Visiting a Mecum auction like Houston is like taking a snapshot of the breadth and depth of the collector car market.
Events like Scottsdale, Amelia and Monterey get most of the press attention for their seven- and even eight-figure cars. Everyone likes to read about them, their rarity, design, technical features and value. But at Mecum it’s the cars a successful farmer, neighborhood accountant or plumber can actually aspire to own. Truckloads of Chevys, Fords and Plymouths. The MG and Austin-Healey sports cars an older generation remembers for showing up those Chevys, Fords and Plymouths on twisty roads.
Yes, there are exotic Muscle and Sporty American cars. There are even (for a Mecum auction) oddities like a Lancia B20GT and a few Ferraris.
There were 377 Chevys, 49 Dodges, 162 Fords, 28 GMCs, 38 Pontiacs … and a Henney Kilowatt.
Among the 31 sold lots described (there are 42 descriptions in total), as with most recent auctions, seven were called “expensive” while five were “good values”. In other words, about what is expected in a sale that includes a cross-section of the car collecting hobby among its 955 consignments with a $31,900 median sale value.
Here are the numbers.
| Year | Cars Sold/ Offered | Sale % | Average Sale | Median Sale | Total $ |
| 2024 | 684/955 | 71.6% | $41,731 | $31,900
[76.4%] |
$28,544,037 |
| 2023 | 723/950 | 76.1% | $46,264 | $33,000
[71.3%] |
$33,499,130 |
| 2022 | 874/1036 | 84.4% | $38,444 | $28,600
[74.4%] |
$33,600,325 |
The described lots are sorted by lot number and were reported by Andrew Newton who also took the photos.
Lot # F21 1971 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible; S/N 194671S101398; Steel Cities Gray/Black; Older restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $32,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $35,200 – 350/270hp, 4-speed, hardtop and soft top, Rally wheels, pushbutton radio. – Fresh repaint that looks good from a distance but shows some prep issues up close, and there are some dings in the hardtop. Dull front bumper. Lightly aged wheels and interior. Looks great from a short distance, but like an above average driver from a shorter distance. – With no documentation or history represented and good but unremarkable options/colors, this was a straightforward #3+ car sold for #3+ money.
Lot # F57 1970 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS 454 Coupe; S/N 138570L158680; Black/Black; Visually maintained, largely original 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $57,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $62,700 – 454/360hp, automatic with horseshoe shifter, Dunlop GT Qualifier tires, bucket seats, console, AM/FM radio with 8-track, power windows, tinted glass, tach, Protect-O-Plate. – From the Plendl Brothers Collection. Represented as an original California car. Dull chrome and tired paint with numerous touch up plus cracks around the A-pillars and drip rails. Good interior. Looks tidy but unrestored underneath. A well-equipped and documented Monte Carlo in preserved driver condition. – Early Monte Carlo SSs offer Chevelle-like speed in a slightly larger and more luxurious package for noticeably less money, but this one sold quite well for its condition.
Lot # F60 1972 Chevrolet K5 Blazer Cheyenne Open Top Utility 4×4; S/N CKE182F164163; Black/Blue; Visually maintained, largely original 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $80,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $88,000 – 350/175hp, column shift automatic, factory air conditioning, CST package, power steering, power brakes, factory tach, bucket seats, console. Comes with original window sticker, order form, bill of sale, Protect-O-Plate. – From the Plendl Brothers Collection. Showing 22,624 miles that are represented as actual. Faded but original paint and chrome. The hardtop, meanwhile, has newer paint on it. Lovely and very blue interior, with some wear on the door panel arm rests. Very clean underneath. Too good to be restored. – This preserved Blazer was reported sold at a GAA auction last February for $166,320. With that sale as a reference, selling for about half as much barely a year later makes the trip across the block in Houston seem like a rough one. In reality, though, this price is perfectly reasonable and even strong for the equipment and level of originality. The GAA result is logic-defying.
Lot # F64 1984 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 Sport Coupe; S/N 1G1AP87GXEN133384; Black,, Gray/Gray; Unrestored original 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $40,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $44,000 – 305/190hp, automatic, mud flaps, factory cassette. – Showing 277 miles that are represented as actual. It does, however, show some age like a tiny dent on the left front and the paint looks like it has been cleaned and wiped a few too many times. – 277 miles on a 40-year-old car would suggest a perfectly preserved, showroom-fresh specimen, but that’s not quite what this car is. It has changed hands surprisingly often in recent years, and its results seem to vary by how close people inspected its condition relative to its odometer reading. In 2021, it sold on Bring a Trailer for $26,775, then in Scottsdale at Barrett-Jackson the following year for $40,700, and again on Bring a Trailer that summer for $28,560. Its most recent result was at Mecum Glendale last year for $30,800, and it brought absolute top dollar in Houston, entirely thanks to the right buyer being seduced by the mileage.
Lot # F88 1971 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 Sport Coupe; S/N 124871N577861; Red,, Black stripes/Black vinyl; Enthusiast restoration 3 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $47,000 – 350/330hp LT1, 4-speed, Hurst shifter, Positraction, console, Pioneer 8-track. – Represented as matching numbers. Good older paint and chrome. Newer wheels. Largely original interior with worn seat belts, trim pieces missing off the console, and several large rips in the driver’s seat. Tidy underneath. A driver. – And bid to driver money, but the perfectly respectable offer was refused. The juice from chasing a few bids elsewhere is not likely to be worth the squeeze of more auction and transport fees.
Lot # F136 1958 Lancia Aurelia B20 GT Series 6 Coupe; S/N B20S1656; Dark Blue/Dark Blue vinyl, Gray cloth; Older restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $150,000 – 2,451/110hp V6, 4-speed, Michelin X tires, woodrim steering wheel, Jaeger gauges, fire bottle. – Tired chrome. Lightly scratched and swirled paint throughout. Clean interior. A few blemishes in the wheels. Lightly used and tidy underneath. A fairly rare car and certainly a beautiful one, in usable condition. – This car is out of place at here in Houston’s NRG Arena. It sold for $190,400 at Gooding Amelia Island two years ago, then was a $150K no-sale at Broad Arrow’s Amelia Island auction this year. And $150K is a fair number for its condition that has been offered twice now, but the seller apparently isn’t getting the message.
Lot # F231 1977 GMC Sprint Pickup; S/N 5D80U7Z502299; Blue,, White/Blue vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $12,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $13,750 – 305/145hp, Edelbrock carb and manifold (original carb and manifold included), aftermarket wheels (original hub caps included), Cooper Cobra tires, column shift automatic, original radio. – Good older repaint but aged original chrome and body trim. Unrestored underneath. Decent original interior. A rare Sprint, seldom seen corporate sibling to the El Camino. – Malaise Era car/pickups aren’t for everybody, but this market-appropriate price for an impressively well-kept Sprint show that there are still appealing and rare classic vehicles out there at entry-level prices.
Lot # S18 1966 Chevrolet Impala SS Convertible; S/N 616467037552; Artesian Turquoise/Turquoise vinyl; White vinyl top; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $36,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $39,600 – 427/390hp, floor shift automatic, buckets and console, Rally wheels, red line tires, console, rear seat speaker, power steering and brakes, power driver’s seat, power windows, Positraction. – Gorgeous paint but lightly scratched chrome and brightwork. Largely original with aged switchgear, dashboard, and upholstery. Clean wheels and underbody. A well-optioned and correct car mostly restored a while ago and showing some miles since then. – This is a lavishly equipped car, lacking only air conditioning, and will be a delightful weekend driver, especially at this price which could have been a few thousand dollars more without being expensive.
Lot # S38 1996 Chevrolet Corvette Gran Sport Convertible; S/N 1G1YY3250T5600779; Admiral Blue,, White/Red; White vinyl top; Unrestored original 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $40,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $44,000 – 5.7/330hp LT4, 6-speed, factory CD/cassette, power steering and brakes – Represented with 11,615 believable miles. No major issues other than the seats being a little stretched and wrinkled. – Chevrolet built 1000 C4 Grand Sports for the 1996 model year only, with 190 of them being convertibles. Many were treated as collectible since new so this one’s 11K miles aren’t exceptional, but it is a rather clean car and the price here was a perfect balance between its rarity and light use. Its auction history is a big question mark having been reported sold at Kissimmee in 2020 for $52,800 and then at Kissimmee three months ago for a rather astounding $60,500. Being here in Houston at No Reserve suggests the Kissimmee transaction may have gone sideways when the Kissimmee bidder woke up the next morning.
Lot # S39 1996 Dodge Viper GTS Coupe; S/N 1B3ER69E4TV200207; Blue,, White stripes/Black leather; Unrestored original 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $67,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $73,700 – 488/450hp, 6-speed, air conditioning, Alpine CD stereo. – Represented with 9,844 miles, but there are some small chips on the nose and some odd blistering on the passenger’s side. Otherwise looks clean and maintained. – Mecum reported this first-year, desirable-colors GTS sold for a slightly expensive $93,500 only a few months ago in Kissimmee. This is a significant drop in price, but Houston is a significantly smaller sale and the right people may not have been in the room. The fact that this lot and the Corvette GS before it both brought expensive prices in Kissimmee, then both crossed the Houston block without reserves and sold reasonably may be significant.
Lot # S41 2013 Chevrolet Corvette 427 Collector Edition 60th Convertible; S/N 1G1YZ3DE6D5701563; Torch Red/Titanium; Unrestored original 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $70,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $77,000 – 7.0/505hp, 6-speed, chromed wheels, Bridgestone Pilot Sport tires, Bose audio, window sticker, heavily optioned. – Represented with 38 miles and an MSRP of $92,485. They took “Collector Edition” seriously, because this car has no age or use to speak of. – Sold at Mecum Indy in 2020 for $69,300, then at Kissimmee three months ago for $77,000, it found its audience here in Houston although with so few miles it is hard to imagine it getting any road use, which is something of a shame since it would be great fun to drive.
Lot # S86 1942 Lincoln Continental Coupe; S/N H134444; Silver Gray/Tan and Red; Visually maintained, largely original 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $22,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $24,200 – 292/120hp V12, column shift 3-speed, hub caps and trim rings, wide whitewalls, fender skirts, radio, dash clock, Continental kit. – A very rare 1942 model year Continental, represented as one of 200 coupes. Old paint and chrome with some dings in the grille and numerous chips on the front. Small dent in the right front hub cap. Old weather stripping. Dusty, tired-looking engine. Good upholstery but the gold trim on the dash is faded. A rare and intriguing car, but it’s tired and in serious need of attention. – Model year 1942 barely existed for car manufacturers with all production ceasing in February 1942 after Pearl Harbor and the subsequent declaration of war. Finding a ’42 is thus very difficult and enhances the few surviving examples values although that didn’t seem to have affected this transaction which is a representative result for a pre-war Continental coupe in comparable condition.
Lot # S101 1988 Ferrari 328 GTS Spider, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N ZFFXA20A4J0075061; Rosso Corsa/Beige; Unrestored original 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $68,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $74,800 – 3,185/270hp, 5-speed, Goodyear tires, later CD stereo. – Showing 36,082 miles. The paint, roof and plastic are all looking a little tired. The seats are only lightly worn for the most part, but the driver’s side outer bolster is starting to crack. Worn carpets. More worn and aged than the displayed mileage indicates. – Gooding sold this 328 in Scottsdale in 2020 for $58,240, then it hopped on the Mecum train this year with a $75,000 no-sale in Kissimmee and a $60,000 no-sale in Glendale. It’s a mediocre Ferrari and bidders have always treated it as such. The sale price here isn’t great for a 328 GTS, but it was unlikely to get much better elsewhere, and in any event this isn’t a great 328 GTS.
Lot # S103 2017 Acura NSX Coupe; S/N 19UNC1B0XHY000876; Nouvelle Blue/Orchid leather; Unrestored original 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $112,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $123,200 – 3493/573hp, automatic, 3-motor Sport Hybrid Super Handling AWD system, black wheels, carbon ceramic brakes with red calipers, carbon fiber exterior package, ELS audio package. – Represented with 20,349 miles. Serviced at the dealership. Rock chips on the nose and mirrors that are all tiny, but there are a lot of them. Otherwise no real signs of use. – While late model exotic cars have been in high demand over the past few years, that appears to be softening, and the latest generation NSX hasn’t been embraced by enthusiasts to anywhere near the same degree as the original. The original MSRP on a 2017 NSX was about 160 grand, and this one was $198,800 with the options, but for it to have depreciated a bit with the use and miles makes sense, although maybe not this much and it is a lot of car for the money for anyone who can live with the electric blue paint. Colors make a difference, in this case that is a negative difference.
Lot # S106 1966 Pontiac GTO Hardtop Coupe; S/N 242176Z113201; Platinum Silver,, Black vinyl roof/Black vinyl; Recent restoration 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $125,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $137,500 – 389/360hp Tri-Power, 4-speed, red line tires, console, 3.23 Saf-T-Track, power steering and brakes, Rally gauges, air conditioning – Body-off restored and represented as the matching numbers engine. Clean engine compartment. Very good paint, chrome, and interior. Still fresh, gorgeous, and well-equipped. – It is hard to imagine a more completely equipped, restored and presented ’66 GTO than this hardtop. The bidders, however, paid convertible money for it and air conditioning in a hardtop is no consolation for putting the top down in a convertible.
Lot # S113 1938 Plymouth PT-57 Pickup; S/N 8622841; Engine #;,, /; Truck restoration 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $42,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $46,200 – 201/70hp flathead six, floor shift 3-speed, hub caps and trim rings, whitewalls, amber fog lights, ship hood ornament, single sidemount spare. – There are some minor blemishes in the paint and scratches in the bed, but the wheels and tires are perfect, the interior very clean, and the chassis nearly spotless. Given tons of attention, and when was the last time you saw a prewar Plymouth pickup? – Plymouth had an on-again, off-again run of light duty trucks from its first in 1937 until its last in the early 1980s, but they were never big sellers and they’re all a very rare sight these days. So rare that it’s hard to say where the market is for one like this, but the mid-$40K range seems like appropriately strong money given that scarcity. That the same truck also sold at Mecum Dallas in 2017 for $40,150 further confirms that although the 2024 price is some $5,000 short of offsetting inflation since 2017.
Lot # S117 1969 Mercury Cougar Eliminator Hardtop Coupe; S/N 9F91S563339; Bright Yellow,, Black side stripes/Black vinyl; Modified restoration 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $80,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $88,000 – 428/335hp, floor shift automatic, power steering and front disc brakes, Magnum 500 wheels, Firestone Wide Oval tires, spoilers, bucket seats, original pushbutton radio, window sticker, Marti Report. – Not represented as matching numbers and the chassis number decodes to a 390/320hp car, but now has a freshly rebuilt 428 engine that is beautifully detailed. Aged chrome and grille. Older paint with a chip on the right front fender and another one on the driver’s door. It also looks like the left windshield wiper rubs against the body at its base. Very good interior. A rare Cougar Eliminator in an appropriately bright color, but pretty much a driver. – On the expensive side for a 390-powered Eliminator but still significantly discounted compared to one that left the factory with its original 428. It was reported sole at Mecum Kissimmee three months ago for $50,050, a much more reasonable result for a restored but modified Cougar Eliminator.
Lot # S123 1969 Chevrolet Camaro COPO Sport Coupe; S/N 124379N709612; Azure Turquoise,, Black vinyl roof/Black vinyl; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $125,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $137,500 – 427/425hp L72, cowl induction, automatic with horseshoe shifter, 4.10 Positraction, power steering, F41 suspension, hub caps, Goodyear Polyglas tires, console. – Represented as one of the last documented COPOs built and with a replacement, but date-code-correct, L72 engine. Nearly spotless engine. Mostly very good paint and chrome. Clean, tight roof vinyl. Imperfect panel fit. Very good interior. A mostly gorgeous, well-equipped Camaro with light age on its restoration. – “Matching numbers” aren’t just a nice thing to have. They make a big difference in value, particularly on high-tier muscle cars that can have lots of minor differences and be relatively easy to clone. That this is a documented COPO built with a 427 from new is a good thing, but its replacement engine saw it discounted to #3 money even though it’s a #2- car. It was sold at Kissimmee in 2017 for $96,250 and made a modest profit, even after inflation, today.
Lot # S126 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Coupe; S/N 1980406500176; Orange/Tan; Older restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $1,300,000 – 2,996/240hp, 4-speed, Talbot Berlin mirror, Dunlop SP Sport tires, Nardi woodrim steering wheel, radio, added air conditioning, books and partial tool kit. – Original US market car. Used in most of the premier US vintage driving events. There are some overbuffed spots in the paint on the hood and nose, and there are several paint chips on the front, but the finish still looks very good from even a short distance. Lightly aged chrome. Clean wheels and tires. Lovely interior with slightly stretched leather. An honest event car that still presents well enough and seems to have plenty of life left in it. – Reported sold at Gooding’s Pebble Beach auction in 2008 for $577,500 then at Broad Arrow’s Monterey auction in 2022 for $1,627,500 ($1,475,000 hammer bid). It was hammered not sold at $1.3M on the block but the result quickly disappeared from Mecum’s website so it’s unclear what happened. Expunging the record of the unsuccessful high bid amount is a good indication Mecum didn’t want its image tarnished.
Lot # S131.1 1989 Porsche 911 Turbo 930 Coupe; S/N WP0JB0936KS50498; Guards Red/Black; Unrestored original 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $160,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $176,000 – 3,299/282hp, 5-speed, rear vents, modular wheels, sunroof, air conditioning, Alpine CD, Porsche CoA documented. – Represented as one of 34 factory slant nose 930s built for North America in 1989 and the original drivetrain. Reportedly stolen from the dealership when it was new and insurance paid out before it was recovered, so it has a salvage title. Showing 39,075 believable miles. The paint and exterior plastic are a little aged but not bad and don’t show any major blemishes. Good, lightly worn interior. – 1989 was the last year for the original 911 Turbo (930), and was the only year the model got Porsche’s G50 5-speed gearbox instead of the original 4-speed. That it’s a 1989 is enough to pique interest, and that it’s a factory slant nose (there are plenty of clones) is even better. But even though the salvage title is from ancient history, it exists and it will follow the car around. Worldwide Auctioneers sold it in 2022 for $212,800, which was a surprisingly strong result, but it came at a noticeable discount here in Houston.
Lot # S139 1964 Chrysler 300K Convertible; S/N 8443253130; Sand/Gold; Beige vinyl top; Enthusiast restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $34,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $37,400 – 413/390hp, floor shift automatic, power steering, power front disc brakes added, power front seats, factory air conditioning, wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, console, tach, AM-FM. – One of 625 built for the model year and represented as an original California car. Full and lightly pitted original bumpers. Good, shiny older repaint. Unrestored but clearly maintained underneath. Some mild discoloration and stains in the top, which looks like a replacement. Clean interior. The fins and most of the elegance and “banker’s hot rod” performance of the 300 was gone by the time the 300K rolled around, but this is still a very attractive car despite the age of its restoration and some cut corners. – Barrett-Jackson sold this car in Las Vegas in 2015 for $30,500 and for $27,500 at Mecum Las Vegas in 2018. It doesn’t appear to have had any major attention since then but it found a more preceptive group of bidders and a more expensive market at Houston 2024. Still, it’s a lot of car, a lot of engine, and a lot of rarity for the money, a Chrysler 300 convertible with gobs of power and torque for much less than more mundane marques like Chevy and Ford would bring even though this result is appropriate for what it is.
Lot # S140 1968 Lamborghini Islero 400 GT 2+2 Coupe, Body by Marazzi; S/N 6318; Engine # 2457; Silver/Brown; Older restoration 3 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $190,000 – 3,929/340hp, 5-speed, centerlock alloy wheels, ANSA exhaust, added power steering, 1980s-era cassette stereo with speakers cut into the rear deck, woodrim steering wheel, wood shift knob, power windows. – Number 104 of 125 built, and restored in 2012. Full, scratched original chrome and the front bumper doesn’t fit flush with the body. Good paint other than some cracks at the front near the headlight doors and below the windshield. Slightly beat up wheels and some grim under the hood. Good, lightly worn interior. A rare, interesting car, but this one wasn’t thoroughly restored and the parts that were are now aging. – Bonhams sold this car in Amelia Island in 2017 for $247,500 and again in Scottsdale in 2021 for $183,680. It hasn’t gotten any better since then while adding 1,600 miles to its odometer reading and neither have Islero prices. This high bid could have seen the car off to a new home where it would have been $209,000 with Mecum’s buyer’s commission.
Lot # S145 1963 Ford Galaxie 500XL Sunliner Convertible; S/N 3J69R143031; White/Blue Vinyl; White vinyl top; Older restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $105,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $115,500 – 427/425hp, dual quads, 4-speed, spinner wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, boot cover, AM-FM, power driver’s seat, power steering. – Represented as an early introduction prototype built three months prior to factory introduction. Has a professionally built side oiler now but the original block is included with the sale. Tidy engine. Old chrome and a few small dents in the grille. Older paint with some chips here and there. Presentable interior but has age to the upholstery, trim, door panels, and carpets. – In 2017, this Galaxie was a $67,500 no-sale at Leake Tulsa and a $100,000 no-sale at Mecum Houston. It was an $85,000 no-sale at Houston again the following year, then failed to sell on Bring a Trailer in 2022 at $47K and tried yet again in Houston last year to a $100K high bid. After so many no-sales on its resume and at such inconsistent numbers, the seller must be thrilled to have gotten a price at the top of the range. The buyer has a real R-Code Galaxie 500XL Sunliner but with a demonstrably better side-oiler 427, a rewarding weekend sleeper.
Lot # S147 1969 Chevrolet Camaro COPO Sport Coupe; S/N 124379N693711; Daytona Yellow,, Black vinyl roof/Black vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $135,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $148,500 – 427/425hp L72, automatic with horseshoe shifter, ZL2 cowl induction hood, 4.10 Positraction, hub caps, Goodyear Polyglas tires, spoilers, Sun tach on the column, console, Protect-O-Plate documented. – Showing 8,637 miles that are represented as actual, and a largely unrestored car. Older repaint that presents pretty well. Original chrome, brightwork and hub caps show only light age. The original interior looks fantastic. Very clean underneath. A well-kept, and well-equipped big-block Camaro that is not represented as the original engine or drivetrain. – Technically, Camaros weren’t supposed to have engines larger than 400 cid in 1969, but dealers saw demand and started selling Camaros with Corvette-sourced 427s. Chevrolet eventually gave in and sold its own version in semi-secret, using the Central Office Production Orders (COPO) system typically reserved for fleet orders at the time. Today they’re near the top of the price ladder for first gen Camaros. This one, although there is little history available, brought a somewhat modest but realistic price for its equipment and condition.
Lot # S174 2003 Ferrari 575 Maranello Coupe, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N ZFFBV55A830130820; Grigio Titanio/Blu Scuro; Unrestored original 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $70,000 – 5,748/515hp, 6-speed paddle shift, Daytona style seats Scuderia shields red calipers. – Represented with 29,984 believable miles. Some tiny rock chips on the nose, mirrors, and windshield. Long scratch on the passenger’s door and a chip on the handle. Good, lightly worn interior. A 30K-mile Ferrari. – And a 30k-mile Ferrari with quite a few Mecum appearances recently. It sold for $132K at Glendale last year, was a $100K no-sale at Kissimmee this year, and a $60K no-sale at Glendale a few weeks ago. Unless there’s some mechanical disaster under the hood and some lurking service bill we don’t know about, this should be a six-figure car and the last two trips across the block just appear to be unlucky ones although with no history or service records offered bidders are taking it on faith that there are no accidents or mechanical gremlins lurking to spoil the party. In this case they were reticent, wisely.
Lot # S175 1963 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk II BJ7 Convertible; S/N HBJ7L22799; California Sage/Linen; Dark Green top; Recent restoration 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $85,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $93,500 – 2,912/134hp, 4-speed, overdrive, chrome wire wheels, boot cover, tonneau cover. – Represented as matching numbers and with a Kurt Tanner Motorcars restoration finished last year. Very good paint and chrome. Slightly imperfect panel fit. Clean interior showing nearly no signs of use. Not overdone, but recently restored to probably how it looked when it was brand new. – Barrett-Jackson sold this car just a few months ago in Scottsdale for $117,700. This lower result is still a strong one even for an excellent condition BJ7, thanks in part to the restoration at Kurt Tanner which is a name in the Healey world. But it is lower, as sometimes the exuberant Barrett-Jackson bids at WestWorld are hard to duplicate elsewhere. But, only three months later, whatever impelled the consignor here to bring it to Houston and place it on the block at No Reserve? It is, no matter the circumstances, a huge mistake.
Lot # S188 1966 Jaguar XKE SI 4.2 Roadster; S/N 1E12143; Carmen Red/Tan; Black cloth top; Older restoration 3 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $115,000 – 4,235/265hp, 4-speed, woodrim steering wheel, radio, hardtop, original invoice and JDHT certificate documented. – Represented as matching numbers. Decent chrome but old, faded, detail scratched paint. Panel fit issues have rubbed and chipped paint on several edges. Several scuffs on the hardtop. Wrinkled leather and lightly cracked on the driver’s side. An E-Type is gorgeous in almost any condition and this one could be enjoyed as-is, but new paint, body work, and retrimming of the seats would make a world of difference. – This E-Type is a driver and driver money was bid.
Lot # S197 1962 Chevrolet Corvette FI Convertible; S/N 20867S103937; Ermine White,, Ermine White hardtop/Red; Older restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $92,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $101,200 – 327/360hp Fuelie, 4-speed, 4.11 Positraction, spinner wheel covers, hardtop, WonderBar radio. – Represented as matching numbers and with NCRS Top Flight. Clean, lightly run engine. Presentable but older paint and chrome. The trim spears that run from the headlights back don’t quite fit. Imperfect gaps. Very good interior. A well-equipped older restoration. – Reassuring condition, NCRS Top Flight and matching numbers but driven and lightly used, this is a premium price for a carefully used and preserved older restoration.
Lot # S204 1957 Oldsmobile Starfire 98 Holiday Coupe; S/N 579C01589; Gold Mist,, Victoria White/Beige and Bronze and Black; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $61,000 – 371/300hp, J2 triple carburetor, automatic, wheel covers, whitewalls, fender skirts, power steering, power brakes, pushbutton radio. – Very clean engine bay showing off that J2 air cleaner. Scratched chrome. Very good paint and interior. Spotless trunk. Restoration started in 2012, but unclear when it finished and it has seen subsequent use but good care. – The description is not clear whether this Olds was delivered with the J2 triple carb setup or acquired it later. If it was an original J2 Olds the value should be higher but if it got it later the amount offered here is reasonable. The consignor might have been more specific, particularly if is an originally J2-equipped Olds.
Lot # S205 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 SportsRoof; S/N 9F2M141727; Royal Maroon,, Black hood/Black vinyl; Older restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $80,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $88,000 – 351/290hp, automatic, MSD ignition, aluminum radiator, hood pins, rear window slats, spoilers, console, air conditioning with a modern compressor, Bluetooth stereo. – Tired, scratched chrome, window frames, and door handles. Good but older paint. Clean interior. Clean, restored engine compartment. An older restored Mach 1 showing its age. – This is a desirable Mach 1, even with the adequate M-Code 351/290 and automatic. The A/C has probably been added during restoration which helps with usability if not adding much if anything to its collector value. The bidders didn’t see it that way and paid a premium price for it.
Lot # S208 1993 Ford Mustang 5.0 SVT Cobra Hatchback; S/N 1FACP42D8PF175674; Teal Metallic/Gray leather; Unrestored original 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $60,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $66,000 – 5.0/230hp, 5-speed, Traction-Lok, power steering and brakes, factory air conditioning, alloy wheels, fog lights, tinted glass, Flowmaster mufflers (originals included), Kenwood CD, original window sticker and SVT CofA.. – Showing 12,999 believable miles. Shiny paint, clean wheels, and bright tires. A little bit of dust under the hood but all is complete, correct, and tidy. Light wrinkling to the driver’s seat, but otherwise excellent interior. Not showroom fresh but still a very good presentation. It looks like it’s about a year old. – Sold by Mecum at Harrisburg in 2018 for $39,050, the result here is a function of currently strong values for this generation of SVT Mustangs. It could have been significantly more without crossing over into the land of expensive making it a good value in relation to its counterparts even at this price.
Lot # S219 2005 Lamborghini Murcielago Roadster; S/N ZHWBU26S45LA01699; Giallo Evros/Yellow and Black leather; Black cloth top; Unrestored original 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $190,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $209,000 – 6,192/580hp, paddle shifters, yellow calipers, front axle lift, CD stereo, air conditioning. – Represented with 19,038 miles. Has a handful of paint chips and a couple more chips in the windshield. The removable cloth top is dirty and wrinkled, likely from poor storage. Leather is wrinkled as well. This car could be a lot cleaner given the reasonably low miles and given how expensive it is. – As far as auction appearances go, third time was the charm for this Murci. It was a $175K no-sale in Kissimmee back in January, and a $160K no-sale at Mecum Glendale last month. Typically, bids don’t go significantly higher after multiple no-sale, but that’s what happened here. It also brought a surprisingly high price given its mileage and flaws.
Lot # S227.1 2014 Aston Martin Vanquish Coupe; S/N SCFKDCEP4EGJ01157; Pearl White/Beige leather; Unrestored original 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $127,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $140,250 – 6.0/565hp V12, automatic, red calipers, carbon fiber exterior package, Bang & Olufsen stereo, chipguarded nose. – Represented with 9,786 miles. It could use a light detailing, but otherwise still looks like a new car. – A second gen Vanquish is a seriously handsome car inside and out, and the pearl paint on this one is spectacular. Alas, it’s still a 10-year-old car, and despite all the shifts in the car market over the past four years, the laws of depreciation still very much apply to modern Astons. This one’s MSRP was represented as $325,000 and it is a sound value in this market-priced transaction but still a fantastic performance value for the money.
Lot # S237 1999 Ferrari 456M GTA Coupe 2+2; S/N ZFFWP50A2X0116050; Nero Daytona/Beige; Unrestored original 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $60,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $66,000 – 5,474/442hp, automatic, red calipers, Scuderia shields. – Represented with 30,145 miles and an MSRP of $224,585. Paint looks tired and water-spotted. Dry, cracked weather stripping. Dirty wheels and underbody. Wrinkled, stiff leather. The 456 is one of the more unloved Ferraris, and this one certainly hasn’t been pampered, having clearly spent a significant amount of time out in the elements. – Being a four-seater Ferrari, the 456 has always been one of the company’s less appreciated models. And the automatics were built before paddle shifters had taken over, so this one has a conventional torque converter slush box. It was a $55K no-sale in Kissimmee in January and a $45K no-sale in Glendale a few weeks ago, so surprisingly the third time was the charm for it here in Houston, and it’s about as much as the seller could reasonably hope for it, too.
Lot # S242 2002 Porsche 911 Turbo Coupe; S/N WP0AB29942S685364; Arctic Silver Metallic/Graphite Grey leather; Unrestored original 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $60,000 – 3600/415hp, Tiptronic, red calipers, sunroof, wing – Represented with 66,607 miles and not represented with a service history. Clear bra on the nose shows a lot of large scratches all over, and I can’t tell if any of it is in the actual paint. Small crack in the right taillight lens. Lightly wrinkled leather but mostly very good interior. A used 996 Turbo in conventional colors and equipped with an automatic. – This car doesn’t tick many of the good Porsche boxes, and Tiptronic turbos are typically heavily discounted compared to 6-speed ones. The Porsche-loving crowd on Bring a Trailer bid it to $35,750 in 2019, so a $60K high bid for it seems like significantly more than enough and should have been taken if there was real money there.
Lot # S247 1969 Chevrolet Camaro RS/SS 396 Convertible; S/N 124679N525217; Le Mans Blue,, White side stripes/Ivory white, White Houndstooth; White vinyl top; Older restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $85,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $93,500 – 396/350hp, automatic with horseshoe shifter, dash clock, tach, console with gauges, 3.73 Positraction, factory air conditioning, power front disc brakes, spoiler, power steering. – Rare RS/SS 396 convertible. Older chrome and pitted mirrors. Paint looks fantastic from a short distance but shows orange peel and blistering up close. The underbody and engine are very clean and lightly used. The interior looks great other than light wear to the steering wheel. Body-off restored at some point and showing age and use. – Arguably underpriced for the combination of SS, RS, Convertible and 396/350 engine, this is a sound value even with the post-restoration use and orange peely paint.
Lot # S279 1997 Panoz AIV Roadster; S/N 1P9PA1820VB213037; Black/Tan leather; Unrestored original 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $37,000 – 281/305hp Ford V8, 5-speed, Roush wheels, Bridgestone Potenza tires, air conditioning, CD stereo. – One of 176 second gen AIVs built. Showing 4,800 miles. Well-kept with light age to the paint and seats, but there’s a dent in the aluminum vent cover on the left side of the nose. An awesome, fast, light weight hand-built American sports car for probably not all that much money. – Indeed, on the rare occasion they do change hands, AIVs (Aluminum Intensive Vehicles) sell for temptingly low prices. What they lack in good looks, these cars make up for in performance and fun per dollar. This reported high bid was a bit modest, though, and really should have been on the other side of 40 grand given its low miles and condition.
Lot # S288 1998 Toyota Supra Mk IV Turbo Sport Roof; S/N JT2DE82A2W1001377; White/Black leather; Unrestored original 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $107,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $118,250 – 2,997/320hp twin turbo inline six, 6-speed, rear spoiler, power windows, air conditioning, modern Kenwood touchscreen. – Represented as a one-owner car with 45,013 miles. No visible mods but definitely a used car with aged, peeling wheels, dirt and dust under the hood, some small rock chips in the windshield, faded badges, aged brakes, worn seats, and dirt in the carpets. Despite all that, the single ownership and the unmodified condition are enough to make this Supra very interesting to the right kind of buyer. – When they were contemporary performance cars, Supras were often heavily modified, driven hard, or cannibalized for their tuner-friendly 2JZ engines. Since becoming rather valuable modern collector cars, though, reasonably clean and unmodified Mk IV Supras command a lot of attention when they come to market, and this one-owner car was no exception. Ten years ago, it might have sold for a third as much as this. In 2024, though, a single-owner Supra, even in slightly scruffy condition, can be a six-figure car like this.
Lot # S309 2021 Ford F-150 Shelby Super Snake SuperCrew Pickup 4×4; S/N 1FTFW1E59MKE57631; White,, Metallic Grey stripes/Black, Grey leather; Unrestored original 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $83,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $91,300 – 302/770hp supercharged, automatic, red calipers, 22-inch chrome alloy wheels, hard bed cover, – Represented with 13,749 miles and has some chips in the mirrors, scuff on bottom front lip. Otherwise looks new. – Rather surprising miles for a show truck that is only three years old but meticulously kept and with astounding performance. It to a large degree sets the market for a vehicle rarely if ever seen but the result reflects little depreciation from the base F-150 Shelby Super Snake’s $93K MSRP.
Lot # S320 2007 Ford F-150 Saleen S331 Pickup; S/N 1FTPX12527NA12317; Black,, Gray/Black and Gray; Unrestored original 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $20,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $22,000 – 5.4/450hp supercharged, automatic, chrome alloy 23-inch wheels, hard bed cover – Represented as number 56 of 398 built and with 121,439 miles. It looks like a 121K-mile performance pickup, with multiple large paint blemishes, faded exterior plastic, a few chips in the windshield, and a significantly worn driver’s seat. – Used, and it is hard to conceive that its use hasn’t been hard with all that power under the driver’s right foot over the past seven years and 121K miles. This result was a gift.
Lot # S350 1966 Ford Mustang Coupe; S/N 6R07T227135; Blue/Blue vinyl; Older restoration 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $25,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $27,500 – 200/120hp six-cylinder, floor shift 3-speed manual, wheel covers, Uniroyal tires, vintage-style radio. – Restored in 2010 and has the original drivetrain. Heavily scratched chrome. Scratched original glass. Aged body trim. Very good paint. Clean wheels. Very good interior. – This is about as basic and bland as a `66 Mustang gets, so it’s impressive that someone took the time to restore it, even if there were plenty of corners cut. It’s hard to explain this price, though. Maybe someone who had one just like it back in the day fell in love with it. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be a stretch to get a 289/200hp or even a ’66 GT for this kind of money.
Lot # S357 1988 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ75 Pickup 4×4; S/N FJ750067629; Tan,, Red, Brown graphics/Gray vinyl, Light Gray cloth; Visually maintained, largely original 4+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $25,000 – 4.0-liter, 5-speed, fog lights, running boards, modern touchscreen in the dash, chrome bumpers. – Nothing represented in terms of history and showing a staggering 729,165 km (453,082 miles) on the odometer. An old, quick respray is cracked in in places and surface rust is poking through chips in the bed. Uneven gaps. Oxidized underneath but the frame is all in good shape. Dirty, surface rusted engine compartment. The seats look newer but the rest of the interior looks original. Interesting only in that it’s a foreign market Land Cruiser that we Americans rarely get to see up close. Other than that, it’s a tired old truck. – Refusing a $25K offer for any truck with nearly half a million miles on it is silly, whether it’s a rare model or not. Seeing it sell for a tenth of that in its home market (likely somewhere in Latin America) would not be surprising, so the high bid in Houston should have been happily taken if there was money close to it.