Mecum Auctions, Anaheim, California, November 13-15, 2014
2015 marked Mecum’s third auction at the Convention Center in Anaheim. Their success in this venue is in marked contrast to that of others who have ventured into the LA area with uniformly lackadaisical results.
While Rick Cole had successful auctions in Newport Beach in the waning years of the last collector car auction boom and Keith and Desley McCormick have been successful in Palm Springs for 30 years, since the early 1990’s Barrett-Jackson, Christie’s, Bonhams, Russo and Steele and others have attempted to establish a beachhead in what is, by any standards, the center of American Car Culture.A region built around the automobile, where even venues are defined by their proximity to freeways, major highways and traffic arteries, where institutions like the Petersen Museum celebrate the automobile in all its varied manifestations, where major manufacturers – American, European and Far Eastern – site their advanced design studios, where Carroll Shelby, Lance Reventlow, Dan Gurney, Vic Edelbrock, Harry Miller and scads more innovators and dreamers had their roots, southern California has beaten back every venture by the best and most successful auction companies.
Will Mecum beat the jinx? The numbers below are the best guide:
[table id=116 /]
Factor into the analysis that 2014’s total was boosted by the sale of Ferrari 275 GTB s/n 07633 for $2,322,000, a transaction some three times greater than any prior Mecum Anaheim transaction. Discounting the effect of the 275 GTB, car counts, sale rates, median transactions and total dollars are stable, but gradually trending down, over the 3-year span, a good revenue-generating sale for Mecum, but not taking off into spectacular numbers such as Mecum has generated in places like Kissimmee, Houston or Dallas.
That impression carried through on-site where the late Saturday crowd was sparse, even before the good cars on the day’s docket ran out.
Southern California is a tough nut to crack, even for the Mecum Auctions juggernaut.
Mecum Anaheim 2014 – Auction Report
Lot # T019 1952 Chevrolet Styleline Deluxe Convertible; S/N 2KKD36275; Black/Tan broadcloth; Tan cloth top; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $16,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $17,280 – 3-speed, no radio, spinner wheel covers, whitewalls, clock. – Dull old repaint, fair old chrome, nearly illegible odometer reels but good, crisp gauge faces. Poor top fit, some broken snaps. Usable recent upholstery and trim panels. Dead, gooey door seals and poor window fits. Orderly but aged underhood. Potentially a good car, but needs a good home. – By any standards this is a generous price for a tired and undistinguished old Chevy that wants comprehensive attention before it is anything more than a neglected and somewhat dilapidated old driver.Lot # T020 1968 International 1200 Travelall Utility; S/N 783207H7404048; Light Green, White roof/Grey vinyl; Unrestored original, 4 condition; Hammered Sold at $4,000 plus commission of 12.50%; Final Price $4,500 – 267/155hp V-8, 2-barrel, 4-speed, 4-wheel drive, P/S, P/B, white wheels, Firestone Radial A/T blackwall tires, Warn front hubs, 2-row seating. – Dull, thin original paint, rechromed bumpers but pitted, dull chrome everywhere else. Good glass. Upholstery is good. Pedals and driver’s floor mat are worn so much that the car card statement, ‘Believed to be 6,234 miles’ is patently stupid. Body is sound and straight. Engine compartment is filthy. Has potential as a restoration project. – An intriguing truck with attributes that commend it amid the present fascination with FJ40s, but this example is so old and tired that it is worth no more than the modest price it brought here. With restoration costs that will be daunting, it may live out its remaining days as a weekend hauler.Lot # T027 1960 Oldsmobile Dynamic 88 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N 607C14349; Blue/Blue vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $8,500 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $9,180. No Reserve – 371/240hp, automatic, P/S, P/B, pushbutton radio, rubber floor mats, wheel covers, narrow whitewalls. – Fair old repaint, sound but scuffed chrome and stainless. Sound replaced upholstery with gaudy bright blue panels. Dirty old engine compartment and underbody. Not much of a car but, then, it never was. – Oldsmobile’s bread-and-butter in 1960, one of 76,377 built to haul America’s families, one notch up from a Pontiac and one below a Buick in GM’s aspirational ladder. Its original $2,900 price is less than $300 more than an Impala V-8, but its survival is pretty amazing. So is the generous price it brought.Lot # T036 1949 Studebaker 2R5-12 Pickup; S/N 1R13217; Red/Brown vinyl; Truck restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $17,500 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $18,900 – 4-speed, chrome bumpers, hubcaps, Firestone radial blackwall tires, owner’s manual, shop manual, parts catalog. – Very good older paint, good interior, dash and instruments. Probably better than when it left Studebaker, certainly the paint is, and one family owned from new. Restoration said to have cost $46,000. – A good restoration, even for a truck, costs about as much as was spent on this Studebaker, but often the restoration cost dwarfs the value of the finished vehicle. Taking into account the rarity of this Studebaker and the quality of its presentation, the new owner got a good value in a truck that will always attract attention.Lot # T098 1967 Chevrolet C10 CST Pickup; S/N CE147Z106142; Blue/Blue vinyl; Truck restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $20,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $21,600 – 327, 4-barrel, automatic, P/S, no P/B, AM-FM, heater, black steel wheels, hubcaps, trim rings, narrow whitewalls, short wide bed, black painted oak bed floor, stainless bed strips. – Good clearcoat paint, chrome, interior and bed. Orderly, clean engine compartment. Dry unrestored chassis and underbody. An unpretentious but quality truck in cosmetically attractive condition. – Cosmetically restored well, with good mechanical attention, but still largely original underneath, this is what you want in a 60’s California pickup. The replacement engine isn’t, among trucks, much of a knock on it and the result of this transaction is fair to both the buyer and the seller.Lot # T099 1974 Triumph TR6 Convertible; S/N CF29207U; Yellow/Black; Black leatherette top; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $12,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $12,960. No Reserve – Steel wheels, trim rings, red line Michelin tires, Kenwood CD stereo, luggage rack. – Good recent paint, chrome and interior. Clean, orderly engine compartment. Dry original underbody with some overspray. An attractive two-owner California driver. – While the car is nothing special its presentation is notable for its honesty, like a carefully driven 8- or 10-year old car would have been twenty years ago. It is more car than the money it brought.Lot # T102.1 1985 Maserati Quattroporte 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N ZAMBC1105FA305254; Metallic Dark Blue/Saddle leather; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $11,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $11,880 – Automatic, A/C, Blaupunkt cassette stereo, Michelin Pilot blackwall tires. – Represented as 29,838 original miles and one owner from new. Aside from an old, occasionally chipped repaint this is an honest, sound car. – As an automobile a Quattroporte is less reliable and far more complicated than an old Jaguar but as an object it is nothing less than beautiful. The coachwork is purposeful and aggressive. The interior is sublimely luxurious. The 4-cam, 4-Weber engine is mechanical artwork. Unfortunately the whole is less than the sum of its marvelous parts, suffering from exaggerated complication and an inexplicable electrical system with more fuse boxes than a whole showroom of Volkswagens. This one-owner example may be the exception to the rule, however. It seems to have led a good, even pampered, life and may actually be drivable. At this price just the experience of owning it can be savored. If it proves otherwise, put the engine on a stand in a man-cave, surround it with the soft, supple leather seats and think about its origin in the fabled 450S.Lot # T103 1954 Ford Crestline Sunliner Convertible; S/N U4SC109246; Red/Red, White vinyl; Black cloth top; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $19,000 – 239/130hp, 3-speed, pushbutton radio, continental kit, skirts, wheel covers, whitewalls. – Poor but sound old repaint with dirt and dust included for free. Decent upholstery, fair gauges, overspray on hood seals. Erratic chrome. Aged, oily engine compartment, dry original underbody. Not good, but not seriously flawed (except for the paint) either. – The consignor was correct in declining the reported high bid on this Sunliner, even taking the dirty, badly masked paint into account. The bid isn’t far from being sufficient, but far enough to wait for another day.Lot # T111.1 1911 Ford Model T Tourabout; S/N 45694; Olive, Black fenders/Black leather; Black leatherette top; Unrestored original, 4+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $13,000 – Ford script E&J brass electric headlights, kerosene sidelights and taillight, folded trumpet bulb horn, brass windshield frame. – Dull old paint, tattered original upholstery, complete but fragile old top. Dull brass. An uncatalogued 1911 body style documented with the original Ford delivery paper. Tired, aged and neglected but way cool. – This is a wonderful old thing, in a rare body style (a Tourabout being a roadster with a tonneau added at the rear to take two or three more passenger) in wonderful, tired but never messed up condition. It was offered here a year ago with a reported high bid of $28,000, a much more realistic value than the sparse high bid reported here. With documentation from new for its uncataloged body style it is a potential star at any Ford or Brass era event. It missed its audience here (twice) and should be sold at Hershey or Philadelphia.
Mecum Anaheim 2014 – Auction Report Page Two
Lot # T134 1973 Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV Sprint Race Car; S/N AR3022449; Red/Black cloth; Modified for competition during restoration 3 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $17,000 – Race prepared. Panasport wheels, Hankook slicks, Spanish 45DCOE Webers, roll cage, fire system, Auto Meter gauges, aluminum radiator, shift lights, Wink mirror, Prototipo leather rim steering wheel, funky remote pivot shift linkage, Corbeau seat. – Fresh engine. Decent older paint, fully repainted interior. Orderly but aged engine compartment with some exterior overspray. Aged underbody with old paint. A sound and promising track day car although potentially an oven with the on-road exhaust running through the passenger compartment. – Well done throughout, this Alfa offers more in performance, build quality and enjoyment than the high bid gives it credit for.Lot # T161 1994 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 Convertible; S/N 2G1FP32P0R2162071; Dark Metallic Green/Tan leather; Black cloth top; Unrestored original, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $9,000 – Automatic, Sony CD stereo, tilt, cruise, A/C and all the rest. – 23,668 miles showing on the odometer are believable. Clean, lightly used car. – Worth no more than the reported high bid, even if the miles are all it’s covered since being delivered. The debut of the LT1 in the Camaro was a Big Deal, and in many ways the live rear axle Camaro was a more rewarding, predictable car to drive than its contemporary C-4 Corvette, but there are scads of them out there and it will be a while, if ever, before collectors begin to appreciate them.Lot # T162 1974 Dodge Challenger 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N JH23G4B212183; Green, Silver graphics/Green vinyl, Brown cloth; Modified restoration, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $18,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $19,440 – 383 replacing the original 318, Edelbrock intake, 4-barrel, AutoMeter tach and underdash engine gauges, Rally-style wheels with trim rings, Radial GTS tires, P/S, P/B, aluminum radiator, R/T trim added. – Painted assembled, and not very well at that. Orderly but not fastidious engine compartment. Clean, original underbody. Decent chrome, scuffed aluminum. Stained upholstery. – Alas, this Challenger is not what it would like to be, neither a 383 (at delivery) nor an R/T. The price it brought, considering what it is, is truly exceptional. It would have been a decent value without the “1” in front of its result.Lot # T200 1957 Volkswagen Beetle 2-Dr. Sedan; S/N 1478387; Black/Brown vinyl, White piping; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $19,500 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $21,060 – Later 1300cc engine, 4-speed, no radio, whitewalls, bumper overriders. – Oval rear window. Paint buffed through. Decent chrome, sound interior. Very clean engine compartment. Cute. – A sound and usable California Beetle, but an expensive one for its condition and later engine.Lot # F017 1994 Chevrolet Impala SS 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N 1G1BN52P9RR197558; Black/Grey leather; Unrestored original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $4,250 plus commission of 11.76%; Final Price $4,750. No Reserve – Factory alloy wheels, Riken tires, Jensen stereo, dark tinted windows, taxi driver steering wheel sleeve. – Scuffed original paint, lightly worn interior, scuffed black windshield moldings from buffing out the paint carelessly. A used used car. – The Impala SS was a stirring product when introduced, on lowered and beefed-up suspension, bigger brakes, transmission cooler and dual exhausts with monotone identification and 5-spoke alloy wheels. The 260hp LT1 sounded great stock (better with aftermarket exhaust) and drove like a completely different car from the soft, cushy Caprice. But this Impala SS has lived a hard life and is worth no more than the amount it brought here, if that.Lot # F022 1966 Chevrolet Corvair Corsa Convertible; S/N 105676W138912; Red/Black vinyl; Black vinyl top; Cosmetic restoration, 3- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $12,500 – 164/140hp, Powerglide, wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, Panasonic cassette, Corsa badged but naturally aspirated. – Freshly painted assembled with small masking oversights. Good interior generously Armoralled. Freshly polished chrome. Superficially redone engine compartment. An auction car. – Disappointing is not too generous for this Corvair, a car presented to have some under-the-lights flash but little substance and deservedly passed over by the Anaheim bidders. It could have been sold for $8,000 without regret but for the money foolishly spent trying to mislead bidders. Now it’s totally underwater.Lot # F028 1975 Porsche 914 Targa; S/N 4752908726; Metallic Green/Black vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $7,500 – 1.8, 5-speed, Craig stereo, aftermarket 5-spoke wheels, lace-on steering wheel sleeve, Federal blackwall tires. – Flawed fresh paint with dirt and dust in it, erratic masking, unfilled luggage rack holes in rear deck. Filthy engine. Sound body, even gaps. A car that doesn’t even rise to the status of ‘auction car’. – Despicable, deserving its rejection by the Anaheim bidders. If there was any money, not even close to the reported high bid, this car should have been sloughed off to anyone willing to take it. The consignors had been watching too much ‘Fast and Loud’ or ‘Texas Car Chasers’. Now they’re learned it’s not so easy.Lot # F030 1983 Porsche 928S Coupe; S/N WP0JB092XDS860307; Black/Black leather; Unrestored original, 4+ condition; Hammered Sold at $3,500 plus commission of 14.29%; Final Price $4,000. No Reserve – 5-speed, factory wheels, Yokohama tires, Blaupunkt cassette stereo, sunroof. – Chipped, spotted, faded old paint buffed up for the auction. Odometer shows 121,477 miles, and so does the car. Sound, scuffed original interior. – One of several cars offered early at Anaheim by the same parties, this was a rerun of Thursday #152.1 and the consignors wisely took anything they could get for parts-car money.Lot # F034 1972 Pontiac Catalina 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 2L57R2P373362; Sequoia Green, White vinyl roof/Olive vinyl, cloth; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $5,000 – 400/180hp 2-barrel, automatic, P/S, P/B, A/C, wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, narrow whitewall radials, pushbutton radio. – Good clearcoat repaint, interior, chrome and stainless. Vinyl roof covering pulling away at rear corners. Dry original underbody. Clean engine compartment. An attractive, orderly, sound driver. – Surprisingly well maintained and largely original, this is a Catalina that can be comfortably owned and driven (with A/C, even in southern California) without concern. Could it have brought more? Undoubtedly, but not a lot more even on the best of days.
Mecum Anaheim 2014 – Auction Report Page Three
Lot # F039 1972 AMC Javelin 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N A2C797H190800; Metallic Blue, Black vinyl roof/Black vinyl, cloth inserts; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $9,500 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $10,260. No Reserve – 304/150hp, 2-barrel, automatic, P/S, P/B, A/C, tach, Magnum wheels with trim rings, Radial T/A tires, pushbutton radio. – Decent but gaudy metallic blue repaint. Engine, underbody and interior are clean and original. No belts on A/C compressor. Usable, but visually startling. – Javelins have a cult following (we say that about odd cars) and attract more than their fair share of attention at shows and cruise-ins. The color of this one will make it even more attention-getting and it is, if anything, a realistic buy at this price.Lot # F043 1952 Jowett Jupiter Convertible; S/N E2SAL580R; Red/Black vinyl; Black cloth top; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $26,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $28,080 – Lefthand drive. Steel wheels, trim rings, bias ply blackwall tires, white banjo spoke steering wheel, fender mirrors. – Decent older repaint, fair old interior. Underbody touched up but mostly original, Fair interior wood. Weak trim chrome. A mediocre old cosmetic restoration with better paint. – ‘Odd’ hardly begins to describe the Jowett Jupiter with its lightweight (but not light enough) engine out in front of the front wheels, a study in polar moment of inertia gone wrong, as if 15 seconds 0-60 wasn’t enough to condemn it. Still, for MG TD money this unusual example will have bragging rights in most places and is good enough to be driven and enjoyed. Opening the Spitfire-like front bodywork to expose all the mechanical details will always make for a good show.Lot # F048 1985 Nissan 300ZX Coupe; S/N JN1HZ16S2FX053213; White/Burgundy vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $2,500 plus commission of 20.00%; Final Price $3,000. No Reserve – Automatic, glass t-tops, P/W, A/C, cruise, cassette stereo, alloy wheels. – Sound older repaint, otherwise a one-owner original car in good condition for its age. The ‘Betty Boop’ steering wheel sleeve is precious. – One of many Datsun 300ZXs lingering in carports in California neighborhoods. Few seem to care and there is a nearly limitless supply of them awaiting an awakening among collectors.Lot # F063 1961 Nash Metropolitan Convertible; S/N E83574; Turquoise, White/White, Turquoise vinyl; White vinyl top; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $22,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $23,760 – Hubcaps, trim rings, whitewalls, white vinyl covered spare, radio, heater. – Good paint except for orange peel on the right windshield post. Good upholstery, top and chrome. Engine has been freshly paint detailed (and still smells) for the auction, shows age where it is less obvious. Nit picking aside, this is better than all but a few Metropolitans. – The ‘restoration’ described on the car card is not quite accurate, but this is a sound and presentable Metropolitan convertible bought at a realistic price for what it is and can be made better with some attention.Lot # F102.1 1969 Morris Mini Cooper 2-Dr. Sedan; S/N MA2S6S688155A; White, Black roof/Mulberry Red; Modified restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $25,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $27,000 – Vmaxscart twin-scroll supercharger, Avon Bar with 28cc valves, APR studs and 1.5 roller rockers, 4-speed transmission, KAD short shifter, Performance GAZ adjustable dampers, front disc brakes with four piston calipers, Moto-Lita woodrim steering wheel, Superlight black center alloy wheels, Falken blackwall radial tires. – Restored and modified to high standards by Broadspeed in the U.K. Paint presents well but has a few minor flaws. Interior and wood trim are very good. Engine compartment is packed full but clean and orderly. Impossible to nit-pick, a sound, honest, fast Mini. – It would be impossible to duplicate this Mini for anywhere close to the money it brought even if the sound, solid Mini where free. It can only be scary fast and delight in being driven furiously hard. Impeccably presented, the new owner got something very special for not a lot of money.Lot # F105 1961 Ford Econoline Pickup; S/N E10SH128393; Mint Green/White vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $16,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $17,280 – 3-speed, heater, Dual cassette stereo, hubcaps, trim rings, radial whitewall tires. – Fresh paint and new interior make a great first impression. Body dust inside the gauges hints that all is not well. Peeling bedliner confirms the suspicion and a look underneath where all manner of dirt and grunge have been freshly but erratically sprayed with shiny new undercoat reveals how tacky and superficial this Econoline is even though the body is sound. – Ick! Dressed up on the outside and scurrilous on the inside, this is a vehicle which has no good surprises. The essence of what ‘auction truck’ implies, the seller scored a home run with this shiny rat.Lot # F159 1959 Chevrolet El Camino; S/N 37314CA; Engine # Illegible; Roman Red/Red vinyl, cloth; Recent restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $35,500 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $38,340 – 348, 4-barrel, 4-speed, Hurst shifter, P/S, P/B, pushbutton radio, hubcaps, radial whitewall tires, dual outside mirrors. – California assigned VIN. Very good paint and interior, sparkling chrome and stainless, excellent aluminum grille bits. Orange peel on both side window frames. Engine compartment is presentable but not fastidious. A sharp, shiny exterior not backed up by what is under the surface. – Just plain beautiful bodywork and brilliant trim, an El Camino that is gorgeous on the outside, but not so much inside. The ’59, with its curvy, superfluous gullwing rear fenders, is something special and this is a tidy, thoughtful if not thorough example bought for a realistic price.Lot # S018 1933 Auburn 8-101 Phaeton Sedan; S/N Engine number; Engine # GU72309; Beige, Green accent/Green leather; Beige cloth top; Older restoration, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $56,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $60,480 – Dual sidemounts with mirrors, Trippe lights, wind wings, Beige cloth covered trunk, green painted wire wheels, wide whitewalls. – Tired, chipped old paint, sound lightly stretched upholstery, good top. Aged dash and instruments with thin old chrome. Good exterior chrome. Dirty, used engine and chassis. Not good enough to tour without a lot of work, but the effort will be rewarded with a great ride. – An ordinary Auburn Phaeton Sedan (convertible sedan) of little distinction, its appeal was not enhanced by its tired old condition and negligent presentation but brought a top price. Occasionally a consignor gets lucky by presenting a car very much out of character at an auction where it isn’t expected and finds an unusually receptive – and inexperienced – audience. That was probably the case here where this unusual Auburn brought a generous price.
Mecum Anaheim 2014 – Auction Report Page Four
Lot # S046 1939 Cadillac Series 90 V-16 4-Dr. Sedan, Body by Fleetwood; S/N 5290046; Black/Tan broadcloth; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $42,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $45,360 – Dual enclosed sidemounts, wide hubcaps, wide whitewalls, smokers’ kits. – Sound and presentable old paint, good newer interior. Sound but old interior wood, dash and gauges. Good older chrome. A sound old restoration done to the standards of a bygone time. Holding up well and maintained in clean and orderly condition but now no more than a stately tour car. – The same car was reported sold at the Kruse auction in Phoenix in 2005 for $42,390 and it’s hard to imagine its condition has improved much if any since then. One of 13 reportedly built in this body style out of only 138 39-90 V-16s built, the penultimate year for the 135 degree V-16. It is a sound car, bought for a sound price.Lot # S056 1953 MG TD Roadster; S/N TD29149; Engine # XPAGTD2/29604; Red/Red leather; Beige cloth top; Recent restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $21,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $22,680. No Reserve – 5-speed gearbox, silver steel wheels, hubcaps, Michelin blackwall tires, beige cloth covered spare, bumper overriders, wind wings, fender mirrors, heater. – Restored to very good driver-quality standards, clean, tidy and thoughtfully done. The 5-speed is a realistic upgrade that will make it much more fun to drive, and preserve the freshly rebuilt engine. – This should be a satisfying TD to drive and is full value for this price.Lot # S057 1959 BMW-Isetta 300 Coupe; S/N 578512; Purple, Ivory/Ivory, Purple vinyl; White vinyl sunroof top; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $38,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $41,040. No Reserve – Hubcaps, whitewalls, turn signals. – Very good cosmetics inside and out. Restored to better than showroom condition. – Even with the rather ebullient color choice this appears to be a sound and thoroughly restored Isetta and brought realistic Isetta-money. It will make everyone who sees it smile, and those inside it will smile even more.Lot # S058 1959 Goggomobil Regent 2-Dr. Sedan; S/N 01200002; Grey/Red, Black vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $10,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $10,800. No Reserve – Red wheels, hubcaps, whitewalls, painted bumpers, AM-FM. – Decent recent repaint and new interior with odd ostrich pattern vinyl. Scratched, dented aluminum trim. Ugly brush painted engine compartment. Dry unrestored chassis and underbody. – Even famed microcar collector Bruce Weiner didn’t have a Goggomobil Regent sedan so this result will have to be acknowledged to set the standard for the model, although it is generous for its condition.Lot # S059 1975 Fiat-Abarth 595 2-Dr. Sedan; S/N 110F1491237; Yellow, Black vinyl sunroof/Black vinyl, cloth; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $12,500 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $13,500. No Reserve – Yellow painted wheels, Pirelli P3000 tires, Abarth leather rim steering wheel, Weber 23 IMB carburetor. – Shiny new paint and upholstery, good chrome, fair aluminum trim. Orderly but not restored engine compartment. No bumpers. Very Yellow and looks like a rolling lemon. – A second series Fiat 500 with Abarth trim and an inappropriate carburetor (Abarth used Solex), but a slick little road rocket that will get plenty of attention around town or on the track. It was bought reasonably enough for its condition and configuration that even if, as is most likely the case, it saw Carlo Abarth’s shop only via the parts department it still represents a realistic value for the money and is far more fun for the money than an Isetta 300 for three times the price.Lot # S067.1 Ellis Midget Race Car; S/N None; Red/Aluminum; Competition car, original as-raced, 3- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $6,000 – – A dusty, neglected recent coil-over suspension midget race car with its engine hidden under a Dzus fastened hood and no explanation of consequence on the car card except for ‘only 6 races’ and ‘never wrecked’. Both good things, but hardly enough to get bidders’ juices flowing. – Given the appearance and the dearth of information, the reported high bid is like buying a lottery ticket: lots of potential, but little probability of realizing it.Lot # S081.1 1934 Ford Victoria Sedan Rust Rod; S/N A13F693278; Green/Black; Original, modified for competition or performance, 4 condition; Hammered Sold at $14,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $15,120 – Supercharged flathead V-8, wide whitewalls, antiqued paint, abundant hand painted graphics, Jeff Decker skeleton greyhound radiator cap mascot. – A picture is worth a thousand words. Styled as the Tijuana Driving School dual control car, there are in fact two steering wheels, six pedals and a myriad of imaginative details. Chopped 5 inches. – Easily one of the most imaginative, creative, whimsical cars in any auction in recent memory, this would be an ideal car for SCTA to use for driving lessons at Bonneville – where rat rods rule. A moderate price for a distinctive automobile.Lot # S083 1956 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster; S/N 1210426503564; Engine # 12192165063648; Ivory/Saddle vinyl; Beige cloth top; Cosmetic restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $110,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $118,800 – Becker radio, P/B, hubcaps, trim rings, narrow whitewall Milestar radial tires. – Fair old repaint, good interior and top. Fair chrome. Mikuni carbs on an unusual intake manifold. Orderly engine with a small coolant pool on the side cover. Engine compartment generously coated with matte black over little or no prep. Dull gauge faces. Frayed old window felts. Not an attractive car, prepared for the auction to look good under the lights. – 190SL values are hard to understand, an observation never more apparent than with this mediocre 190SL. It keeps coming back to alternate uses of money: how much would this price buy in a Corvette, or a 4-speed K-code Mustang convertible? Money left over is the answer. It is inexplicable, except for the fad-driven fascination, although this is appropriate money in today’s market for a 190SL in comparable condition.
Mecum Anaheim 2014 – Auction Report Page Five
Lot # S084 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Roadster; S/N 11304412005126; Brown/Tan vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $70,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $75,600 – Automatic, headrest, P/B, Becker Europa AM-FM, hubcaps, trim rings, narrow whitewalls, Kuhlmeister A/C, Pagoda hardtop only. – Quick cosmetic restoration with fresh clearcoat paint. Some new chrome and polished stainless contrasts unfavorably with the pieces that weren’t done. Top of the engine is dressed up, but not the rest. A superficial auction car not worthy of the shop that did it. – This is a driver-quality 280SL, at best, but it brought a superior price. The new owner better be satisfied with the drive, because the price paid will be an annoyance.Lot # S085 1956 Buick Special 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 4C2004982; Seminole Red/Red vinyl, Black cloth; Modified restoration, 2- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $22,000 – 322, three Stromberg 97 carbs, Dynaflow, slightly lowered, body color wheels, hubcaps, trim rings, blackwall Hankook radials, cassette stereo. – Very good fresh clearcoat paint, polished stainless, new chrome. Equally good upholstery, dash, instruments, engine compartment and underbody, but some details overlooked under the hood. The low stance and blackwall tires looks great. – This is a Buick you can’t walk by. It sits low, with a purposeful crouch that is ready to lunge forward. It’s only a Special, though, and without more details on the engine build its potency is unclear. Still, it looks the part and would have been an eye-catching acquisition at anything close to this bid.Lot # S089 1961 Porsche 356B 1600S Sunroof Coupe; S/N 113267; Engine # P87483; Heron Grey/Dark Blue leather, Light Grey piping; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $130,000 – 1582/75hp, power sunroof, Blaupunkt Koln multi-band radio, chrome wheels, luggage rack, Michelin XZX blackwall tires, Weber carbs, seatback head restraints, underbumper fog lights. – Paint 6007 on body plate, appropriate for Heron Grey. Excellent paint over a very magnetic body. Good chrome and excellent new leather interior. Sharp, crisp gauges. Engine is like new and represented as matching numbers. Underbody has a little road dust residue in hard to clean places but is nearly like new. – These are 1960 numbers, but appropriate for the present configuration. Reported sold at Worldwide’s Auburn auction in August 2013 for $91,300, then offered at Bonhams in Scottsdale in January of this year with a high bid of $85,000, the condition is if anything somewhat better this time but the consignor’s decision to pass on what is by any standard a generous bid is hard to understand. This very good Porsche should have been on its way to a new home even before reaching six-figures.Lot # S095.1 1938 Hal Sprint car; S/N None; Black, Red frame and suspension/Black leatherette; Competition car, original as-raced, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $22,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $23,760 – Model B Ford 4-cylinder, HAL dohc head, dual Flynn side draft carbs, Fairbanks Morse magneto, white Dayton centerlock wire wheels, mechanical rear brakes, hydraulic lever shocks, transverse leaf springs, lovely old Motor Xray temperature gauge, August ’91 Deist 4-point belts. – Aged but not abused. Recent old cosmetics, orderly but aged engine. A project car, but straightforward and worth doing. – Offered without history or provenance, in neglected but sound condition, this was one of several open-wheel race cars in Mecum’s Anaheim auction that looked like they were the culls from a collection. This was one of the best, with rare, high quality speed equipment. A car that will attract abundant attention at shows and historic races, it would be impossible to assemble the parts to build it for twice the price it brought and the cost of restoration is dwarfed by what it would cost to assemble those parts in a working combination. Want to go racin’? This is how to do it on a budget, with an intriguing mechanical puzzle to resolve along the way.Lot # S096 1970 Plymouth Road Runner Superbird 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N RM23V0A155776; Tor Red, Black vinyl roof/Black vinyl; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $127,500 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $137,700 – 440/390hp, Six Barrel, 4-speed, Hurst pistol grip shifter, P/S, P/B, factory gauges, pushbutton radio, bucket seats, no console, remote outside minor, Rally-style wheels, trim rings, F60-15 Polyglas GT tires, – 1st place NASCAR, Spring Fling 2003, 1st place Wings MoparFest 2003 & 2006, 1st place Wing Car Mopars 2004. Very good paint, interior, roof covering and stainless. Good nose cone fit. Engine compartment is nearly like new. The restoration doesn’t look ten years old. – And it is a 4-speed, which rates very rare among Superbirds. This is the Superbird to have, done right but not overdone and holding up extremely well. At this price it could have brought even more and not been expensive.Lot # S097 1963 Pontiac Catalina Convertible; S/N 363A34937; Engine # 278268 17H; Metallic Violet/Dark Blue vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $17,500 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $18,900 – 389/267hp, 2-barrel, automatic, A/C, P/S, P/B bench seat, pushbutton radio, 8-lug wheels, trim rings, narrow whitewalls. – A/C compressor missing. Appropriately numbered engine block. Good fresh repaint on a generally tired and used Catalina with erratic bodywork. Front and rear bumper chrome is new, balance of the chrome and stainless is old. No good surprises await the new owner. – Reported sold at RM’s Houston auction in May 2004 for $16,775. I called it a 4+ then but the new paint (although an effete hue not offered by Pontiac) is better than 10 years ago. A little over 4,000 more miles show on the odometer, so the seller got some utility value and the new owner can enjoy the car, if not the color, at this price.Lot # S099.1 1958 Chevrolet Bel Air Impala Convertible; S/N F58T205419; Engine # None; Black/Black vinyl; Black vinyl top; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $100,000 – 348, three 2-barrel carbs, Powerglide, P/S, P/B, cassette stereo, spinner wheel covers, whitewall radial tires, dual rear antennas, continental kit, skirts. – No engine number. Good but scuffed older paint. Good chrome, stainless, interior and top. A well restored car done a while ago and subsequently used. Still presentable. – The car is attractive, but without authenticating the engine it is improbable for the seller to get even the reported high bid. It should have been on its way at $70K.Lot # S101.1 2005 Ford GT Coupe; S/N 1FAFP90S15Y401180; Centennial White, Blue stripes/Black leather; Unrestored original, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $340,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $367,200 – McIntosh sound, lightweight wheels, grey brake calipers. – 7 miles from new, shipping stickers still attached. Documented with copy MSO, dealer sheet, original owner’s manual and window sticker. – Mecum has become the place to sell Ford GTs. Each auction has several, and they bring multiples of their original mid-$100K MSRP. Original examples like this, with delivery miles and shipping stickers intact are no longer rare, but they still bring exorbitant prices of which this is a good example. The fascination is remarkable. Ford GTs have no history, no provenance, no competition success. They’re just limited production. ‘Rare’ doesn’t enter into it, as the succession of pristine examples shows. It’s New Money looking for an accepted outlet to show off. That said, this is what they bring, give or take a late model Camaro or two.
Mecum Anaheim 2014 – Auction Report Page Six
Lot # S104 1957 Pontiac Bonneville Convertible; S/N P857H33147; Kenya Ivory, Tartan Red accent/White, Tartan Red leather; White vinyl top; Concours restoration, 1- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $115,000 – 347/315hp fuel injection, automatic, P/S, P/B, P/W, power bench seat, spinner wheel covers, whitewall radial tires, skirts, WonderBar radio, power rear antenna, stainless rear fender stone shields. – Excellent paint, very good chrome and interior. Good engine compartment showing age but little use. An older concours restoration that is still very good but showing age. – The bidders missed the boat, or the ’57 Bonneville market has crashed when we weren’t looking. This is a $135,000+ Bonneville all day. Rare, cool, sweet looking and fast, it’s far more than most 57’s ever hoped to be. I’d lose the rear wheel skirts, but beyond that there is nothing of note to criticize about this Bonneville.Lot # S110 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 124379N632943; Engine # V0409DZ; LeMans Blue, White stripes/Black vinyl; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $76,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $82,080 – 302/290hp, crossram dual quads, cowl induction, 4-speed, Hurst shifter, P/B, 3.73 Positraction, rosewood grain steering wheel, spoilers, Rally wheels with trim rings, Wide Oval tires, cassette stereo, console gauges. – Freshly restored, better than new cosmetics and attention to detail. Crisp engine compartment. – Aside from having drum rear brakes, this is everything an enthusiast could ask for in a Z/28. It was reported sold at Russo and Steele in Monterey in August for $48,400; the reported high bid here is 50% more and even at this is not excessive. Bought right three months ago and found the right audience here.Lot # S114 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 Convertible; S/N 136670B147029; Cranberry Red, White stripes/Red vinyl; White vinyl top; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $65,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $70,200 – 454/360hp, 4-speed, cowl induction, F41 suspension, P/S, P/B, factory A/C, Rally II wheels, Tiger Paw GTS tires, Hurst shifter, console, factory gauges, cassette stereo, tilt steering column. – Described as a ‘correct date-coded engine block.’ Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Lightly scuffed stainless. Later rotary A/C compressor. Orderly and clean engine but lightly grimy down deep. Restored like new, then used carefully. – Considering that an LS6 would cost twice this much, and its performance would be used only at the owner’s peril, this ‘date-coded’ LS5 represents an astute balance between rarity and usability. The new owner paid a reasonable price for its 4-speed, cowl induction and factory A/C. A choice Chevelle at a realistic price.Lot # S117 1954 Buick Skylark Convertible; S/N 7A1060929; Jordan Grey, White wheelwells/Light Blue leather, Blue inserts; White vinyl top; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $132,500 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $143,100 – 322, Dynaflow, P/S, P/B, chrome wire wheels, wide whitewalls, P/W. – 1995 AACA Grand National and Senior winner. Very good paint, chrome, stainless, interior and top. Hood has been repainted over chips and blisters. Sharp interior, dash and gauges. Clean, orderly engine compartment showing only a little age. A quality older restoration to better than showroom condition that is holding up very well. – Like it’s almost fresh from the Motorama display, this twenty year old restoration is still in very good condition (aside from the clumsily repainted hood.) Collectors pay this much for Chevys and don’t get Buick performance, quality or ’54 Skylark rarity. The price is right, but the car is more than the money it brought.Lot # S122 1957 Oldsmobile Starfire 98 J-2 Convertible; S/N 579K01911; White/White, Dark Grey leather; Black vinyl top; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $85,000 – 371/300hp J-2, three 2-barrel carburetors, bat wing air cleaner, automatic, P/S, P/B, spinner wheel covers, whitewall bias ply tires, WonderBar radio, power bench seat, P/W, power antenna, Autronic Eye. – Excellent paint, chrome, stainless, interior, top and engine compartment. Restored like new with better cosmetics. Crisp, bright dash and gauges. A very pleasing J-2 convertible ready to show with pride. – $20,000 short of a reasonable price, the Saturday bidders in Anaheim were bottom feeding when this J-2 Olds crossed the block.Lot # S123.1 1965 Halibrand Shrike Indy Car; S/N None; Yellow/Black vinyl; Competition car, original as-raced, 4- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $75,000 – Hilborn FI, centerlock mag wheels, offset suspension, rocker arm front, trailing arm rear. – Unrestored and neglected for years. Oxidized metal. A project. – The star of the neglected, oxidized, tired old open-wheel race cars at Mecum’s Anaheim auction. Reputed to have an Ollie Prather history (owner or driver is not clear) and Indy, Milwaukee and Ontario history. In the absence of more details this must be regarded as a pig in a poke, and a car worth no more than the sum of its parts and un-numbered Meyer-Drake Offenhauser engine. Original and dilapidated throughout, it would take a huge leap of faith to pay over $30,000 for it.Lot # S126 1968 Shelby Mustang GT500KR Convertible; S/N 8T03R215889-04119; Red/Black vinyl; White vinyl top; Older restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $122,500 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $132,300 – 428/335hp, automatic, P/S, P/B, Shelby 10-spoke alloy wheels, F60-15 Polyglas GT tires, A/C, grille-mounted fog lights, AM-FM, rear antenna, tilt steering column. – Sound but dirty and water spotted paint, good chrome, stainless needs polishing. Engine compartment is dirty and neglected. Dash and gauges are good except for some discolored plastic. A sound old restoration that has not enjoyed a good life even if it’s covered only the 933 miles showing on the odometer since it was done. – An ordinary automatic transmission Shelby KR convertible, competently but not exceptionally restored a long time ago and not very well taken care of since, this is all the money for a car that with some attention, polishing and detailing can make a much better impression.Lot # S130 1955 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster; S/N VE55S001500; Engine # 0340616F55GR; Harvest Gold/Yellow vinyl, Green paint; Green vinyl top; Older restoration, 2- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $87,500 – 265/195hp, 3-speed, chrome valve covers and air filter, wheel covers, bias ply wide whitewall tires, WonderBar radio. – Very good older paint, chrome and interior. Engine compartment is attractive on top but showing age down deep. Underbody also is aged and dirty. A rare car and a good older restoration to showroom condition but in need of freshening. – Sold by RM in Arizona in 2011, three years ago, from the Jerry Peterson collection for a magnanimous $170,250 and believed to be one of 70-80 built with close ratio 3-speeds late in the production run. This is a rare Corvette, but it will be a long time (even in dogs’ years) before its value gets anywhere close to its 2011 transaction. Still, the reported high bid here is not appropriate to its rarity.
Mecum Anaheim 2014 – Auction Report Page Seven
Lot # S133 1958 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible; S/N J58S104815; Engine # F218CT; Red, White coves, Red hardtop/Red vinyl; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $75,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $81,000 – Hardtop only. 283/245hp, dual quads, 4-speed, WonderBar radio, spinner wheel covers, radial whitewalls. – Described as ‘Matching Numbers CT Suffix’ but also as ‘Date Code Correct’. Probably that means the seller believes it was built as a dual quad car, just not this date code correct dual quad block. Good paint, chrome, interior, chrome and stainless. Engine compartment was sprayed all over with matte black, then the ‘date code correct’ engine with its aluminum painted valve covers was dropped in. A pretty cosmetically restored driver, but no more than that. – Reported sold by Mecum at Kissimmee in January 2012 for $67,840 and appears to have been given its quick cosmetic redo subsequently. This is a generous price for a mediocre Corvette with a suspect engine history, even in these attractive colors. ‘Matching numbers’ is a confusing and often misleading term that should always be approached with care and even skepticism.Lot # S133.1 1970 Plymouth ‘Cuda Hemi 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N BS23R0B178823; Rallye Red, Black vinyl roof/Black vinyl; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $185,000 – 426/425hp Hemi, dual quads, automatic, P/S, P/B, Rally-style wheels with trim rings, F60-15 Polyglas GT tires, pushbutton radio, 4.1 Sure Grip Dana 60 axle, rim blow steering wheel, elastomeric front and rear bumpers, Red shaker hood, console, 6-way driver’s seat. – Heavily optioned, two fender tags. Restored better than new with excellent cosmetics everywhere. Clean, crisp and sharp. – Sold at Barrett-Jackson in 2006 for $189,000, slightly less than what it would have brought were it to have hammered sold here at the reported high bid. Hemi ‘Cudas have been up, and now back down, since ’06 but this example is still better than the reported high bid. Not a lot better, but surely worth $200K hammer.Lot # S135 1957 Chevrolet 3012 Cameo Carrier Pickup; S/N V3A570115831; Engine # F416LA; Red, Ivory accent/Ivory vinyl, Red cloth; Older restoration, 2- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $47,500 – 283/185hp, 2-barrel, Hydra Matic, P/S, radio, heater, windshield and side window visors, hubcaps, trim rings, bias ply whitewall tires, Ivory bed with varnished oak floor. – Restored like new with very good paint, chrome, interior and engine compartment. Seat covering is lightly stretched and soiled. Preparation and detailing are lacking, chrome is water spotted. Big chip on right door edge. Underbody and chassis are dirty. A better truck than its presentation. – The neglected presentation doomed this Cameo, a few hundred bucks spent cleaning and detailing would have returned the seller many times more than the expense and probably resulted in meeting expectations. Ignoring presentation requires bidders, who have only a few minutes to peruse and evaluate an auction vehicle, to look through the grunge and neglect to appreciate underlying quality. That is rarely a recipe for sellers’ satisfaction, let alone maximizing value, a lesson this consignor learned the hard way with a no-sale.Lot # S137 1953 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible; S/N 536219617; Red/Red leather; Black cloth top; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $210,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $226,800 – 331/210hp, automatic, P/S, chrome wire wheels, wide bias ply whitewall tires, WonderBar radio, P/W, parade boot, exposed rear spare. – Freshly restored to better than showroom condition without losing control. Wonderful paint, brilliant chrome and stainless, flawless interior. Done right everywhere. – Worth every penny, a car that will always stand out from the crowd whether it’s on the show field or at cruise night. The Homecoming Queen will look right at home sitting on the parade boot waving to the crowd, who will probably be equally struck by the Eldo as by the Queen.Lot # S147 1968 Chevrolet Corvette 427/435 Coupe; S/N 194378S420615; Engine # T0315IU; Blue/Black vinyl; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $48,000 – 427/435hp, aluminum heads, 4-speed, P/S, P/B, AM-FM, T-tops, Rally wheels, Red line tires, AIR pump, P/W. – Represented as matching numbers, California Black Plate. Decent paint, chrome and interior. Orderly engine compartment but not restored like new. – A correctly-stamped aluminum head L89 engine with a good, but not exceptional, restoration. Offered into a market that has many such cars available with better restorations its presentation failed to excite the Anaheim bidders, although even at that the reported high bid is far, far below what it should have been. Under the circumstances it is reasonable to surmise that it arrived on the block to a collective yawn and was quickly whisked away to ‘The Bid Goes On’.Lot # S147.1 1930 Jim Culbert Sprint car; S/N None; Red/Black vinyl; Competition car, original as-raced, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $24,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $25,920 – Model B 4-cylinder, Culbert ohv head, two Winfield updraft carbs, friction shocks, coil ignition, hydraulic rear wheel brakes, chrome frame and suspension, Rudge wire wheels. – Water pump belt missing. Decent paint and upholstery. Chrome is aged and slightly rusted. Engine is aged but not used much if at all. Described as built by Jim Culbert with an ohv head of his own design and never raced. Might be a fun project. – Another one of the several open wheel race cars offered in similar aged and neglected condition at Mecum Anaheim that appear to have come from the same collection. This is a reasonably priced way to go vintage oval racing, and a potentially rewarding winter’s project.Lot # S149 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 124379L526917; Silver, Black stripes/Black vinyl; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $50,000 – 302/290hp, 4-speed, Hurst T-handle shifter, cowl induction, P/S, P/B, Rally wheels with trim rings, Radial T/A tires, tube headers, pushbutton radio, console gauges. – Represented as matching numbers. Cosmetically restored a while ago with good clearcoat paint, then driven. Scuffed stainless, foggy instrument gauge lenses, dirty under windshield corners. Orderly but lightly used engine compartment. Not like new since 1969 but more than good enough to drive proudly. – The auction described this Z/28 in glowing terms that the car did not support on even cursory inspection. The reported high bid could have bought it with little regret in its current condition. To get more the seller will have to spend time and money to remedy its more egregious condition issues.Lot # S156.1 1973 Porsche 911T 2.4 Coupe; S/N 9113103144; Engine # 6135629; Red/Black vinyl; Unrestored original, 2- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $90,000 – 5-speed, later Porsche alloy wheels, sport seats, Blaupunkt AM-FM, Michelin blackwalls, warranty book, owner’s manual, tool kit. – Polisher scuffed original paint, good original interior and brightwork. Clean dashboard and gauges, clean, orderly engine compartment. Clean, tidy original underbody. Odometer shows 37,711 believable miles. Exceptionally good and original for its age. – References call out this chassis number as a 157hp 911E, not the 134hp 911T, a conclusion also supported by the engine number. As a T it should have well and truly gone away at the reported bid; as an E it should have brought more. It was also offered by Mecum at Monterey in August where it was reported bid to $110,000 but did not sell. The consignor better get it straight before wasting more money on transportation and entry fees.
Mecum Anaheim 2014 – Auction Report Page Eight
Lot # S158 1936 Ford Deluxe Convertible Sedan; S/N 2992711; Dark Green/Brown leather; Beige cloth top; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $42,500 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $45,900 – Hubcaps, trim rings, wide whitewalls, grille guard. – Very good older paint, chrome, interior and top. Restored thirty years ago. Cosmetics have held up very well; engine and chassis are clean but show the age of the restoration. An attractive, honest old car, better than most drivers. – Accompanied by an attentive, informed, talkative owner who had owned it for a long time and given it the attention it needed, this is the right way to sell a car at auction. It looks good and there is an answer for every question to put potential bidders at ease. The price it brought is modest for its presentation and the rare convertible sedan body.Lot # S159 1948 Lincoln Continental Cabriolet; S/N 8H181940; Canyon Tan/Brown leather; Brown cloth top; Concours restoration, 1 condition; Hammered Sold at $56,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $60,480 – Hubcaps, trim rings, bias ply wide whitewalls, radio, heater, grille guard, bumper tips, skirts. – Freshly restored to concours condition. Nuff said. – Bought right on the money, a result that is fair to both the buyer and the seller but still representing very good value to the new owner, a car to be proudly owned and driven.Lot # S162 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 136370K185171; Fathom Blue, White stripes/Parchment vinyl; Older restoration, 2- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $60,000 – 454/360 hp LS5, 4-speed, Hurst shifter, cowl induction, factory gauges, bench seat, AM-FM, Rally II wheels, Wide Oval tires, P/B, P/S. – Good paint, chrome and interior. Restored to showroom condition a while ago, still highly presentable but a little used, with some oil mist and road grime in the back of the engine compartment and under the fenders. – Reported sold by Barrett-Jackson in Palm Beach in 2007 for $71,500, then at WestWorld in Scottsdale in 2009 for $59,400, the restoration is holding up well and the equipment is desirable, but it is worth little or nothing more than the reported high bid.Lot # S166.1 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB Berlinetta, Body by Pininfarina/Scaglietti; S/N 07633; Engine # 07633; Red/Tan leather; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $2,150,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $2,322,000 – Short nose body, chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, Michelin XWX tires. – Restored like new fifteen years ago and still in show quality condition if a little aged. Known history from new. – Offered at Mecum’s Monterey auction in August with a reported high bid of $1.8 million but little apparent interest, it sold here for a realistic price that represents full value for the seller and a realistic value for the new owner.Lot # S169 1954 Jaguar XK 120 Roadster; S/N S674804; Beige/Brown, Tan leather; Modified restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $115,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $124,200 – 3.8 liter, 3 SU carbs, 4-wheel disc brakes, chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, dual aeroscreens and head fairings, Bluemel’s style banjo spoke leather rim steering wheel, Halda Speedpilot, aircraft altimeter and 24-hour chronometer, 4-point Simpson belts, quick release outside fuel filler, fog lights, headlight stoneguard, Blockley 6.00×16 tires, no bumpers. – Good paint and interior. Clean orderly engine compartment. Chassis and underbody show age and use. Looks like a wonderful, fact, fair weather (there is no provision for a top) tour and event car. – Offered by Auctions America at Burbank in 2013 with a reported high bid of $105,000, then at Mecum Monterey last August with a bid of $100,000. The new owner was all over this car after the sale, like someone who had just successfully bagged long-sought prey. It’s not inexpensive, nor necessarily acceptable to the Jaguar purists but it will be a great track day car and a hoot on the California Mille or Colorado Grand. There are a lot of very desirable bits and pieces on it, as well, like the Speedpilot and Borrani wire wheels, and it is a sound value at this price.Lot # S203 1972 Plymouth GTX 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N RM23U2R235120; Mohave Tan Metallic, Matte Black Air Grabber/White vinyl; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $35,000 – 440/280hp, 4-speed, buckets, Hurst pistol grip shifter, rally style wheels, Radial T/A tires, Air Grabber hood, wing, P/B, no P/S. – Glossy clear coat paint, bright chrome, good upholstery and interior trim. Dull gauges, dusty, oily, dirty engine. Dry original underbody. Road Runner stickers added. Driver quality with shiny paint, represented as matching numbers engine and transmission. – A no-sale earlier this year at Mecum’s Monterey auction with a reported bid of $27,500, this is a usable but not particularly exceptional GTX and it could have been let go at the reported high bid here.Lot # S212 1964 Chevrolet Impala SS 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 41447U151563; Engine # None; Gold/Saddle vinyl; Older restoration, 2 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $55,000 – 327/300hp, automatic, P/S, P/B, A/C, pushbutton radio, buckets and console, spinner wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, rear antenna. – No engine number on block. Very good paint, interior and bright, shiny chrome and stainless. Engine compartment is nearly like new. Represented as matching numbers. A quality, thorough restoration with only a little dust of a 1-family owned from new Impala SS hardtop. – No matter how much the family may cherish this car, or how much they sunk into its restoration, the price offered here in Anaheim is reasonable for it. It’s not exceptional in any way beyond its very good restoration, an ordinary Impala SS for which a realistic offer was made.Lot # S252.1 1973 Porsche 911T 2.4 Coupe; S/N 9113101924; Engine # P6133685; Red/Black vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $30,000 – Fuchs wheels, Goodyear blackwall radials, Nardi woodrim steering wheel, satellite radio. – Good paint with some orange peel overlooked. Sound interior. Clean engine compartment, engine number matches Porsche CofA. Not sharp, but presentable and usable. – Unlike its counterpart offered earlier, based on its chassis and engine numbers this is definitively a US-spec 911T but it fared no better from the Anaheim bidders. It was not an import crowd.Lot # T007 1964 Ford Thunderbird Coupe; S/N 4Y83Z180571; White/Blue vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $8,500 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $9,180. No Reserve – 390/300hp, automatic, cassette stereo, wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, P/S, P/B. – Sound older partial repaint. Otherwise a sound, clean, orderly, largely original T-bird. – A modest price for a usable and distinctive old T-bird.
The badge on the side of the red Corvair indicates it’s a Monza. If it was a Corsa, it would say CORSA in that location. I had a ’66 Corsa.
I thought I’d covered that discontinuity with the observation, ‘Corsa badged but naturally aspirated.’
This was such a crapcan that mis-describing its configuration is but a smudge upon its overall miserable presentation.
Rick
1966 CORSAs came standard with a 140hp 4x1bbl version, which is what I had, or an optional 180hp turbo. Saying it is CORSA badged is flat out wrong. That front fender badge is a Monza badge. I think what you’re attempting to say is that the seller presented it as a CORSA or CORSA engined. The 140 hp 4x1bbl engine was optional on the Monzas and 500s, so it probably had the CORSA standard engine, but the car is definitely a Monza.
Thanks, I stand corrected.
Rick
F102.1 Mini is not a 1969 car as represented…a 1969 would have exposed door hinges…the hidden door hinges came something like 10 years later…my guess…a later car with a title transplant.
You’re probably correct, at least a ’69 ID plate carefully drilled out and re-installed on one of the new shells available in the UK. That’s consistent with the many modifications.
Rick