Mecum Indy Spring Classic 2012

Mecum Auctions, Spring Classic, Indiana State Fairgrounds, Indianapolis, Indiana, May 15-20, 2012

Report and photos by Rick Carey, Auction Editor

Since moving from the fields north of Belvidere, Illinois to Indianapolis, Mecum Auctions’ Spring Classic has grown nearly exponentially.

Even though the 2012 Spring Classic didn’t replace Mecum’s January Kissimmee auction, which Mecum reported as having over 2,000 cars, as the world’s largest collector car auction, the Spring Classic is mind-expanding in its size, the diversity of its consignments and the calm efficiency with which the Mecum staff and auctioneers run trainloads of cars (and gas pumps, neon and automobilia) across the auction block in days that begin mid-morning and continue late into the night.

Any car collector can find something, somewhere in the acres of tents, parking lots and exhibit halls that is at least intriguing, if not downright compelling.

And there are buyers. Real guys and gals with money at any hour of the day, on any day of the six-day sale. Some of the most exceptional results were reached on days and at times that defy conventional wisdom about how and where to sell at auction. There was no “prime time,” as 1963 Corvette 327/340hp Coupe, s/n 30837S103682, demonstrated, selling for $185,500 with commission in the early evening of Thursday’s sale.

Velocity [which recently changed its name from Discovery HD in no small part because of the popularity of its Mecum Auctions coverage] was on hand and live for 40+ hours, adding to the immediacy and excitement of the event.

About the only thing that could make the Indianapolis Spring Classic better would be if some intrepid restaurateur were to make the ample area behind the stands in the auction building into a full-menu sit-down restaurant, a place to relax and replenish with something other than “fair food” while monitoring the block action during the long days of widely divergent consignments. It would encourage bidders to stay on-site to soak up more of the non-stop, long day action.

This report would have been more timely except that I mishandled the results data file from Mecum and caused the database immense pain that took days to correct.

[table id=48 /]

The numbers have some telling implications.

Although the number of cars offered and the sell-through rate have increased steadily – although the number of cars has nearly reached the site’s reasonable capacity – the average and median transaction values have shown a contrasting decline. Forcing more cars through the pipeline implies a corresponding decline in the caliber of the cars offered.

Of the 1,322 lots reported sold 209, 15.8%, brought hammer prices of under $10,000. But that shouldn’t imply a lack of quality. Several were just very good values.

Mecum Original Spring Classic 2012 – Auction Report

Tuesday

Lot # G123 1947 Diamond T 201 Panel Truck; S/N 2012717; Tan/Tan leatherette; Truck restoration, 4+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $28,000 -- Orange wheels, blackwall tires, pine paneled box, dual rear tires, sliding windows behind loose, shaky doors. Quick orange peely paint and upholstery. Very superficial cosmetic redo. Car card says "all mechanics are perfect." That may be true, but unfortunately the rest of the Diamond T isn't even close to presentable, let alone perfect. Consensus on-site was that this was an old dairy truck (the dual rear tires.) Its cosmetic presentation was tawdry and sloppy and it should have been sold gladly at the reported high bid, or anywhere close to it.

Lot # G129 1961 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible; S/N DR6911181MO; Engine # T08191TAR; Maroon/Black vinyl; White vinyl top; Unrestored original, 4 condition; Hammered Sold at $34,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $36,040 -- WonderBar radio, 4-speed, Sun tach, spinner wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, tube headers. Bad old repaint, scuffed, scratched chrome, tried upholstery and top. Replacement engine, assigned VIN. A real piece of dreck. The seller must be overjoyed, the buyer not so much, at this result. The radio station that gave this troll away in a contest in 1983 must be in a very small market.

Lot # G144 1966 Cadillac DeVille Convertible; S/N F6242505; Red/Black vinyl; Black vinyl top; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $11,750 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $12,455 -- P/W, power bench seat, wire wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, skirts. Mostly original and tired but sound. Upholstery is dry and stiff. 'Needs everything' only starts to describe this Cadillac's condition. It is a restoration project waiting to happen at a price that doesn't leave close to enough headroom to pay for it.

Lot # G166 1984 Alfa Romeo 2000 Spider; S/N ZARBA5411E1019041; Cream/Black vinyl; Black cloth top; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $4,500 plus commission of 6.67%; Final Price $4,800 -- Pyramid cassette stereo, roll bar, alloy wheels. Sound repaint, good interior, used car with edgy black painted sills. No Reserve. Sold at Kissimmee in January for $6,500 and bought here reasonably enough for the new owner to start to give it the attention it needs. Black painted sills are never a good sign and nothing about this Alfa refuted the caution they infer.

Lot # G171 1930 Ford Model A Roadster Pickup; S/N MVIN143562IND; Green, Black fenders/Black leatherette; Black leatherette top; Modified restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $15,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $15,900 -- Yellow wire wheels, blackwall tires, varnished oak bed floor and sideboards, single sidemount, windwings. Weber 2-barrel carb, engine gauges. Done everywhere and very nice. This is a bargain price, even with the downdraft Weber carb and the assigned VIN.

Lot # G179 1987 Porsche 944 Coupe; S/N WP0AB0944HN473287; White/Brown; Unrestored original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $6,500 plus commission of 7.69%; Final Price $7,000 -- 5-synced, Blaupunkt cassette stereo, sunroof. Good original paint and interior. Badly cracked was fender chipguard. A clean original car. No Reserve. 944s are largely unloved as this result indicates. The car was reported sold at Mecum's Kissimmee auction in January for $8,500.

Lot # G182 1960 Lincoln Premiere 4-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 0Y74H419509; Blue/Dark Blue vinyl, Blue cloth; Unrestored original, 4+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $6,000 -- Town & Country radio, altimeter, engine gauges, wheel covers, narrow whitewalls. Blotchy repaint, tired and faded original upholstery, steam cleaned engine. Needs most everything. A car that deserved to be ignored not least on account of the fact they're fabulously expensive to restore to any condition much better than this when starting from such a tired basis. It was rerun on Sunday as U187 with a reported high bid of $9,000.

Lot # G241.1 1965 Volkswagen Beetle 2-Dr. Sedan; S/N 115032609; Sea Blue/Beige vinyl; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $9,000 plus commission of 5.56%; Final Price $9,500 -- Roof rack, sliding sunroof, narrow whitewalls, bumper overriders, Sapphire III radio, trim rings. Good older paint, chrome and interior. Old undercoat on underbody. Clean and orderly but not restored engine compartment. A sound cosmetically restored driver quality Beetle. A perfectly sound and usable Beetle and one that is a charming and charismatic entry into car collecting at a decidedly modest price.

Lot # G247 1958 MG A Roadster; S/N HDR436608; 0E White/Red vinyl; Black cloth top; Recent restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $35,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $37,100 -- Chrome wire wheels, whitewalls, heater. Freshly restored and nearly like new except for some driver's seat covering stretch. Nice but not quite like new underhood. Right side filled. The price is a little better than the car, but not so much that it's unreasonable.

Lot # G260 1964 Pontiac LeMans GTO 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 824P200257; Engine # 571131 11H; White/Black vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 4+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $25,000 -- Tri-Power, 4-speed, Hurst shifter, woodrim steering wheel, vacuum gauge set in dash, tach strapped to steering column, bucket seats, no console, underdash engine gauges, Rally wheels, red line tires, no P/S or P/B. 11H engine, a 2-barrel Catalina 389. Quick old repaint over old paint. Oily original engine, chassis and underbody. A project car, but appears to be sound and straight. No documentation but comes with PHS paperwork A modestly desirable car that is forever hobbled by the engine block's source despite the Tri-Power intake. The seller should have taken the offer if there was money anywhere close to the reported high bid based on its condition and the amount of work it needs to be barely presentable.

Lot # G273 1981 Citroen 2CV6 4-Dr. Convertible Charleston; S/N AZKA71KA6280; Light Grey, Dark Grey fenders/Light Grey leatherette; Recent restoration, 2- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $15,000 -- Turn signals, heater, whitewalls, hubcaps, trimmings, folding black vinyl roof. excellent paint, chrome and interior. Restored better than new with some subsequent use but still outstanding for what it is and represented as 48,248 miles from new. Exceptionally cute and also rare, it should have brought Fiat Jolly money, i.e., twice as much as this bid.

Lot # G278 1960 Chevrolet Impala Convertible; S/N 01867H191714; Black/Black, White vinyl herringbone; White vinyl top; Cosmetic restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $50,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $53,000 -- 348/335hp, Tri-Power, 3-speed, pushbutton radio, P/S, P/B, spinner wheel covers, whitewalls, rear antenna, power trunk release. No engine number. Pretty underhood but the body is filled and starting to pop on the right front fender. Vinyl herringbone is tacky. Fair chrome. The big Tri-Power 348, 3-speed stick and power steering and brakes mark this as an exceptional Impala. Unfortunately the attention it has received doesn't measure up to the quality of the underlying car and will soon require some attention, not least of which should be trashing that trashy vinyl herringbone. The price is appropriate to the car's quality and presentation, but it could, and should, be much better.

Lot # G279 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N VC55S107981; Engine # 55G; Light Blue, Metallic Blue roof/Blue, Beige vinyl; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $45,000 -- 265/162hp now with a 4-barrel, 3-speed, P/B, pushbutton radio, hubcaps, wide whitewalls, oil filter. Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Like new underhood and underbody. A sharp, fresh, impressive Bel Air. A nice little car, but one that could have been sold at the reported high bid. Re-run Saturday as S314.1 with a high bid of $42,000.

Lot # G283 1961 Chevrolet Parkwood Station Wagon; S/N 11635L174445; Green/Green vinyl; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $20,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $21,200 -- 283/230hp, Powerglide, pushbutton radio, heater, three row seats, wheel covers, whitewalls, side window visors, P/S, no P/B. Good cosmetics, engine compartment nearly like new. An attractive wagon ready to be used with pride. It wouldn't be out of line to hold that this Parkwood 4-door wagon received a better restoration than its inherent desirability warranted. In the end the new owner got an unusual car at an unusually low price, especially these days when wagons are finding a wider audience. A good value.

Lot # G285 1962 Oldsmobile Starfire 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 626A02829; Chariot Red, White accent/Red, Burgundy vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $18,000 -- 395.345hp, automatic, P/S, P/B, spinner wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, pushbutton radio. A quick cosmetic redo with decent paint and chrome but cracked, torn original upholstery and a superficial touchup under the hood. With the amount of work this Starfire needs to rise to the standards of its exclusivity and performance the bidding stopped at a prudent point. Any more than this, and even at this bid, and the work it needs -- not to mention the work that would be revealed during the 'while we're at it' process -- would soon make it a financial sinkhole. Re-run Thursday where it was reported bid to $19,000.

Lot # G305 2000 Ferrari 550 Maranello; S/N ZFFZS49A0Y0118275; Titanium Gray/Oxblood leather; Unrestored original, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $60,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $63,600 -- 6-speed. Clean used car. 41,758 miles look real. Minor driver's seat bolster wear and surface creasing. Clean Carfax. Timing belt serviced in the last 12 months and 2,700 miles on the tires. From over $200,000 to this in twelve years, and still a fast, comfortable pretty car. It was displayed out in the field with the Alfa Spider, Porsche 944 and old Cadillac DeVilles, just another used exotic, and brought an appropriate price for what it is.

Lot # G314 1956 Cadillac Eldorado 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 5662001713; Silver/Red, White leather; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $29,500 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $31,270 -- WonderBar radio, power bench seat, Autronic Eye, polished Sabre wheels, whitewalls. Orderly underhood with correct batwing air cleaner. Faulty brake booster with numerous notes to alert the lineup crew so they don't crash it. Cracked steering wheel trim. Generally tired and aged. Fair old repaint, sound interior, scuffed chrome. Good windowsill chrome trim. A sound car with potential, but needs help. This result is a little rich, but not enough to inflict more than a passing twinge in the new owner's wallet. It is inherently a lot of car and will be proudly driven once it's had some needed attention.

Wednesday

Lot # W062.1 1948 International KB-2 Pickup; S/N 65610; Green, Black fenders/Green leatherette; Unrestored original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $6,000 plus commission of 8.33%; Final Price $6,500 -- A real working truck with faded original paint, graphics and welded up bed floor. Turn signals, old Dayton fire extinguisher, heater, bed-mounted spare, Brody knob, dual wipers, sunvisors. Upholstery and tires have been replaced but not much else (except the oil, changed in March according to the sticker on the door post.) A choice piece. I would have paid twice for this International, but maybe that's because my dad worked for a company that owned an International dealer and we sometimes borrowed pickups like this on weekends back when I could barely see over the dashboard. Its originality is almost beyond charming. People kept stopping to admire it and restoration would ruin it. A serious value, even if your dad didn't work for LIPCO.

Lot # W116 1974 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 2V87T4N137359; Buccaneer Red/Black vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $17,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $18,020 -- 455, 4-speed, P/W, JVC CD stereo, Rally II wheels, P/S, A/C, tilt steering column, Radial T/A tires. Mediocre paint, good original interior, unsafe old seat belts, chassis squirted with black. Straight body with no apparent repairs. Described as having an 'upgraded SD455 engine'. Sold here three years ago for $21,250, it brought no more today than its condition and modifications deserved.

Lot # W119 1979 Pontiac Trans Am 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 2W87K9N129575; Pewter Silver/Red velour; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $11,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $11,660 -- 403, automatic, A/C, shaker hood, snowflake alloy wheels, Polysteel radial tires, P/W, AM-FM-8-track. Ziebart plugs in sills. Straight and fairly clean, a sound car with a decent repaint in a '72 Corvette color with bawdy house velour upholstery. No Reserve. To be worth this much the new owner has to have had some adolescent memory of Smokey and the Bandit and tire smoking Trans Ams.

Lot # W136 1927 Kissel Model 55 Roadster; S/N 5512066; Two tone Beige/Brown leatherette; Rebodied or re-created, 4 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $12,500 -- Red wire wheels, dual sidemounts, Ryan Lite headlights, dual K-D taillights, wood 4-spoke steering wheel. Boattail is later and crude. Paint is terrible, interior isn't much better. Oily, grimy chassis and engine. Needs everything. This could be a wonderful car, but it has to exist in the mind of a Kissel enthusiast who appreciates these cars' superior quality and performance. The body is a disaster, but all the pieces are there to make it something better after spending boxcars on it. The offer here is reasonable for what the car is.

Lot # W163 1960 Triumph TR3A Roadster; S/N TS606857L; Green/Black vinyl; Cosmetic restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $23,500 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $24,910 -- New chrome wire wheels, whitewall radial tires, fender mirrors, bows, but no top covering. Dull repaint, good upholstery, thin trim chrome. Chassis and underbody have received scant attention but the engine is tidy. A usable driver that will respond to some attention. Generously priced.

Lot # W164 1965 Ford Mustang Convertible; S/N 5F08T362847; Red/White vinyl; White vinyl top; Visually maintained, largely original, 4 condition; Hammered Sold at $11,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $11,660 -- 200/120hp six, automatic, aftermarket stereo, buckets, no console, spinner wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, luggage rack, power top. Quick old repaint over generous filler, poor chrome, sound but unattractive upholstery, poorly fit top and hood. Enough said? This Mustang promises no more than what it is, an economical, enjoyable, inexpensive little convertible that has a few seasons of use before the crummy body work will start to fall apart and require extensive renovation. It brought a healthy price for what it is.

Lot # W167 1969 Triumph TR6 Convertible; S/N CC29101L; Red/Black vinyl; Black leatherette top; Recent restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $20,500 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $21,730 -- Nardi woodrim steering wheel, no radio, wheel covers, Michelin red line tires, overdrive. Good paint over very flat bodywork with even gaps. Orderly engine compartment. A presentable and sound but not impressive driver. Appropriately priced if only for the taut bodywork and generally professional presentation.

Lot # W202 1969 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 Hurst Replica; S/N 336879Z130165; White, Gold stripe/Black vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 4 condition; Hammered Sold at $9,750 plus commission of 5.13%; Final Price $10,250 -- A real, ugly, slug and a superficial replica. Cheap paint, Pep Boys steering wheel, buckets and console, Rally-style wheels with chrome rims. Tired original interior. Trim bits missing. A despicable car that brought a price that is nothing if not generous.

Lot # W203 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Convertible Pace Car; S/N 342670M314941; White, Black graphics/Black vinyl; white vinyl top; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $17,500 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $18,550 -- Bench seat, column shift automatic, P/S, P/B, heater, no A/C, Sony cassette stereo, Rally wheels with trim rings, Firehawk tires. Superficial repaint over old paint with sloppy masking. Sound interior and top, decent chrome. Well used underbody. A car with (limited) potential. Sold at Fall Auburn in 2010 for $11,000. The seller must be singing hosannas still for getting this much for it.

Lot # W233 1972 Toyota Corona Mark II Station Wagon; S/N RT79015227; Light Blue/Blue vinyl; Unrestored original, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $13,500 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $14,310 -- A/C, automatic, pushbutton radio, bucket seats, roof rack, folding rear seat, rear window defroster, P/B. Three owners, 30,172 miles and all original except the new radial tires. Good original paint, chrome and interior. Engine is clean and orderly but would benefit from a quick detailing. Sharp, clean, straight and delicious. Displayed for years by two successive Toyota dealers, this Corona Wagon is not much automobile but is superbly original and a station wagon, both valued attributes these days. Onlookers marveled at its preservation. It's worth what it brought here, if only because there's no more objective measure by which to value it.

Lot # W275 1984 Pontiac Fiero Ferrari Replica; S/N 1G2AF37R3EP311479; Red/Black leather; Facsimile restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $13,250 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $14,045 -- V-8, 5-speed. The best Ferrari replica I've ever seen, and of a 328 at that. The original package was made by Feier, called the Mirage, an appropriate name if there ever was one, then done up over-the-top for an owner who reportedly spent over $30,000 on it. Even the wheels are correct style Cromodoras specially ordered with a GM bolt pattern. It's hard to know what to make of this fake, except as a monument to the talents of its builders and the dedication of the owner who commissioned it. Given what it is, it's impossible to argue with what the Indy bidders paid for it.

Lot # W298 1968 Pontiac Firebird 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 223378U139080; Bronze, Black vinyl roof/Black vinyl; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $23,500 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $24,910 -- 400/330hp, 3-speed, Saf-T-Track, hood tach (in black housing), folding rear seat, console, Rally II wheels with trim rings and red line radial tires. Documented by PHS and Protect-o-Plate. A rare 3-speed car with a thorough, quality cosmetic restoration. Very attractive paint, chrome and interior. Sometimes cars show up that inspire wonder about what the original purchaser was thinking, like this combination of 400/330hp WZ engine, Saf-T-Track and a 3-speed manual transmission. It almost sounds like a build mistake. 'It says 'manual' and here's a manual transmission, so that's what we'll install.' Laugh if you will, but it happened more than anyone today would like to admit, contributing to those obscure 'one-of-one' claims. That aside, it's a quality car at a reasonable price.

Lot # W312 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Fastback; S/N 0T02G116582; Red, Black stripes/Red vinyl; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $46,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $48,760 -- Replacement 302, 4-speed, Hurst T-handle shifter, shaker hood, P/B, no P/S, Magnum wheels, Firehawk radial tires, Sparkomatic 8-track, Moto-Lita woodrim steering wheel, rear window slats, wing. Good paint, chrome and interior. Tidy restored engine. Chassis is oily and grimy, underbody is untouched except for cleanup. The colors sound gaudy but work surprisingly well; call them flamboyant. Whether it's the colors or the erratic presentation this Boss 302 attracted a modest price and is a good value for the new owner. Some detailing will go a long way to improving its eye-appeal on the block, but get rid of the Sparkomatic stereo.

Lot # W328 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N JS23U0B168417; Black, White vinyl roof/White vinyl; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $30,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $31,800 -- 440/375hp Magnum, automatic, P/S, P/B, factory A/C, steel wheels with hubcaps and Eagle GTII radial tires, AM-FM, console. Cosmetically restored eight years ago and showing age and miles but still very presentable, even striking, in black and white. Not matching numbers, but original colors. Factory air makes this 440 Challenger R/T highly unusual and it is correctly coded for the 440/375hp engine. Sound, usable and more than presentable, it is an appropriate value at this price.

Lot # W339 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible; S/N 194679S722221; Engine # T0611LM 19S722221; Maroon/Black vinyl; Black vinyl top; Unrestored original, 4+ condition; Hammered Sold at $21,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $22,260 -- 427/390hp, 4-speed, two tops, side exhaust, AM-FM, Rally wheels with trim rings and Polysteel Radial tires. Very tired, with crazed, peeling paint, sound but aged interior, and a steam-cleaned original engine with the right numbers but no documentation. A worthwhile project. No Reserve. Restored this could be a $70-80,000 car but it will take all of the difference between its price today and its potential value to give it what it needs. Call NCRS today for their history and build records and hope it bears out what's on the car. At this price it's a reasonable risk.

Lot # W341 1966 Ford Mustang Convertible; S/N 6F08T3558261; Red/Black vinyl; Black vinyl top; Cosmetic restoration, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $16,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $16,960 -- 200/120hp six, 3-speed, pushbutton radio, wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, console. Decent repaint over old paint, sound chrome and interior. Good new top. Small rust blisters in both door bottoms. Clean and engine-out repainted underhood. A good driver... until the doors rust through. The bidders didn't seem to notice the doors' blisters and paid too much for this six cylinder Mustang.

Lot # W343 1966 Oldsmobile 98 Convertible; S/N 384676M356845; Dark Green/Black vinyl; White vinyl top; Unrestored original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $22,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $23,320 -- 425/365hp high compression Super Rocket, automatic, P/S, P/B, power bench seat, front seat armrest, WonderBar radio with reverb, power rear antenna, tilt/telescope steering column, P/W, dual remote spotlight-mirrors, wheel covers, narrow whitewalls. A sweet, honest, original old Olds that has had a benign existence and is in remarkable, clean condition. Straight body, good chrome, good interior. Nose may have been repainted, but if so it was done very well. Oily engine needs a thorough detailing. Odometer shows 46,704 believable miles. This is a good old car with many enjoyable miles left in it. Sold at RM's Boca Raton auction in 2005 for $16,799. Once in a while -- maybe a half dozen times at even a big sale like Mecum Indy -- a car shows up that is just 'honest.' It doesn't pretend to be anything other than what it is. It hasn't been gussied up to look good under the auction block lights. It's just what it is, and what it is, is sound, solid and largely original. This is one of those cars. I would have brought it home in a heartbeat, even at $7,000 more than it brought in Boca. The new owner will be very happy with this Olds at this price.

Lot # W354 1954 Chevrolet 5700 COE Wrecker; S/N U54J013437; Red, Black fenders/Brown leatherette, Beige cloth; Truck restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $32,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $33,920 -- Holmes 525 dual boom PTO operated hoist, heater, dual rear wheels. Very thoroughly done with quality paint, chrome and upholstery. 12 volt electrics with alternator, radial tires, Hydrovac power brakes. Built up with a period Holmes hoist, not a restored old wrecker, but who cares? This big (I mean BIG) old Chevy isn't for everyone, but for those it's for it's choice. Any towing company or Chevy dealer would be proud to add it to their fleet, and the body is big enough to hold a whole pack of Cub Scouts in any parade. It's a truck restoration, but the paint and interior are sharp. Just climbing up on the steps to get inside is a testosterone-building experience. Bought right.

Lot # W357 1956 Chrysler Imperial 2-Dr. Hardtop Southampton; S/N C568453; Black, White roof/Ivory, Dark Grey leather; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $23,000 -- 353/280hp, automatic, P/S, P/B, P/W, seat belts, chrome wire wheels, whitewall bias ply tires, Town & Country radio. Fair old repaint, roof is original and buffed through in places. Good but mildew smelling upholstery. Chrome is mostly good but erratic with pitted emblems and some trim. Nicely detailed engine and clean underbody with old undercoat. An unusual and sound driver. This is more car than the money bid on it.

Lot # W362 1977 Volkswagen Beetle 2-Dr. Sedan; S/N 1172091286; Silver/Black vinyl; Unrestored original, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $15,500 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $16,430 -- 2,185 miles, all original, stored from new with occasional use to keep it running and very well preserved. No Reserve. A new VW Beetle? It may not have air bags, but drive it even a few miles and the smiles it will bring, and the heads it will turn with the sound of its pancake four, make it all worthwhile. There are probably more of them like this out there, but for this money, why wait?

Thursday

Lot # T1 1991 Ferrari 348ts; S/N ZFFRG36A4M0090555; Black/Black leather, suede; Unrestored original, 3 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $26,000 -- Stick-on SF shields, cold A/C, keyless entry, Alpine CD. Sound original paint and upholstery, 48,829 miles on the odometer look real and complements the overall wear and use. Said to be 'recently serviced' whatever that means (an oil change, or timing belt, reach your own conclusion.) Sold at Kissimmee earlier this year for $28,090 with 19 fewer miles showing on its odometer, a hammer bid $500 more than it attracted here in Indianapolis. Sometimes it's a crap-shoot, trolling the auction looking for the right combination of bidders that will produce a full retail result. For this consignor it came up snake-eyes.

Lot # T96 1959 Edsel Villager Station Wagon; S/N A9UT718489; Light metallic Green, White roof/Metallic Green, White vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $17,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $18,020 -- 223/145hp six, automatic, wheel covers, whitewalls, skirts, three-row seating. Casually repainted and even more casually masked. Fair major chrome and sound interior, scratched glass. The presentation is no better than the driveline deserves. There is probably no stronger endorsement of the current popularity of station wagons than the price this sadly mediocre Edsel six brought. It would not have been a good value at $10,000.

Lot # T100 1949 Hudson Commodore 8 Convertible; S/N 49418012; Maroon; Cosmetic restoration, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $51,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $54,060 -- 254/128hp inline flathead eight, 3-speed, turn signals, skirts, wide wheel covers, trim rings, whitewalls, windshield sun visor, remote spotlight, pushbutton radio, fog lights, power top, P/W. Cosmetically restored without being disassembled. Fair paint cracked over fender joints, sound interior, good major chrome, scuffed window sills, orderly but not fully restored underhood. Old undercoat on underbody and chassis. Unusual but not particularly reassuring in the treatment it has received. Bid to $37,500 at Mecum's Kansas City auction last December, the seller scored a standup triple by holding it for Indy. This is a superior result for a car that's superior only in its rarity.

Lot # T159 1965 Pontiac LeMans GTO Convertible; S/N 235675P243580; Engine # 249376 YD; Ice Blue/Black vinyl; Black vinyl top; Visually maintained, largely original, 4+ condition; Hammered Sold at $26,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $27,560 -- 389 Tri-Power, automatic, P/S, Rally wheels with trim rings and redline Wide Oval tires, cassette stereo, conducts, accessory console, aftermarket woodrim steering wheel. Engine block stamped YD from a 2-barrel 290hp Catalina. Generally grungy and neglected with scratched trim, old upholstery, seat belts and instruments and a grimy steering wheel rim. Decent fresh repaint but loaded with metallic. Not a car to be proud of and sold without proof of its GTO-ness. There were 41 Pontiac GTOs at Indy, an offering that made the best and the worst stand out and focused buyers' attention on the best ones. This is far from among the best and the seller should be very happy to get this much for it, particularly lacking documentation of its original configuration. It wouldn't have been a bargain at $22,000.

Lot # T160 1929 Ford Model A Roadster Pickup; S/N A799527; Red, Black fenders/Black leatherette; Black leatherette top; Recent restoration, 1 condition; Hammered Sold at $39,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $41,340 -- Yellow wire wheels, whitewalls, single cloth covered sidemount, high compression head, radiator stoneguard, Quail, varnished oak bed floor and sideboards. Over the top, fresh, sharp and beyond perfect. This could be the standard by which Model A restorations are judged. The whole vehicle is superb, from the cosmetics and chassis to the flat, accurately fit panels. There were several Model A Roadster Pickups in Indy but even at this price the new owner got full value for money.

Lot # T208 1978 Ferrari 308 GTS ; S/N F106AS23379; Red/Beige leather; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $24,500 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $25,970 -- Alloy wheels, Goodyear Eagle GT tires, JVC cassette stereo, A/C. Tired car with a good repaint but soiled, cracked seats, soiled, grungy interior, no engine cover struts. Does have a tool roll. Sold at Kissimmee in January for $30,740. It's hard to make a buck doing business like this, but this is what it's worth.

Lot # T209 1956 Pontiac Chieftain 2-Dr. Station Wagon; S/N P756H24310; Sunflower Yellow, White/Dark Green, White metallic vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $20,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $21,200 -- 316/205hp 2-barrel, automatic, hubcaps, trim rings, whitewalls, pushbutton radio. Superficial surf wagon restoration with sloppily masked paint, good major chrome and interior but dull, weak trim chrome. Surfboard fastened to roof rack with U-bolts. A car best avoided even if the claimed 35,224 miles are real, which they probably aren't. The price is better, by about $5,000, than the car.

Lot # T210.1 1969 Ford Mustang Grande Notchback; S/N 9F01M206903; Gulf Stream Aqua, Matte Black hood, Black vinyl roof/Black vinyl; Cosmetic restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $20,500 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $21,730 -- 351/290hp, 4-speed, P/S, P/B, 4.25 Traction-Lok, chrome Rally wheels, Radial T/A tires, console. Cosmetically restored with old undercoat, collapsed console armrest, sound paint, chrome and interior. Chassis has a little road grime on it. Just a car. Just a price, too, although the 4-speed drivetrain promises to be fun around town. What motivated the original owner to specify the combination of cooking 351, 4-speed and 4.25 Traction-Lok? An NHRA class, perhaps? There could be a good story behind this car, but as it is, for what it is, this is a reasonable price.

Lot # T211 1971 Plymouth Road Runner 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N RM23N1R118258; Curious Yellow, Black vinyl roof/Black vinyl; Cosmetic restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $19,500 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $20,670 -- 383/330hp, automatic, P/S, Magnum wheels with trim rings and Tiger Paw tires, bench seat, dual outside mirrors. Cosmetically restored with very good paint, chrome and interior. Close to showroom underhood. Underbody and chassis are a little grimy from use. An eye-catching driver. Most Road Runners were configured like this, healthy but de-contented street runners. It was the Road Runner's concept, and it worked. Today we see few enough with the base Road Runner with their standard heavy duty suspension, Road Runner horn, Rally gauges, show-off hood and dual exhaust. This one got the restoration it deserved, and the new owner got the restoration mostly for free at this price. A sound value.

Lot # T267 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe; S/N 30837S103682; Engine # F1029RE; Black/Black vinyl; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $175,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $185,500 -- 327/340hp, 4-speed, alloy wheels, narrow whitewalls, radio and heater delete. Represented as #s-matching and freshly restored with excellent paint, chrome and interior in the original black/black livery. Like new, with better cosmetics. How hard is it to do a beautiful black paint job? This one cost $25,000 and is worth every penny. Everyone admired this car's presentation and particularly the body preparation, panel fit and exquisite paint. The alloy wheels are a disappointment, but complemented the over the top paint to add to the car's appeal. The awe continued when it crossed the block and brought this price, a good $50,000 more than a restored-like-new one might have brought. It's so good it's almost a custom, but better.

Lot # T268 1964 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III Phase 2 Convertible; S/N HBJ8L26879; Black/Red; Black leatherette top; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $42,500 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $45,050 -- Chrome wire wheels, blackwall Kumho tires, Nardi woodrim steering wheel. A usable older cosmetic restoration with several small flaws in trim, chrome, seals and paint edge chips. Still a usable driver, though. An early Phase 2 with an entirely satisfactory older restoration that has held up well despite evidence of use, it brought a modest price.

Lot # T271 1965 Pontiac LeMans GTO 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 237375Z130891; Engine # 633307 WT; Burgundy/Black vinyl; Cosmetic restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $38,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $40,280 -- 389/335hp now with Tri-Power, 4-speed, Hurst shifter, P/S, P/B, Rally wheels with trim rings, redline radials, AM-FM. PHS documented, cosmetically restored nearly like new. Very good paint. Represented as matching numbers engine. Not ready to win shows, but more than good enough to satisfy a demanding driver/owner. Sold for $34,980 at Mecum's Kissimmee auction in January with a 4-barrel atop the engine. It's had more attention that just the intake change since then, but is still not a show-ready car and this is a reasonable result for it.

1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z-28 RS — Lot # T321 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 RS 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 124379N501879; Hugger Orange, White stripes/Black vinyl; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $64,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $67,840 -- 302/290hp, 4-speed, P/B, P/S, Positraction, Rally wheels with trim rings, Wide tread GT tires, console gauges, pushbutton radio, cowl induction, tilt steering column. Sharp, fresh restoration with excellent paint, chrome, interior and glass. Very impressive underhood, shows no use at all. Offered here two years ago when it no-saled at $75,000, it would not have been over-priced at that bid today and this is a good value at this price.

Lot # T407 1971 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Fastback; S/N 1F05M178312; Grabber Lime, Matte Black hood/Green vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $28,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $29,680 -- 351/285hp, 4-speed, Hurst shifter, P/B, P/S, A/C, styled wheels, F60-15 Polyglas GT tires, sport deck rear seat. Partially repainted with clear coat over original paint and starting to wear through on roof. Clean original underbody. Engine nicely detailed. Good original interior. Documented with Elite Marti Report and window sticker. Sold at Auburn Fall in 2006 for $24,300, then at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale in 2007 for $43,450, it made an appearance at the Leake Oklahoma City auction in February but attracted little interest with a bid of $26,750. The color is eye-catching, the originality is impressive and the options list (14 in addition to the Mach 1 package's nine) is eye-opening. The engine, though, is dull, and that's its problem which makes this a reasonable price for it.

1969 Chevrolet Camaro RS-SS 396 2-Dr. Hardtop — Lot # T413 1969 Chevrolet Camaro RS/SS 396 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 124379N701905; Hugger Orange; Black vinyl roof/Black houndstooth; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $41,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $43,460 -- 396/375hp replacement JH engine, 4-speed, 3.73 Positraction, aftermarket A/C, Rally II wheels with trim rings and Radial T/A tries, console, pushbutton radio, rear spoiler, P/B. Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Very clean, fresh and correct underhood. Underbody is like new. Represented as an original 396/375 RS/SS. Honestly represented and impressively restored just over a year ago, this is a choice Camaro at a very reasonable price that sensitively balances its replacement engine with its superior condition. The new owner can't go wrong.

Friday

Lot # F11 1962 Ford Thunderbird Convertible; S/N 2Y85M165448; Red/Red vinyl; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $29,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $30,740 -- 390/340hp Tri-Power, automatic, P/S, P/B, power seat, P/W, pushbutton radio, chrome wire wheels, Swing-away steering column, skirts, whitewalls. Good older paint and interior, weak trim chrome. Underbody heavily undercoated. One of eight M-code Thunderbird convertibles believed built. Orderly if a little generously chromed underhood. More than good enough to be a proud ride for tours or weekend cruises. Reported sold at Dave Rupp's Ft. Lauderdale auction in 2007 for $44,280, at this price this is a lot of bullet-bird for the money. It's loaded with good stuff and has the distinction of having a strong and unusual engine. The buyer got a good value and a quality driver.

Lot # F12 1963 Oldsmobile Starfire Convertible; S/N 636L02506; Champagne/Saddle vinyl; Tan vinyl top; Cosmetic restoration, 4+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $28,000 -- 394/345hp, automatic, P/S, P/B, limited slip, P/W, power bucket seats, power antenna, power trunk release, A/C, AM-FM, console with tach, spinner wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, remote outside mirror. High quality clear coat paint, upholstery and chrome. Wheel wells are heavily undercoated. Engine is a serious disappointment: old, dirty and untouched. Makes a great first impression, then falls flat on its face when the hood goes up. It's not surprising the bidders shunned this Starfire. It won't be simple, or inexpensive, to remedy the disaster under the hood, let alone accept the other shortcuts that it implies. There are no good surprises in this scag.

Lot # F13 1970 Ford Ranchero GT ; S/N 0A48M173751; Black, Gold graphics, Black vinyl roof/Black vinyl; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $24,500 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $25,970 -- 351/300hp, automatic, P/S, P/B, P/W, tilt column, AM-FM, buckets and console, Magnum wheels, Eagle ST tires, A/C, tach. Loose industrial carpet on painted bed floor. Very good paint, interior and chrome. Chassis and underbody not done. An attractively presented and equipped Ranchero, it is full value for the money it brought. It might be a little too shiny for trips to Lowes or Home Depot, but beats an SSR for less money.

Lot # F16 1974 Jaguar XKE SIII V12 Convertible; S/N UE1S24373BW; Silver/Burgundy leather; Black leatherette top; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $46,500 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $49,290 -- Chrome wire wheels, narrow whitewalls, British Leyland AM-FM, automatic, luggage rack, A/C. Restored in 1997 and shows little subsequent use but underhood is aged and neglected. Paint, chrome and upholstery are good. This Jag's presentation is amenable to the application of elbow grease and various compounds under the hood to create a much better impression. Along the way it's an attractive driver, qualities that make the price it brought entirely appropriate.

Lot # F75 1975 Bricklin SV1 Resto-mod; S/N 00011BX5S001279; Tangerine/Black leather, Grey cloth; Customized restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $14,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $14,840 -- 406 Ford, automatic, Curry rear axle, digital dash, remotely operated doors and who know how many other hot buttons, bells and whistles Erratically masked, some paint flaws, doors cracked and chipped. What can't be seen upon first looking is superficially done. A hurry up TV car done on 'Chop, Cut, Rebuild'. No Reserve. Sold for $64,900 at Russo and Steele in Scottsdale last year, this Bricklin is so ridiculous it has an appeal of its own. Most people would be embarrassed to be seen in it, but a gangsta would find it distinctive. It brought an appropriate price for its slap-dash build and the unending problems it promises to anyone who attempts actually to use it. But it's not going to be overlooked.

Lot # F141.1 2007 Ferrari F430 F1 Spider; S/N ZFFEW59A870154061; Titanium Grey/Oxblood leather; Unrestored original, 2 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $144,500 -- Carbon brakes, yellow calipers, SF shields, carbon fiber interior trim, big stereo, power Daytona seats. Assembly # 71225. 1,270 miles from new. U.S. spec. Clean, sharp and essentially unused. A light price at retail but a reasonable wholesale offer for a car still on the steep part of its depreciation curve.

Lot # F149 1968 Plymouth Road Runner Hemi 2-Dr. Sedan; S/N RM21J8G159752; Bright Blue/Black, Silver vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $95,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $100,700 -- 426/425hp Hemi, automatic, P/B, no P/S, heater, pushbutton radio, body color wheels, hubcaps, red line Wide Oval tires. Good paint, orderly engine, good chrome and interior. Heavily undercoated. Said to be an original car with one repaint, a contention nothing in its appearance contradicts. The chassis shows plenty of age and use and the paint is fresher than the rest of the car. Odometer shows 35,915 miles that could be all the car's seen. It's unusual to find a Superbird in this condition, largely unmolested and well-preserved. The Hemi is great and the dog dish hubcap wheels are period-appropriate. Restoration would increase its value somewhat, but nowhere near what a competent restoration would cost. A few thousand more miles wouldn't hurt its value a bit and it is a good value at this price for the buyer, who looked past the mediocre presentation to recognize the inherent value.

Lot # F178 1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS 396 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 124379L513508; Green; Black vinyl roof/Black; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $56,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $59,360 -- 396/350hp, 4-speed, P/S, P/B, Rally wheels with trim rings, Hurst shifter, pushbutton radio, F70-14 Goodyears. Represented as matching numbers engine and rear axle with a 'period correct' 4-speed. Shiny clearcoat repaint, sharp but overly shiny painted underhood, excellent chrome and interior. Overdone to show car condition. This Camaro crossed Mecum's Kissimmee block three (yes, three) times in January, a no-sale on Tuesday for $52,000, selling for $49K ($51,940 with commission) on Friday and a no-sale on Sunday at $52,500 hammer. The consignor should be satisfied with this result, a single in baseball terms, but at least not a loss.

Lot # F182 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 4N66P115890; Burgundy/Black vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $25,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $26,500 -- 390/330hp Police package engine, 4-speed, no P/S or P/B, Durabrand cassette stereo, dog dish hubcaps, Kumho blackwall radials. Decent older repaint, otherwise original and unusually clean and orderly including the bench seat interior. Hey, this will be a really fun car at a modest price. It's not complicated, just a big block Ford with a 4-speed, drum brakes and a crappy radio. There's little to go wrong and a lot of fun to be had torturing the tires. The originality is pleasing and reassuring, if largely irrelevant to its value.

Lot # F184 1967 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 138177B189706; Red, Black vinyl roof/Black vinyl; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $55,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $58,300 -- 396/325hp, 4-speed, buckets and console with clock, dual outside mirrors, aftermarket tach, Rally wheels with trim rings, F70-14 Goodyear red line tires, P/S, power front disc brakes. Documented with Protect-o-Plate. Freshly restored to showroom condition. Excellent paint, chrome, interior and dash. A sharp, correct car. Chevy was late to the Muscle Car party but the Chevelle SS 396 more than made up for it. These early cars' appeal is growing fast, as this result indicates. It'd be hard, if not impossible, to find a better one making its premium price fully appropriate.

Lot # F188 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 124379N587627; Engine # V0103DZ; Olympic Gold, Black stripes, Black vinyl roof/Black vinyl; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $55,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $58,300 -- 302/290hp, 4-speed, P/S, P/B, console with gauges, Hurst shifter, pushbutton radio, rosewood grain steering wheel, Rally wheels with trim rings, Wide Tread GT tires, dual outside mirrors, cowl induction. Freshly restored to showroom condition with very good clearcoat paint, good chrome and interior. Represented as number-matching engine but not transmission. Documented with Protect-o-Plate, PDI and sales invoice. Needs nothing. An unusual color for a Z/28, and attractively equipped. The seller offered no excuses for the tranny, honesty that was also reflected in the car's presentation. It brought $67,760 at Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach in 2010 and would have been reasonable at a similar price today. It is a good value for the new owner.

1970 Dodge Challenger T-A — Lot # F194 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N JH23J0B304192; Dark Brown Metallic, Matte Black hood and side graphics/Saddle vinyl; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $37,500 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $39,750 -- 340/290hp Six Pack, automatic, Slap Stick shifter, P/S, P/B, cruise control, ram air hood, Sure Grip, side outlet exhaust, buckets and console, Sanyo cassette, Rallye wheels with trim rings, Radial T/A tires, rear deck spoiler. A high quality cosmetic restoration with very good paint, chrome and interior. Underbody covered in old undercoat. Engine is good but shows use and some age. A quality driver in unusual original colors that will more than hold its own at cruise night. Sold earlier this year at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale for $48,400, the colors make this T/A even if the automatic challenges its enjoyability. Some work with swabs, rags and cleaners under the hood will improve its presentation and it represents good value for the money it brought here.

Lot # F234 2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo NASCAR; S/N 143; Black #3/Black; Competition restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $45,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $47,700 -- RCR chassis # 143 road race car driven to 11th at Watkins Glen in 2006 by Jeff Burton and restored in Dale Earnhardt, Sr. livery. Fresh SB2 engine, fire system, radio harness, camera mounts and somewhat battered seat padding. Mechanically and physically clean as a whistle and probably pretty much race ready. How much is the #3 Goodwrench livery worth? Oh, about $15,000.

Lot # F235 2007 Chevrolet Impala NASCAR; S/N 102; Red Bud #8/Black; Competition restoration, 2- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $32,000 -- DEI COT chassis #102 in oval configuration. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. finished 7th at Bristol. Complete and race ready with fresh DEI SB2 engine. Clean, sharp and appears to be race ready. Oval track Nextel/Sprint Cup cars are not very useful in a competition setting, but Dale, Jr. is NASCAR's perennial Most Popular Driver. Those things considered, the reported high bid is reasonable.

Lot # F256 1965 Sunbeam Tiger Mark Ia Roadster; S/N B382000677LRXFE; Red/Blares vinyl; Black leatherette top; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $55,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $58,300 -- 260 Ford V-8, 8-spoke alloy wheels, Yokohama blackwalls. Good paint, chrome and interior. A sound and presentable driver restoration. No Reserve. Cobras are fast becoming unapproachable which may explain the runup in Tiger prices. They're squirrely drivers, even with the smaller 260 V-8 like this, but still have the Shelby aura about them. There were four of them at Mecum Indy this year, ranging from straightforward like this to dressed up. None were inexpensive, like this one.

Lot # F274 1969 Chevrolet Corvette 427/435 Coupe; S/N 194379S738548; Engine # T1202LR 19S738548; Black/Silver; Unrestored original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $63,500 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $67,310 -- 427/435hp, 4-speed, AM-FM, Rallye wheels with trim rings, red line bias ply tires, T-tops, P/B. Original paint and interior except seat cushions. Original and very clean underhood. An impressively straight and clean original Corvette believed to be the last 427/435 built. VetteFest Golden Spinner award winner documented with the original tank sticker. Sold at Worldwide's Auburn auction in 2008, where it was represented as a 40,000 mile car with 40,144 on the odometer today, for $77,000 and certainly no worse today than it was then, making this a particularly telling transaction in recent auction history. The hammer price dropped 9.3% in four years to this, admittedly modest, result.

Lot # F278 1957 Jaguar XK 140 Roadster; S/N 812462; OE White/Red leather; Black cloth top; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $95,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $100,700 -- Steel wheels, hubcaps, whitewalls, fender mirrors, glass rear window, skirts, Lucas fog lights. Restored like new with excellent paint, chrome and Connolly leather upholstery. The restoration's age, however, is apparent under the hood, where the car badly needs detailing to return it to show-ready condition. This is this Jag's third time across a Mecum auction block following no sales at Indy and Monterey last summer at reported high bids of $110,000. The seller got real and took the money, and about time as it isn't getting any better with age.

Lot # F298 1970 Pontiac GTO Judge 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 2423701123200; Orbit Orange/Black vinyl; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $48,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $50,880 -- 400/366hp Ram Air III, 4-speed, Hurst T-handle shifter, P/S, P/B, Formula leather rim steering wheel, Rally II wheels, Radial T/A tires, hood tach, wing, Endura nose, buckets and console. GM of Canada documented. Good paint, chrome and interior. Restored like new a while ago with some subsequent use but could be detailed back to credible show condition. No Reserve. The buyer got a great Goat with gobs of eyeball appeal for a decidedly modest price.

Lot # F315 1964 Pontiac LeMans GTO Convertible; S/N 824F7995; Engine # 228735 78X; Grenadier Red/Red vinyl; White vinyl top; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $40,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $42,400 -- 389/325hp now with Tri-power, 4-speed, spinner wheelcovers, red line tires. Competent. but not excessive older restoration to nearly like new condition now showing some age. Good paint, chrome, interior, top and glass. PHS documented GTO. No Reserve. This is driver money for a driver GTO convertible and a reasonable result for both the buyer and the seller.

Lot # F320 1969 Shelby Mustang GT350 Convertible; S/N 9F03M481966; Red/Black vinyl; Black vinyl top; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $150,000 -- 351/290hp, 4-speed, P/S, P/B, A/C, 5-spoke Shelby wheels, F60-15 Polyglas GT tires, AM-FM, glass back window. 2009 AACA Senior winner, still better than new. Maybe the consignor had his eyes glazed by Carroll's recent demise because this is all the money and then some even for such a pretty GT350 convertible. The man was 89 years old, had almost as many replacement parts as this restored car and had led a long, full, exciting and productive life. As with all humans, his death was inevitable, but his has been imminent for a long time and fully accounted for in the pricing of vehicles bearing his name. Any bump in pricing will be small and fleeting.

Lot # F322 1964 Pontiac LeMans GTO 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 824P87684; Engine # 185746 78XW; Red, White roof/Red vinyl; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $60,000 -- 389/348hp, Tri-Power, 4-speed, P/S, P/B, A/C, wire wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, Saf-T-Track, pushbutton radio, buckets and console, Hurst shifter. Documentation since new and fresh, sharp show-winning restoration. Desirably equipped and impressively freshly restored, this bid wasn't enough to part it from the seller, nor should it have been. As well documented as it is, it should have been over $70,000.

Lot # F345 1990 Ferrari Testarossa Berlinetta; S/N ZFFSG17A1L0085381; Engine # F113040122117; Red/Black leather; Unrestored original, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $101,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $107,060 -- 847 miles and like new throughout, even the tires. Assembly #2226. Engine is nearly spotless. At least one belt service has been done, but it's unstated when it was. This car brought an originality premium of almost 100% over a similar car with modest use. That's not reasonable, particularly since there are many Testarossas with modest use and careful preservation. At this price, what possible use could it be except as one of many static Testarossas on display somewhere.

Lot # F346 1967 Chevrolet Impala SS 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 168877S208415; Engine # T0515IA 7S208415; Cream, Gold vinyl roof/Gold vinyl; Cosmetic restoration, 3 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $35,000 -- 396/325hp, 4-speed, P/S, P/B, factory in-dash tach, buckets and console, pushbutton radio, Rally wheels with trim rings, red line tires. Cosmetically restored with sound paint, chrome and interior, scuffed stainless and aluminum brightwork. Has been driven and needs a good cleaning, particularly under the hood. An attractively configured Impala, but not attractively presented. When bidders have the vast range of choice they did at Indy neglected and superficially presented cars like this don't come off well. The reported high bid was well and truly enough to buy it.

Lot # F348 1967 Chevrolet Nova SS 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 118377W149214; Granada Gold, Black vinyl roof/Gold vinyl; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $32,000 -- 283/225hp, Powerglide, 3.36 Positraction, P/S, no P/B, buckets and console, Rally wheels with trim rings, red line tires, cassette stereo, underdash engine gauges. Good paint, chrome and interior, chassis and underbody have been freshly squirted with chassis black. Engine has been freshly detailed but that didn't include removing the road grime on the frame. Represented as matching numbers engine and transmission. This pretty but uninspiring 283 Powerglide car should have been on its way to a new home when the bidding topped $22,000.

Lot # F352 1936 Ford Deluxe Roadster; S/N 182823256; Armory Green/Brown leather; Beige cloth top and boot; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $56,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $59,360 -- Body color steel spoke wheels, hubcaps, wide whitewalls, trim rings, banjo spoke steering wheel, rumble seat, trunk rack. 1971 AACA National First Prize and Senior, 1982 Dearborn award. Still in extremely good condition. A choice little Ford, this '36 Roadster brought a healthy price.

Lot # F353 1935 Ford Deluxe Phaeton; S/N 181943681; Black/Brown leatherette; Beige cloth top; Cosmetic restoration, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $29,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $30,740 -- Fenton headers, duals, glass-pack mufflers, 3.78 rear axle, Green wire wheels, wide whitewalls, enclosed rear spare, heater, full weather equipment. Cosmetically restored decades ago and gently used with regular care since then. Abundant flaws and age but at the same time an impressive, solid and usable old car. This is a preferred body among Ford V-8 collectors and even with this much age and use it is a sound and solid example. The new owner got more car than the money spent on it.

Lot # F371 2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo #29 NASCAR; S/N 097; Black, Silver #29/Black; Competition restoration, 2- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $75,000 -- Ex-RCR, Kevin Harvick road race car with fresh RCR 358/825hp engine, fire system, letter of authenticity but no stated race history, In race ready condition. How much? The only way this pre-COT is worth even close to this much is if it had swept both NASCAR road course events and had an ex-Dale Earnhardt, Sr. race winning engine under the hood. It had neither and is worth about half this much.

Saturday

1971 Oldsmobile 442 Hardtop — Lot # S58.1 1971 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 344871R107474; Red, Black stripes/Black vinyl; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $23,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $24,380 -- 455/340hp, automatic, His 'n' Hers shifter, P/S, P/B, Ram Air hood, buckets and console, AM-FM, P/W, leather rim steering wheel, Rally wheels with trim rings, Radial T/A tires, wing. Paint hasn't had all its orange peel sanded out and there are some fisheyes and dirt in it. Chrome and interior are good aside from some rust blisters on the right quarter window frame. Engine is clean on top but grimy down deep. An attractive car, but a mixed bag that doesn't inspire great confidence. That's why it was bought for this price and even then it's generous for its condition and the erratic work that it's had.

Lot # S60 1962 Chevrolet Impala 2-Dr. Hardtop Anniversary; S/N 21847S159068; Engine # S159068 T1206QB; Gold/White vinyl; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $78,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $82,680 -- 409/409hp dual quads, 4-speed, no P/S or P/B, rear antenna, spinner wheelcovers, narrow whitewalls, pushbutton radio, heater, buckets and console, 90 degree tach on column. Restored like new. Excellent clear coat repaint, very impressive, straight bright trim including aluminum. Good interior. An all around good car. Good price, too, but one that is eminently fair to both the buyer and the seller not only for its pristine restoration and presentation but also for that big dual quad solid lifter 409 under the hood and the spaghetti stalk shifted 4-speed inside. It is impossible not to like this car.

Lot # S87 1962 Chevrolet Impala Convertible; S/N 21867S312832; Engine # S312232 T0627QB; Roman Red/Red vinyl; White vinyl top; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $95,000 -- 409/409hp dual quads, 4-speed, 3.70 Positraction, pushbutton radio, Sun 90 degree tach on column, buckets and console, spinner wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, P/S, no P/B, dual rear antennas. A quality restoration to like new condition with excellent paint and interior and brilliant chrome. A sweet ride. Sold at Barrett-Jackson in January for $90,200. Most intelligent investors today would kill for a 4-month flip at a 5.3% profit, 15.9% annualized, but not this one. OK, transportation, consignment fees, maybe some detailing makes it realistically a break-even deal, but it's better than toting it home again, then shuffling it off to another auction, or two.

Lot # S100 1937 Lincoln Zephyr 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N H40173; Maroon/Tan leather; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $35,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $37,100 -- Skirts, wide hubcaps, wide whitewalls, dual outside mirrors, parking lights and turn signals added. Very good paint and interior, better chrome. Chassis and engine show use and age, though, and need attention. Includes an original Ford dealer's Service Bulletin book. No Reserve. This is the third time I've seen this car, starting at the Barrett-Jackson Los Angeles auction in 2004 where it had just 147 fewer miles on the odometer. It sold there for $29,160, then at B-J Scottsdale in 2007 for $44,000. It's as sharp now as it was five years ago and definitely a sound value at this price -- for someone with enough family and friends to fill up all its seats.

Lot # S102 1960 Buick Electra 225 Convertible; S/N 8G5002642; Red/Red, White leather; White vinyl top; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $27,500 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $29,150 -- 401/325hp, Dynaflow, P/S, P/B, P/W, WonderBar radio, padded dash, Super Deluxe wheelcovers, whitewall tires, power antenna. A mostly original car with a flawed repaint. Chrome is good and the original leather interior is nearly pristine. Some weak trim chrome but this is one luxurious boat and more than presentable enough for cruise night at the drive-in. Pete Todo Collection. No Reserve. Despite the fact it is a chrome-splashed barge the '60 Buick's panache and presence is undeniable. Abundant defects aside, it is not going to embarrass its owner in normal use and is nothing if not a good value, especially when its $28,600 price at RM Meadow Brook in 2006 is taken into account.

Lot # S103 1957 Chrysler New Yorker 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N N579743; White, Red roof/Red leather, Grey cloth; Older restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $30,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $31,800 -- 392/325hp Hemi, pushbutton automatic, P/B, P/S, chrome wire wheels, wide whitewalls, dual rear antennas. Fair old repaint, flawed front bumper chrome, poorly trimmed headliner by rear window, weak taillight chrome, wrinkled carpet. Engine and chassis were like new but now are badly aged and used. A quality car that needs attention. Pete Todo Collection. No Reserve. This is an ample price considering this Chrysler's indifferent presentation and erratic attention to detail. The new owner can improve its presentation even at this price, but not by a lot without going under water.

Lot # S106 1957 Chevrolet 210 2-Dr. Sedan; S/N VB57N141942; Engine # F1214EB; India Ivory/White vinyl, Grey cloth; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $56,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $59,360 -- 283/270hp dual quads, close ratio 3-speed on the column, heater, radio delete, no P/S or P/B, hubcaps, wide whitewalls, 4.11 Positraction. Restored like new with some age but still extraordinary: Very good cosmetics. 20,366 miles showing may be real. Includes jack, spare and owner's manual. Pete Todo Collection. Despite the mundane body no one will mistake this Chevy for anything but what it is, a street racing, pink slip seeking, tire-smoker that takes full advantage of the dual quad engine and 3-speed to make a statement. The wide whitewalls are a cool touch; informed racers in the Fifties believed the squishy luxury tires had more grip than stiff built-for-economy blackwalls. It sold for $35,100 at Auburn Fall in 2007 and even at today's near-Bel Air price is going to be admired wherever it goes.

Lot # S114 1967 Chevrolet Camaro RS 396 Convertible; S/N 124677L146360; Engine # T1227ED; Granada Gold/Gold vinyl; Black vinyl top; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $44,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $46,640 -- 396/325hp, 4-speed, P/S, P/B, A/C, Rally wheels with trim rings and red line Wide Oval tires, console, Hurst shifter, aftermarket gauges on console, rear antenna, rear deck spoiler. An older cosmetic restoration. Sound but very orange peely paint, good chrome and interior. Scuffed stainless windshield trim, water stains at dash top comer. Engine and chassis are aged and neglected but will respond to detailing and don't need to be redone. Old undercoat on chassis and underbody. Pete Todo Collection. No Reserve. The engine is appropriately stamped for the 396/325 configuration but there is no representation of originality or numbers-matching, a shortcoming that seems to have had little or no effect on the price it brought. It's not the best Camaro RS 396 convertible around, but this is a reasonable price for it.

Lot # S115 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 136379A327842; Monaco Orange; White vinyl roof/Pearl vinyl; Older restoration, 2 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $48,000 -- 396/350hp, 4-speed, A/C, P/S, P/B, gauge, Hurst shifter, pushbutton radio, rosewood steering wheel, clock, tach, Rally II wheels, Wide Oval tires, console, tilt steering column. Beautiful colors and older restoration like new with 2002 Super Chevy class winning trophy. Shows some age but no appreciable use. Pete Todo collection. Bid to $47,500 at Mecum's Spring Classic in Belvidere, Illinois in 2007 in essentially the same condition, the seller's reluctance to take this bid -- if there was money on it -- is fanciful. It's a sharp car in great colors, but it's worth little if any more than this.

Lot # S121 1970 Plymouth 'Cuda Hemi 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N BS23R0B223725; Vitamin C Orange, White vinyl roof/White vinyl; Older restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $185,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $196,100 -- 426/425hp Hemi, 4-speed, pistol grip shifter, pushbutton radio with 8-track, P/S, P/B, silver shaker hood, rally wheels, F60-15 Polyglas GT tires, Super Track Pak 4.1 Sure Grip rear axle. Restored to better than new condition with excellent cosmetics and underhood detailing. Documented with Broadcast sheet. Offered at Mecum's Belvidere, Illinois Spring Classic in 2007 where it no-saled at $225,000 with 147 fewer miles on the odometer, then here in 2010 at a high bid of $190,000, this 'Cuda Hemi traces the downward spiral of Hemis, now steadying up at a value appropriate to their rarity and performance.

Lot # S124 1970 Plymouth Road Runner Superbird 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N RM23U0A178629; Yellow, Black vinyl roof/Black vinyl; Older restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $185,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $196,100 -- 440/375hp Super Commando, 4-speed, Hurst pistol grip shifter, P/S, P/B, tach, Rallye wheels, Eagle II radials, console, pushbutton radio. Represented as matching numbers original engine and trans. Restored to showroom condition with better paint, chrome and stainless. Left headlight needs to be adjusted but other than that the nose, door, deck fits and panels are exceptional. This is a wonderful Superbird, but it's also a wonderful price, nearly Hemi money for a 4-barrel 440 Super Commando. It is unlikely that this telegraphs a shift in the Superbird/Daytona market, more likely the result of a unique set of circumstances such as happens at auctions from time to time (and which all sellers dream of happening to their car.)

Lot # S125 1926 Stutz Model 695 Roadster, Body by Weymann; S/N 15004; Red/Red leather, crocodile accents; Black cloth top; Older restoration, 1- condition; Hammered Sold at $148,500 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $157,410 -- Overhead valve Speedway Six, 4-spoke wood steering wheel, rumble seat, dual rear black cloth covered spares, varnished wood spoke wheels with red trims and chrome lock rings, pedestal spotlight, Trippe lights, Monogram drum headlights with Stutz lenses, Chicago balloon bumpers, chromed running board mounted fuel can. A spectacular old restoration displayed at Meadow Brook in 1979, then a class winner at Meadow Brook in 2009. Upholstery is lightly soiled, engine slightly oily and some chrome needs attention but it is still a show-stopper. This is just the nuts, a big old Stutz Speedway Six with a sharp, sporty body by Weymann, one of just two known to exist. It looks fast and it probably is. It's worth every penny of the price it brought from a savvy San Diego collector.

Lot # S126 1934 Ford Model 18 Cabriolet; S/N 18F1047970; Ford Brown/Brown leather; Beige cloth top; Older restoration, 3 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $50,000 -- Clock-mirror, enclosed mean spare, red wire wheels, trim rings, wide whitewalls, rumble seat. Shrinking old paint, good upholstery, driven engine and chassis. A sound old restoration now in attractive driver condition. Pete Todo Collection. A neat old Ford, but the Cab body is not very exciting and the condition of the paint, engine and chassis is such that the reported high bid should have been enough to buy the car.

Lot # S127 1934 Ford Model 18 Roadster; S/N 18550798; Washington Blue/Brown vinyl; Beige cloth top; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $42,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $44,520 -- Enclosed rear spare, cream wire wheels, wide whitewalls. Excellent paint, chrome, interior and top. Engine and chassis are aged and neglected but could be brought back to near show condition with some attention and elbow grease. No Reserve. The car card calls this top "white", in which case it is very, very soiled. Never mind, it's a nice old car in good, sound usable condition and it brought a price appropriate to its condition.

Lot # S129 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible; S/N VC57L193194; Engine # F610FD; Larkspur Blue/Two tone Blue vinyl; Light Blue vinyl top; Older restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $95,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $100,700 -- 283/245hp dual quads, Powerglide, P/S, P/B, batwing air filter, vacuum ash tray, skirts, spinner wheel covers, whitewalls, WonderBar radio, P/W, dual rear power antennas, electric wipers. Beautiful paint, brilliant chrome, inviting interior. Restored like new and maintained that way. Pete Todo Collection. This is an exceptionally good '57 Bel Air Convertible in attractive colors with a good engine and it brought a premium price appropriate to its premium condition. The vacuum ash tray alone is worth owning, just to have an excuse to smoke in the car.

Lot # S130 1932 Packard 902 Standard Eight Coupe; S/N 345212; Engine # 343146; Silver, Apricot fenders/Apricot leather; Older restoration, 2- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $100,000 -- Chrome wire wheels, Pilot-Rays, dual sidemounts with mirrors, rumble seat. Brilliant chrome and elaborately sculpted upholstery, even in the rumble seat footwell. Shiny paint and clean, orderly engine. Eye-catching brilliant colors. Chassis is older and could use some attention. Pete Todo Collection. It's a coupe and it's pretty gaudy as well as used. This bid really could have bought it.

Lot # S132 1933 Lincoln KB Touring; S/N KB2535; Black/Maroon leather; Black cloth top; Concours restoration, 1 condition; Hammered Sold at $375,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $397,500 -- Black wire wheels, blackwall tires, dual enclosed sidemounts, dual remote spotlights, jump seats. Three owners from new. Freshly restored with heavily chromed engine, excellent paint, interior and top. One of just six built in this body style. Best in Class at Meadow Brook in 2010. Pete Todo Collection. This is a curve-setting price for a Lincoln KB, that's for sure, behind only two cars from Otis Chandler's collection in 2006, and it was achieved with factory catalog coachwork. It is a breathtaking restoration, appropriate to the price it brought.

1967 Chevrolet Camaro RS-SS Yenko — Lot # S134 1967 Chevrolet Camaro RS/SS Yenko 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 124377N185034; Butternut Yellow/Black vinyl; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $325,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $344,500 -- 427/425hp, 4-speed, Hurst shifter, power front disc brakes, buckets and console with gauges, Rally wheels, red line Wide Oval tires, Corvette style side exhausts with chambered pipes, pushbutton radio, heater. No engine number on block. Once was restored like new but now is dusty and showing the effects of long storage. Described as documented by 'the original hand-written invoice and Yenko window sticker'. When this car was sold at the Kruse/eBay auction in Santa Clara in 2001 if was described as a clone (albeit with its original bill of sale) and brought $28,900, clone money in 2001. Today’s result is twelve times as much.

Lot # S135 1953 Allard K3 Roadster; S/N 3182; Red/Brown leather; Black cloth top and tonneau cover; Older restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $120,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $127,200 -- 331 Cadillac with single 4-barrel, automatic, includes a period dual four-barrel intake manifold. Silver painted wire wheels with Dunlop Road Speed RSS blackwalls, Marchal driving and fog light, 4-spoke banjo style steering wheel. Restored like new with excellent paint, chrome and interior. Needs nothing. Dennis Machul Estate. This is more car than money, even with the automatic, and a superior value for the new owner. It's not sexy like a J2 or J2X, but it's rude and fast in the Sydney Allard tradition and eligible for many wonderful events both on the track and on the road -- where it'll be easier to drive and enjoy the experience than with a stick shift.

Lot # S136 1947 Ford Super Deluxe Convertible; S/N A799A1801507; Beige/Red leather, Beige cloth; Black cloth top; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $42,500 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $45,050 -- Radio, remote spotlight, skirts, turn signals, hubcaps, trim rings, wide whitewalls, dual outside minors, oil filter, 59A-B flathead, fog lights, bumper tips, power top, heater, Holley carb, Mallory distributor and coil. An older restoration with a more recent (and erratically masked) repaint. Good chrome, top, glass and interior. Dennis Machul Estate. A good and sound but not exceptional car. The subtle engine modifications add to its appeal and is represents full value for money at this price.

Lot # S137.1 1986 Ferrari 328 GTS; S/N ZFFXA20A0G0061635; Red/Beige leather; Unrestored original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $37,500 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $39,750 -- Alpine cassette, Whistler Spectrum built in radar detector, A/C, Momo leather-rim steering wheel, stick-on SF shields. Clean, orderly car showing little use. Sound, shiny repaint over old paint. Dusty from storage. Driver's seat bolster scuffed as usual. 23,854 miles showing on the odometer look real. Dennis Machul Estate. The price is appropriate to the car, its condition and originality.

Lot # S141 1928 Chrysler 72 Roadster; S/N CW590D; Black, Grey/Maroon leather; Black cloth top; Modified restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $100,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $106,000 -- Dual intake with Stromberg carbs and custom air filter housing, long tube headers, Red Head, body color wire wheels, blackwall 5.50-6.00 18 Dunlop Racing tires, rumble seat, rear-mounted spare, Parabeam drum headlights. A very sweet little roadster that has been thoughtfully modified and has very good cosmetics, if used a little. Sits menacingly low and looks great. Original but unrestored parts included to return it to stock. 1976 AACA National First Prize and Senior. Dennis Machul Estate. Everything on this Chrysler is done to high standards of materials and workmanship. If Chrysler had access to its technology the 72s raced at LeMans in 1928 might have won instead of coming in 3rd and 4th (behind Bentley and Stutz.) It is a fitting tribute to the marque that will be wonderful on the road and in tours. At this price it should be a significant value for a driving oriented new owner.

Lot # S142 1958 Chevrolet Corvette FI Convertible; S/N J585102590; Engine # F1119CS; Yellow, White coves/Black vinyl; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $138,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $146,280 -- 283/290hp fuel infection, 4-speed, WonderBar radio, heater, two tops, spinner wheel covers, whitewalls. Bloomington Gold certified. Represented as numbers-matching. little if any use since restoration. Paint is very good, as is the chrome, interior, underbody and engine compartment. The Corvette is very good. The exceptional price it brought here in Indy is even better.

Lot # S144 1957 DeSoto Adventurer Convertible; S/N 50415283; Black, Gold/Beige vinyl, Brown cloth; Black vinyl top; Older restoration, 2- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $170,000 -- 345/345hp dual quad Hemi, pushbutton automatic, P/S, P/B, P/W, dual rear antennas, tinted glass, dual outside mirrors, chrome wire wheels, bias ply whitewalls. Excellent paint, chrome and interior. No longer fresh but still an arresting presence. This restoration dates to the very early 90's before it was offered by Christie's at Pebble Beach in 1992 (a no-sale at a high bid of $60,000.) It was sold by RM in Monterey in 2006 for $123,750 in essentially the same condition in which it was presented in Indianapolis. The seller's expectation has ramped up significantly, although the reported high bid should have been enough, if not more than enough, to see it change hands.

Lot # S146 1957 Chevrolet 3164 Cameo Pickup; S/N V3A57K139502; Engine # FB; Indian Turquoise, Bombay Ivory roof/Turquoise, Ivory vinyl; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $45,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $47,700 -- 2-barrel 283/185hp, 3-speed, radio, heater, hubcaps, trim rings, whitewalls, varnished bed floor, chrome bed strips, chrome bumpers. Freshly restored with excellent paint, chrome and interior. Dash and gauges are superb. Like new underhood and chassis. As good as it gets. A really nice truck, done everywhere to standards far above those usually set in truck restorations. It will be proudly owned and driven, especially at this price.

Lot # S149 1963 Shelby Cobra 289 Roadster; S/N CSX 2121; Rangoon Red/Black leather; Older restoration, 2- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $585,000 -- Chrome wire wheels, F70-15 Polyglas GT tires, chrome paperclip rollbar, grille guard and trunk nerf bar. One of the last built with worm & sector steering. Excellent paint, chrome and interior: Underbody shows a little age. Clean underhood. Offered here in 2009 where it brought a high bid of $525,000 but failed to sell. The same is true this year, just at a bid 11% higher, a bid that could easily have seen it sold.

Lot # S155 1970 Pontiac Trans Am 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 228870L108283; Engine # 0075692 WS; Polar White, Blue stripe/Metallic Blue vinyl; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $35,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $37,100 -- 400/345hp Ram Air III, 4-speed, P/S, P/B, Rally II wheels, trim rings, F60-15 Polyglas GT tires. Vinyl stripes. An older restoration to like new that has seen little use but is dusty from storage. PHS documented. No Reserve. Sold at Barrett-Jackson in 2007 fresh from its 2006 restoration for $48,400. At today's price it is a very good value.

Lot # S158 1970 Ford Torino Cobra ; S/N 0A38J171876; Yellow/Black vinyl; Cosmetic restoration, 2- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $55,000 -- 429/360hp Super Cobra Jet, automatic, shaker hood, buckets and console, factory tach, pushbutton radio, Magnum wheels, P/S, P/B, 3.91 Traction-Lok, slats, Wide Oval tires, Drag Pack. A high quality cosmetic restoration of a 41,779 mile car with excellent paint, chrome and interior. Represented as matching numbers. Underbody is clean but has old undercoat and isn't to the same standards as what is more readily seen. Represented as a body off restoration but it doesn't look like it. For some reason these eminently powerful muscle cars are overlooked by collectors who fawn over Boss 429 Mustangs and big block Chevelles. It's a shame, because they are powerful, rare and have plenty of eye appeal, particularly in a brilliant color like this, which might be Ford's Last Stand Custard bright yellow. It sold at Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach six weeks ago for $55,000 and should have brought more here.

1957 Chevrolet Corvette FI Convertible Factory Airbox — Lot # S160 1957 Chevrolet Corvette FI Convertible Airbox; S/N E57S105116; Engine # F618EL; Polo White/Red vinyl; Black vinyl top; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $322,500 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $341,850 -- 283/283hp Fuel injection, RPO 579E Airbox, 4-speed, RPO 684 suspension and big brakes, radio and heater delete, orange wheels, hubcaps, 6.70-15 Firestone Deluxe Champion blackwall tires. Restored to like new condition many years ago and maintained in nearly show car condition since. Bloomington Gold and NCRS Top Flight. Very clean and orderly but showing age. This is all the right stuff on a '57 Corvette, with the right historical and expert credentials as its auction history shows: sold for $178,500 at Mecum's Bloomington Gold auction in 2004, then for $237,600 at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale in 2006. It's put 353 miles on its odometer since 2004, a surprise on an important and valuable Corvette like this but one that is sure to have brought some thrills to the lucky owner who put them there.

Lot # S165 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Convertible; S/N 5762076125; Starlight Silver Poly/Red leather; Black vinyl top; Recent restoration, 1 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $170,000 -- Factory A/C, Autronic Eye, parade boot cover, WonderBar radio, chromed Sabre wheels, whitewalls, power trunk. Fresh high quality restoration in the original color let down by a few details the scuffed windowsill trim and bad fit of the right rear fender trim, but that's all. A gorgeous car in spectacular condition. Crossed the block at the Worldwide auction in Houston two weeks ago with exactly the same result.

Lot # S166 1966 Pontiac GTO 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 242176P192180; Engine # 266451 WS; Black/Pearl White vinyl; Recent restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $70,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $74,200 -- 389/360hp Tri-Power, 4-speed, P/S, P/B, Hurst wheels, red line radial tires, buckets and console, AM-FM, remote left mirror. Excellent paint, chrome, glass and interior. Represented as matching numbers. Restored to nearly showroom condition. A very desirable example with serious horsepower and a 4-speed plus power steering and brakes that will make it much more contemporary on the street. This is a healthy price for a hardtop, but no less or more than it deserved.

Lot # S169 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 Fastback; S/N 9F02Z195401; Candy Apple Red/Black vinyl; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $250,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $265,000 -- 429/370hp, 4-speed, P/S, P/B, Magnum wheels. KK# 605. 4,556 miles, known history from new. Chassis and underbody are not as good as the top, but the top is very good. While this Boss 429 rates only a very good in the condition column the price represents excellent. These cars have gone through a big value cycle recently but this result, including a healthy premium for the known history and low miles, suggests they're settling down. The premium over a 'Cuda or Challenger Hemi, however, is slightly troubling.

Lot # S170 1938 Cadillac 38-90 V-16 Convertible Coupe; S/N 5270289; Light Yellow/Brown leather; Black cloth top; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $210,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $222,600 -- Red steel wheels, hubcaps only, wide whitewalls, dual enclosed sidemounts with mirrors, skirts. Front fender paint pimpled and failing. Small cracks at stress points. Grille rechromed over unfilled pits. Engine and chassis show age and miles. Good interior and top. Show days are over but this is a superb tour car. It's tough to balance the age and faults of this beautiful old Cadillac's restoration with the inherent rarity and value of the car itself, one of only 10 Convertible Coupes believed built on the 38-90 V-16 chassis. The bidders here did a great job of filling in the blanks in the equation and arriving at a reasonable price.

Lot # S173 1958 Chevrolet Bel Air Impala Convertible; S/N F58N183775; Engine # T1212HA; Turquoise/Turquoise, Silver; White vinyl top; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $115,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $121,900 -- 348/280hp, Tri-Power, Turboglide, later P/S and power front disc brakes, WonderBar radio, spinner wheel covers, whitewalls, continental kit, dual rear antennas, P/W. Restored like new. Flat bodywork, flush fits, even gaps. Excellent paint, chrome, interior, top and glass. About as good as it gets. We'd all like to have this car with a 4-speed, but face it, most of them didn't come that way. This is as gorgeous a Saturday cruiser today as it was in 1958, and it was really gorgeous in 1958. A superb restoration, it brought an appropriate price that continues the march of '58 Impalas to the top of the value charts.

Lot # S174.1 1957 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible; S/N E57S101026; Engine # F1113EH; Cascade Green, Beige coves/Beige vinyl; Beige vinyl top; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $103,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $109,180 -- 283/245hp dual quads, 3-speed, WonderBar radio, spinner wheel covers, whitewalls, 3.70 Positraction. Numbers matching engine. 2007 NCRS Top Flight and still show ready with excellent paint, chrome, interior, top and glass. Chrome is especially brilliant. This is a 2007 restoration and it still looks as fresh as the day it was done. The 3-speed is important, as the 4-speed was not available until later in the year, after this car was built. That is a significant indication of the attention to detail that went into the restoration and likely the reason the transmission doesn't match the original build, most of the early 3-speeds having been replaced by 4-speeds as soon as they were available. A neat car and strong but fully deserved money for a hydraulic lifter dual quad.

Lot # S180 2010 Ferrari 458 Italia; S/N ZFF67NFA4A0174854; Grigio Titanio/Cognac leather; Unrestored original, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $200,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $212,000 -- Assembly #92466. yellow calipers, SF shields, carbon brakes, 20 inch wheels, F1 transmission, power Daytona seats. Under 500 miles and like new, if a little dusty. About $275,000 seems to be the retail asking price for a low miles 458 Italia, but few if any are as low miles as this. It is a good value at this price, particularly to a retail buyer.

Lot # S188 1968 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Convertible; S/N 194678S418866; Engine # T0229IT; LeMans Blue/Blue vinyl; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $600,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $636,000 -- 427/430hp L88, 4-speed, 3.55 Positraction, J56 brakes, K66 transistor ignition, F41 suspension, Rally wheels, red line Wide Oval tires, smog equipment, hardtop only. Known history from new, never raced or wrecked, represented as the original drivetrain. Documented with Protect-o-Plate and original factory invoice to the selling dealer. Restored in 2005, Bloomington Gold 98.2 points, Special Collections and NCRS Top Flight. No longer fresh but still exceptionally good. The best of the best in big block Corvettes and highly unusual in having never been raced (formally, at least). The restoration is a little long in the tooth but is still plenty good enough. This result is what the market will bear, and right up there with recent results in Kissimmee and Scottsdale. Fair to both buyer and seller.

Lot # S204 1961 Chevrolet Corvette FI Convertible; S/N 10867S105781; Engine # 1105781 F0203CS; Sateen Silver, White cores/Red vinyl; White vinyl top; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $131,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $138,860 -- 283/315hp fuel injection, 4-speed, Big Brake option, WonderBar radio, heater, Positraction, two tops. 2010 NCRS Top Flight and still like new but not represented as numbers-matching. Fresh, sharp and blessed with a highly desirable and rare (1,462 built) fuelie engine, this is premium money for a premium Corvette.

Lot # S208 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Nomad Station Wagon; S/N VC55T104906; Skyline Blue, Ivory roof/Ivory, Blue vinyl; Older restoration, 2- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $52,500 -- 265/180hp Powerpack, Powerglide, single exhaust, P/S, P/B, windshield visor, cassette stereo, wheelcovers, wide whitewalls, spotlight-mirror, grille guard. Generally looks like new but let down by bodywork and prep scratches visible under paint. Right door bottom visibly filled. Good chrome, interior and glass. Flawed enough that it turned off the bidders who were unwilling to pay a premium price for a car with easily visible shortcomings in the restoration. It's a 'no good surprises' Nomad, and that's not good.

Lot # S217 1967 Pontiac GTO Convertible; S/N 242677P107543; Engine # 360412 YS; Burgundy Metallic/Pearl White vinyl; White vinyl top; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $61,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $64,660 -- 400/335hp, automatic, P/S, P/B, A/C, Rally II wheels, redline radial tires, tilt steering column, woodgrain steering wheel, buckets and console, hood tach, pushbutton radio. Excellent paint, chrome, top, glass and interior. Restored to showroom condition and maintained that way. Superior door fits and gaps. PHS documented. This is a superior GTO convertible, in excellent condition and equipped -- other than the automatic -- just the way today's collectors would like it. With those attributes is a sound buy at this price.

Lot # S225.1 1958 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Convertible; S/N 58E010622; White/Red leather; Older restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $165,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $174,900 -- Chrome Sabre wheels, wide whitewalls, Autronic eye, electric fan, aftermarket A/C, parade boot, WonderBar radio. Excellent paint, chrome and interior but a little overdone with shiny black paint underhood. Dash and instruments are spectacular. Hardly looks used all. This is a 10-year old restoration that doesn't look even 10 months old. It was offered here a year ago, then at Worldwide's Auburn catalog sale in September without selling. It was time to go, and the seller smartly accepted the appropriate offer today. Fair to both the buyer and the seller.

Lot # S233 1969 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Coupe; S/N 194379S737301; Engine # T1125LO 19S737301; Fathom Green/Saddle leather; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $235,000 -- 427/430hp L-88, M-22 4-speed, F-41 suspension, 3.70 Posi-Traction, J-56 power brakes, transistor ignition, tinted glass, Rally wheels, trim rings, Firestone Wide Oval narrow whitewall tires. A mediocre older restoration that shows its age and use. Sound and presentable but not up to the standards of the cars around it. The last L-88 built documented with build sheet, window sticker copy and complete owner history. Reported sold at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale in 2006 for $237,600 and probably in the same, if slightly more aged, condition as it was then. Apparently the consignor thinks it is worth more, not unreasonably, but takes something of a risk by holding out.

Lot # S236 1957 Ford Thunderbird Convertible; S/N D7FH188984; Starmist Blue/Two tone Blue; Unrestored original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $99,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $104,940 -- 322/245hp, automatic, P/S, porthole hardtop (only), wheelcovers, whitewalls, Town & Country radio, tinted glass. One owner until February of this year. Partially repainted, otherwise original. Steam cleaned engine and chassis. Original tires. 20,582 miles from new with documentation. This result is a $60-70,000 premium for originality, low miles and one-owner history. That seems extreme, but when will another like it show up?

1967 Chevrolet Camaro Z-28 Race Car — Lot # S247 1967 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 Race Car; S/N 124377N163228; Red, White stripes/Black; Competition restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $160,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $169,600 -- Cross Ram dual quads, 4-wheel disc brakes, dark grey painted Torque Thrust wheels with Goodyear Blue Streak tires, Accusump, full roll cage, Corbeau bucket seat. Pre-production Z/28 A-sedan raced by Gary Morgan for Heinrich Chevrolet. Very well restored for a vintage race car, even has painted graphics. Sold at Barrett-Jackson's Palm Beach auction in 2006 for $324,000, then no-saled twice in 2007 at Mecum Belvidere and RM Monterey at $180,000 and $160,000 respectively. With its documented racing history (which was better explained in prior auctions) and impressive presentation this is a superb value in an historic racing car that will be welcome at any event for which it is eligible. This is a good value for the money.

1944 Mack Model 45 Fire Truck Pumper Custom — Lot # S270.1 1944 Mack Model 45 Fire Truck Pumper; S/N 45S1159; Black, Gold accents/Tan leather; Customized restoration, 1 condition; Hammered Sold at $230,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $243,800 -- Viper V-10, automatic, lowered to within an inch of the road with air bags. Beautiful paint, chrome and details. About as outrageous as any custom can be, but superbly designed, executed and finished. Multiple award winner. Comes with custom Hill trailer, Lot S270.2, included in this result. Said to have consumed 15,000 man hours, a claim which its condition more than supports. Whadda you do with it? How about smoky burnouts in the upcoming Memorial Day parade?

Lot # S271 1953 Buick Skylark Convertible; S/N 17049704; White/White, Red vinyl; White vinyl top; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $65,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $68,900 -- Chrome wire wheels, wide whitewalls. An older restoration to mediocre standards. Some dirt in the paint and masking holidays. Clean and orderly but a good example of how not to spend money on a restoration. Offered at Kissimmee earlier this year and sold here for a price appropriate to its shortcomings and needs.

Lot # S272 1957 Chevrolet Corvette FI Convertible; S/N VE57S100832; Engine # 17792 84A; White, Ice Blue coves and stripes/Red vinyl; Older restoration, 2- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $175,000 -- 283/283hp fuel injection, 4-speed, dual circuit brakes with anti-lock function, heavy duty suspension, big brakes, 37 gallon tank, Unity driving lights, hardtop only, roll bar, AC mechanical tach in place of speedometer, quick release fuel cap on right rear fender with scrutineer's lead seal attached. An old restoration that shows its age. Represented as one of the first FI Corvettes with metering unit 1005 ('a Smokey Yunick test unit and back up for the race cars') and the first Borg-Warner 4-speed, a T89-1c dated October 1956. Displayed for 3 years at the Corvette Museum. The wealth of technical detail on this '57 Corvette is remarkable, but nowhere does it say anything like 'this car was raced at __ by __', a significant and not reassuring omission. With racing history this could be a mid- to high-six figures car. Without it the high bid is reasonable.

Lot # S273 1957 Simca Concept Car; S/N AZ228731; White /; Unrestored original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $36,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $38,160 -- Automatic, side exhausts, silver wire wheels. Virgil Exner, Jr.'s Notre Dame Masters Degree thesis as completed by Beau Hickory after saving it from destruction in 1964. Dirt in paint, aged interior. Plenty of documentation, topped off by Virgil Exner, Jr. who appeared on-site and donated his original sketches and Master's thesis with the car. Featured in April 1959 Road & Track and displayed at the 1959 Paris Show. No Reserve. Aside from the father-son connection between the Virgil Exners this car is of no significance in automobile design history. It looks like a Speed Racer proposal and has no features that influenced subsequent design history. Its result here was a monumental flop after selling (reportedly) at Hershey in 2007 for $540,000. Regardless of any opinion on the design, it is a breathtaking buy at this price.

Lot # S279 1963 Ferrari 250 GTE Speciale, Body by Allegretti; S/N 4769GT; Red/Black leather; Rebodied or re-created, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $260,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $275,600 -- Dropped nose, raked windshield, hatch back alloy body. Very good paint, chrome and interior. Borrani chrome spoke wire wheels, 6 Weber intake. Done like new without going overboard, neat and tidy. Ex-John O'Quinn. No Reserve. In appearance this is a multi-influenced cross among a GTO, the Breadvan and various Tom Meade specials. In fact, it would not be a surprise to find that Meade had a part in it. 'Drogo' featured prominently in the auction's description, but Piero Drogo had no part in its concept or execution. In fact, its history is only that of a special, rebodied in the late 80's and sold at RM's Monterey auction in 2006 for $275,000. It's as good now as it was then, in both condition and price, and give the new owner a dramatic, interesting, fast Ferrari for a modest price just a few thousand dollars more than the original 250 GTE would be worth today.

Lot # S292 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Yenko 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 124379N615166; Rallye Green/Black vinyl; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $185,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $196,100 -- 427/450hp, high lift cam, high rise intake, 800cfm Holley carb, 4-speed, Hurst shifter, 4.1 Positraction, sealed intake cowl induction hood. Restored to better than new condition, but offered without documentation. No Reserve. When this car was sold at Worldwide's Houston auction in 2005 it was represented as having 17,637 miles and brought $247,500. Today its odometer shows just 17,644. It would be a much more valuable car with documentation spread over the dashtop, or even suggested on the car card. But there was none (nor was there any in Houston) and that makes this price entirely appropriate.

Lot # S299 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham; S/N 5770094949; Black, brushed stainless roof/Light Blue cloth; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $65,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $68,900 -- Car card. wheel covers, narrow whitewalls. Ex-John O'Quinn CCC #1031. Superficial old repaint over old paint, otherwise original and tired except the upholstery, which is surprisingly good. A good strip and repaint as well as being detailed by an obsessive-compulsive with lots of time might preserve it without requiring a restoration but the air suspension is flat busted so it'll need to be repaired or replaced with steel springs. No Reserve. Sold at the Hershey Auction in 2007 for $151,200, and none the better for the last four and a half years, the new owner bought a project of known complexity at a price that hedges at least part of the cost of catching it before it sinks into barn find condition.

Lot # S308 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Fastback; S/N 9F02R221838; Red, Matte Black hood/Black vinyl; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $59,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $62,540 -- 428/335hp, automatic, shaker hood, P/S, P/B, AM-FM, rear window slats, wing, tilt steering column, Sport Deck back seat, chromed rally wheels with trim rings, Polyglas tires. Restored like new with excellent paint, chrome, interior, chassis and underbody. Repro options plate and no Marti Report.

Lot # S309 1960 Chevrolet Corvette FI Convertible; S/N 00867S103667; Engine # F120CS; Ermine White/Blue vinyl; Black vinyl top; Unrestored original, 3 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $105,000 -- 283/315hp fuel injection, 4-speed, RPO 687 big brake, Positraction, heater, no radio, spinner wheel covers, wide whitewalls. All original except for a dull old repaint. Seat coverings cracked but preserved under new clear plastic covers. Pitted fender trim chrome. Represented as original engine, fuel injection, distributor, transmission and rear axle. Documented with original invoice and purchase contract. Orderly unrestored engine. An artifact of Corvette history. Offered at Mecum's Bloomington Gold auction in 2009 and here in 2009, a no-sale at $75,000 and $80,000 respectively. It has covered 58 miles according to the odometer in three years, and will cover more -- on and off auction blocks -- until the seller find the buyer who covets the originality (as yet unendorsed by Bloomington Gold) and is willing to pay the $130,000 or so it would be worth with all its i's dotted and t's crossed. What could possess an owner (or owners) not to spend the several thousand dollars it would cost to prepare it for Bloomington Gold and take it there to get its authenticity endorsed when the result would be finally to release the value locked up in this car -- if, of course, it's really locked up there? That it hasn't made the trip is making buyers skeptics, and skeptics bid with their heads, not their hearts.

Lot # S315 1967 Shelby Mustang GT500 Fastback; S/N 67400F5A01640; Dark Moss Green, White stripes/Black vinyl; Older restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $137,500 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $145,750 -- 428/335hp, 4-speed, P/S, P/B, woodgrain steering wheel, AM-FM, 5-spoke MagStar wheels, E70-14 Polyglas tires, dual quad intake, aluminum valve covers, Sport Deck rear seat. Center high beams, working rear brake scoops. An older restoration to like new condition showing little age and careful preservation. Sold here three years ago for $129,850, this is the right price today for this beautifully restored and maintained 4-speed GT500.

Lot # S326 1969 Shelby Mustang GT500 Fastback; S/N 9F02R481068; Black Jade/White vinyl; Recent restoration, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $90,000 -- 428/335hp, 4-speed, 3.50 Traction-Lok, P/S, P/B, A/C, Shelby 5-spoke MagStar wheels, Polyglas GT tires, AM-FM, Sport Deck rear seat. 2011 Cobra Automotive restoration that leaves something to be desired. Scratched front bumper, pitted quarter window frames and latches, dull gauge faces, dusty underbody, cracked rollbar surround. This is not nearly -- nearly -- as good a car as the '67 GT500 sold half an hour before. It was sold here in 2009 for $119,250 and given its shortcomings should have been let go at the reported high bid even if the only reason was to generate some of Mecum's 'The Bid if OFF' excitement. It would not be unreasonable if it had sold for this bid.

Lot # S348 1937 Cord Replica 812SC Convertible Coupe Sportsman; S/N 31644F; Engine # 1M0705 9VP; Burgundy/Tan leather; Non-factory replica, 1 condition; Hammered Sold at $93,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $98,580 -- An amazing replica with many authentic Cord parts like fog lights, steering wheel, instrument panel and more. Concours quality paint, chrome and upholstery. 350 GM engine and automatic, A/C, rear wheel drive. Power windows operate with the original window cranks as switches. Power operated hood and trunk. It walks the walk and talks the talk, even if it's not the real thing, a blend of Gordon Buehrig's timeless design with modern drivetrain and amenities. Even experts were drawn to it, and then marveled at the attention to detail with nothing but praise for its concept and execution. What is it worth? What today's bidder paid for it late on Saturday night.

Lot # S355 1964 Voisin Biscuter; S/N 11780; Matte Silver/Red vinyl; Blue vinyl top; Cosmetic restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $13,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $13,780 -- 200cc with drive to only the right front wheel (talk about torque steer.) Dull but appropriate paint. Designed by the idiosyncratic mind of Gabriel Voisin, who never gave a not to conventional wisdom. Sold at RM's Monterey auction in 2010 for $12,100. How could any micro-car collection be complete with an example of Gabriel Voisin's Biscuter?

[Source: Rick Carey]

3 Comments

Ken Smith says:

June 10, 2012 at 8:57 pm

Rick – Another great auction report. I always enjoy the ones with photos, and all the time and effort that you put in is appreciated.

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aeroducks says:

August 2, 2012 at 5:32 pm

85 – …………, Quebec, CDN
8. – …………., FL, USA
8./late – rebodied as Drogo replica by Allegretti, Modena,
90 – Roger Willbanks, CO, USA
S/N 4769GT…………..IIRC built on a 250GT chassis

Piero Drogo is famous for the “Breadvan” and the rebodied S/N 3445 owned by race driver Ulf Norinder (long and odd history)…….3445 was recently wrecked in France (will be rebuilt, but at 30+million I sure would). A beautiful GTO esp in it blue/yellow Swedish livery…..The Drogo body (now on a 250GT) was also beautiful is midnight blue……….

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Dan Woods says:

April 24, 2014 at 8:16 pm

Ricky…. That “hurry up TV car” took 7 months to build. I’ll send you the DVD if you like.

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Mecum Original Spring Classic 2012 – Auction Report

FOR SALE: 2008 Ferrari 430 GTC F131 Evo

FOR SALE: 1990 Spice SE90C C1 Group C

FOR SALE: 2005 Porsche 996 GT3 RSR

FOR SALE: 1972 BMW CSL 3.5 Liter Group 2

FOR SALE: 1972 De Tomaso Pantera Group 4

FOR SALE: 1959 ex-Works Lister Jaguar Costin

Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ To Be Auctioned By Bonhams

A Rare Ferrari Enzo Could Fetch More Than $4.7 Million At Auction

This Rare 1967 Corvette L88 Is Expected To Fetch More Than $3 Million At Auction

RM Sotheby’s To Auction A McLaren P1 And Porsche 918 Spyder Both Finished In Blue

RM Sotheby’s To Auction A Collection Of 56 Porsches Finished In White

A Pair Of Mercedes-Benz CLK GTRs Is Heading To RM Sotheby’s Las Vegas Auction

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Mecum Original Spring Classic 2012 – Auction Report

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