Mecum held its first Tulsa auction at the River Spirit Expo Center. Aside from being the site of the annual Chili Bowl dirt racing celebration River Spirit Expo also is the longtime home of Leake Auctions. And by longtime, we mean LONG time: 40+ years in Tulsa or nearby Muskogee.
That string ended in 2017 when Leake was acquired by Ritchie Bros., the heavy equipment auction behemoth, and placed under the operational leadership of Gary and Muffy Bennett. And that, in turn, ended in 2020 – although for now we don’t know the details behind that change.
Mecum moved into the Tulsa vacuum for a two-day sale this year and demonstrated its market power by putting up a $16.4 million total, some $5 million more than the long-established Leake auction team ever did, at least in my records here which date from 2012.
Remarkably, too, Mecum did it with no million dollar cars, not even a half-million dollar car, and turned in the unusual result of having the median transaction almost 20% larger than the average, a measure that usually (almost always) skews the other way as the average is heavily influenced by the presence of high-six or seven figure cars.
| Cars Sold/ Offered | Sale % | Average Sale | Median Sale | Total $ |
| 111/586 | 75.8% | $36,909 | $44,000
[119.2%] |
$16,387,800 |
The cars reported here were viewed on-site in Tulsa by Andrew Newton and are sorted in lot number order.
Lot # F28 1976 Chevrolet Monte Carlo S Sport Coupe; S/N 1H57V6K465798; Red/Red; Unrestored original 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $10,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $11,000 – 350/145hp, automatic, wire wheel covers, bench seat, column shift, air conditioning, factory radio. – The 12,750 miles showing are believable and represented as actual. The paint may be original or an old repaint. There are light scratches and some crazing but the flaws are only visible up close. The interior is remarkably well-preserved. Slightly dry weather stripping. Oxidized chassis. Very few people kept a `76 Monte Carlo as clean as this. – It’s well-kept and shows remarkably low mileage, but it’s still a ’76 Monte Carlo and this is a perfectly acceptable price for it. It’s not good enough to warrant “preserved in amber” preservation but will be rewarding to drive a thousand or so miles a year while keeping its overall good condition.
Lot # F56 1983 Datsun 280ZX Coupe; S/N JN1HZ04S6DX552364; Gold/Beige cloth; Unrestored original 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $26,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $28,600 – 2,753/145hp, automatic, gold alloy wheels, Dunlop tires, rear window wiper, power windows, air conditioning, cruise control, original cassette stereo. – Showing 16,417 miles represented as original. Other than scratches and small dents in the window frames it shows hardly any age at all. It barely looks 40 months old, not 40 years. – Once the Datsun Z-Car sprouted an “X” at the end of its name, it was a heftier and softer version of the original 240Z that turned the sports car world on its ear back in 1970. But as 240Zs get pricier and pricier, people are turning to later Zs and that includes the 280ZX, which has appreciated dramatically over the past year or two. This price would have seemed absurd in 2019. It’s not all that shocking in 2021 but still has a serious premium for low miles and preservation.
Lot # F56.1 1991 Suzuki Jimny JA11 Sport Utility Vehicle 4×4; S/N JA11152450; Turquoise metallic, Black graphics/Gray, light gray cloth; Visually maintained, largely original 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $15,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $17,050 – RHD, 660cc/58hp 3-cylinder 2-stroke turbo, 5-speed, amber fog lights, JVC stereo, aftermarket boost gauge, tinted windows, rear-mounted spare, CB radio, panoramic roof, alloy wheels – Some scratches on the doors and general fading in the paint but nothing bad. Very clean underneath. Frame looks like it was undercoated recently. Tidy maintained engine. Quirky, cute micro SUV that someone has spent money on keeping clean and given only tasteful modifications. – Most JDM Jimnys (Suzuki briefly sold a version of the Jimny in the US called the Samurai) sell for a lot closer to 10 grand these days, but this is an unusually good example, plus the ’90s colors and graphics just add to the charm. This is a high but fair price.
Lot # F79 1974 GMC Sprint Pickup; S/N 5D80Y4R500635; Polar White, Camel Beige vinyl roof/Beige vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $13,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $14,850 – 454/235hp LS4, automatic, Rally wheels with trim rings, Cooper Cobra tires, bed cover, factory air conditioning, original radio, dash clock, power brakes, power steering. – Rare enough as a GMC Sprint, but the factory 454 makes it even more special (most got a 350 or 400 cid engine). The rear bumper is a little beat up but the front is fine. Good paint, likely not original, with some chips at the back of the door edges and a few others throughout. Excellent unrestored interior. Original and aged but maintained underneath. Well kept, and good luck finding another one of these. – Essentially an El Camino with GMC badges, the Sprint is a whole lot rarer than its Chevrolet cousin but it was only introduced in 1971, just in time for the end of the muscle car era. No matter, though. This is a pickup, after all, and with the GMC badging plus the factory 454 it would make a good conversation starter, not to mention a sweet tow vehicle for a vintage race car. This is a perfectly rational price for it.
Lot # F80.1 1950 Chrysler Crown Imperial Limousine; S/N 70064588; Gold/Gray cloth; Visually maintained, largely original 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $14,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $15,400 – 250/116hp six, column shift 3-speed, wheel covers, wide whitewalls, pushbutton radio, jump seats, dual mirrors, suicide rear doors, fog lights. – Older repaint with numerous chips. Very dull original chrome. Old tires. Chip in the top of the driver’s window glass. Sound interior but it smells a bit like mothballs. Some light surface rust underneath. Tired old engine compartment. A rare limo but rough to look at up close. – A period ad called the 1950 Crown Imperial limousine “the aristocrat of cars” and a “car of supreme good taste.” General Douglas MacArthur also used one as his mode of transport during the Korean War. But despite those distinctions and these postwar limos’ sheer rarity, they don’t have the cachet of something like a Rolls-Royce or a prewar Packard. This one failed to excite anybody in Tulsa, and it sold for little more than what a standard 1950 Imperial sedan in this fairly tired condition typically brings.
Lot # F82.1 1989 Ford Bronco XLT Lariat Wagon 4×4; S/N 1FMEU15Y5KLA23804; Regatta Blue, White/Blue vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $14,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $15,950 – 300/145hp six, 4-speed, 3.55 rear axle, factory cassette stereo, tinted glass, alloy wheels, bucket seats with console. – Presentable budget respray with particles in it and a few cracks. Cloudy headlights. Excellent original interior, especially considering the 92,344 miles on the odometer. Very clean underneath. Well-kept and impressive considering the age and miles. – This Bronco reportedly just sold at Mecum Indy for $17,600, a sensible amount given the equipment and mileage. Maybe that deal fell apart somehow, because bringing it to a much smaller auction a month later and expecting a successful flip seems silly. Either way, this is still an appropriate price even if it is a bit smaller.
Lot # F90.1 1965 Chevrolet Corvair Corsa Convertible; S/N 107675W203817; Sierra Tan/Tan vinyl; White vinyl top; Enthusiast restoration 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $20,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $22,000 – 164/180hp turbo, 4-speed, mag-style wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, factory pushbutton radio. – Scratches and a small dent on the front bumper. Dull window frames. Some prep issues and particles in the paint but it mostly looks good. Newer replacement top on an original-looking frame. Newer upholstery. Restored underneath but probably never taken fully apart. Restored to high enough standards for a Corvair and a desirable top spec Corsa model, plus it’s a convertible. – There are a lot of things holding back Corvair values generally (their unconventional layout and old Ralph Nader stigma, to name two). But for people who don’t care (and you really shouldn’t) Corvairs offer great value for the money. Twenty-two grand for a solid, good-looking, relatively quick turbocharged ’60s convertible sounds like a bargain, but that’s about where the market is for Corvair Corsas and has been for a while.
Lot # F119.1 1963 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Type 34 Coupe; S/N 190729; Pacific Green, White roof/Green vinyl with cloth inserts; Visually maintained, largely original 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $13,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $14,850 – 1,493/45 DIN hp flat four, 4-speed, white steel wheels with hub caps, store brand all season tires, original Bendix Sapphire radio. – A rare Type 34 Karmann Ghia, but a little rough in spots. Tired chrome and the left front hub cap is pitted. Old respray with some masking errors at the taillights. A little dirty underneath and the doors stick out at the bottom. Grubby engine bay. Newer upholstery but the rest of the interior is original with aged door panels and switches as well as cloudy gauges. A neat, rare driver in good colors. – The Type 34 Karmann Ghia was introduced in 1961, and unlike the Beetle-based original Karmann Ghia (aka the Type 14) it rides on VW’s Type 3 platform with different bodywork penned by Sergio Sartorelli at Ghia. It was never officially sold in the States, and although quite a few have made their way here, it’s still a much rarer sight than a standard Karmann Ghia and it’s a highly prized car among VW people. None of that seemed to matter much to the Tulsa bidders, however, because this price isn’t far off from what other, regular Type 14 Karmann Ghias in this condition bring these days. A bargain in our book.
Lot # F192 1986 Porsche 944 Turbo Coupe; S/N WP0ZZZ95ZGN140244; Guards Red/Black leather; Unrestored original 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $57,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $62,700 – 2,479/220hp, 5-speed, phone dial wheels, Yokohama tires, sunroof, power windows, air conditioning, Blaupunkt cassette stereo. – Showing 5,388 miles and stored carefully. Aside from a tiny ding in the exhaust tip, it looks nearly new and there is no visible reason to doubt that the 5,388 miles are all it’s ever covered. – Car and Driver dubbed the Porsche 944 the “Best Handling Production Car in America,” but criticisms about the four-banger’s power, or lack thereof, were common. Porsche rectified that in 1986 with a Turbo model, although it was expensive (over twice as much as an IROC-Z Camaro) and delivered its extra grunt in a delayed, sudden burst like so many early turbocharged performance cars. 944 Turbos are more likely to be babied by Porschephile owners than base cars, which more often fell into the hands of younger and more neglectful owners, but this example is still a standout. The price it brought is extremely high, a recognition of the fact that such low-mile cars almost never hit the market.
Lot # F210.1 1986 Toyota Pickup Deluxe Xtra Cab Pickup 4×4; S/N JT4RN67P0G5025895; Beige, Brown graphics/Brown vinyl, beige cloth; Recent restoration 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $34,000 – 2,366/112hp 4-cylinder, automatic, chromed Cragar wheels, All Terrain T/A tires, roof lights, bench seat, air conditioning, JVC CD stereo, spray-in bedliner. – Fully restored frame. The engine bay was completely redone without overdoing it. Fresh paint with no flaws to speak of. The interior looks showroom fresh apart from the aftermarket radio. Nobody who owned one of these in the `80s ever thought they would get full, serious restorations, but they’re worth money these days and here we are. – It’s crazy enough to think that old Toyota pickups would be getting such serious refurbishments and restorations. It’s even crazier to think that someone would actually turn down over 30 grand for one. That said, this Pickup brought $35,200 at Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas in 2017 and $27,500 at Auburn Fall in 2020, so the market is there, but the seller can’t realistically expect much more than this reported high bid and should have taken it.
Lot # F253 1955 Packard Clipper Super Panama Hardtop Coupe; S/N 55472651; India Ivory, Biscayne Blue/Dark blue vinyl, light blue cloth; Older restoration 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $13,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $14,300 – 320/225hp V-8, column shift 3-speed, wheel covers, whitewalls, dual mirrors, fender skirts, pushbutton radio, dash clock. – Good bumper chrome but the grille and body trim are original and lightly scratched. Good older paint. Very good interior. Erratic door fit. Older restored underneath. Solid, honest older restoration of one of the last ever Packards. – Mecum sold this Clipper Super Panama from the Rogers collection in 2015 for $16,200. It no-saled two years later at the Leake Dallas auction on two separate trips across the block with bids of $18,600 and $17,000, then sold at Mecum Kansas City in December 2017 for a breathtaking $26,400. No wonder it came up short at this unfortunately parsimonious bid. Emblematic of Packard’s swansong, it deserves significantly more than this bid and is a Packard to be owned and driven with pride.
Lot # F307 1982 Honda Prelude Coupe; S/N JHMSN3227C011802; Dark red/Dark red vinyl, velour inserts; Unrestored original 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $14,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $15,400 – 1,751/75hp, automatic, American Racing alloy wheels, Bridgestone tires, sunroof, bucket seats, air conditioning, luggage rack, original radio. Comes with original window sticker. – Showing 18,001 miles that are represented as original. Remarkable original paint aside from crazing on the roof. Detailed, maintained engine bay. Excellent original interior. Clean and maintained underneath. In this setting and in 2021, the car is extraordinary in just how ordinary it is. – The seller can’t have hoped for more money than this. The buyer, meanwhile, has some oddly specific bragging rights but they’re bragging rights nonetheless. This has to be one of the best first generation (1978-82) Honda Preludes in the country, and it might just be the best. Apparently, judging from this price, someone cares.
Lot # S22 1947 Lincoln Continental Cabriolet; S/N 7H156332; Dark Blue/Beige leather; Beige cloth top; Older restoration 4+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $24,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $26,400 – 292/125hp V-12, column shift 3-speed, hub caps and trim rings, wide whitewalls, fender skirts, dual mirrors, original radio, dash clock, power windows. – Body-off restored at some point, but the paint and chrome are ancient. Some pitting and rust on the front bumper. Numerous scratches and microblisters in the paint. Wavy fit on the body trim. Soiled old replacement top. Dry leather with some cracks and one small rip. Oxidized and surface rusty chassis. Unless this car was restored 50 years ago, the seller has a very different definition of “frame-off restoration” than we do. – This Continental cabriolet sold for $55,080 at Spring Auburn in 2007, then was a $55,000 no-sale at Auctions America Fort Lauderdale 2012 and sold for $60,420 at Mecum Dallas in 2012. More recently, it sold for less than half that amount ($24,200) at Mecum Houston this April. It’s in largely the same mediocre condition it was in 2012, and its transaction history is indicative of the waning interest in postwar domestics like this that have serious needs and are dauntingly expensive to restore (again).
Lot # S46 1986 Chevrolet K5 Blazer Silverado Sport Utility Vehicle 4×4; S/N 1G8EK18H3GF179815; Black, Red/Red velour; Unrestored original 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $50,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $55,000 – 305/160hp, automatic, Michelin tires, bucket seats with console, air conditioning, power windows, original cassette stereo. Comes with original window sticker. – Sold new here in Tulsa, and the 17,673 miles showing are represented as actual. Sound original chrome. Fantastic original paint with just a few nicks here and there. Light scratches on the running boards. Excellent interior. Engine bay shows consistent maintenance. Most 1985 Blazers looked worse than this by 1987. It’s a treasure. – And at this exorbitant price, it will have to be treasured for years to come because it’s too expensive to get anywhere near the dirt and mud. This is a huge premium for meticulous preservation and low miles. One might be tempted to call it “Bronco Money”.
Lot # S55 1964 Ford Thunderbird Convertible; S/N 4Y85Z135170; Rose Beige Metallic/Rose Beige Metallic vinyl; White top; Older restoration 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $36,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $39,600 – 390/300hp, automatic, Magnaflow exhaust, Kelsey Hayes wire wheels, Roadster tonneau cover, Swing-a-Way power steering, power brakes, narrow whitewalls, fender skirts, curb feelers, Continental kit, luggage rack, dual spotlights, factory air conditioning, power top, power windows. – Very good, relatively fresh paint and chrome. Some scratching on the taillight bezels. Erratic panel fit. Fresh upholstery but original, lightly aged dash and steering wheel. Very attractive and well equipped. – In the absence of a Marti Report (which wasn’t offered with this T-bird) it is impossible to know if it was built with the Sport Roadster equipment (tonneau cover, luggage rack, wire wheels, etc.) it now has and that affects the value by nearly a factor of two. This result fully discounts the Sport Roadster equipment and is appropriate for a fluffed-up convertible in this condition.
Lot # S72 1986 Ferrari 328 GTS Spider; S/N ZFFXA20A7G0063611; Rosso Corsa/Tan leather; Unrestored original 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $55,000 – 3,185/270hp, 5-speed, 5-spoke alloy wheels, Dunlop tires, power windows, air conditioning, Alpine cassette stereo. – Showing 64,023 represented original miles, and not represented with any service history. Decent original paint, but there are some detail swirls, a few small chips in the nose, and minor blistering on the right rear. Grubby engine bay by Ferrari standards. Visible but acceptable wear to the seats. A standard lightly used red 328 in driver condition. – This is an average quality 328 and the absence of any service history is more than troubling. The reported high bid is, considering the uncertainty about service, realistic and the seller should have given it more serious consideration.
Lot # S74 1996 Dodge Viper GTS Coupe; S/N 1B3ER69E0TV200611; Viper Blue, White stripes/Black leather; Unrestored original 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $52,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $57,200 – 488/450hp, 6-speed, Michelin tires, CD stereo, power windows, air conditioning. – Showing 27,076 believable miles. A few tiny chips on the nose and hood but otherwise good paint. Very good interior that matches the miles. The wheels look a little faded and show curb rash on the right side. A solid first-year GTS that wasn’t babied but is still a good usable car. – A ’96 GTS in Viper Blue with white stripes is a ’90s poster car, and in the last couple of years it and other early Vipers have appreciated like never before. This result is behind the curve a bit, and the car could have brought over 60 grand without being all that expensive.
Lot # S76 1972 MG MGB Mk III Roadster; S/N GHN5UC268915G; Red/Black vinyl; Black vinyl top; Visually maintained, largely original 4- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $4,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $4,950 – 1,798/95hp, 2-barrel carb, 4-speed, wire wheels, store brand tires, wood shift knob. – From the Dick Ray estate collection. Tired paint with the hood a lighter shade of red than the rest of the car. Pitted chrome. Grimy engine bay with old hoses and wires. Dirty top and interior with some switches missing. Newer exhaust and tires, but a bit of a dog otherwise. – Unlike some of the other cars out of this collection, this MGB presumably runs and drives, but you wouldn’t want to go very far in it. It needs most kinds of attention short of an actual restoration, and at this result it’s already an expensive car.
Lot # S77 1960 Triumph TR3A Roadster; S/N TS63708L; Red, Green hardtop/Black; Black top; Unrestored original 5 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $5,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $5,500 – 1,991/100hp, 4-speed, hardtop, luggage rack, centerlock wire wheels, dual wing mirrors. – From the Dick Ray estate collection. A total barn find, dust and all. Dent in the right front. One of the mirrors is broken off. Dull and cracked original paint, while the hardtop shows overspray and has loose rubber. The engine bay is unrestored but quite complete aside from a radiator cap. Being a TR3, there are no windows so the elements have gotten to the interior. It’s filthy. The car is rusty underneath. The rust isn’t terminal, and the rockers are in decent shape. It’s a rough project, but a complete and doable one. – The Triumph TR3 isn’t a particularly rare or valuable car. Most enthusiasts on a tight budget won’t have a problem finding a lovely driver-quality TR3 to buy, so this car had a relatively narrow appeal – someone specifically on the hunt for a big project. The price is free of any barn find mystique or premium, and that’s a good thing. It means the buyer has plenty of room to dig into restoration and get this TR back on the road. At this price it’s also a realistic parts car with the hardtop as a bonus.
Lot # S78 1972 Lotus Europa Twin Cam Coupe; S/N 3012R; White, Gold/Black; Unrestored original 5+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $5,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $5,500 – 1,558/126hp Big Valve Twin Cam, 4-speed, power windows. – From the Dick Ray Estate collection. Another barn find. The paint is dull and has the usual Lotus stress cracks. The doors are so loose-fitting you have to physically lift them or they won’t close. The seats have some small rips and the dash is partially disassembled with a few boxes of spares on the floor. The original wheels are in good shape. No terminal rust spotted underneath, but it would be nice to see it on a lift. A cool car with mostly good specs (the optional 5-speed would be even better), but it’s a project not for the faint of heart or wallet. – There are lots of headaches, steep bills and parts chasing in this Europa’s future, and even if everything is done to very high standards the finished product won’t be worth more than 30 or 40 grand in today’s market. It’s a car worth saving, though, and either the buyer stayed wisely cautious or there weren’t many Lotus fans in Tulsa willing to take on this job.
Lot # S105 2005 Ford GT Coupe; S/N 1FAFP90S35Y400838; Black, Silver stripes/Black leather; Unrestored original 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $275,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $302,500 – 330/550hp, 6-speed, all four options (stripes, BBS wheels, painted calipers, McIntosh stereo). – Represented with 17,675 miles, which might just be the most I’ve ever seen on a GT. Small chip in the nose and a few in the mirror, plus a small scrape on the bottom right of the front lip, probably just from a steep driveway. For someone who wants a GT without stressing over every tick of the odometer, this car is perfect. – This car sold for $247,500 at Mecum Kansas City in 2019. Then, it racked up another 2553 miles and came to Tulsa, where it sold for a hefty premium with a $50,000 higher winning bid this time around. Collector car ownership rarely works out that way, but let this be a lesson to all the 1000-mile Ford GT owners out there – go drive your cars. There were three Ford GTs in this sale, all sold with S115.1, a 2006 Tungsten Grey with all four options and 7,000 miles bringing $330,000 and S130.1, a 2006 repainted in Heritage colors showing 8,899 miles and a salvage title bringing $280,500, the last being a rather astounding result.
Lot # S115 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 Sport Coupe; S/N 124379N644177; Olympic Gold, Black stripes/Ivory vinyl; Older restoration 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $76,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $83,600 – 302/290hp, cowl induction, M21 4-speed, 4.10 gears, Goodyear Wide Tread GT tires, spoilers, factory radio, Hurst shifter, Rosewood steering wheel, AM-FM. – Represented with matching numbers drivetrain. Body-off restored in original colors. Clean engine bay. Some light detail scratching in the paint and chrome. Factory gaps. Good mostly restored interior. A straightforward older restoration of a genuine Z/28 in interesting colors. – This same Z/28 sold for $84,700 at Kissimmee just this January, and the car’s combination of options and age of the restoration brought the Tulsa bidders to almost the exact same conclusion in terms of value. It’s a spot-on result but a few years ago it sold at Kissimmee in 2013 for $100,700 and there two years later in 2015 for $100,440. It has seemingly gotten no worse over time, except in value.
Lot # S127.1 1961 Cadillac DeVille Eldorado Biarritz Convertible; S/N 61E021766; Nautilus Blue/Blue leather; White top; Older restoration 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $50,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $55,000 – 390/325hp, automatic, wheel covers, whitewalls, power windows, factory radio, rear seat speaker, dash clock. – Dull front bumper and lightly scratched rear bumper. Sound paint with a handful of touch ups throughout. Tidy older restored engine bay. Good older restored interior. An honest older, lightly driven older restoration. – A spectacular automobile bought for a surprisingly moderate price that is a very good value, if not a bargain, for the new owner.
Lot # S132.1 1991 Porsche 911 Carrera 2 Cabriolet; S/N WP0CB2961MS460739; Grand Prix White/Black; Black top; Unrestored original 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $45,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $49,500 – 3601/247hp, Tiptronic, Yokohama tires, snorkely brake light, aftermarket stereo. – Previously owned by Whitney Houston. Showing 59,533 miles which are represented as original. No obvious flaws in the paint other than a few scratches but it’s showing its age, and the top looks a little worn. The “2” in the “Carrera 2” script has a crack in it. Used but maintained engine bay. It’s unclear how long Houston owned this Porsche, but it appears she took surprisingly good care of it given the singer’s later antics. All in all, a mostly clean and used 964 Cabriolet that’s really only let down by Whitney’s transmission choice. – This car sold in Scottsdale six years and 32 miles ago for $38,225. That was a surprisingly high Whitney premium back in 2015, and there was a surprisingly high one again in 2021. In today’s market a used Tiptronic Carrera 2 cab owned by an average Joe Houston would typically do a lot closer to 30 grand. The premium it earned here is largely inexplicable.
Lot # S145.2 1970 Jeep Jeepster Commando Station Wagon 4×4; S/N 87051759892; Commando Yellow, White hardtop/Dark gray vinyl; Truck restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $32,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $35,200 – 225/160hp Dauntless V-6, automatic, hub caps, All-Terrain T/A tires, power steering, power brakes, air conditioning. Comes with original window sticker, dealer invoice and owner’s manual. – Good chrome. Truck quality respray that looks relatively recent. Some cracking around the drip rails on the roof. Mostly good original interior other than a small rip on the driver’s seat and paint loss in the bed. Restored underneath. A truck quality restoration. – The Jeepster was brought back in the 70’s to try to recapture the sentiment of the original Jeepster Phaeton. With the Dauntless V-6, automatic, power assists and air conditioning it’s not the same elemental experience, but it appealing and this is a representative result for a competently restored example.
Lot # S163 1995 Chevrolet Corvette Indy Pace Car Convertible; S/N 1G1YY32P8S5111546; Dark Purple Metallic, Arctic White/Black, burgundy leather; White vinyl top; Unrestored original 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $31,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $34,100 – 350/300hp, automatic, Goodyear tires, CD stereo. Comes with matching go-kart. – Represented with 1,400 miles and looks like it aside from some smudges in the white top and some light wrinkling to the leather. One of 527 examples of the 1995 Indy Pace Car edition, which GM sold as a $2,816 option with the loud purple and white color scheme and ZR-1 wheels. – This is on the expensive side for a Pace Car with an automatic even with the negligible miles, but the matching go-kart is a cute add-on and likely helped boost the price.
Lot # S181 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible; S/N 30867S113263; Daytona Blue, Daytona Blue hardtop/Black vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $50,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $55,000 – 327/300hp L75, 4-speed, modern aluminum radiator, hardtop, wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, dealer-installed back up lights, power windows, two tops, aftermarket 5-spoke alloy wheels. – Represented as the matching numbers engine, transmission and rear end. Also represented with original paint other than touch ups on the front clip. It’s dull and crazed in spots, but perfectly presentable for an all-original car like this. Hardtop is mostly solid but the rear window is cloudy. Very good all original interior. Maintained original engine bay with newer valve covers and upgraded radiator but otherwise all factory. Mostly unremarkable in terms of equipment, but an impressive level of preservation and too good to restore. – Little premium for originality here, just a driver-quality C2 sold for driver money. It was a $52,000 no-sale on Bring a Trailer back in May, but the seller wisely took the hint here and let it go and it is a sound value for the new owner.
Lot # S182 1966 Ford Bronco U13 Roadster; S/N U13FL753189; Caribbean Turquoise/White vinyl; Recent restoration 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $77,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $84,700 – 170/105hp six, column shift 3-speed, wheel covers, rear-mounted spare, original radio, dual gas tanks. – Very rare original U13 Bronco. Fresh from five-year restoration. Spotless, correct, show-quality engine. Fresh paint with orange peel on the tailgate and the area where the doors aren’t. One of the rear armrests also had a chunk taken out of it at some point. These are minor nitpicks that take little away from the charm or desirability of this very rare and very early Bronco. It was restored to high enough standards and it’s very cool. – Still riding high on the success of the Mustang in 1966, Ford tapped into the youth market even further with the Bronco. It was another massive success, but one version that didn’t quite catch on was the doorless roadster, which was too sparse for buyers in the ’60s. Ford sold just 4090 examples, then axed the roadster (often called the “U13” because of its body code) after 1968. Now, though, the open layout appeals to enthusiasts and the rarity appeals to collectors, so roadsters consistently bring big prices even relative to the rest of the super-heated vintage Bronco market. This result is no exception.
Lot # S195 1970 Buick Riviera Sport Coupe; S/N 494870H935327; Emerald Mist, White vinyl roof/Dark green vinyl; Unrestored original 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $8,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $9,350 – 455/370hp, automatic, narrow whitewalls, power windows, air conditioning, tilt steering column, 8-track, rear seat speaker. – Original paint with cracks and blisters on the hood but mostly just general fading everywhere else. The roof vinyl is dry and discolored in spots. Two open seams in the driver’s seat, but that should be an easy fix for an upholsterer and otherwise the seats look great. The woodgrain dash, however, is faded and cracking. Dry and oxidized underneath but not rusty. – Although the level of preservation on this Riviera is impressive, it’s still just a basic driver. And it sold for basic driver money at no reserve. It is a solid value for the new owner at this price.
Lot # S208 1956 Continental Mark II Sport Coupe; S/N C56B2222; White/White leather piped in brown; Cosmetic restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $42,000 – 368/285hp, automatic, wheel covers, whitewalls, pushbutton radio, power windows. – Represented with new radiator, heater core, tires and power steering rebuild, plus a cosmetic restoration. Very good paint for the most part, but the doors stick out slightly and there are chips on the back edges. Lightly scratched chrome. Good interior other than dry leather with some cracking on the driver’s side. There is some restoration work underneath but it was never taken fully apart. A solid driver. – The gap in value between excellent and average condition Continental Mk IIs is a big one, and unfortunately this car falls somewhere in between. It sold at Auctions America’s Ft. Lauderdale auction in 2016 for $99,000, then at RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island auction in 2019 for $67,200, but the bidders in Tulsa weren’t so generous. It’s not hard to see this Continental as an exemplar of failing values for expensive cars of the Fifties but a superior value for quality and rarity.
Lot # S210 1960 Ford Galaxie Sunliner Convertible; S/N 0A55Y172116; White/White, black, red vinyl; White vinyl top; Enthusiast restoration 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $25,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $27,500 – 352/300hp, automatic, wheel covers, whitewalls, air conditioning, later radio. – Dull chrome and brightwork. Cracks in the badge on the nose. Decent older repaint. Lightly wrinkled top but the top frame looks restored. Slightly uneven gaps. Very good interior. Unrestored but maintained underneath. A driver. – Sold at Auburn Fall 2014 for $24,200, then at Branson Fall two months later for a rousing $35,640, this ’60 Sunliner has come back to earth with this result, a mediocre condition car bought for a realistic price but one with plenty of summer cruising miles to be enjoyed for reasonable money.
Lot # S211.1 1931 Chrysler CG Imperial Sedan, Body by Briggs; S/N CG3411; Beige, Tan fenders and accent/Beige cloth piped in brown; Older restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $55,000 – 348/125hp, 3-speed, red steel wheels with hub caps and trim rings, wide whitewalls, dual enclosed sidemounts, gazelle radiator mascot, Trippe Safety lights, suicide rear doors, Waltham dash clock, luggage rack. – Tired paint that looks fine from a distance but shows crazing and microblisters up close, plus some serious cracks in the roof. Two small dings in the left Trippe light. Uneven gaps. Tidy underneath. Sound interior other than a small hole in the driver’s seat bottom. Orderly engine compartment with some fluid residue. A long, stately automobile that still has a commanding presence and would be a good tour car but needs another restoration before it hits a show field. – This car sold for $47,850 at RM Auburn Fall last year and hasn’t gotten any obvious attention since, so why the seller decided to refuse a significantly higher bid only a few months later isn’t clear. The colors do this elegant automobile no favors.
Lot # S217 1933 Chrysler CO-6 2-Dr. Brougham; S/N 6591062; Navy Blue, Gray accent/Red cloth; Older restoration 3- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $30,000 – 224/83hp L-head six, 3-speed, red wire wheels with hub caps and trim rings, wide whitewalls, radiator mascot, dual chrome horns, driving lights, single spotlight, suicide doors, wood dash and window trim. – From the York collection. Ancient, crazed and blistered paint. Pitted radiator shell. A few missing body trim pieces. Old, thick undercoating on the chassis. Aged but sound interior wood and decent upholstery. Far from a beauty queen, and not even a particularly nice driver, but would be a solid and relatively simple project. – It’s difficult to get excited about this 1933 Chrysler CO-6 Brougham even though it and its CO-6 counterparts contributed important sales to Chrysler’s survival in the early years of the Great Depression. The CO-6 imparted great value in the Thirties and, realistically, still does today, but also realistically, no more than the reported high bid here.
Lot # S219 1933 Chrysler Royal Convertible Coupe; S/N 7001887; Yellow, Black fenders, brown coachline/Brown leather; Black vinyl top; Older restoration 3- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $50,000 – 274/90hp L-head six, 3-speed, white wire wheels with hub caps and trim rings, Goodyear wide whitewalls, dual sidemount spares, dual chrome horns, single Pilot Ray light, suicide door, rumble seat. – York Collection. Old paint with chips and heavy cracks around the hood and radiator, plus several other huge cracks around the doors. The black fenders look better but also show some chips. Old tires. The chassis and engine look surprisingly clean. Wrinkled but sound leather. No better than a very casual driver, but it needs attention before driving it proudly. – The old Chryslers from the York Collection didn’t find much acceptance here in Tulsa, but their condition was uniformly unsatisfying which probably counted for more in their lack of appeal. This is a reasonable offer for this car’s specification and condition.
Lot # S240 1948 Mercury Series 89M Club Convertible; S/N 899A224688; Light Yellow/Brown leather, tan cloth; Beige cloth top; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $34,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $37,400 – 239/100hp V-8, column shift 3-speed, hub caps and trim rings, whitewalls, amber fog lights, dual spotlights, dash clock, original radio. – Not much history represented but well restored at some point. The chrome is a little tired and the body side trim is decent but fits erratically. Good older paint. Sound, tight replacement top with restored frame but it could stand to be cleaned. Very good interior. Few signs of age or use underneath. A handsome, honest top-down cruiser. – A practical, comfortable, attractive car although showing the age of its restoration and some post-restoration miles (the odometer reads 2,824 miles.) Even taking the aged condition into account, though, this is a very good value in a desirable model.