires, air conditioning, Alpine stereo. – Rare baby Lambo, one of 410 built back when Lamborghini was more of a boutique manufacturer. Showing 30,054 believable miles. Represented with a recent service and with service records. Good paint aside from some chips on the door edges and minor cracks around the driver’s door handle. The interior looks great aside from the steering wheel. Oddly, the bull logo and Lamborghini scripts stamped into the steering wheel are worn to the point of almost disappearing. Surely he didn’t honk the horn that much. Anyway, it’s still a solid, cared for example of a rare `80s exotic. – Introduced in 1981 as an entry-level model to complement the wild Countach, the Jalpa (pronounced Hall-Puh) took aim at cars like the Ferrari 308 but was produced in much smaller numbers. And if the looks aren’t `80s enough for you, remember that Stallone drove a black one in Rocky IV. This little Lamborghini has been across the block a few times, selling for $52,250 at Auburn Fall in 2014, for $74,800 at Russo and Steele Scottsdale in 2015, for $62,700 at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale in 2020, and finally for $76,650 on Bring a Trailer in December 2020, apparently to a dealer. Any and all 1980s exotics are pricier than they were then, but this is still a surprisingly big result for an imperfect example of a car that typically sells in the high-five-figure range.

Lot # S239.1 1985 Lamborghini Countach LP500S Coupe; S/N ZA9C00500FLA12786; Bianco Polo/Rosso leather; Estimate $500,000 – $600,000; Unrestored original 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $470,000. – 4.8, 5-speed, white OZ phone dial wheels, Pirelli P7 tires, rear wing, side skirts. – Retrofitted with Bosch fuel injection. Recently serviced. Some minor scuffs on the wheels and some paint blemishes on the rear, plus some serious cracks on the A-pillars and B-pillars, and crazing on the roof. Significant wrinkling to the leather, and the driver’s seat outer bolster is worn through in one spot. Great colors for an `80s Countach, but it needs a repaint and some TLC. It’s better than driver condition, just not by a whole lot. – With some misgivings about the used condition and the fuel injection retrofit the consignor might have reasonably decided to take the money (if there was any) and let this Countach slip away.

Lot # S124 1987 Buick Regal Grand National Coupe; S/N 1G4GJ1177HP440177; Black/Black, Gray cloth; Estimate $50,000 – $75,000; Unrestored original 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $100,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $110,000. – 231/245hp, automatic, limited-slip, power windows, air conditioning, factory cassette stereo. – Sold new in West Virginia. From the Wellborn Musclecar Museum collection. Represented as 5,930 miles and essentially like new other than a big ding at the back of the hood. – Back in 1986 I test-drove a Grand National. In the midst of the Malaise era it was a revelation with ample power even more torque and the handling that all of GM’s development of the G-body platform had developed. The Grand National’s Indy Car developed intercooled turbo V-6 had authority. Many of them were put aside and preserved because people recognized how big the Grand National was from the mundane, sluggish cars offered by Detroit. Today few people realize just how common a <6,000 mile GN is and they continue to command premium prices based upon rumors of rarity. This GN brought $40,700 at Mecum Dallas in 2017 and should have sold under its high estimate here. It didn’t and it is expensive but still a great car.

Lot # S241.1 1988 Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet; S/N WP0EB0935070130; Guards Red/Champagne leather; Black cloth top; Unrestored original 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $205,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $225,500. – 3,299/300hp, 4-speed manual, red center Fuchs wheels, Goodyear Eagle tires, rear spoiler, air conditioning, snorkely brake light, CD/cassette, power windows, power top, limited slip, tool kit. – Represented as a factory Slantnose. Showing 24,561 believable miles. Some small chips on the nose, headlight doors and whale tail but the original paint still looks presentable. Most of the top is clean but the material around the windows is fraying at the edges. Tidy maintained engine. Good, lightly worn interior. More worn than the mileage indicates. – On the basis of condition this is a $150,000 Flatnose but its originality elevates it to a different standard, and makes this result realistic, if a bit optimistic.

Lot # S240 1988 BMW M5 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N WBSDC9307J2875177; Black/Tan leather; Estimate $100,000 – $120,000; Unrestored original 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $80,000. – 3,453/256hp, Getrag 5-speed, BBS wheels, Michelin tires, sunroof, tinted glass, power heated Recaro front seats, factory cassette, sunroof, owner’s manual, service booklet and service records from new. – Represented as a one-owner California car, and one of 1,239 imported here. Showing 87,266 miles but the single owner and service history is very reassuring. The wheels are showing age, especially up front, but the bumpers and paint are surprisingly clean. The engine and interior are both tidy as well. For someone who wants an original M5 to drive and enjoy guilt-free, this would be a great way to do it. – Bought at B-J Las Vegas in 2021 for $68,200 showing essentially the same mileage as it did today which calls the “one owner from new” claim into question. There’s no reason today to think it is worth much if any more than the reported high bid here at Kissimmee and it could have sold without regret on this bid.

Lot # F100 1991 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 1LE Coupe; S/N 1G1FP23F1ML130724; Dark Red Metallic/Gray cloth; Unrestored original 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $43,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $47,300. – 305/230hp, 5-speed, alloy wheels, Goodyear Eagle tires, rear spoiler, fog lights, engine oil cooler, limited-slip, factory cassette, window sticker. – From the Dewayne Stephens collection. Represented as one of 479 1LEs built for 1991 and just 289 with a manual. Showing 2,280 miles. It has been treated as collectible since new and looks just about showroom fresh, as you might expect, although there is undercoating underneath. There’s another 1LE out of this collection with even lower mileage at just 6, but that one has an automatic. – It also went across right before this car, and that single-digit on the odometer (along with the bigger engine) proved more important than a third pedal in bidders’ eyes since it sold for $64,900. Odd, since the whole purpose of the 1LE was showroom stock racing. Chevy was circumspect about how it was presented, representing the 1LE as a police vehicle. Building on the IROC-Z platform, Chevrolet whipped up a package that added bigger brakes, close-ratio transmission, upgraded suspension, and the Corvette’s aluminum driveshaft. It also tossed out the power windows, A/C, and fog lights. GM also never promoted the package, and for the most part you had to be a racer to know which options triggered the 1LE. In any given year, only a few dozen to a few hundred got screwed together. As third gen Camaros go, the 1LE is the hottest and most desirable. This one sold for $40,950 on Bring a Trailer last May and came around at a healthy premium in Kissimmee even if it was lower than the 6-mile example. And although nearly 50 grand for a spiced up third gen Camaro may seem like a lot, just go look at prices for any German race car homologation special from the `80s for perspective.

Lot # T176 1992 Ford Mustang LX Summer Edition Convertible; S/N 1FACP44E2NF171087; Vibrant Red/White leather piped in Black; White vinyl top; Estimate $25,000 – $30,000; Unrestored original 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $21,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $23,100. – 5.0/225hp, automatic, white wheels, Michelin tires, rear spoiler, tinted glass, air conditioning, factory cassette, window sticker. – From the Kenny and Marilyn Newcombe Mustang collection. One of 2,193 Summer Editions built for 1992. Showing 17,571 believable miles. There is a tiny scratch on the front bumper but the rest of the original paint is excellent. There is also mild dirt on the top and light wrinkling to the leather, all realistic stuff given the age and mileage. A rare special edition Fox-body. – An obscure limited edition variant, but it brought a good price for its condition and rarity.

Lot # W135 1993 Dodge Viper RT/10 Callaway Roadster; S/N 1B3BR65E2PV200012; Red, White stripes/Gray leather; Estimate $50,000 – $70,000; Original, modified for competition or performance 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $65,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $71,500. – 488/440hp V-10, 6-speed, pace car equipment. – Represented as the first 1993 Viper delivered to the East Coast. Intake and exhaust by Callaway yielded an extra 40 horsepower over stock. It was also the official pace car at Connecticut’s Lime Rock Park from 1993-95. Showing 7,926 miles. There are some minor chips and blemishes on the front of the car and the mirror, plus a big scratch on the trunk. The interior is a little dirty as well, but this is an interesting, low-mile early Viper. Not sure what you’d do with it, but it’s neat. Papa’s Dodge Collection. – Even for folks familiar with tuning and turbocharging powerhouse that is Callaway Cars, a “Callaway Viper” isn’t something you hear often, or ever. It’s been mostly Corvettes and Camaros for the Connecticut company for decades now, but they did fiddle with a handful of Vipers. No twin-turbo monsters, and a bump of 40hp in this car isn’t anything to write home about, but 440hp is plenty in an early Viper. Couple the Callaway connection to this car’s service as a pace car at Lime Rick and it’s got real if somewhat esoteric appeal. For a race fan who lives near Lime Rock or Callaway (and in CT, everything is close), it is a neat find. This price would ordinarily buy an absolutely pristine RT/10, though, so maybe the appeal isn’t so esoteric, after all.

Lot # S238.1 1995 Toyota Supra Turbo Sport Roof; S/N JT2JA82J6S0028984; Alpine Silver/Black leather; Estimate $160,000 – $180,000; Unrestored original 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $100,000. – — Represented as 100 percent stock with 36,000 original miles. Recently serviced as well. Mostly clean exterior with some large chips in the right front fender and some tiny ones in the windshield. Some chips on the passenger’s door edge as well. Good interior with wear commensurate with the mileage. Not showroom fresh but that doesn’t matter much. A bone stock, low-mile, manual Supra Turbo is something special. – Not reported by Mecum.

Lot # S27 1996 Ford Bronco Eddie Bauer Sport Utility Vehicle 4×4; S/N 1FMEU15N4TLA33912; Toreador Red, Beige/Tan leather; Estimate $75,000 – $100,000; Unrestored original 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $77,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $84,700. – 302/205hp, automatic, Goodyear Wrangler tires, captain’s chairs, overhead console, towing package, 32-gallon fuel tank, power rear window. Comes with original window sticker, bill of sale, registration, and title application. – From the “Tagalong Low Mileage Collection.” Represented with 763 original miles and there doesn’t appear to be any reason to dispute that. It looks as showroom fresh as it should, but what are you supposed to do with it? – Not drive it, apparently, because for this price you could order a brand-new 2023 Bronco and have thousands left over almost no matter what options you picked. As a final-year (until 2021, anyway) Bronco with the range-topping Eddie Bauer trim this is already a desirable little truck, and in general good fifth gen Broncos have almost doubled in value over the past three years. But this is way ahead of the curve. Not adjusted for inflation it’s nearly three times as much as the first owner paid in 1996. Good luck finding another one this clean, though, and that’s how you get over the top results like this although it is consistent with the $77,000 all-in it brought at Mecum Indy in 2020.

Lot # S49.1 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX STI 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N JF1GD70624L513518; World Rally Blue Pearl/Blue, Black; Unrestored original 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $70,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $77,000. – 2,457/300hp turbocharged intercooled flat four, 6-speed manual, Gold 17-inch BBS wheels, Brembo brakes with gold calipers, power brakes, windows, locks and mirrors, wing, limited slip front and rear – Represented as one of 1,820 built in this color with the gold wheels, which is the best combination. Also represented with 6,836 actual miles as well as a clean CARFAX, and there isn’t a mod or speed part in sight. Absolutely a collector-grade example of a significant factory high performance all-wheel drive car. Not something you often see. – 2004 was the first year for the US market WRX STi and the first with the more conventional “blob eye” headlights, and it arrived just in time to take on the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII in a rivalry that US enthusiasts had until then only been able to see from across an ocean. Like the standard WRX, the STI was a brilliant-all-rounder but offered more power, quicker steering, Brembo brakes, a 6-speed, and more advanced all-wheel drive. A fantastic car out of the box, then, but it was also a tuner favorite and many STIs in the 2000s at the very least burbled out through a fat aftermarket exhaust. There are plenty of jokes and stereotypes about WRXs (and their owners) but to car culture they’re hugely significant and more people will wish they had saved theirs like this example, especially given the price. It sold for even more than a black 7k-mile car that brought $66,150 on Bring a Trailer the same week. Beyond top dollar.

Lot # F211 2005 Porsche Carrera GT Coupe; S/N WP0CA29815L001419; Fayence Yellow/Dark Gray leather; Visually maintained, largely original 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $1,000,000. – 5,733/605hp V-10, 6-speed manual, Yellow calipers, Michelin Pilot Sport tires, books, factory luggage, air conditioning, Xenon headlights. – Represented with 16,284 miles and reportedly stolen in 2010 but recovered without damage other than scratches to the paint. Repainted after recovery. The title is clean. There are also some scuffs on the bottom front lip and some blemishes on the carbon rear diffuser. The carbon fiber in the front wheel wells is also slightly fraying at the edges. Otherwise the car is clean and as attention-grabbing as you’d expect a bright yellow hypercar to be, and the interior is free of flaws other than light wear in the driver’s seat. – Even with minor damage a record of theft on a vehicle, especially an expensive one, is an obvious red flag. But there’s even more to this car’s history than a bit of joyriding. According to US Treasury records it was bought with proceeds from a massive bank fraud scheme. It appears to have then been confiscated and sold for $210k at a government auction in Virginia 10 years ago. That anyone would bid $1M on it here shows just how far these cars have come. They started at around $600k when new, and didn’t really become seven-figure collector cars until the pandemic boom. Given its issues this one could have sold at the reported high bid if there was real money there, especially since another Carrera GT with its own issues (including a salvage title) sold for $1,072,500 ($975,000 hammer bid) the following day.

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Comments

    • David Annett
    • February 12, 2023
    Reply

    I watch these auctions on TV, but these reports seem to be a sober analysis of condition and value apart from emotion and hype on the broadcast. I look forward to each of your summaries after the auctions.

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