In the middle of a CoViD-19 resurgence Mecum Auctions went to Kissimmee for its annual extravaganza. Thousands of cars, thousands of people (although a lot fewer thousands than in 2020), live bidding and on-site previews.
It was the Mecum auction formula, lightened up to cope with a pandemic. And it worked.
Oh, how well it worked, with fewer lots offered and sold than in recent years but a better sell-through percentage and a total almost 21% better than ever before at Kissimmee.
With other auctions relying on online only or hybrid live/online formats and more frequent auctions with smaller consignments, Mecum has demonstrated forcefully how effective the live auction format is in encouraging consignors to bring good cars knowing there will be bidders present in an exciting, high energy selling environment.
The average sale was way up from prior years, helped by seven lots sold on hammer bids of $1 million or more. The median sale was up, too, but the median/average relationship was comparable with prior Kissimmee auctions, indicating that the overall quality of the consignments was better.
These numbers won’t line up consistently with either prior years or with Mecum’s post-auction report in that the 2021 report does not include motorcycles, which were a meaningful number of consignments but at low prices. Re-runs have been consolidated to a single result for re-run cars.
Here are the numbers:
| Year | Cars Sold/ Offered | Sale % | Average Sale | Median Sale | Total $ |
| 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 |
| 2019 | 2151/3164 | 68% | $43,332 | $27,500
[63.5%] |
$93,206,410 |
| 2018 | 2031/2926 | 69.4% | $44,958 | $26,400
[58.7%] |
$91,330,790 |
On-site observations are from Megan Boyd. Some observations were done by Andrew Newton from prior observations of the same car or from the online descriptions and photographs. Most of the photos are by Megan Boyd, some are courtesy of Mecum Auctions.
Lots are sorted by sale day and lot number.
Lot # W118 1966 Chevrolet Nova SS Sport Coupe; S/N 118376W176844; Tuxedo Black/Black; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $69,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $75,900. – 327/350hp L79, 4-speed, wheel covers, red line tires, bucket seats and console, factory AM radio, dash clock. – Represented as matching numbers and body-off restored with original body panels. Good older paint. Lightly aged brightwork with some pitting on the wheel covers. Even panel fit. Restored but used engine bay. Very clean interior with some light wear on the driver’s seat. Body-off restored a while ago and lightly used. – Sold at Mecum Indy in 2010 for $57,240 and there again in 2017 for $71,500, both appropriate results. The car hasn’t received any serious work of note since then but it doesn’t look much more used, either, so this similar result in 2021 is sensible, and bought a handsome and usable Nova with the highest with the most desirable powertrain and options. Mecum gave remote bidders only a paltry ten online photos so any bidding had to be based upon in-person inspection … or having seen it before.
Lot # T149.1 2000 Honda S2000 Convertible; S/N JHMAP1149YT007691; Silverstone Metallic/Black leather; Black top; Estimate $125,000 – $150,000; Unrestored original 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $60,000 plus commission of; Final Price $60,000. – 1,997/240hp, 6-speed, Potenza tires. Comes with original window sticker, books and purchase documents. Still on the MSO. – Showing just 35 miles, and never sold or registered. It isn’t just like new. It pretty much is new. – Mecum’s six-figure estimate on this car, mint as it is, seemed way ambitious to us before the sale. We were right. Even so, huge prices on S2000s aren’t unheard of. While these roadster favorites had an MSRP of about $32,000 when they came out, they have rapidly become modern collectibles as enthusiasts fall in love with the well-balanced chassis, the clean styling, and the zing of that VTEC four. A 91-mile car sold on Bring a Trailer last spring for $73,500, and in Kissimmee three years ago an 885-mile car sold for $71,500, so the consignor here can expect something closer to 70 grand without being unrealistic, but the $125,000 low estimate is absurd and is older mid-engined V8 Ferrari spider money, with something left over for an engine-out belt service. As delightful (and reliable) as an S2000 is, it’s not like driving a 328 GTS.
Lot # T191 1970 Chevrolet Corvette LT1 Coupe; S/N 194370S402744; Laguna Gray/Bright Blue vinyl; Estimate $55,000 – $75,000; Older restoration 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $65,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $71,500. – 350/370hp, 4-speed, J56 heavy-duty power brakes, F41 heavy duty suspension, manual steering, whitewall tires, pushbutton AM/FM radio, original documentation and Protect-O-Plate, 2011 NCRS Regional Top Flight. – From the Jack Wright collection. Represented as matching numbers and as the only non-ZR1 with J56 heavy-duty brakes, F41 suspension and heavy-duty clutch. Restored in 2010. Clean body, engine bay and interior that show little age despite the restoration being over a decade old. – The solid lifter small-block LT1 Corvette offers a great balance in that it offers gobs of power but does so without carrying the extra weight and the higher price of a big-block car. 1970 was also the first and best year for the LT1, (output trailed off for its other two years in ’71 and ’72), and this one’s extra options sweeten the deal. It was a $65,000 no-sale at Mecum Indy in 2014 and was reported sold at Mecum Dallas four months later for $63,720. At $71,500 including commission it brought a very strong number, but not an excessive one and the new owner should be very happy with its balance and performance.
Lot # F97 1997 Plymouth Prowler Convertible; S/N 1P3EW65F2VV300010; Prowler Purple/Black leather; Black top; Unrestored original 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $47,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $51,700. – 215/214hp V-6, automatic, AutoMeter tach mounted on the column, matching trailer. Comes with original window sticker. – Represented as a one-owner car with just 225 miles and its original Goodyear tires. Light wrinkling on the driver’s seat but otherwise nothing to criticize. – While represented with a single owner here, this car was also reported sold through RM’s Online Only Driving Into Summer sale back in March 2020 (with 244 miles showing) for $33,000. We noted a small scratch on the left rear fender and one more on the trailer at the time thanks to RM’s much more helpful photos and description. We were also relatively surprised at that modest price since the car ticks all the right boxes for a serious collector, including the matching trailer, which cost about 5 grand new and only went to about 12 percent of the Prowlers built. After that trip across the virtual auction block it got a lot more attention at this trip across a real one, bringing the highest price we’ve ever seen for a stock Prowler. A day later, country singer George Jones’s Prowler (Lot S172) sold for $49,500 while a 6,100-mile car (Lot W147) sold for $33,000 earlier in the sale on Wednesday, so this was a great week to be selling one of these retro roadsters.
Lot # F111 1970 Ford Torino Twister SportsRoof; S/N 0A38J133421; Vermillion, Black graphics/Black vinyl; Estimate $200,000 – $250,000; Older restoration 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $215,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $236,500. – 429/375hp, close ratio 4-speed, 3.50 Traction-Lok, spoilers, rear window slats, bench seat, Hurst T-handle shifter, color keyed mirrors, tinted glass, Philco pushbutton radio. – One of 90 Torino Twisters produced in 1970 for the Kansas City market. One of 30 with the 4-speed manual. Includes original build sheet and window sticker, sold new at Jim Jenkins Ford in Independence, KS. Much like its Mustang Twister counterpart from the Larry Carrell collection this appears to be a slightly stale but thorough restoration. The paint and interior are both in excellent condition, but there are some scratches on the brightwork surrounding the front and rear windows. Some exterior chrome components are also pitting, including the bumpers. The front bumper in particular has some deep pits from poor prep work prior to chrome. White letters on the tires are yellowed from age. Engine bay is nicely detailed. Could easily be leveled up with some thorough detailing and chrome work. – This Torino is more obscure than the Mustang that sold one lot later, but it’s a very rare and fast piece of Ford muscle made more interesting by its Twister Special graphics. And like the Mustang, it brought a similarly massive price at no reserve that should leave the seller thrilled.
Lot # F112 1970 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Twister SportsRoof; S/N 0F05R118928; Grabber Orange, Black graphics/Black; Estimate $100,000 – $125,000; Older restoration 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $195,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $214,500. – 428/360hp Super Cobra Jet, automatic, power steering, power brakes with front disc, spoilers, shaker hood, black deluxe interior, bucket seats with center console, tinted glass, fold down rear seat, rear window slats, Magnum 500 wheels. – Featured in May 2009 Mustang Monthly. One of 48 428 SCJ Twister Special Mustangs built in 1970 and one of 24 with an automatic. Very good paint with little to no signs of use or wear. Mostly clean interior but the upholstery and carpet seem a little dingy, and the interior’s chrome trim could stand cleaning. Engine bay is detailed thoroughly. A slightly stale restoration of a rare car that could be brought up a level with a thorough detail in and out. – This Mustang is mostly collectible for its Super Cobra Jet engine, but being a relatively rare “Twister Special” (marketed specifically to Kansas City) does make it a little more interesting. Nevertheless, this is a staggering price that surprised us. It probably also surprised Mecum (it hammered at nearly twice its low estimate), the seller, and maybe even the buyer after the auction excitement wore off.
Lot # F121 1970 Mercury Cougar Eliminator 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 0F91G513176; Competition Gold, Black/Black vinyl; Estimate $90,000 – $110,000; Older restoration 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $80,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $88,000. – Boss 302/290hp, 4-speed, 3.91 Traction-Lok, manual steering, power brakes, bucket seats with center console, Hurst T-handle shifter, dash clock, AM Radio with 8-track, Magnum 500 wheels. – One of 323 produced in 1970, 1 of 1 as equipped per Marti report. Sold new at S&R Motor Co in Milwaukee, WI. Presentable older paint with minor blemishes from the age of the restoration, especially in the driver’s side door jamb. Poor hood fit. Scratched windshield trim. Glass on the rear quarter windows is scratched as is the rear window. Good interior with only minor wear on the driver’s seat bolster. Good overall presentation of a rare car with an older restoration. – This is a strong but not insane price for a Boss 302 Eliminator, which in the hierarchy of these surprisingly brash (for Mercury) muscle cars slots in between the standard 351-powered Cougar Eliminator and the big-block 428 Cobra Jet-powered cars. And compared to the equivalent Mustang, it’s still a notable value. Production for the Mercury was a fraction of the Mustang Boss 302, but the better-known Ford version is worth a bit more. That’s a dichotomy that is frequently seen as buyers who lusted after these cars in their teens focused their attention mostly on the more affordable Ford than the upscale Mercury. It’s also seen with Chevy/Pontiac, but not with the more heavily-promoted Plymouth/Dodge pair.
Lot # F122 1968 Mercury Cougar XR-7 GT-E 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 8F93W537983; Cardinal Red/Red; Estimate $125,000 – $175,000; Older restoration 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $85,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $93,500. – 427/390hp side-oiler, automatic, aluminum intake, competition suspension, power steering, power brakes with front discs, woodgrain dash, tinted glass, AM/FM radio, tilt steering column. – Represented as one of just 357 Cougar GT-Es built with the 427 side-oiler in 1968 and 256 equipped with the XR-7 trim. Older restoration with fair paint that has some significant cracking on the hood. Good interior with light pitting on some chrome pieces, and the steering wheel shows significant age. Rear glass is scratched and the windshield was installed slightly sloppy. There are issues to fix, but they’re easy to forgive thanks to this Cougar’s rare equipment. – Were it not for the domed hood and the “7-Litre GT-E” badges on its fenders, this Cougar would be one heck of a sleeper. It even seemed to sneak past some of the bidders, since a car with this combination of options could have crossed into six figures without being expensive. Given what many other muscle cars were bringing in Kissimmee, this number was modest.
Lot # F145 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 Roadster; S/N CSX3178; Charcoal Gray/Black leather; Concours restoration 1- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $5,400,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $5,940,000. – Aluminum head 427/425hp side-oiler engine with dual 4bbl carbs, Sunburst centerlock wheels, woodrim steering wheel, lap belts. – Carroll Shelby’s personal Cobra from new until his passing in 2012, though it’s unclear how much he used it. One of five 427 Cobras finished in Charcoal Gray. Originally equipped with a 428, but Shelby later had the 427 side-oiler and an automatic added. Restored by Mike McCluskey in the early 70s, then again at Shelby in the early 2000s and concours restored in 2016. Excellent paint free from any signs of use. The interior is in great condition with only slight wrinkles on the driver’s seat from very limited seat time. Excellent chrome and brightwork other than the vent wing brackets that exhibit some slight pitting. Driver’s side vent wing appears slightly scratched near the bottom. Sunburst wheels appear to be unrestored. Engine compartment restored to an exacting detail and in great condition with exception of a slight fuel stain on the intake. The condition is fantastic, but more significant to collectors is the Shelby ownership history. – This significant Cobra sold for $1,375,000 at RM Monterey 2016, but at the time it was painted red and had the automatic transmission, side exhaust, and a roll bar. It’s a very different car this time around, but the result here is still huge. It’s the most expensive car sold in Kissimmee this year and over twice what another 427 in this condition would bring. The Carroll Shelby provenance is, of course, the key to its value but it has had so many modifications over its life and now is powered by an engine/gearbox combination that it never saw during Shelby’s lifetime, a little like George Washington’s axe (seven handles, three heads but still traceable to little “I cannot tell a lie” George.) The result is seriously generous.
Lot # F146 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Coupe; S/N VC570163461; Harbor Blue/Blue, Black; Estimate $100,000 – $125,000; Recent restoration 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $110,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $121,000. – 283/270hp with dual quads, 3-speed manual, bat wing air cleaner, whitewall tires, Continental kit, fender skirts, power windows, power seat, WonderBar radio, rear seat speaker, vacuum ashtray, tissue dispenser, compass, dual power antennas, EZ Eye tinted glass. – Fully restored and has just about every option one could want on a ’57 Bel Air. The rare, attractive color doesn’t hurt, either. – Those options really add up when it comes to value and so do the hours and dollars spent on the restoration, but this is still an absolutely massive price for a Tri-Five Chevy. Typically it’s only top notch convertibles or the very best Nomad wagons that bring six figures. And, for reference, this same car sold for $56,000 at RM Sotheby’s Arizona 2018 and then sold a few months later for $58,850 at Mecum Indy. Both were fair money for the time. It’s not like ’50s American cars have become the hot new thing in the three years since the last transaction, but ’57 Bel Airs have recently shown a surprising resurgence. This is either a curve-setting result, or a rather startling outlier.
Lot # F147 1970 Plymouth Road Runner Superbird Hemi Coupe; S/N RM23R0A170172; Alpine White, Black vinyl roof/Black vinyl; Estimate $500,000 – $550,000; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $485,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $533,500. – 426/425hp Hemi, 4-speed, A33 Track Pack, hood pins, Hurst pistol grip shifter, power steering, power brakes with front discs, Tic-Toc-Tach. – One of 58 Hemi Superbirds produced with 4-speed. Sold new at Capital Motors in Trenton, NJ. Original window sticker, two broadcast sheets, IBM punch card, warranty card. Restored in 2002. Best American Muscle Car at 2003 Amelia Island Concours, OE Silver Certification at 2002 Mopar Nationals, David Wise Visual Evaluation Report and Certificate. Represented with the original drivetrain. Overall the paint is in great condition with only minor signs of prep work coming through, mainly near the trunk and in corners of the door jambs, trunk and under the hood. Front black piece on nose has been chipped and repaired. Good interior other than a crack in the steering wheel, the door panel coming loose on driver’s side, and some chrome on interior components starting to pit, namely the door handles. Bottom seal of windshield on interior is also sloppy, especially on the driver’s side. Engine bay is in great condition. Showing its age but a great car where it counts. – This Superbird has been across the block a few times over the years, and most of its history demonstrates what values have done for these historically volatile aero muscle cars. It sold in 2007 at the height of pre-recession Hemi madness for $529,200, then at Mecum Indy in 2009 post-recession and during the muscle car slump for $318,000. RM sold it at the Art of the Automobile auction in NYC in 2013 for $363,000, and then Mecum sold in again in 2017 in Harrisburg for $456,500. Its odometer shows just 59 more miles since that last one. This Kissimmee result, meanwhile, is the standout. It’s a very big number, but 4-speed Hemi Superbirds aren’t easy to come by, and at least two people were willing to pay for the chance at this one.
Lot # F148 1963 Chevrolet Corvette FI Z06 (big tank) Coupe; S/N 30837S106844; Ermine White/Black vinyl; Estimate $400,000 – $500,000; Older restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $460,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $506,000. – 327/360hp, fuel injection, M20 4-speed, 36-gallon fuel tank, Mickey Thompson Rader alloy wheels, Firestone tires. – One of 199 Z06s built in 1963. Represented as matching numbers and as racer Mickey Thompson’s personal car. Later discovered in the 1980s, and Thompson’s Chevron credit card was found inside the driver’s door. For many years it was believed to be a test/promo car for Sears Allstate tires at Bonneville with a ’64-style roof and rear window but apparently it wasn’t, thanks to an extensive investigation by David Burroughs. It was, however, used as an advertising model for Thompson’s mag wheels. – Sold at Mecum’s Bloomington Gold auction in 2003 for $150,000, then offered at Monterey a few months later where it was reported bid to $156,000 without selling. It turned up at Mecum Monterey again in 2012, a $450,000 no-sale, repeated at Seattle in 2014 at $520,000, then at Kissimmee in 2015 at $575,000, but went to Barrett-Jackson WestWorld in 2017 and was reported sold for $247,500. Back again four years later, this result is as much a factor of the Mickey Thompson history as it is of the car itself, especially with the deteriorating restoration. The odometer has added only 65 miles since Seattle 2014.
Lot # F152 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Yenko Sport Coupe; S/N 124379N616658; Rally Green, Black stripes, Black vinyl roof/Black vinyl; Estimate $350,000 – $365,000; Older restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $280,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $308,000. – 427/425hp L72, 4-speed, Hurst shifter, 140mph speedo, AM radio, power steering, power disc brakes, rear spoiler, heavy duty suspension, Rallye wheels, Wide Oval tires, COPO 9561 and 9737. – One of 201 Yenkos built in 1969, formerly owned by Yenko Camaro collector Gary Holub. Older restoration of a Yenko beginning to show its age, most noticeably by the checked paint of the black stripes. Additionally there is a mark on the driver’s side A-pillar affecting the paint and the trim. The interior is sound but could use detailing. The rear glass is scratched. Nicely detailed engine compartment with no signs of being driven. Wide Oval tires appear to have been curbed on the driver’s side. Chrome on the bumpers is beginning to ever so slightly pit. An eye-catching Yenko with a great history but in need of a cosmetic refresh. – This Yenko’s equipment is impressive and its restoration was excellent when completed but now is aging and in need of attention which makes this result somewhat surprising. Still, it is thoroughly documented and has an arresting (both literally and figuratively) presentation in bright Rally Green and its festoon of Yenko graphics.
Lot # F158 1965 Shelby Mustang GT350R Fastback; S/N SFM5R106; Wimbledon White, Blue stripes/Black; Estimate $1,200,000 – $1,500,000; Older restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,100,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,210,000. – 289/325hp, single 4 barrel, 4 speed, magnesium American Racing wheels, side exhaust, deleted bumpers, fiberglass front apron, oil cooler, vented acrylic rear window, wood rimmed steering wheel, lap belts, full size spare on deleted rear seat. – One of 34 production R models, delivered new to Jack Loftus Ford in Hinsdale, IL. Raced by original owner Dick Jordan and owned by him for 21 years, includes original invoice, purchase order, Shelby delivery sheet, vintage photos and Shelby historical paperwork. Paint presents nicely for an older restoration with only a few minor blemishes from display use. Interior is in good condition with only slight wear on seats. Dash and steering wheel look fresh. Original Plexiglas windows show signs of use and age. Tires are aged and yellowed. Engine compartment in fair condition- appears more as a racecar would rather than a showpiece. Limited chrome and bright work are good overall. An older restoration of a racecar that is refreshingly not over-restored. – Restored in the early 90’s to its original as-raced configuration then reverently maintained by a succession of owners ever since. It was sold by RM at Monterey in 2012 for $990,000 where it showed 4,862 miles compared with the 4,951 on its odometer today which the catalog claims to be all it has covered since new (equivalent to 1,223 laps of Road America.) Its competition history is sparsely documented and it seems never to have made the Big Time, but its preservation and documentation are exceptional which supports the price it brought here.
Lot # F164 1966 Ferrari 275 GTS Spider, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 07967; Rosso Corsa/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $1,350,000 – $1,450,000; Cosmetic restoration 2- condition; Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,225,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,347,500. – 3,286/260hp, 5-speed, Ansa exhaust, woodrim steering wheel, Borrani wire wheels, jack, tool roll. – Excellent recent repaint. Interior looks to be freshened up as well but seats are over stuffed. Some slight misses around the edges of the vehicle- window felt out of place on driver’s side, sloppy windshield installation, and some haze and rash on wire wheels. Minor scratches on the windshield as well. A quick refresh of a car out of long term ownership ready for the next owner to drive and enjoy. – Sold by Mecum at Monterey in 2019 for $1.1 million and described there as a “seriously nasty 275 GTS”, it now has only nine more miles on the odometer but has had its most obvious flaws attended to and brought a price consistent with its inherent appeal and condition. It is a driver quality car, but an enjoyable and presentable one.
Lot # F173 1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Coupe, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N 15443; Red/Tan leather, Black bars; Estimate $650,000 – $700,000; Cosmetic restoration 3+ condition; Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $500,000 plus commission of; Final Price $500,000. – 4,390/352hp, painted nose panel, popup lights, Ansa exhaust, 4 wheel power disc brakes, air conditioning, power windows, woodrim steering wheel, Borrani chrome spoke wire wheels, Michelin XWX tires, books, tool roll. – Paint overall in fair condition with some blemishes from the age of the cosmetic restoration, especially on the driver’s side door. Nose of vehicle appears to be slightly a color shade off as well. The interior is in good condition but shows strong signs of wear on both seats and the leather wrapped center console. Brightwork fair with some scratches throughout the car. Engine bay clean but the hood mat is slightly stained. Chrome wire wheels and tires in great condition. An older restoration that still stands tall for the hobbyist’s daily or weekly enjoyment. – Offered at RM’s New York Auto Show and Salon auction in 2000 where it went home with its consignor on a reported hammer bid of $86,000. Taking its condition into account, the bid here is appropriate; the estimate range is out of sight. Daytonas have been in eclipse for years and there’s nothing in the recent past that suggests that this mediocre example would come anywhere close to the estimate range.
Lot # F174 1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spyder Conversion; S/N 15733; Rosso Corsa/Black leather; Estimate $475,000 – $525,000; Visually maintained, largely original 3+ condition; Reserve; Hammered Sold at $425,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $467,500. – 4390/352hp, 5-speed, power windows, Becker radio, Veglia air conditioning, chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, Michelin XWX tires, Plexiglas nose, fixed headlights – Straman Spider conversion completed in the 1970s, includes service records. Good older restoration of a conversion car. Paint presents nicely as does the interior. Dash appears a little tired with some slight discoloration. Front driver’s side marker lens displays evidence of moisture inside. Chrome on the exterior mirrors pitting. Felt around vent windows appears discolored and just plain old. The engine compartment is detailed well even for the age of the restoration. Overall a fun car to drive and enjoy despite it being an older restoration of a conversion completed in the 1970s. – Crossed Mecum’s Monterey auction block in 2018 and reported bid to $600,000, then appeared at Mecum Indy a year later where it was reported bid to $500,000. Today its odometer shows just 5 more miles at 42,566 miles. It made a little better impression here than it did two years ago and sold for a reasonable price for a cut Daytona which carries a moderate but important discount from a Daytona coupe.
Lot # F176 1965 Shelby Mustang GT350 Fastback; S/N SFM5S013; Wimbledon White, Blue stripes/Black vinyl; Estimate $400,000 – $500,000; Older restoration 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $455,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $500,500. – 289/306hp, 4-speed, 9″ rear end, 3.89:1, Detroit Locker, Cragar wheels, trunk-mounted battery. – Designated by Shelby as “Advanced Prototype” completed 1/25/1965, used as PR car for Shelby, released to dealer Hi-Performance Motors in LA on 5/20/65, sold to Sports Car Graphic Magazine Editor John Christy on 5/24/1965. Under same ownership from 1989 until 2021. Car appears to boast an original interior with an older paint job. Interior is mostly good with just light wear on the seats. Paint on the exterior is cracking in some locations, especially near the rear window. Some panel fit issues between the hood and fenders. Chips throughout the paint. Chrome on the taillights is pitted, as is the rear bumper. Rubber on the trunk coming loose, exposing yellow glue. Engine compartment is freshly detailed. Black paint on the wheels is fading and chipped. An older restoration, but good history and definitely still presentable. – Valuable, basically, because it’s never been driven, the 6,950 miles showing on the odometer are represented as all it has ever covered. Known history from new, stored for over three decades without being used but being carefully preserved. This is not an excessive price for a GT350, even in this aged condition. For a benchmark GT350 that has never had a full restoration it is satisfyingly realistic, even if it is doomed to be an object of reverence, never driven more than on and off a show field, the rest of its life.
Lot # F179 1967 Ferrari 330 GTC Coupe, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 10457; Silver/Red leather; Estimate $625,000 – $675,000; Cosmetic restoration 2- condition; Reserve; Hammered Sold at $600,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $660,000. – 3,967/300hp, 5-speed, air conditioning, woodrim steering wheel, power windows, Becker AM-FM, Borrani wire wheels, Michelin tires, tool roll, owner’s manual. – Excellent paint and upholstery- exemplifies recent refresh of the vehicle. Some of the interior chrome components appear tired though and could use replating or at the least polishing. Door jams are slightly messy with poor prep work before paint. Brightwork around windshield marred in some places. Rear window appears to have a ring around it- potentially sealer that needs cleaned off. Sparkling wire wheels on what appear to be fresh tires. Nicely detailed engine bay. A very presentable in 330 in an eye catching classic silver and red color combination. – Offered by Mecum at Monterey in 2019 where it attracted an unsuccessful bid of $400,000, then showed up at Kissimmee last year where it was reported bid to $450,000. It was, however, in decidedly mediocre condition then, neglected and tired with barely better than an Earl Scheib paint job, things that have been remedied in the last twelve months. It’s still not a great car, even after the attention, and this result should have been enough to buy the best 330 GTC in the world.
Lot # F203 1962 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Convertible; S/N 12104210021411; Black/Tan leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $135,000 – $145,000; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $135,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $148,500. – 1,897/105hp, Solex carburetors, 4-speed, wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, pushbutton radio. – Good paint with some minor blemishes on panels that line up well but have too much curvature to them. Good interior with slight sagging to the upholstery, and there is some dirt on the outer bolsters. Top shows slight fading with wear marks from the frame rubbed against it. The engine compartment is nicely detailed but somewhat aged, and the air box is cracked and paint chipped. Chrome is fair with some hazing on the rear bumper. Trim around the front windshield is marred. Tires appear to be new. Looks to have been restored a while ago, but represented with a drivetrain rebuild completed last fall. – From 2013-15, the 190SL skyrocketed in value and some fresh restorations brought over 200 grand. They’ve been sliding ever since, and though their decline isn’t as dramatic as their rise, it’s still significant. This result, meanwhile, seems behind the times and that much money could have bought a fresher car. It isn’t a bad SL by any means, but better ones have sold for less money recently.
Lot # S109 1960 Austin-Healey Sprite Mk I Bugeye Roadster; S/N AN5L28110; Iris Blue/Black vinyl; Cosmetic restoration 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $28,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $30,800. – 948/43hp, two SU carburetors, 4-speed, woodrim steering wheel, fender mount mirrors, bumper guards, Minator alloy wheels, Talbot-style fender mirrors. – Mostly good paint with some distress in the body seams. The sparse interior is in excellent condition, but the brightwork on this car falls short with pits and scratches throughout. Appears to have new wheels and tires. The right taillight is cracked. A cute Sprite convertible that could be elevated to the next level with some more focused attention to detail. – There is always a lot more than just muscle cars and old pickup trucks at Mecum Kissimmee, and it isn’t just American muscle that brings strong prices there, either. Bugeyes have a lot of charm and fun factor, and because of that are worth more than their production numbers and performance might suggest. But over 30 grand including commission is a price that should buy a concours-ready Bugeye, and that’s not what this car is. It is overpriced by 50%.
Lot # S137 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing; S/N 1980406500212; Graphite Grey/Tan leather; Estimate $1,300,000 – $1,500,000; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,425,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,567,500. – 2,996/240hp, 4-speed, Becker Mexico radio, fitted luggage, hub caps, Nardi woodrim steering wheel, tool kit. – Ordered new by the Prince of Salm Salm (which isn’t a country but a principality in northwestern France) in Graphite Gray with blue plaid seats. Later restored and repainted in Strawberry Red Metallic, then restored again in the 2000s by Rudi Koniczek and recently refreshed cosmetically in its original color but with leather upholstery. Excellent paint. Good interior with some light wear and discoloration on the seats, and the leather on the dash is slightly wrinkled around the gauges. Chrome and brightwork are excellent throughout with exception of the 300SL emblem on the trunk, which is pitted. Tidy but not overly detailed engine bay. A recently repainted older restoration that could be detailed more thoroughly to match the level of the exterior. – Offered by RM at Amelia in 2019 when it was still Strawberry, which was once-upon-a-time a premium color, and repainted in that hue to try to catch the fashion. It took a dump at Amelia, bid to $1,150,000, within $50,000 of its low estimate and should have sold. Now it’s been put closer to right and brought some enthusiasm here in Kissimmee, a lot more than was due for its history and condition, a car that would not have been a good value even at its low estimate.
Lot # S146 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster; S/N 7500110; Silver Gray Metallic/Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $1,100,000 – $1,300,000; Older restoration 1- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,100,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,210,000. – 2996/250hp, 4-speed, tool roll, Becker Mexico radio, Euro headlights, books, brochure, original jack. – MB Classic Zertifikat. Displayed at 2013 Carmel Mission Concours. Second in class at 2014 Hillsborough Concours. Excellent paint with only two small repaired chips on the front near the grille. Great interior with some slight wrinkles and sagging in the driver’s seat. Driver’s side visor slightly marred. Excellent chrome and brightwork throughout. Engine compartment detailed to exacting standards, better than factory. An excellent, lightly used restoration. – A strong but fair price considering the standards of the restoration, and the sixth most expensive car in Kissimmee this year.
Lot # S149 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Yenko Sport Coupe; S/N 124379N616724; Daytona Yellow, Black stripes, Black vinyl roof/Black vinyl; Estimate $250,000 – $275,000; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $225,000 plus commission of; Final Price $225,000. – 427/425hp L72, M21 4-speed, 4.10 Positraction, power brakes, spoilers, American Racing wheels, Wide Tread GT tires, Hurst shifter, Stewart Warner tach mounted on the steering column. – One of 201 1969 Yenko Camaros. Sold new in Kentucky. Restored and mostly spotless. With 201 built, the ’69 Yenko Camaro is significantly more common than the ’67 (54 built) and ’68 (64 built) versions and therefore the cheapest of the group, but this is still a serious car. – It hammered not sold at Mecum Indy in 2017 at a $255,000 hammer bid, and the following year it didn’t sell there again at a $260,000 high bid. We noted some fine scratches on the tops of the fenders and cracking near the drip rails at the time, but it still appears to be in great shape. The problem is that although it’s a real-deal Yenko, it has never been represented with the original L72 drivetrain it left the factory with. That’s why this condition #2 is only getting condition #3 bids, and since there were plenty of bidders with plenty of money chasing rare muscle in Kissimmee this year, the consignor isn’t likely to get a much higher offer than this elsewhere.
Lot # S174 1947 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith Convertible, Body by J.S. Inskip; S/N WYA26; Purple/Tan leather; Purple cloth top; Estimate $600,000 – $700,000; Older restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $475,000 plus commission of; Final Price $475,000. – RHD. 4,257/125hp six, floor shift 4-speed, wide whitewall tires, fender skirts, single driving light. – Custom coachwork by J.S. Inskip. Built to order for Tommy Manville, Jr. and displayed at the 1949 New York International Motor show. Flamboyantly embellished with cutdown doors and enough chrome swoops and details to make even Saoutchik happy. AACA Senior 1995, Pebble Beach participant 1995 and ’96, Best of Show at the Greenwich Concours in 1997. Thoroughly documented with five owners since new. Good paint throughout with some signs of age and chips in the paint, mainly on the right hand side. The interior is in fair condition with wrinkles in both front seats and in general could use a detailing. Headliner has some staining near the rear window. The top is slightly faded on top and water stained across the bottom under the rear window. Chrome and brightwork are good. Fair engine bay, aged since the restoration. A stunning car regardless of its age, but it would benefit from another round of basic restoration work to bring it back to its former glory. – An over-the-top Rolls-Royce for an over-the-top character, this Silver Wraith has never been overlooked or ignored. The problem today is that few remember Tommy Manville other than the descendants of his 13 marriages to 11 different women, not to mention the millions whose asbestosis could be traced the source of his fortune, Johns-Manville. “Flamboyant” barely begins to describe the coachwork or the acclaim it would have brought around New York in the late Forties. It’s been offered at least twice before at auction without selling: $950,000 at Gooding Pebble Beach in 2016 and $500,000 at Mecum Monterey in 2019. It is good that it sold here for this realistic price and even better that it might again hit the show/concours trail after being updated.
Lot # S179 1971 Plymouth GTX 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N RS23R1G165445; Black, Black vinyl roof/Black vinyl, cloth; Estimate $200,000 – $225,000; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $175,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $192,500. – 426/425hp Hemi, 4-speed, Hurst pistol grip shifter, power steering, power front disc brakes, Air Grabber hood, hood pins, bench seat, AM radio, dual mirrors, Rallye wheels, Polyglas GT tires. – Represented as one of 11 GTXs coupes built in 1971 with the Hemi and 4-speed manual. Sold new in Michigan. Good older restoration with solid paint, chrome, interior and engine bay. No major issues, just general age. – The 1971 redesign of B-body Mopars wasn’t exactly an improvement and black isn’t the most desirable color, but this car’s drivetrain makes it a standout. It sold for $140,400 at Mecum Indy in 2015, so this result is even stronger (and at the very top end of GTX values) despite the restoration being six years older. The price is better than the car’s condition warrants but Hemi GTX 4-speeds don’t grow on trees so anyone would be hard-pressed to find another real-deal car in any condition, let alone one this good.