If there was any doubt whatsoever that the collector car market was weathering Covid the results for Mecum’s Spring Classic at Indianapolis should put that to rest.
Not only in dollar terms but also in the quantity and variety of vehicles offered Mecum Indy was an unalloyed success. Coming after the blockbuster success at Kissimmee in January and a successful series of auctions leading up to Indy, Mecum has demonstrated that the heart of the car collecting hobby is strong.
That strength, however, begs for understanding. It has been a shitty eighteen months. People have hunkered down, deliberately avoiding face-to-face interactions with family, friends, neighbors, colleagues and acquaintances. Many businesses have been thrown into chaos and almost without exception “disruption” has been commonplace.
Yet in June of 2021, collector car sales are strong. Prices are healthy but have avoided irrational (in most cases.)
There was a time earlier in 2021 when boredom might be a reason for buying another collector car, a project to divert attention from everything else going on (or perhaps more appropriately, “not going on”).
There’s unprecedented liquidity from government stimulus payments, employment support programs, lucrative unemployment benefits and a surprisingly strong economy. Vacations have almost universally been put on hold, freeing up funds for other diversions.
Liquidity, however, is still ample if paying $28 million for three minutes of weightlessness with Jeff Bezos is any indication.
If all those factors are removed by a society and an economy coming back to “normal”, will the collector car market continue to be an outlet for otherwise frustrated recreation activities?
That remains to be seen, but for now enjoy a healthy collector car market, as Mecum Auctions did at Indianapolis.
Here are the numbers (which include only vehicles, not “Road Art” and differ from Mecum’s totals):
| Year | Cars Sold/ Offered | Sale % | Average Sale | Median Sale | Total $ |
| 2021 | 1538/1965 | 78.3% | $59,988 | $35,200
[58.7%]
|
$92,262,115 |
| 2020 | 1100/1457 | 75.5% | $53,536 | $26,400
[49.3%] |
$58,889,270 |
| 2019 | 1123/1719 | 65.3% | $56,504 | $30,250
[53.5$] |
$63,454,105 |
| 2018 | 1328/1850 | 71.8% | $49,580 | $29,700
[59.5%] |
$65,842,294 |
On-site observations and photos are by Andrew Newton, edited by Rick Carey.
Cars are sorted by Marque, Model and Year.
Lot # S271 1965 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III Phase 2 Convertible; S/N HBJ8L27010; Red, Black/Black leather piped in red; Black vinyl top; Estimate $90,000 – $110,000; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $50,000. – 2,912/150hp, 4-speed, centerlock chrome wire wheels, Lucas fog lights, later Sony stereo, stainless steel exhaust, tonneau cover. – Tired chrome and brightwork. Good older paint with a handful of flaws. Clean wheels. Solid engine bay and underbody. The interior could use a detailing but it has been fully redone and there isn’t anything to worry about. Uneven gaps. Body-off restored a while ago over the course of two years, and although most of the money was spent under the skin, it’s still an attractive Healey. – This is a really good Healey but not a great one, and 50 grand isn’t too far off from what most of these cars are selling for lately, a range that’s down significantly from what they were bringing several years ago.
Lot # S207 1940 Buick Limited Model 81-C Convertible Phaeton; S/N 13694572; Black/Rose leather; Tan cloth top; Estimate $80,000 – $100,000; Recent restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $50,000. – 320/141hp, column shift 3-speed, red wheels with hub caps and trim rings, wide whitewalls, dual enclosed sidemount spares, suicide rear doors, pushbutton radio, dash clock, rear footrest. – Restoration finished last year, but the paint, chrome, and running boards look significantly older than that, probably reflecting the history that it was started at one shop and completed at another. Uneven door gaps. New-looking convertible top. Gorgeous interior. Very clean engine bay and underbody. Not as fresh as one might think reading the car card, but still an attractive and comfortable event car. – Harlow Curtice was President of Buick during the period and he was intent upon making it a Cadillac competitor. The Limited was Buick’s answer to Cadillac’s Series 75, if not the legendary Series 90 V-16. Limiteds were built to very high standards and Buick cleverly rated their 320 cubic inch “Valve in Head” eight at 141 horsepower, one more than the Series 75’s 140hp. A Limited Convertible Phaeton is incredibly rare and even with the uneven restoration quality this car is easily worth more than the reported high bid here. It would not have been unreasonable had it brought a hammer bid at the low pre-sale estimate of $80,000.
Lot # S210 1931 Cadillac 452 V-16 Convertible Coupe, Body by Fleetwood; S/N 72921; Engine # 702807; Light gray, Dark gray, red/Beige cloth; Light gray cloth top; Estimate $900,000 – $1,100,000; Recent restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $900,000. – 452/165hp V-16, 3-speed, wire wheels with hub caps and trim rings, dual sidemount spares with cloth covers and mirrors, dual chrome horns, Pilot Ray lights, heron mascot, luggage trunk, rumble seat, golf bag door, engine turned dash, Jaeger dash clock. – Represented as one of seven known to exist. Fully known ownership history. Restoration finished two years ago, but not a full concours-quality job. The chrome and brightwork look fantastic, but the paint on the fenders shows light detail scratching and there is crazing behind the front bumper on the left side. The running board trim is also lightly scratched and the gaps are uneven. The luggage trunk looks original and beat up. The engine bay looks fantastic, and so does the interior. Not a show winner, but it’s hard to pick on any V-16 Cadillac. – A $580,000 no-sale at Bonhams Amelia 2020 where it was estimated at $700,000 to $900,000. Why it saw an increased estimate of $900,000 to $1.1 million and then didn’t sell when it was bid to the low estimate, $420,000 more than its high bid a year ago, is an auction mystery. The high bid amount is impressive but it is meaningless.
Lot # S133.1 1956 Chevrolet El Morocco Convertible; S/N VC56F147439; White/White, black vinyl; White vinyl top; Estimate $200,000 – $250,000; Older restoration 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $180,000. – 265/205hp, 4-barrel, Powerglide automatic, wheel covers, whitewalls, hood ornament, heater, pushbutton radio dash clock. – Represented as the only original ’56 El Morocco convertible known to exist, a ’56 Bel Air convertible with Eldorado finned rear fenders and fancy wheel covers built by Reuben Allender. Showing 121 miles since restoration. Very good paint and chrome. Clean, lightly wrinkled top. Bent exhaust tip. Very good interior. Well known, interesting, and truly unique car. – A $195,000 no-sale at Kissimmee this year and estimated here at $200,000 to $250,000, this result should encourage the consignor to do another expectations reset.
Lot # F181 1958 Chevrolet Corvette FI Convertible; S/N J58S105364; Panama Yellow, White coves/Black vinyl; Black top; Estimate $130,000 – $150,000; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $125,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $137,500. – 283/290hp Fuelie, 4-speed, spinner wheel covers, whitewalls, hardtop and soft top, radio and heater delete. – Represented as matching numbers. The bumpers are a bit tired and the cove trim has a few small dings. Very good paint. The hard top rubber is dry. Very good interior. Very clean, near show quality engine bay and underbody. A lovely `58 Fuelie in a rare color. Refreshing the brightwork would make it just about perfect. – A desirable car in attractive colors. It might have been a little more desirable with a radio, but anyone with any sense listens to the Fuelie’s exhaust song and not tunes from an old AM WonderBar radio. The heater would be nice for early spring and late fall cruising, though, but at this price it can be overlooked.
Lot # F193 1965 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible; S/N 194675S123000; Engine # 5123000; Rally Red/Red vinyl; Estimate $200,000 – $250,000; Unrestored original 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $225,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $247,500. – 396/425hp L78, 4-speed, wheel covers, Firestone blackwall tires, hardtop. Includes original window sticker, original Oklahoma title and other extensive documentation – One of several unrestored red Corvettes from the Mark Davis collection. All original and matching numbers, and the 43,999 miles showing are represented as actual. A quintessential preservation class car, and it has received Bloomington Gold Benchmark and Survivor certifications. There are a few blemishes and chips on the body but nothing major, and there is general dullness and light crazing as you’d expect on 56-year-old paint. The chrome and wheels look good, and the windshield frame is lightly scratched with a small dent on top. Other than paint coming up below the shifter, the interior is just about perfect. Under the hood, some of the orange paint is coming up from the engine but there’s no real cause for concern. This is an excellent survivor with a rare powertrain to boot. – The 1965 model year marked the debut of big-block engines in the Corvette and spelled the end of the fuel injected cars, as the big-block offered more power and less complexity at a cheaper price. Four-wheel disc brakes also arrived for the first time. The 396 big-block lasted only one year, as Corvette moved to 427s for 1966. This car ticks a lot of the right boxes in terms of options and equipment, but what really attracted bids was its preservation, something that can’t be duplicated and for which it has deservedly won awards. If it went through a concours restoration it would be worth less.
Lot # S102.1 1967 Chevrolet Nova SS Sport Coupe; S/N 118377W195775; Emerald Turquoise, Black vinyl roof/Black vinyl; Older restoration 2+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $170,000. – 327/325hp L79, 4-speed, wheel covers, BFG blackwall tires, 12-bolt rear, bucket seats, factory radio, dash clock, Protect-O-Plate. – Represented as matching numbers and one of six 1967 Novas built with the L79. Multiple magazine features. Gleaming show-quality engine bay. Spotless trunk. Gorgeous underbody. Even gaps. Excellent interior. No expense spared restoring this ultra-rare Nova. – Was listed on eBay in April this year for $225,000 and the seller still seems to be expecting a hundred thousand dollar premium for the rare L79/4-speed drivetrain. That’s optimistic, bordering on ludicrous.
Lot # T198 1970 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible; S/N 194670S413780; Engine # 70S413780; Classic White/Saddle Tan leather; Black top; Estimate $75,000 – $85,000; Recent restoration 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $88,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $96,800. – 350/370hp LT1, M20 4-speed, 3.55 Positraction, wheel covers, Firestone Wide Oval tires, hardtop, AM/FM radio, tilt/telescopic steering column, Protect-O-Plate. Comes with CA title and blue plates. – One of about 500 convertibles from the LT1’s first and best year in 1970. Matching numbers drivetrain. Fresh fully redone engine bay and underbody. Looks like it has only seen the road a few times. Very good paint and chrome, but the signature LT1 hood decals are misaligned. Very good interior. Correctly and recently restored but not overdone. – The solid lifter LT1 engine is generally a good value in the world of collectible Corvettes in that it offers big-block-rivalling performance in a small-block package. This car, though, enjoyed a healthy premium for its fresh condition and desirable options (like the leather and the hardtop). It isn’t exorbitantly expensive, but the buyer paid full retail.
Lot # T260.1 1975 Chevrolet K10 Blazer Custom Deluxe Open Top Utility 4×4; S/N CKY185F109112; Gold, White/Tan vinyl; Truck restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $32,000. – 350/160hp, automatic, Yokohama tires, factory radio. – Very clean engine bay. Underbody looks older restored. Good, fairly recent paint and chrome. Slightly uneven door fit. Decent original door panels, dash, and carpets. Seats look newer. Top included but not present. Attractive truck quality restoration. – Sold for $17,600 at Russo and Steele Scottsdale in 2012. Flipped for $24,200 at Barrett-Jackson West Palm Beach 2012, then sold for $19,800 at Mecum Kissimmee 2020, then vaulted to $41,800 at Indy a year ago. Truck values, including Blazers, have grown even since January 2020, but the Indy 2020 result is a multitude of standard deviations away from any rational value curve. The seller is buried in a deep hole but that’s no reason not to consider this realistic offer as a way out while minimizing the damage.
Lot # S243 1990 Chevrolet Corvette R9G Coupe; S/N 1G1YY2387L5111847; Silver/Black; Estimate $30,000 – $40,000; Competition car, original as-raced 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $33,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $36,300. – 350, 6-speed, FX3 suspension, Z51 handling package, alloy wheels, Wilwood brakes, Sparco steering wheel, roll cage, AutoMeter auxiliary gauges. Sold on bill of sale, comes with the original window sticker, SCCA log book, MSO copies, build sheet and build documentation from GM. – Raced in the 1990 Escort World Challenge series in 1990 by Andy Pilgrim, John Heinricy, Don Knowles, Stu Hayner, and Bob Lobenberg. Won the Toronto Star 24-Hour World Challenge at Mosport, and the team won the championship that year. Has the usual battle scars of a veteran racer like dings, chips, and a few cracks. But none of that really matters, does it? Even if it lives in the shadow of the Le Mans-winning C5s, C4 Corvettes had their own successful racing exploits and this car is one of the best examples. – There are cheaper ways to go racing, but this looks like a great value and even a bargain for a car with some good history and serious performance. It previously sold for $46,200 at Mecum Monterey in 2015, underscoring the fact that the market still doesn’t seem to care about C4s, even ones with provenance.
Lot # W195 1990 Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 Coupe; S/N 1G1YZ23JXL5802810; Red/Red leather; Unrestored original 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $28,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $30,800. – 350/375hp LT5, 6-speed, Goodyear Eagle tires, both roofs, factory CD stereo, window sticker. – Represented with 36,888 miles. Bloomington Gold Survivor and Benchmark certified. Good original paint other than a few chips on the nose and headlight doors as well as a touch up on the right mirror. Some light scrapes on the wheels. Very good interior with well-kept leather, especially for a C4. A lightly used first year ZR-1 with arguably the perfect amount of miles on it: Not too many, but not too few for it to be driven and enjoyed. – Perhaps the bidders recognized that sweet spot on the odometer, because this is the kind of money that lower-mile ZR-1s typically bring. In mileage and condition it’s in a rare middle ground between the many ZR-1s that were put away with delivery miles as instant collectibles and others that have been driven enthusiastically while enjoying their high-revving dohc engine which completely transforms the ZR-1’s character from the usual Corvette C4.
Lot # S70 1997 Chevrolet Camaro SS 30th Anniversary Coupe; S/N 2G1FP22P5V2151362; White, Orange stripes/White leather, houndstooth cloth; Estimate $50,000 – $75,000; Unrestored original 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $87,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $95,700. – 350/330hp LT4, 6-speed, white painted wheels, BFG Comp T/A tires, power windows, air conditioning, cassette stereo. – From the Dewayne Stephens collection. One of just 100 examples of the 30th Anniversary Camaro built with the high performance LT4 under the hood, typically only found in 1996 Corvettes. 76 miles and like new with the plastic still on the seats. – 1997 was the Camaro’s 30th anniversary and GM, never one to miss a marketing opportunity, sold a special edition that mimicked the 1969 Indy Pace car edition with white and orange paint and houndstooth cloth inserts for the seats. It was a popular package with over 4500 sold, but the LT4-powered cars are truly rare and the bidders recognized this example for the “wrapper car” that it is. Almost all of the clean fourth gen Camaros sold very well in Indy this year and beat expectations. This car was no exception.
Lot # S231 2001 Chevrolet Camaro SS Intimidator Coupe; S/N 2G1FP22G412145496; Black, Silver stripe/Black leather; Estimate $70,000 – $90,000; Unrestored original 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $35,000. – 346/381hp modified LS1, 6-speed, American Racing wheels, Goodyear Eagle F1 tires, Monsoon stereo. Includes original window sticker, which reads $28,885, books and original invoice. – From the Gen Z Muscle Car collection. One of 83 built, sold new at Dale Earnhardt Chevrolet in North Carolina and then never driven. It has just 62 miles and is of course black over black. – Just 83 of these cars were made and they had real performance advantages over a standard Camaro SS, plus a connection to a legendary race car driver. All the ingredients of a very collectible car, but none of the bidders did it for Dale here. It was an unusual miss in an auction where fourth gen Camaros mostly sold extremely well.
Lot # S78 2002 Chevrolet Camaro GMMG Dick Harrell Edition Sport Coupe; S/N 2G1FP22G922170475; Silver, Black/Dark gray leather, gray cloth; Estimate $100,000 – $125,000; Unrestored original 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $150,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $165,000. – 427/630hp Phase 3X LS6, 6-speed, 4.10 gears, Fiske wheels, Michelin Pilot Sport tires, Corvette brakes, Monsoon CD stereo. – From the Dewayne Stephens collection. Represented with 2660 miles. Number 22 of 32 wide body special editions built by GMMG and named for famed builder and racer Dick Harrell. Still presents like a new car. – GMMG is sort of like a Yenko or Baldwin-Motion of the modern era, and offered heavily breathed on Camaros straight from the dealership. They were expensive (this Phase 3X 427 stickered at over $118,000), so they’re quite rare. We don’t often think of fourth gen Camaros as being particularly collectible, but there were plenty of rare special editions during its 1993-2002 production run and there was a slew of low-mile fourth gens in Indy this year that undoubtedly brought their devotees out to bid. This was the most potent and desirable of them, which explains the fevered bidding and this huge final price. It was the most expensive Camaro in Indy this year, classic or modern, and a record for a 1993-02 Camaro.
Lot # S233 2002 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Phase 3 Sport Coupe; S/N 2G1FP22G322161173; Dusk Blue, White stripes/Black leather, houndstooth cloth; Estimate $150,000 – $200,000; Unrestored original 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $140,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $154,000. – 427/600hp ZL1 Phase 3, 6-speed, chromed Z06 Corvette wheels and Corvette brakes, Goodyear Eagle F1 tires, Eibach lowering springs, Hurst short throw shifter, Monsoon stereo. Includes original window sticker. – From the Gen Z Muscle Car collection. One of 37 of these Phase 3 cars built with a Corvette C5R-derived engine by GMMG and reportedly the only one in this color. It would be a hoot to drive, but this one has been a coveted collectible since new with just 192 miles. – For the most part, fourth gen Camaros are too new and too plentiful to be particularly collectible, but ultra-rare and ultra-high-performance versions like this stir some excitement when they come to market. The right people were paying attention to this one and, like most of the other fourth gen Camaros in Indy this year, it sold very strongly.
Lot # S184.1 1961 Chrysler 300G Convertible; S/N 8413176011; Black/Beige leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $150,000 – $175,000; Older restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $120,000. – 413/375hp long crossram dual quads, pushbutton mirrors, wheel covers, whitewalls, power steering and brakes, power windows, power seats, air conditioning, tinted glass, factory tach, pushbutton radio, dash clock. – Represented as the original engine. Tidy engine bay and underbody. The paint is fairly tired, as is the chrome. Clean wheels and tires. The top could use cleaning. Dull console trim but the rest of the interior looks good. A solid but used old restoration. A thorough detailing would probably bring a lot of shine back to this Letter Car. – The reported high bid here is an entirely appropriate expression of the plusses and minuses of this 300G convertible. It balances the lavish equipment against the tired old restoration and could have been accepted with little or any regret.
Lot # S79 1977 Datsun 280Z Coupe; S/N HLS30373962; Bronze/Brown vinyl; Estimate $35,000 – $45,000; Visually maintained, largely original 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $57,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $62,700. – 2,753/149hp, 4-speed, alloy wheels, Michelin tires, rear window slats, air conditioning, pushbutton AM/FM radio. – From the Dewayne Stephens collection. Showing 33,795 believable miles. Unrestored but maintained engine. Solid underbody with light age and road wear. Good repaint with some chips behind the hood and a small crack on the rear. The wheels look new or restored. Very good interior. A very well kept old Datsun, especially for a 280. – The original Datsun Z-car – the 240Z – has tripled in value over the past decade, so they’re long past the point of being the entry-level classics they used to be. It makes sense, then, that as people get priced out of 240s, demand would rise for the later and slightly fatter 260 and 280Zs. The 280 has already roughly doubled over the past five years and doesn’t seem to be slowing down but this result is way, way ahead of the curve. It isn’t easy to find such a clean 280, but in today’s market with a little patience you might be able to buy two cars in similar condition for this price.
Lot # S253 1936 DeSoto Series S-2 Airflow 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N 5090996; Dark brown, Red coach lines/Brown leather; Estimate $30,000 – $50,000; Older restoration 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $27,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $30,250. – 242/100hp L-head six, floor shift 3-speed, artillery wheels with hub caps, Goodyear wide whitewalls, fender skirts, suicide rear doors, dash clock. – Tired old paint. Slightly uneven gaps. Mildly delaminating quarter windows. Wrinkled leather up front. Tidy underneath. A sound driver quality example of the ahead-of-its-time Airflow. – Airflows, no matter which Chrysler brand name they bore, were unpopular when new and remain overlooked today despite their engineering and design excellence which was years before their time. This result is actually fairly strong for a DeSoto Airflow sedan in its condition.
Lot # F186 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona NASCAR; S/N DC93; Blue, White tail band and wing/Black; Estimate $750,000 – $1,000,000; Competition restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $650,000. – 426/575hp Hemi, 4-speed, Goodyear slicks, side exhaust, hood pins, Hurst shifter, Stewart Warner gauges. – A Chrysler Engineering development car and the first NASCAR to hit 200 mph on a closed circuit, when Buddy Baker took it to 200.447 at Talladega in 1970. Driven by Paul Goldsmith at the 1969 Daytona 500, and Charlie Glotzbach put it on pole at Talladega that year. Also driven by Bobby Allison, Dan Gurney, Bobby Isaac, and James Hilton. Older restored and showing light age. Looks ready to race. – Compared with Plymouth’s Road Runner Superbird the Dodge Charger Daytona is much more rare and racing focused. The Charger Daytona’s development is an historic moment in American automobile racing history and this car was an early part of that process which makes this Charger Daytona a particularly important vehicle even with its replacement engine. The amount offered for it here is barely more than a street-driven Charger Daytona Hemi, with little if any credit given to its history and famous drivers.
Lot # F163 1957 Dual-Ghia D/G Hemi Convertible; S/N DG104; Hazel Mist/Kalahari leather; Kalahari cloth top; Estimate $525,000 – $575,000; Older restoration 2+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $450,000. – 315/260hp Dodge D500 Hemi, automatic, wheel covers, Firestone wide whitewalls, leather boot cover, power windows, Town and Country radio. – One of 117 built and reportedly 32 known to exist. Very good paint, chrome, and interior. The engine compartment is if anything better than new. Nothing to nitpick. Show-worthy. – Seriously excellent throughout and offered in seductive colors with a rich, inviting interior and cloth top. The reported high bid isn’t unreasonable and could have been given serious consideration.
Lot # S154 1987 Ferrari 328 GTS Spider, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N ZFFXA20A8H0074179; Rosso Corsa/Tan leather; Estimate $75,000 – $100,000; Visually maintained, largely original 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $82,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $90,200. – 3,185/270hp, 5-speed, Cromodora wheels, Momo leather-wrapped steering wheel, aftermarket radio. – Showing 32,689 miles which are represented as from-new and represented with a single repaint but no other history. The paint looks fresh and there are no other flaws or blemishes on the body. Almost no wear to the interior other than two small scuffs on the driver’s seat. Looks maintained underneath. Cleaner than most 328s out there. – This car showed up a few times at auction in the late 2000s, selling for $44,000 at Russo and Steele’s 2008 Hollywood, Florida sale, for $59,400 at Russo and Steele Monterey 2008, and for $48,950 at Russo and Steele Scottsdale 2009. This result, strong but not crazy, shows just how far ’80s Ferraris prices have come in the past decade-plus.
Lot # S168 2002 Ferrari 575M Maranello Coupe, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N ZFFBV55A620127395; Rosso Corsa/Black leather piped in red; Estimate $100,000 – $125,000; Unrestored original 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $90,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $99,000. – 5,748/515hp, 6-speed F1 transmission, red calipers, Scuderia shields, Daytona style seats, books and tools. – From the Marshall Goldman collection. Represented with 16,612 miles and looks it. Other than a few tiny, tiny chips on the hood and lightly worn driver’s seat, the car looks great. No service history. – A good car with good presentation and modest miles, this result is tempered by the absence of service history. The bidders left some flexibility in the successful bid to hedge against unexpected service costs, a prudent decision.
Lot # S107 1932 Ford Model 18 Station Wagon, Body by Baker-Raulang; S/N 18113291; Emperor Brown, Black fenders, wood body panels/Black vinyl; Estimate $75,000 – $100,000; Older restoration 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $120,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $132,000. – 221/65hp Flathead V-8, 3-speed, wire wheels, hub caps, single sidemount spares, Firestone blackwall tires, three-row seating, removable windows. – Just one of the many `32 Fords out of the Gene Hetland “Deucehaven” collection. Represented as one of just 331 wagons originally equipped with the Flathead V-8. Found in long-term storage by a woodshop teacher and restored by Nick Alexander. Represented with original wood other than a few of the tailgate pieces. Light detail scratches showing on the fenders, but the wood looks great inside and out. Very good interior. Very clean engine bay and underbody. Fully restored, very pretty, and rare. – Sold by RM from the Nick Alexander collection at Monterey in 2009 for $165,000 (cataloged with chassis number 1813291) which was expensive, but so is this, even though it’s $33,000 less. The Alexander collection woodies are known for their quality, accuracy and thoroughness and this one is holding up well despite the passage of time. There are only two 1932 Model 18 wagons in my database, and they’re both this car.
Lot # G138 1961 Ford Thunderbird Indy Pace Car Convertible; S/N 1Y73Z137951; Indy 500 Golden Anniversary Gold, Pace Car graphics/Black vinyl; White vinyl top; Visually maintained, largely original 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $35,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $38,500. – 390/300hp, automatic, Sports Roadster rear seat cover, wheel covers, whitewalls, fender skirts, console, power steering, power brakes, power windows, factory AM radio. – Represented as one of 34 T-Birds sent to the 1961 Indy 500 as a “festival car” (cars used in the parade and to ferry people around before the race) and one of four known to still exist. Finished in special paint not available on the normal T-Bird. Older, possibly original chrome showing light scratches. Repainted at some point, but now showing plenty of touch ups and scratches. The panel alignment around the tonneau is uneven and the doors stick out a tiny bit. Paint flaking off the wheels. Good, largely original interior with the signature swing-away steering wheel. Unrestored but tidy underneath. Not treated as a precious collector’s item given the mileage (70,599 showing) and the wear and tear, but a very rare genuine event car used at the race’s golden anniversary, and this is certainly the right town to bring it to for sale. – 1961 was a big year for the Thunderbird. It was the debut of the third generation “Bullet Bird,” Kennedy’s inaugural parade used 50 Thunderbird convertibles, and a gold Thunderbird served as pace car for the Indy 500’s 50th anniversary race. But being such a rare Indy 500 festival car selling in Indy didn’t translate to big bucks here. It’s a modest result, all things considered, and the car would have had a lot more bidders eyeing it had it been properly restored, or even better maintained.
Lot # T244 1965 Ford Mustang Coupe; S/N 5F07D194961; Raven Black/White vinyl; Estimate $75,000 – $85,000; Unrestored original 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $35,000. – 289/210hp, automatic, wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, factory radio. Represented with original spark plugs, points, fan belts, stickers, ignition wire, and five original tires. – Multiple MCA award winner in the unrestored class. Showing 9,106 miles that are represented as original, and you probably wouldn’t want to drive it any farther even though it looks fantastic. The paint shows some chips and touch ups plus some detail scratching, but it shines well. The chrome looks great. The white seats have barely discolored, and the rest of the interior looks almost untouched. The engine is the only part of this car that looks 56 years old, and the rear suspension shows surface rust. Sure it’s just a 1964 1/2 Mustang, but it has to be one of the best all-original ones around. – The reported high bid is show car money and this is a show car, just not in the traditional sense. Although it wasn’t completely unreasonable to expect a few more bids, the seller’s expectations should be closer to the high bid than to Mecum’s ambitious estimate.
Lot # F131 1969 Ford Bronco Big Oly Utility; S/N Bill of Sale; Gold, White, graphics /; Competition car, original as-raced 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,700,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,870,000. – 351/390hp, automatic, chrome moly tube frame, fiberglass and aluminum body panels, adjustable wing that doubles as the roof, modified Twin I-Beam front suspension, dual 22-gallon fuel cells. – The famous 390-hp off-road rocket that won the 1971 Baja 1000 in Mexico, smashing the event’s record by over an hour. It won there again in 1972, then took wins at the Baja 500 and the Mint 400 in 1973. Built and raced by Parnelli Jones and Bill Stroppe, a pair of the most versatile constructors and drivers in the history of motor sport. Its condition is presentable and doesn’t matter all that much. What makes this Bronco so desirable is its provenance. – The most anticipated lot of Mecum Indy this year, Big Oly doesn’t really have any comparable sales on the car market, let along the vintage truck market, which is why most guesses as to “what will it bring” didn’t get much more precise than “low seven-figures.” Notice that this racer isn’t described as “ex-Parnelli Jones,” because Parnelli was the one selling it, along with seven other cars from his collection and it only became “ex-Parnelli Jones” when the hammer fell. This was a one-of-one racer sold by the very same guy who built it, drove it to victory, and kept it into retirement. We don’t see that too often, and this is the price is took to become Big Oly’s second owner. It’s a world record auction price for a truck, and only the second truck or SUV to bring seven figures at auction.
Lot # T212 1972 Ford Mustang Sprint SportsRoof; S/N 2F02H189031; White, Blue, Red/White vinyl with blue cloth insert and red piping; Estimate $45,000 – $55,000; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $43,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $47,300. – 351/177hp, automatic, Radial T/A tires, amber fog lights, power brakes, air conditioning, console, cassette stereo. Represented with original window sticker and books. – Rare Olympic Sprint package, introduced to coincide with the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, with this loud red white and blue color scheme as well as USA flag shields on the rear fenders. Fully but not overrestored engine bay and underbody. There is a touch up on the nose as well as prep issues generally, but it looks good from a short distance. Good interior with original dash and gauges. Scratched window frames. A rare and attention-grabbing car, but it’s still a `72 Mustang and it was only restored to the standards you’d expect for a `72 Mustang. – This isn’t 1972 Mustang money, however. After not selling at a $19,000 high bid on Bring a Trailer last December, it found a much more Mustang-heavy audience in Indy and they afforded it a huge result. The price isn’t a fluke, either, as Lot T211 – an Olympic Sprint convertible – sold for even more at $71,500.
Lot # T184 1977 Ford Thunderbird Landau Hardtop; S/N 7G87S305069; Bright Saddle Metallic, Brown vinyl roof/Saddle cloth; Estimate $20,000 – $30,000; Unrestored original 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $11,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $12,100. – 400/173hp, automatic, narrow whitewalls, power windows, power driver’s seat, power mirrors, air conditioning, cruise control. – Not much history represented but looks like a well-cared for and consistently maintained 43,695-mile car. The paint and brightwork look original and quite good, other than some light chips, scratches and general fading in the paint and light scratches on the bumpers. Unrestored underneath but solid and showing only light oxidation. The plush interior, which has the color and consistency of a teddy bear, looks fantastic. An impressive (and extremely brown) T-Bird. – Pampered and clean doesn’t always mean valuable, and in the case of malaise era cars like this, most still sell in the very low five-figure range. This final price may be barely 12 grand, but it’s still at the top end of the range for a seventh generation T-Bird.
Lot # T146 1992 Ford Mustang 5.0 LX Convertible; S/N 1FACP44E2NF158050; Vibrant Red/White leather piped in black; White vinyl top; Estimate $24,000 – $34,000; Unrestored original 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $25,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $27,500. – 302/225hp, automatic, white wheels, Uniroyal tires, air conditioning, power windows, window sticker, Deluxe Marti Report. – Represented with two owners, 27,031 actual miles, and as one of 2,019 Summer Edition Mustang LX convertibles built. No significant paint issues. Clean wheels, excellent top. Very light wear and a scuff on the driver’s seat are the only real signs of age on this car, which clearly got a serious detailing recently. 27,000 miles is low, but I’d believe it if the odometer read 2700. – Pampered Fox-body Mustangs have been selling for these kinds of prices for a few years now, but it’s still surprising to see given that there seems to be no shortage of them out there. This same car sold for $17,588 on Bring a Trailer last July, but it got a lot more attention here in Indy.
Lot # W63 1972 Honda Z 600 Coupe; S/N AZ6001005065; Green/Black vinyl; Enthusiast restoration 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $16,250 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $17,875. – 598/36hp air-cooled twin, 4-speed, steel wheels, Audiovox cassette stereo. – Budget respray with serious orange peel plus some scratches on the roof. Lightly scratched rear glass. The interior is represented as original and it looks quite good, with only the steering wheel, door panels and air vents betraying their age. The engine bay is a bit grimy and has a faint smell of gasoline. Unrestored but maintained underneath, and not rusty. Rechromed bumpers. A nifty little piece of early Honda history in basic, honest driver condition. Displayed with a period ad that proclaims “The less you spend on a car, the more you can spend on other things.” – That ad is starting to sound a little dated, though, as this price is far from cheap considering it bought a two-cylinder economy car. It hammered not sold at a $16,000 high bid on the block, but someone talked some sense to the seller and it went to a new home at this rather expensive price.
Lot # F219 1953 Hudson Hornet Club Coupe; S/N 236797; Cream/Green cloth; Estimate $35,000 – $50,000; Older restoration 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $40,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $44,000. – 308/210hp six, Twin H-Power, column shift 3-speed with overdrive, wire wheels, whitewalls, sun visor, amber fog lights, heat and defrost, tinted glass, pushbutton radio. – From the Charlie Thomas Estate collection. Used but reasonably tidy and all correct engine bay. Decent old chrome, but the rest of the brightwork looks a bit tired and the spears down the body sides don’t fit flush. Imperfect panel fit. Decent older paint. Older restored underneath. The dash looks original and solid, while the upholstery and headliner look newer. A neat, honest, well-equipped step-down Hudson. – Hudsons look more modern and sleeker than many other postwar American cars thanks to their “step-down” chassis, which features a recessed floor pan allowing passengers to step into the car rather than climb into it. That low center of gravity and Hudson’s potent “Twin H-Power” six allowed the Hornet to compete and win on the NASCAR circuit despite the lack of an overhead valve V-8 like much of the competition. Hornets captured dozens of wins in the 1952-54 seasons. But despite their good looks, their race history and their popularity with Steve McQueen (he owned several), Hudsons come from a long-defunct brand and they aren’t particularly valuable. This same car sold at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2017 for $33,000. Early ’50s American cars didn’t exactly become the next big thing in the four years since, so this result at Indy is a very strong one.
Lot # W140 1990 Jeep Wrangler Islander Sport Utility Vehicle 4×4; S/N 2J4FY39T9LJ535557; Yellow, Islander graphics/Light gray leather; Black top; Estimate $20,000 – $25,000; Unrestored original 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $19,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $20,900. – 258/112hp six, column shift automatic, American Racing wheels, rear-mounted spare, power steering, power brakes, console, aftermarket radio. – Showing 21,873 miles that are represented as actual. Small dent on the front of the hood and the decals on the hood are faded, but the rest of the graphics look good and the original paint is holding up well other than some cracks around the hinges and below the windshield. Tidy engine bay and very solid frame. The top looks brand new and the seats may be newer replacements. The nifty colors and the low miles just about make up for the square headlights, and although a beach cruiser isn’t quite at home in Indiana, this thing has a lot of charm. – Although the market for vintage trucks and SUVs is in general super-strong right now, first generation (YJ) Wranglers are still pretty cheap. That’s largely because most people don’t like the headlights and because most examples have lived a hard life. The Indy bidders recognized this one for the exceptionally clean Jeep that it is, and lifted their paddles to a top-of-the-market result.
Lot # S214.1 1949 Kaiser Virginian Convertible Sedan; S/N 808901; Indian Ceramic/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $30,000 – $40,000; Cosmetic restoration 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $29,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $31,900. – 226/112hp six, 3-speed, wheel covers, whitewalls, fender skirts, hood ornament, column shift, heater, pushbutton radio, dash clock. – Touch up on the right front fender, a few chips around the filler cap and a crack on the passenger’s front door, but mostly good eye-catching paint. Slightly erratic panel fit. The cloth roof is fraying a little at the edges. Original and aged but well-preserved dash, gauges and steering wheel. Good newer seats, carpets and headliner. Mostly unrestored and a little rough underneath. Cosmetically restored and far from perfect, but it’s really neat and where are you going to find another one? – Nobody knows how many Virginians were built and they’re a seriously rare sight, but we’ve seen this one several times before. It sold at Auburn Fall in 2005 for $30,240, at Hershey two months later for $33,000, at RM Monterey in 2007 for $38,500, at Mecum Las Vegas in 2018 for $34,100, and for just $17,050 at Leake Scottsdale last year. It looks the same and shows just 2 more miles since we looked it over in Scottsdale, so this looks like a very successful flip of a rare, handsome old conversation starter.
Lot # S219 1954 Kaiser-Darrin 161 Sport Convertible; S/N 161001067; White/Red vinyl; Estimate $100,000 – $125,000; Older restoration 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $85,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $93,500. – 161/90hp Willys six, 3-speed, wire wheel covers, whitewalls. – From the Charlie Thomas Estate collection. The 67th of 435 built. Body-off restored in the 1990s. Tidy engine bay and underbody. Good older paint and chrome, but the area behind the seats is a different shade of white from the rest of the body. Light cracks on the steering wheel rim. The Kaiser-Darrin’s signature pocket doors often get sticky and hard to operate, and this one is no exception. An honest older restoration on one of these quirky and cool early American sports cars. – Before the Corvette became “America’s sports car” there were several home-grown two-seaters built during the 1950s, and the Kaiser-Darrin with its puckered grill and novel doors is one of the most memorable. This result is right in line with what others have sold for in recent years, and both parties should leave Indianapolis happy.
Lot # S174 2001 Lamborghini Diablo SE Coupe; S/N ZA9DU01B21LA12889; Marrone Eklipsis/Marrone, Crema leather; Estimate $250,000 – $300,000; Unrestored original 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $185,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $203,500. – 5,992/550hp, 5-speed, alloy wheels, Pirelli P Zero tires, cross-drilled rotors, carbon fiber sills/front splitter/interior trim, Pioneer CD stereo. – From the Marshall Goldman collection. Represented with 42,303 miles but carefully driven, not something that can be said of all Diablos. The paint shows a few blemishes and the carbon fiber sills are starting to yellow a bit. Very good, lightly worn interior. Rare configuration, rare color and a late Diablo. One of the last analog supercars. – This car was a $230,000 no-sale at Fall Auburn 2002 and a $190,000 no-sale at Fall Auburn 2003, back when it was just a used supercar. These days most any Lamborghini built before the company’s acquisition by Audi is considered collectible, but this result at no reserve is a bit modest.
Lot # W207 1994 Land Rover Defender 90 NAS Soft Top 4×4; S/N SALDV2286RA935752; White/Dark Gray; Black cloth top; Unrestored original 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $88,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $96,800. – 3,940/182hp V-8, 5-speed, alloy wheels, All-Terrain T/A tires, air conditioning, rear-mounted spare, locking console. – NAS Defender sold new in Texas, where it spent most of its life. Showing 75,100 miles. They weren’t off-road miles, but this is a used truck regardless. Two small dents in the hood. A handful of chips and scratches throughout mostly good original paint. The right front Land Rover hubcap has a scrape. Very good newer soft top. Scratches on the console and some lightly worn switchgear but mostly well-kept interior. Well-maintained underneath with light dirt and road wear. Used but lightly used, and inherently desirable as an NAS 90. – The NAS (North American Spec) Defender was extensively modified to meet DoT regulations and was rather well-equipped compared to other Defenders, and these days NAS commands a massive premium over gray market imported Defenders. So even though nearly six figures for a used truck seems like an astronomical amount of money, it isn’t far off what other ones like this sell for although it sold for less than half as much ($42,350) at Mecum Houston three years ago in 2018 before values really began to perk up and $60,480 bought a Defender NAS at Bonhams Amelia tomorrow.
Lot # F79 1999 Lotus Esprit Coupe; S/N SCCDC0824XHA15810; Gunmetal/Black leather; Estimate $50,000 – $60,000; Unrestored original 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $60,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $66,000. – 3,506/350hp twin-turbo V-8, 5-speed, alloy wheels, Michelin tires, Brembo brakes, Alpine CD stereo, power windows, air conditioning. – Represented as one of just 97 Esprits brought to the U.S. for 1999, with 13,200 miles, and as having the same owner since 2002. Also represented with the original tires and window sticker, but no word on service history. A few small chips on the nose and bottom front lip. Small curb scrape on the right front wheel. Several long scratches on the left rear fender flare. Very lightly worn seats. A lightly used late Esprit with forgivable flaws. – When the S4 Esprit gained Lotus’s all-aluminum twin-turbo flat-plane crank V-8 in 1996 it gave the British wedge a huge leap in performance, but US imports hovered at around just 100 cars per year from 1997-2002. Given that they’re the quickest, the most developed and the last Esprits, the V8 cars naturally command a big premium over the four-cylinder cars but even V8 Esprits generally command less money than other exotics of the period. They have been getting pricier over the past few years, however, and this is another strong result, one of the most expensive ones we’ve seen at auction, but warranted for the long single ownership history, preservation and modest miles.
Lot # T190 1965 Mercedes-Benz 230SL Convertible; S/N 11304210009323; Red/Black leather; Estimate $70,000 – $90,000; Older restoration 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $45,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $49,500. – 2,308/170hp, 4-speed manual, wheel covers, store brand blackwall tires, Becker Europa radio, Euro headlights. – From the Charlie Thomas Estate collection. Tired bumpers. Older repaint with some blisters, some chips at the back of the hood, and some touch ups behind the seats. Pitting on the trunk handle and taillight bezels. Slightly grubby but presentable engine bay. Dry-looking wood but otherwise good interior. A Pagoda SL almost always looks sharp, but this one is still just an average driver. – Ambitiously estimated but realistically bought, this car also sold at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale in 2016 for $48,400. Pagoda SLs, of which the 230 is the first and the least valuable, are solid and pleasant cars to drive even if they aren’t overtly sporty, and this is a spot-on price for an average-quality example with a 4-speed.
Lot # S272 1970 Mercury Cougar Eliminator 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 0F91Q512580; Competition Orange, Black stripes and hood scoop/Black vinyl; Estimate $140,000 – $175,000; Older restoration 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $125,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $137,500. – 428/335hp, 4-speed, 4.30 Super Drag Pack, power steering, power front disc brakes, spoilers, Hurst T-handle shifter, Philco radio, original window sticker and Elite Marti Report documented. – Represented as an original 428 Eliminator but not as matching numbers. Restored in 2009 but it looks much fresher than that, and it looks like no corners were cut. It’s a beautiful and rare car, and arguably cooler than the equivalent Mustang. – This is one impressive Cougar Eliminator that makes a bright, fresh impression in the Competition Orange paint and never lets the onlooker down upon closer inspection. Its equipment list is long, but also purposeful, and the bidders accorded it an intelligent, carefully thought out price at this result.
Lot # T023 1995 Nissan Skyline GT-R Coupe; S/N BCNR33004467; Deep Marine Blue/Gray cloth; Unrestored original 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $60,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $66,000. – RHD, 2,568/276hp six, 5-speed, HKS exhaust, Enkei Racing two-piece wheels, Brembo brakes, Potenza tires, Momo steering wheel. – Represented with all import documents. Also represented with recent belt, water pump, plugs, coil packs, thermostat, and full fluid service. Tidy engine bay. Good original paint aside from some light cracking around the left taillights. The interior is mostly very good aside from some light scratches on the dash, but there is a faint smell of flavored vape pen in there. A mostly solid Series 1 R33, and aside from the wheels and an exhaust the size of a grapefruit, it is seemingly all stock. – The R33 generation GT-R became eligible for import in January of last year. It is something of a middle child between the groundbreaking original Godzilla R32s and the more attractive and sophisticated R34, but it’s roomier than its predecessor and despite carrying some extra weight, quicker as well. The market for JDM greats, even the middle children, is very hot right now and clean GT-Rs don’t stay on the market for long. This one looks used but cleaner than most, and the high price was no big surprise.
Lot # S086 1975 Oldsmobile Cutlass Hurst/Olds Hardtop Coupe; S/N 3J57T5M323248; White, White half vinyl roof/White leather, red cloth; Estimate $30,000 – $40,000; Unrestored original 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $37,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $40,700. – 455/190hp, automatic, Rally II wheels, T-tops, swivel seats, Hurst dual gate shifter, power windows, factory air conditioning, factory AM/FM radio, dash clock. – Represented with original paint. There are a few chips and touch ups but it mostly presents very well. The gold stripes are nicked in a few spots. Forgivable light discoloration on the roof vinyl. Decent chrome. Light scratching around the T-tops. The weather stripping looks new. Very good original interior. Well-maintained but unrestored engine bay. Far from the most attractive Oldsmobile and the gulf between displacement (455 cid) and performance (190hp) is monumental, but this late Hurst/Olds has clearly been loved its whole life. – And its next owner is going to love it even more, at least that’s what it seems from the price they paid. It would be hard to find a cleaner example, but this is over condition #1 money.
Lot # S188 1936 Packard Eight Series 1401 Coupe Roadster; S/N 392525; Red/Tan leather; Tan cloth top; Estimate $200,000 – $250,000; Older restoration 1- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $150,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $165,000. – 320/130hp eight, 3-speed, red wire wheels with hub caps and trim rings, wide whitewalls, dual enclosed sidemount spares with mirrors, Goddess of Speed mascot, Trippe Safety Lights, luggage trunk, rumble seat, golf bag door, suicide doors, wood interior trim, dash clock. – Represented as an AACA National and Senior winner. Very good paint and chrome. Spotless underneath. The top is a tiny bit dirty but it should clean up with some careful attention. Excellent interior with supple leather. The doors stick out slightly at the bottom. An older restoration of a beautiful car and still showable. Cataloged as a convertible victoria but it is a less-elegant but still desirable coupe roadster. – Offered here a year ago in the 2020 Covid-delayed Spring Classic where it was bid to $130,000. The consignor brought it back this year, got a $20,000 higher offer and took the money. The new owner got an excellent classic Packard for a sound price.
Lot # F271 1982 Phillips Berlina Coupe; S/N 1G1AY876XBS429636; Red/Tan leather; Unrestored original 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $30,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $33,000. – 350/190hp L48 Corvette engine, automatic, wire wheels, marrow whitewalls, dual enclosed sidemounts, chrome horns, T-tops, power windows, cassette stereo, air conditioning. – Represented as one of 200 Berlinas built by Phillips on top of a C3 Corvette platform. The paint looks original and shows several scratches on the front fenders, some crazing on the rear, and chips throughout. Scuffs on the running boards. Mostly well-preserved interior other than warping on the faux wood trim. Tidy underneath. A reasonably well kept and neat neoclassic, if you’re into that sort of thing. – These rolling caricatures known as neoclassics became popular in the 1970s-80s and mated contemporary chassis with bodywork that aped the grand coachbuilt cars of the 1930s, often with a little gold trim thrown in. The Phillips Motorcar Company of Pompano Beach, Florida isn’t one of the better known neoclassic makers, but Phillips was able to sell about 200 of these Corvette-based Berlinas for about $66,000 (over $182,000 in today’s dollars), which was Ferrari money. Neoclassics are very much a love it or hate it kind of thing, but there were enough bidders in the “love it” camp at Indy this year to push this Phillips to a reasonable price.
Lot # T194 1960 Plymouth Fury Convertible; S/N 3301151777; Red/Red; White top; Estimate $50,000 – $65,000; Older restoration 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $58,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $63,800. – 318/230hp, pushbutton automatic, Kelsey Hayes chrome wire wheels, whitewalls, chrome fender skirts, dual mirrors, vinyl boot cover, heat and defrost, original radio. – Very clean, restored, and recently detailed engine bay. Older restored chassis. Decent chrome mostly, but the rear bumper is badly faded. Very good older paint. Some of the body trim doesn’t quite fit flush, and the driver’s door sticks out a bit. Good interior. A straightforward older restoration of a rare open-top cruiser. – Sold by RM out of the John Staluppi collection in 2012 for $60,500, then sold for $49,500 at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale five years later in 2017. This is a strong result considering the age of the restoration and the 318 under the hood (a 361/305hp and a dual quad 383/330hp was also available). The result here should have bought at least the 361 V-8.
Lot # F260.1 1967 Plymouth Satellite Convertible; S/N UTP07258; Blue/Blue vinyl; Estimate $120,000 – $150,000; Visually maintained, largely original 4- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $60,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $66,000. – 383, Cragar SS wheels, rear air suspension, GTX and 440 badges. – Most famously featured in the 1995 film Tommy Boy, but apparently has made other on-screen appearances including a Katy Perry music video. Its equipment is largely irrelevant, and if you’ve seen Tommy Boy, you know what kind of tattered condition this car is in. It’s more famous movie prop than classic car, although it’s worth noting that it is only one of several shabby old Mopars were used in filming. – The final price may be barely half the low estimate, but the Chris Farley premium is still huge. Any other shabby old Satellite wouldn’t bring even a quarter of this price.
Lot # F167 1971 Plymouth ‘Cuda Convertible; S/N BS27V1B304615; Tor Red, White billboards/Black vinyl; Black vinyl top; Estimate $750,000 – $1,000,000; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $550,000. – 440/385 Six Barrel, 4-speed, A33 Track Pack with 3.54 gears, power steering, Rallye wheels, Goodyear Polyglas GT tires, shaker hood, Hurst pistol grip shifter, radio delete, original window sticker. – Represented as one of three V-Code 4-speed convertibles in 1971 with the shaker hood. Raced by Dave Wren in period. With the same owner since 1988. Very clean, fresh engine bay and underbody. Fresh-looking paint and chrome, but there are some scuffs and chips on the left billboard decals around the panel edges. Even gaps. Very good interior. Lightly scratched window frames. Seriously rare equipment and body style shows that a car doesn’t need a Hemi under the hood to be a high-dollar Mopar. – The right price was probably somewhere between the reported high bid and the pre-sale low estimate, but the long single owner history, good condition and desirable equipment are far beyond this bid.
Lot # F166 1971 Plymouth ‘Cuda Hemi Convertible; S/N BS27R1B175215; Winchester Gray, Black Hemi graphics/Black vinyl; Black top; Older restoration 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $4,800,000. – 426/425hp Hemi, 4-speed, 3.54 Sure Grip, power steering, power brakes, Power windows, Hurst pistol grip shifter, Polyglas GT tires, hood pins. Comes with original French title. – Sold new in France, where it surely stood out even in these muted colors (for a Mopar), then came back to the U.S. in 1993. One of 12 Hemi ‘Cuda convertibles in 1971 and one of three with the 4-speed. Represented as matching numbers, which is rare for a Hemi. Clean underneath. Wheels look fresh. Factory gaps. Some small bubbles in the rear decals but nothing serious. Good paint with some light detail scratching visible in certain light. Older restored interior. One of the most desirable muscle cars in existence on its matching numbers drivetrain and condition alone, but the unique French history makes this ‘Cuda even more of a standout. – Although the Parnelli Jones Big Oly Bronco was the most anticipated offering at Indy 2021, this Hemi ‘Cuda had the potential to be the most expensive. In terms of value, Hemi ‘Cuda convertibles are well known as king of the muscle car hill and Mecum has sold several of them before. Indy was probably the perfect venue for this car and 2021 is a perfect time to sell, so it’s hard to imagine the consignor getting a much higher offer than the reported $4.8M high bid. Had that offer been taken, it would have been a record price.
Lot # T230 2002 Pontiac Firebird Formula SLP Firehawk Coupe; S/N 2G2FV22G522139693; Black/Ebony leather; Estimate $55,000 – $75,000; Unrestored original 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $45,000. – 346/335hp, 6-speed, Firestone Firehawk tires, cat-back stainless exhaust, T-tops, Monsoon stereo, original bill of sale. – One owner and 58 miles. Represented as one of 202 built. – This car sold at Worldwide Auburn 2018 for $41,250, then was a $40,000 no-sale at Mecum Indy 2019 and a $40,000 no-sale at Mecum Louisville the same year. The market has spoken four times now as to this car’s value, and this high bid in Indy was the highest offer of them all. Why the seller didn’t take it is a head-scratcher.
Lot # T134 1970 Porsche 911S Coupe; S/N 9110301083; Light Ivory/Black leather with houndstooth cloth inserts; Estimate $160,000 – $200,000; Recent restoration 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $132,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $145,750. – 2,195/180hp, Webers in place of original fuel injection, 5-speed, Fuchs wheels, Vredestein tires, gold brightwork, fog lights. – Represented as matching numbers and with a recent $60,000 restoration. Paint prep issues with small blisters on the hood, but you have to be looking for them. Spotless front trunk. Bumpers look original. Fresh engine bay that looks hardly run. Gorgeous detailed underbody. Wheels look brand new. Very good interior. A solid freshly redone early 911 S that only misses on a few small details. – Consigned for Mecum Houston this year but withdrawn, which was probably a wise move since this auction drew a much larger crowd and had a lot more eyes on the cars. This price is spot-on for a 911S in this condition.
Lot # T28 1995 Toyota Century 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N VG45003976; Silver/Gray leather; Unrestored original 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $17,000. – RHD, long wheelbase, 4.0-liter V-8, automatic, narrow whitewalls, wing mirrors, rear window curtains, air conditioning, factory cassette stereo, reclining and massaging rear seats, meeting recording device in the rear armrest, original books. – A freshly imported JDM Toyota flagship. There are a few small paint chips throughout and the finish has lost some luster. The wheels are a bit dirty and the underbody is oxidized, but nothing looks terrible. Good interior with very lightly worn leather, carpets, and switchgear (most of the controls have Japanese labels). Used, but a rare sight in this country, and definitely cool, like a Japanese Rolls-Royce. – It isn’t just Skyline GT-Rs and Kei cars that American enthusiasts are importing from Japan. People also enjoy JDM luxury cars like the Toyota Crown/Century. And although it isn’t quite as easy as popping over to your local Toyota dealer for a used Camry, there are other Centuries like this one on the market right now at specialist dealers, and most are asking similar money to this reported high bid. A deal could have been made here.
Lot # F48 1958 Volkswagen Beetle 2-Dr. Sedan; S/N 1803776; Agave Green/Tan piped in green; Estimate $30,000 – $40,000; Enthusiast restoration 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $20,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $22,000. – Wheel covers, Firestone wide whitewalls, roof rack, 6-volt electrics. – Good older paint with a handful of chips and scratches. Sound but old chrome. Tidy restored engine bay and underbody. Even gaps. Cracks in the steering wheel but mostly very good interior. Restored a while ago to perfectly good standards for a Beetle but, then again, the phrase “for a Beetle” is starting to seem dated given the prices they’ve been bringing lately. – This car was a $24,000 no-sale here last year. The seller got the hint and, rather than send it on the Mecum tour accumulating fees to chase an extra couple of bids, wisely decided to take this modest but fair offer.