That’s how many dollars worth of collector vehicles Mecum Auctions has sold since its first auction in Houston in 2012. Mecum did it by selling 2,588 lots with an average transaction value of $39,321.
It is a remarkable achievement, from nothing in 2011 to three Texas sales a year in 2015, Houston in spring, Dallas (also since 2012) in September and Austin (new in 2014) in December. The three Mecum auctions in Texas in 2014 racked up just shy of $80 million in transactions.
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The ‘Top Sale’ data is added because of its influence on the dramatic sale total in 2014 with the sale of Ford GT 40 s/n GT/104. Take it out and 2014 is a $25 million sale consistent with 2013 and 2015. The average transaction would drop over $11,000 to $37,579. A big transaction can seriously skew the way the numbers appear.
2015 is probably about the optimum result for Mecum Houston. 900 cars is about all the venue can accommodate comfortably and this is only a three-day event, an average of 300 lots/day (not including Road Art automobilia.) It is significant that the median transaction in 2015 was up substantially from prior years, attesting to better consignment quality.
Mecum has, as its Houston results show, awakened the collector car market in Texas. It is an extraordinary accomplishment.
[Andrew C. Newton provided the on-site observations for Mecum Houston; the editor is responsible for their translation and comments in these reports.]
Mecum Houston 2015 – Auction Report
Lot # T072.1 1974 Triumph Spitfire Roadster; S/N FM13290; Orange/Tan vinyl; Black vinyl top; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $5,500 plus commission of 9.09%; Final Price $6,000. With Reserve. Orange steel wheels with chrome trim rings, wood shift knob, cassette stereo, leather-wrapped steering wheel. – Tired, scratched up chrome. Average quality respray a while ago that has crazing all over and was probably never that shiny. Decent top and decent interior, but it faintly smells like cigarettes. A shabby late Spitfire that doesn’t impress in any way, but it could be a neat little thing to enjoy while making small improvements here and there. – One of few cars in the world that would benefit from an air freshener hanging from the inside mirror. Tacky, but not overwhelming to keep running, this is the right money for it.Lot # T096 1960 Jaguar Mark IX 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N 792414BW; White/Red leather; 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $16,500 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $17,820. No Reserve. Reserve. 3,781/220hp, automatic, Black steel wheels with hub caps and trim rings, Firestone blackwall tires, dual wing mirrors, Lucas driving lights, skirts, locking filler cap, sunroof, bench seats, wood dash and window trim, CD stereo, wood fold-out tables in back of the front seats. – An older body-off restoration. Good chrome. Pretty tired paint. Clean engine bay and undercarriage. Interior wood is good but past its prime. Very lightly worn interior. A solid driver, but only a driver. – Sold for $16,585 at RM’s auction in Boca Raton in 2004. This kind of money for a thoroughly presentable Mark IX is surprisingly low, but this kind of thing happens with no reserve lots that cross the block on the first day of the sale. Even another ten grand wouldn’t have been excessive here, so the buyer should be thrilled.Lot # T130.1 1997 Ferrari F355 Berlinetta, Body by Pininfarina; S/N ZFFXR41A9V0109360; Yellow/Black leather with suede inserts; Original, with major mechanical repairs, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $32,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $34,560. With Reserve. Bridgestone Potenza tires, power windows, air conditioning, Blaupunkt CD stereo. – Very good paint. Small scrape under the front lip. Fantastic interior. Clean engine bay and undercarriage. Recent timing belt service and represented with new tires, clutch and interior, which makes you wonder why a Ferrari with 16,446 miles on it would need an interior. All in all it’s a beautiful car made more desirable by the open-gate six-speed instead of flappy paddles. – Of the seven Ferraris in Houston this year, this was the cheapest and went way below market value even for a bad example. Ah, but it came with a title branded “Rebuilt” which is the curse of death and why although it sold for $44,280 at Mecum’s Kissimmee auction three months ago it was flipped here at a $12K+ loss. Your first loss is your least loss and keeping it would only depreciate it more. The new interior suggests a fire, with all the havoc that entails to these cars’ complicated wiring and electronics. It was no bargain even at this price.Lot # T205 1955 Studebaker Commander Regal 2-Dr. Sedan; S/N 8846400; Light Green, , Dark Green roof and tail/Light Green with Gray cloth inserts and piped in Dark Green; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $12,500 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $13,500. No Reserve. Reserve. 259/165hp, column shift 3-speed, dual exhaust, dark green steel wheels with full wheel covers, Firestone wide whitewalls, dual mirrors, bench seats, pushbutton radio, dash clock. – Tires look ancient. Dull, possibly original chrome. Good paint with some microblisters on the hood and tail. Clean undercarriage and engine bay. Partially cosmetically restored and lightly used. Very good interior. Crack in the center of the steering wheel. – Raymond Loewy’s breathtaking design for the postwar Studebakers didn’t age well at the hands of the ‘stylists’ at Studebaker who steadily made its front look like a bottom-feeding fish. Steady performers with the factory 259 V-8, they came alive with an engine transplant, especially with the stick shift transmission. This isn’t a lot of money for a car that still draws admiring glances and favorable comments, even in this condition.Lot # T220 1991 Lotus Elan Convertible; S/N SCCGA36B3MHF26900; Red/Black, Red leather; Black cloth top; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $17,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $18,360. With Reserve. Tinted windows, OZ wheels, Dunlop Direzza tires, K&N air cleaner, Sony cassette stereo, power windows, air conditioning. – Several long scratches on the hood. Decent paint otherwise. Very good top. Very good interior. Original and showing only 18,335 miles. Clean engine bay. Pretty good as far as these cars go. – A 90s Elan is like a Miata but less attractive, less reliable, front-wheel drive and with some more straight line performance and a few more luxury bits. You buy this car for the badge (the Lotus one, not the unmistakable Isuzu script you see when you open the hood). That Lotus badge is something people are willing to pay for, however, and the price brought for this good example wasn’t excessive.Lot # T240 1993 Ford Mustang GT Convertible; S/N 1FACP45E1PF150524; Teal, , Silver underbody/Black vinyl with Dark Gray cloth inserts; Black vinyl top; Unrestored original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $9,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $9,720. With Reserve. 5 liter/205hp, automatic, Goodyear Eagle tires, fog lights, power windows, air conditioning, cassette stereo. – Scrapes on the left side of the front bumper. Sound original paint and top. Excellent original interior. Not like new by any means, but an incredibly well kept car for what it is and represented as 9,564 miles from new. If you went back in time 20 years and visited some used car lots, you’d find cars just like this with that very ’90s teal over silver paint and just a few miles on the clock. 1993 was the last year for the Fox body Mustang. – The buyer here got a barely used V-8, rear-drive convertible for nine grand, a market appropriate price. Fox body Mustangs have gained a lot of appreciation lately, but this shows that good ones can still be had for cheap, especially when it brought $13,200 at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale in 2014.Lot # F050.1 1956 Ford Fairlane Town Sedan 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N M6FT253630; Light Blue/Blue, Gray cloth; Unrestored original, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $19,000. With Reserve. M-Code 292/202hp Thunderbird V-8, Ford-O-Matic transmission, dual exhaust, body color steel wheels with wheel covers, whitewalls, skirts, bench seats. – A somewhat basic car and doesn’t look like much, but a spectacular time capsule example with original paint, chrome and interior other than the newer carpets. It even has the original dealer badge on the tail from a place called Market Motors. Paint is a little dull and there are a few touch ups on the hood but overall it’s great. Very good original chrome. Lightly discolored interior but it’s solid and complete. Tidy engine bay and undercarriage. Odometer shows 44,660 miles, a reading that’s entirely reasonable from new, it’s that well preserved and presented. – A mundane but highly original car like this is something of a quandary to value and the failure to find a mutually agreeable meeting ground between the seller’s appreciation of its originality and the buyers’ disdain for its family hauler body style is understandable.Lot # F056 1987 Ford Mustang Saleen 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 1FABP41EXHF228642; White, , Blue side stripes/Gray cloth; Modified restoration, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $16,500. With Reserve. Nitrous, 3.55 limited slip, 5-speed, Hurst shifter, Goodyear Eagle F1 tires, rear spoiler, white alloy wheels, Bassani exhaust, Hurst shifter, Kenwood cassette stereo, power windows. – Very good interior. Sound, shiny paint. Clean engine bay. Light general age throughout the whole car, but much better than you’d expect for a car almost thirty years old and with a bottle of NOS in the back even showing only 38.872 miles on its odometer. Thoroughly documented from new, even the original window sticker. – In 1987 this was state-of-the art in Mustang performance, a car that shouldered serious street and strip credibility. Most of its performance counterparts from the late 80’s have been passed on, beaten on and left to die but this one’s preservation is remarkable. The reported high bid, however, seems fair for what it is.
Mecum Houston 2015 – Auction Report Page Two
Lot # F091 1977 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith II 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N LRF30377; White, , Dark Blue vinyl roof/Dark Blue leather; Cosmetic restoration, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $13,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $14,040. No Reserve. Reserve. Black steel wheels with hub caps and trim rings, store brand narrow whitewalls, badge bar, sunroof, power windows, pushbutton AM/FM radio, wood dash and window trim. – Mileage exempt. Presented with new paint, exhaust and tires, but the rest of the car leaves quite a bit to be desired. Dull, lightly scratched chrome. Grubby engine bay. Worn upholstery with small rips in the driver’s seat. Strong roof vinyl. Rolls-Royce made over 30,000 of these, so it’s worth it to wait for a better one. – This is one of those typical old Rolls-Royces that comes at a cheap (and in this case market appropriate) price and could easily fool you into thinking it “just needs a little work”, but a little work in the case of Rolls-Royces can quickly add up to the purchase price of this Silver Wraith II. The seller claims $30,000 spent on its cosmetic restoration and probably (and wisely) gave up before spending more after realizing it was money down a rat hole. A sound, but not good, value.Lot # F092 1987 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet; S/N WP0EB0917HS172506; Red/Tan; Black cloth top; Unrestored original, 4+ condition; Hammered Sold at $16,500 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $17,820. With Reserve. Black Fuchs wheels, Primewell tires, snorkel brake light, whale tail rear spoiler, VDO dash clock, power windows, Alpine CD stereo, power seat, air conditioning. – Water damage reconstructed vehicle from Louisiana. Bad paint. Swirl marks, scratches and dings everywhere. Top has light scuffs and stains. Interior is quite worn, but it doesn’t smell musty. Dull exterior plastic. Dirty, grimy engine bay. Sap mark on the hood. Two huge cracks in the windshield. – With old sports cars it is best to take your time and wait for a good example. “Water Damaged Reconstructed” is about as big of a red flag as possible, probably after getting a case of VD from a slut named Katrina. This car wasn’t gussied up to try to hide anything, and the winning bidder paid generously for what he got … a never-ending headache.Lot # F097 1968 Chevrolet Camaro SS 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 124378N392530; Corvette Bronze, , Black hood stripe/Black vinyl; Older restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $45,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $48,600. With Reserve. 396/350hp, 4-speed, body color steel wheels with hub caps, Firestone red line tires, bucket seats, woodrim steering wheel, Muncie shifter, radio, power steering, power brakes. – L34. Represented as matching numbers, documented with its window sticker. Restored in 1992, a Super Chevy magazine feature car. One small ding on the nose but excellent paint otherwise. Very good chrome. Excellent interior. Done well and done right and has therefore aged very well. – A pretty car, done right years ago and conscientiously maintained which brought an appropriate price for both the quality of the restoration and the desirable equipment.Lot # F107 1970 Dodge Challenger RT/SE 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N JS29N0B137507; Ivy Green Metallic, , White vinyl roof/Black vinyl; Older restoration, 3 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $38,00. With Reserve. 383/335hp, automatic, BF Goodrich Radial T/A tires, air conditioning, power steering, power brakes, bucket seats, cruise control, AM/FM radio, Rallye gauges. – Roof vinyl is ok but the fit is a little weird. Very good interior. Good chrome. Used but clean engine bay. An older body-off restoration that has been enjoyed. – Reported sold by Russo and Steele in Scottsdale in 2006 for $38,500 and offered by Mecum in Austin in December 2014, the value of this RT/SE is going nowhere, probably because the car has been driven. Come to think of it, that’s not a bad investment for the seller, trading several years of use and enjoyment and getting out at about what you put in, but it’s time to recognize the psychic income and let the car go for what is a reasonable reported high bid (and in fact it sold two weeks later at Mecum’s Kansas City auction for the hammer bid reported here.)Lot # F123 1960 Dodge Dart Phoenix 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 5302173465; White/White vinyl with Blue cloth inserts; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $47,500 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $51,300. With Reserve. 318/255hp, 4-barrel, Torqueflite push button automatic, dual exhaust, black steel wheels with wheel covers, Coker Classic whitewalls, power steering, bench seats, pushbutton radio. – Not a commonly seen car. New interior that is excellent. Excellent paint and chrome. Even gaps. A fantastic and showable first year Dart. – The Phoenix was the premium trim level for the Dart in 1960 above the Pioneer and base Seneca. Sold at Mecum’s KC auction in December 2014 for $37,800, offered at the Leake OKC auction in February where it bid to $37,000. This must be one of the best restored examples around, which is something that the bidders clamored for enough to bring a slightly excessive price. The seller did well to wait for the serendipitous moment.Lot # F125.1 1957 Metropolitan 1500 Series III Coupe; S/N E32374; Blue, , White underbody and roof/White vinyl with Black cloth inserts; Older restoration, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $11,500 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $12,420. With Reserve. Column shift 3-speed, body color steel wheels with chrome hub caps and trim rings, narrow whitewalls, fender skirts, bench seat, rear-mounted spare wheel with white vinyl cover, radio. – Restored five years ago. Clean engine bay. Good, presentable interior, but the paint looks a lot older than five years and has microblisters along the rockers and several sizable dings on the right rear fender. Dull chrome. Big dent in the left front fender. Clearly used a lot since restoration. It’s not an eyesore, but it’s nothing more than a casual driver. – By 1957, the Metropolitan had dropped the Nash name and was sold just as a Metropolitan, and a 1500 cc BMC B-Series engine had replaced the 1200 cc A-Series unit. These are worth less than the earlier Nash-badged cars, and the price paid for this decent driver-quality example was all the car’s condition could bear.Lot # F131.1 1949 Hudson Commodore 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N 49218950; Burgundy, , White roof/White leather piped in Burgundy; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $20,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $21,600. With Reserve. 262/121hp, column shift 3-speed, white steel wheels with full wheel covers, BF Goodrich Silvertown whitewalls, dual mirrors, bench seats, radio, dash clock. – A frame-up cosmetic restoration. Very good chrome. Good, high quality paint with a chip on the edge of front passenger door and a crack below the trunk. Cracking rear quarter window moulding. Rear door fit slightly off. Long crack on front quarter window. Very good, lightly worn interior. A mostly excellent car, but a few too many isolated flaws take a lot away from its otherwise great presentation. – Sold at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale in January for $17,600 where it was represented as 70,704 original miles and now shows 70,712. It did well to turn a small profit here after just three months.Lot # F149 1998 Chevrolet Corvette Pace Car Edition Convertible; S/N 1G1YY32G8W5117580; Purple, , Yellow/Yellow, Black leather; Unrestored original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $27,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $29,160. With Reserve. 350/345hp, automatic, yellow wheels, Goodyear Eagle F1 tires, power windows, air conditioning, CD stereo. – Good but not exquisite paint with a few dings on the mirrors. Wear on the upholstery looks deeper than the low 5,838 miles on the odometer would suggest. Probably driven for a bit and then put away, like most Pace Cars. – Not everyone likes these ribbon graphic Pace Cars’ design but there is no doubt they are hard to miss. The price is full retail even giving full credit to the low miles.
Mecum Houston 2015 – Auction Report Page Three
Lot # F153 1975 Porsche 914 Targa; S/N 4752909748; Malaga Red, , Black roof panel/Black vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $12,000. With Reserve. 2-liter, 84hp, 5-speed, Geostar tires, tinted windshield, KYB shocks, Maxtek cassette stereo. – Vinyl roof not actually vinyl but sprayed on like a bedliner and was done quickly and unevenly. Decent interior other than three small rips in the driver’s seat. Dull exterior plastic with fit slightly off on the front bumper. Pretty good, presentable paint. Fairly clean. A driver-quality four-cylinder 914, nothing more and nothing less. – It’s tempting to question the seller for holding on to this unremarkable car after getting a $12,000 high bid, but as Porsche prices at the top end of the spectrum have climbed rapidly upwards, they’ve dragged along the budget models with them. The bid was realistic, especially since it was reportedly bid to $16,000 at Auctions America’s Ft. Lauderdale auction a few weeks ago. It isn’t getting any better with age and when rerun on Saturday brought a bid of only $8,000, leaving the seller to regret not taking the money and moving on.Lot # F167.1 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible; S/N 194677S100463; Dark Red, , Black stinger/Black vinyl; Black cloth top; Older restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $66,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $71,280. With Reserve. 427/390hp, 4-speed, side exhaust, chrome hub caps and trim rings, rear luggage rack, radio, dash clock. – Used and a bit dirty engine bay. Large paint chip that’s cracking out in several directions on top of the stinger and a small touch up on the tail, but otherwise very good paint and chrome. Exhaust surround on driver’s side is beat up towards the front end. Very good interior. Very good top. A fairly high quality older restoration that’s been driven around. – An attractive big block ’67 convertible, but there are a few criticisms and the L36 had the lowest output of the big blocks. All things considered, this was an appropriate price and both buyer and seller should walk away with no regrets, especially since it sold at the Leake Tulsa auction in June 2013 for $61,600.Lot # F176.1 1956 Chevrolet Cameo Carrier Pickup; S/N V3A56J006773; White, , Red window trim and bed/White vinyl with Red cloth inserts; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $55,000. With Reserve. 265/145hp, Hydra-Matic transmission, white steel wheels with hub caps and trim rings, American Classic whitewalls, wood bed sideboards, windshield visor, radio. – Hood and door fits are erratic. Excellent wood other than two small scratches on one of the posts. Very good paint and chrome. Clean engine bay and undercarriage. Very good interior. This is a very pretty truck restoration done to higher standards than most trucks. – Even in such good restored condition it is hard to imagine this Cameo Carrier bringing much if any more than the reported high bid.Lot # F192 1991 Acura NSX Coupe; S/N JH4NA1156MT003006; Red, , Black roof/Black cloth with Red stitching; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $27,00. With Reserve. HP Design wheels, Nankang tires, power windows, air conditioning, Alpine stereo. – Mileage exempt but showing 78,131 miles. Rough-looking wheels and tires. Paint looks terrible with drip marks that have eaten through the finish everywhere. The consignor said it happened en route to the auction when the car above it sprung a leak. Good interior. More ’91 Acura than thoughtfully preserved supercar. – NSXs are, deservedly, gaining a higher profile but selling one with etched paint from caustic dribbles, no matter where they originated, is more than auction buyers will countenance. It needs a quality repaint (at the transporter’s expense?) to find a buyer.Lot # F197.1 1958 Chevrolet Apache Cameo Pickup; S/N V3A58K198255; Turquoise, , Ivory/Black vinyl; Truck restoration, 3 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $32,500. With Reserve. 283 V-8, floor shift 4-speed, black steel wheels with chrome hub caps and trim rings, windshield visor, wood bed boards, factory radio. – Some dings in the brightwork. Average quality older paint with cracks and chips along the drip rail and rust poking through. Pretty tired, lightly scratched chrome. Used but tidy engine bay. Door fit is off. Very good interior. It looks like no one has even sat on the passenger’s side. A standard truck restoration that’s pretty for what it is but it wasn’t done to super high standards. – The reported bid is nothing if not generous for a ’58 Cameo in this condition. If there was money the seller should have grabbed it with both hands.Lot # F199 1965 Chevrolet Corvair Monza Convertible; S/N 105675W292312; Regal Red/Red vinyl; White vinyl top; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $11,500 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $12,420. With Reserve. 164/110hp, Powerglide, steel wheels with wheel covers, store brand all season tires, bucket seats, Delco AM/FM radio, red vinyl top boot, air conditioning. – From the Charlie Thomas collection. Lightly discolored top. Dull older paint and chrome. The front bumper is especially bad. Very good interior. Grubby original engine bay. A maintained car that’s barely presentable. – For a mid-range Corvair Monza Convertible in this condition, this was appropriate money. Neither buyer nor seller hit a home run, but the buyer will have a certain satisfaction in driving a sporty, rare and conversation-worthy car.Lot # F200 1965 Mercury Monterey Marauder 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 5Z47Y580348; Carnival Red, , Black vinyl roof/Black vinyl with cloth inserts; Unrestored original, 3 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $27,500. With Reserve. 390/300hp, automatic, wheel covers, Firestone narrow whitewalls, bench seats, pushbutton radio, documented with the original bill of sale, owner’s manual, warranty card and partial build sheet. – From the Charlie Thomas collection. All original. Very good original engine bay. Paint is a bit dull. Roof vinyl and interior are both very good. A time capsule car with just 38,734 miles on the odometer. – There’s a premium for originality, which this example has in spades, but the reported high bid was more than enough for the car in question and whatever the reserve was, it was excessive. It sold here a year ago for $27,000 and neither it nor the market value of Marauders has gotten any better in twelve months.Lot # F201 1953 Chevrolet Bel Air 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N C530034016; Surf Green, , Woodland Green/Dark Green leatherette with tan cloth inserts; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $22,500. With Reserve. 235/108hp, column shift 3-speed, body color steel wheels with full wheel covers, Firestone whitewalls, Unity spotlight, skirts, bench seats, pushbutton radio, dash clock. – From the Charlie Thomas collection. Sizable ding and chip on the nose. Very good chrome. Good paint. Very good interior. A sound, lightly used older restoration. – Sold at B-J Scottsdale in 2009 for $27,500, then four years later in 2013 for $26,400, this Bel Air’s value is not going up with age.
Mecum Houston 2015 – Auction Report Page Four
Lot # F206 1969 Plymouth Road Runner 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N RM21H9E156315; Medium Green Metallic/Black vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $36,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $38,880. With Reserve. 383/335hp, Torqueflite 727 transmission, body color steel wheels with hub caps, BF Goodrich Silvertown red line tires, bucket seats, 8-track AM/FM stereo. – From the Charlie Thomas collection. Manual steering and brakes, so it’s a bit more taxing to drive and it has the base Road Runner 383 engine. Clean engine bay. Very good older repaint. Excellent interior. – It might have base equipment, but that just means that it’s the cheapest way to get into a Road Runner of this vintage and it’s still more than enough car to have fun with. The reported high bid is appropriate to the car.Lot # F207 1971 Chevrolet Monte Carlo 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 138571B167522; Tuxedo Black, , Black vinyl roof/Black vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $18,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $19,440. With Reserve. 350/270hp, automatic, dual exhaust, Rally wheels with hub caps and trim rings, Road Hugger Radial G/T tires, power steering, power brakes, bench seats, tilt steering column, woodgrain dash, dash clock, air conditioning. – From the Charlie Thomas collection. Tidy used engine bay. Sound older paint with a few chips near the top of the hood. Decent chrome. Good roof vinyl. Very good interior. Very good chrome. Believed to be 71,706 actual miles and looks like it. – Sold at B-J Palm Beach in 2013 for $18,700, offered here a year ago with a reported high bid of $20,000 and sold reasonably today for what it is. It’s safe to infer that the Monte Carlo market is going exactly nowhere.Lot # F208 1990 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z Convertible; S/N 1G1FP33F0LL128306; White, , Silver, Gold side stripes/Grey cloth; Black cloth top; Unrestored original, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $25,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $27,000. With Reserve. 305/210hp, automatic, Goodyear Eagle ZR59 tires, fog lights, power windows, air conditioning, Delco AM/FM cassette stereo, – From the Charlie Thomas collection. Barely used top to bottom with just 5,746 miles on it. Very good paint. There is a small tear in the top but otherwise it’s very clean and straight. Excellent original interior. Almost new, but not quite. – An unusual car with great performance (for its day) but the originality premium is 50% of the price it brought, a generous allowance for what it is.Lot # F215 1954 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster; S/N E54S004446; Pennant Blue/Tan vinyl; Tan top; 3 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $64,000. With Reserve. 235/150hp, Powerglide, red steel wheels with spinner wheel covers, Firestone wide whitewalls, pushbutton AM radio, dash clock. – Original but complete and tidy engine bay. Very well kept, lightly worn interior. Cracking steering wheel rim. Ding on the right front fender. Dull paint, but no big flaws other than scratches on the boot cover and a couple of chips around the filler cap. A largely original car that’s gotten attention when it needed it and today presents like a pretty driver. – The ’54 Corvette didn’t just come in Polo White. It could also be had in Sportsman Red, Black and Pennant Blue like this example. For an example in this condition, the reported high bid was plenty especially since it sold for $52,800 at Auctions America in Ft. Lauderdale three weeks ago for $52,800. If there was money anywhere on the planet it should have been gone like a phantom.Lot # F233 1937 Cord 812 Supercharged 4-Dr. Sedan Westchester; S/N; Engine # FC2693; Black/Maroon cloth with Black piping; Unrestored original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $55,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $59,400. No Reserve. Reserve. 289/170hp, supercharged, 4-speed preselector, steel wheels with hub caps, Firestone wide whitewalls, amber driving lights, bench seats. – From the Tom Goodlett collection. ACD Category One. Big scrape on the left front fender as well as scratches and dings all over both fenders. Crazing on the hood and cracking around the windshield. Old, discolored tires. Very good interior. A highly original supercharged Cord with just the right amount of patina. – Easily one of the most dramatic automobiles every built, a black 812 sedan with outside exhaust headpipes exudes sinister presence. In the opinion of many it is the sedan, whether Beverly or Westchester, not the Sportsman or Phaeton, that best presents the elements of Gordon Buehrig’s timeless design. This example has all the right stuff and brought a deserved premium price for its condition and originality. It’s not show-ready, but it will still make its statement on the road.Lot # F238.1 1973 Jaguar XKE SIII V12 Roadster; S/N UD1S21757; Primrose Yellow/Black vinyl; Black top; Unrestored original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $85,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $91,800. No Reserve. Reserve. Automatic, centerlock wire wheels, Dunlop Axiom narrow whitewalls, black vinyl top boot, rear luggage rack, Sherwood cassette stereo. – From the Tom Goodlett collection. Leaking coolant. Terrible paint. Tired chrome. Door fit is off. Reasonably tidy engine bay. Lightly worn but driver quality interior. Top boot is in rough shape. Bumper moulding is cracking. Used but dry undercarriage. This is an original car, but it’s in rough shape from top to bottom and the 70,291 miles on the odometer were not carefully racked up. – The bidders took the phrase “something is only original once” very seriously with this car and ignored the shabby presentation and fluid leaks to bid this car to 30% more than it should have brought. Original it may be, but it is for all practical purposes not usable in its current condition. Similar Series III E-types are not uncommon, making the premium even more extravagant.Lot # F239 1987 Lotus Esprit Turbo Coupe; S/N SCCFC20AXHHF61049; Red/Tan leather; Unrestored original, 4+ condition; Hammered Sold at $12,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $12,960. No Reserve. Reserve. Gold BBS wheels, Michelin Pilot tires, black rear window slats, removable roof panel, Blaupunkt cassette stereo, wood shift knob, power windows, air conditioning, locking filler cap. – From the Tom Goodlett collection. About ten big chips out of the paint on the driver’s side of the nose and two chips out of the passenger’s side. Scuffs all along the front of the nose and the plastic bumper, which itself is coming off. Numerous scrapes along the bottom of the front lip and a huge drop of dried sap or some such once sticky substance on the lip. One headlight isn’t closed all the way. The rest of the paint is dull and the interior is worn out and smells musty, but the engine bay is clean in comparison to the rest of the car. The car is far worse than it looked in the catalog. A sports car with just 29,168 miles on it shouldn’t look this used, even if it is a Lotus. Originality is great and all, but this car isn’t old enough for the barn find phenomenon and there are surely better Esprit Turbos out there. – 1987 saw the last of the Giugiaro-styled third generation Esprits before the model received a thorough redesign by Peter Stevens and came out later that year. The price paid here was appropriate for a worn out example like this, but for only a few grand more (and likely a lot less than it will take to get this car right), the buyer could have gotten a much prettier working example.Lot # F249.1 1978 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe Pace Car; S/N 1Z87L8S902058; Black, , Silver/Silver leather; Unrestored original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $13,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $14,040. With Reserve. 350/185hp, automatic, Goodyear Eagle GTII tires, dash clock, later Alpine CD stereo. – From the Ed Page collection. Awful-looking paint that is dull, cracking, and has scratches throughout as well as big cracks on the nose. Showing 95,427 miles and it’s a tired car overall. The interior at least looks much better than the mileage would suggest, but the steering wheel is worn out. – The Corvette celebrated its 25th anniversary by pacing the Indy 500, and 6,500 of these were sold to the public. The “instant collectible” frenzy that followed them prompted a front page article in the Wall Street Journal looking at them as investments. Paying a fortune for one back then turned out to be a bad idea, and although they command a premium and prime examples can fetch impressive prices at auctions today, this one just presented like the worn out ’78 Corvette with the base 185-horsepower 350 that it is. The money it brought was appropriate for a C3 in this worn condition with some extra thrown in for the Indy 500 script, especially considering that it sold at Mecum’s Indy auction in 2012 for $10,000.
Mecum Houston 2015 – Auction Report Page Five
Lot # F257 1981 DeLorean DMC-12 Coupe; S/N SCEDT26T9BD002868; Stainless/Black leather; Unrestored original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $26,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $28,080. No Reserve. Reserve. Cooper Cobra tires, power windows, later Sony stereo. – Bumper is a bit lumpy. A few scratches on the front and one on the roof. Otherwise good bodywork. Interior wear corresponds with the 60,109 miles on the odometer. A decent example of a car that’s not often pampered and too new to restore, but it’s far from the best. – The Houston bidders were seduced a bit by the novelty of gullwing doors and the Back to the Future nostalgia, but the price paid wasn’t too expensive, just a little expensive.Lot # F258 1966 Ford Thunderbird Landau Coupe; S/N 6Y87Q133261; Emberglo, , White vinyl roof/White vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $7,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $7,560. With Reserve. 428/345hhp, automatic, black steel wheels with wheel covers, store brand narrow whitewalls, landau bars, bucket seats, power windows, 8-track stereo. – Long scratch on the left front fender. Tired paint with swirl marks everywhere. Tired roof vinyl. Worn upholstery and woodgrain. Very dull chrome. Imperfect trunk fit. Dings around door edges. A pretty ugly car overall. – About the most valuable feature of this T-bird is the Emberglo color that will make it a standout in any T-bird gathering, at least until onlookers get close enough to realize how shabbily it has been treated. The price it brought is all the money for its condition.Lot # F263 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Convertible; S/N 11304412008017; Silver, , Dark Gray hard top/Black vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $75,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $81,000. With Reserve. Automatic, steel wheels with color coded wheel covers, Michelin Rain Force tires, Becker Mexico radio, VDO dash clock, air conditioning. – Repainted in the early 1990s. Engine overhauled last year and transmission resealed. Paint is excellent and looks almost new rather than the 20-plus years advertised. Chrome is a little tired but presentable. Very good interior. Engine bay is thoughtfully original but cleaned up. A maintained car that’s never been fully restored but has gotten the attention it needed when it needed it. – This result would have been top price three years ago, but Pagoda SLs have since been market stars and this is now a reasonable amount to pay. The clues the car left about its ownership were positive and the new owner likely has plenty of enjoyable miles awaiting.Lot # F300 1970 AMC AMX Coupe; S/N A0C397X13650; Light Green/Black vinyl; Recent restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $29,500 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $31,860. With Reserve. 390/325hp, 4-speed, Go Package, Ram Air, power steering, power disc brakes, American Racing wheels, BF Goodrich tires, woodrim steering wheel, pushbutton radio, Command Air ventilation, woodgrain dash. – Decent chrome. Very good paint. Visibly worn upholstery. Used but tidy engine bay. Represented with 500 miles since restoration and it still looks very good. – 1970 was the last year for the true AMX, and though they’re more than competent two-seater performance cars, they’ve always been somewhat undervalued, as this below market result shows and a sound value to the new owner.Lot # F317 1948 Willys Jeepster Phaeton; S/N 46372591; Light Yellow, , Black/Black vinyl piped in Yellow; Black cloth top; Cosmetic restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $22,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $23,760. With Reserve. 149/72hp six, column shift 3-speed, black steel wheels with chrome hub caps and trim rings, Coker Classic whitewalls, rear-mounted spare wheel, bench seats. – Body-on restored. Very good, fresh, pretty Jeepster in eye-catching colors. Pretty from top to bottom. The only real flaw is that the top frame is fairly scratched up. – Re-run of Thursday T186 where it was bid to $20,000 and the seller should be highly satisfied with the extra two grand. A pretty Jeepster that will be enjoyably driven in its present sharp condition.Lot # F318 1957 Cadillac Series 75 Limousine; S/N 57508790; Black/Black vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 4+ condition; Hammered Sold at $13,500 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $14,580. With Reserve. 365/300hp, Hydra-Matic transmission, steel wheels with wheel covers, Coker Classic whitewalls, tinted glass, bench seats, pushbutton radio, air conditioning, glass division, intercom, dash clock, rear footrests. – Dirty, rough-looking engine bay. Tired chrome. Light scratches, chips and dings all over old paint. Straight bodywork. Very good interior that looks newer than it is. A mostly original car that would benefit from a straightforward restoration. – It might benefit from a very expensive restoration but it is unlikely to get what would prove to be money down the drain. Rerun of Thursday T234 where it was bid to $17,000, a blow to the seller whose timidity was rewarded with a $3,500 hit.Lot # S002 1995 Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe; S/N WP0AA299XSS321405; White/Black leather; Unrestored original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $38,500 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $41,580. With Reserve. Alloy wheels, Michelin tires, tinted glass, sunroof, power windows, Alpine stereo, air conditioning, VDO dash clock. – Two small rock chips on the nose. Front license plate would cover them up. Very good paint, clean engine bay. Visibly but very lightly worn interior. The stone guards are the only things showing anything close to the age that the mileage would indicate. It’s a used car, but it was very well taken care of. – This result indicates the recent strength of even late model 911s, a generous price when considered in historic terms but in line with recent enthusiasm for the model.Lot # S005 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme 442 Convertible; S/N 3J67K2M229327; Beige/Brown vinyl; Brown top; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $17,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $18,360. With Reserve. 350/250hp, automatic, Uniroyal Tiger Paw GTS tires, power steering, power brakes, power top, dual mirrors, bucket seats, air conditioning, brown vinyl top boot, wood shift knob, pushbutton radio. – Very clean engine bay. Solid frame. Rough, dull, fading older paint with orange peel. Several touch ups behind driver door. Big chip behind the right rear wheel. Long scratch in the right front fender. Very good interior. Well kept car except for the terrible paint. A car for someone who wants to brag about owning a 442, but doesn’t want to pay collector car money for a real one. – Re-run of Thursday T124 which was reported bid to $20,000, which was an altogether generous for a diesel beige 1972 faux-faux-two, a performance car in name only. The result here is more appropriate.
Mecum Houston 2015 – Auction Report Page Six
Lot # S039 1967 Pontiac GTO 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 242177K120418; Dark Red/White vinyl; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $36,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $38,880. With Reserve. 400/360hp, Turbo Hydra-Matic, 3.23 Safe-T-Track rear end, dual exhaust, power steering, power brakes, Rallye wheels, Coker Classic red line tires, bucket seats, His and Hers shifter, woodgrain dash and console, factory radio. – Very clean engine bay. Very good paint, chrome and interior. Woodgrain is original and showing its age. Nothing exquisite, but very strong car. Mostly restored and done well. – Sold at Branson Spring in 2003 for $19,345, then six months later in Branson for $18,815 when it had 54,295 miles showing compared with 56,086 today. It then sold for $27,030 at Mecum’s Indy sale in 2012 and a wholly inexplicable $50,290 at Mecum KC in December 2013. The result here settles back into the realm of reason even if it is fully valued for the restoration’s age and the automatic.Lot # S044 1966 Chevrolet Nova SS 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 118376N143093; Black/Black vinyl; Older restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $62,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $66,960. With Reserve. 327/350hp, 4-speed, black steel wheels with hub caps, red line tires, bucket seats, power steering, AM radio, console, later Pioneer stereo. – Very good paint and chrome. Hood fit is slightly off. Excellent interior. Fresh car. Represented as matching numbers. The L79 SS is the Nova to have, and this one is in prime condition. – The Nova is a wildly fun package when equipped with the 327/350 motor and 4-speed, and this one looks purposeful in black over black. Prices for these tipped past $90,000 two years ago (and some asking prices still linger in that range) but have since come down. The amount traded here was a slight bargain, but one the seller needn’t second guess.Lot # S046 2000 Ferrari 550 Maranello Coupe, Body by Pininfarina; S/N ZFFZS49A8Y0120680; Silver/Tan, Black leather; Unrestored original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $57,500 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $62,100. With Reserve. 6-speed, Continental DW tires, Pioneer stereo with touch screen, power windows, air conditioning. – Front lip is scraped and gouged to the point that it looks like a shark attacked it. Sizable crack and some rock chips on the nose. Scuff above left headlight. Scrape on driver’s side mirror. Many scratches below the trunk. Huge scrape running down from the front of the passenger door with small dents and paint flaking off. Passenger door fit is off. Lightly worn upholstery. Showing 71,919 miles and clearly not loved or pampered. – A 15-year-old Ferrari shouldn’t need a repaint, but this one almost hurts to look at up close and a trip to the body shop and then a respray would go a long way. The seller had a realistic idea of what this car was worth, and let it go for reasonable money.Lot # S057.1 1984 BMW M6 Coupe; S/N WBAEE310001050525; Champagne/Black leather; Unrestored original, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $39,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $42,120. With Reserve. 3.5/286hp, 5-speed, BBS wheels, Michelin Pilot Sport tires, fender flares, Getrag 5-speed, Euro spec catless exhaust, headlight washers and wipers, sunroof, air conditioning, Recaro front seats, CD stereo, power windows. – One owner car. Imported in 1985 by consignor. Decent chrome. Very good original paint. Lightly worn upholstery. Gorgeous, clean engine bay. European market M6s are the ones to have, with 286 horsepower from the M88 straight-six as opposed to 256 in the North American version. – A good, clean, stylish E24 M in the attractive coupe body, but generously priced even with the thirty more hp from the Euro engine.Lot # S062 1968 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 138378K244927; Engine # 18K244927; Matador Red/Black vinyl; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $52,000. With Reserve. 396/375hp, 4.10:1 12 bolt rear end, Rallye wheels, chrome hub caps and trim rings, BF Goodrich Radial T/A tires, bucket seats, Muncie shifter, radio, documented with build sheet. – Body-off restored. Very good, very clean engine bay and undercarriage. Excellent chrome. Trim around the wheel wells fits imperfectly. Very good paint and interior. Not done yesterday, but a very pretty car. –Lot # S063.1 1993 Ferrari 348ts Serie Speciale Coupe, Body by Pininfarina; S/N ZFFRG36A8P0095763; Red/Tan leather; Unrestored original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $50,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $54,000. With Reserve. Pirelli P Zero tires, power windows, air conditioning. – Very good, lightly worn interior. Sound paint with no major flaws. Showing 19,598 miles, which corresponds to the general lightly used condition of this car. – 88th of 100 TS Serie Speciale cars built for the US market in 1992 and 1993 that featured a little more power, a wider rear track and a shorter final drive as well as a different front spoiler, grille, bumpers and rocker panels. More attractive and faster than a regular 348, but it’s still a 348, one of Ferrari’s least coveted models. Given this car’s condition, the $50,000 high bid was enough. There are two in the current issue of FML for $45K.Lot # S073.1 1988 Porsche 911 930 Turbo Cabriolet; S/N WP0EB093XJS070396; Guards Red/Black with Red stitching; Black cloth top; 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $63,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $68,040. With Reserve. Chrome Fuchs wheels, Bridgestone Potenza tires, Fabspeed muffler, snorkely brake light, power top, whale tail rear spoiler, power seats, power windows, climate control, later Sony CD stereo, power top. – Worn top. Slightly dull exterior plastic. Good, shiny paint with a few scratches on the nose and front bumper. Very good interior. 56,822 original miles on the odometer. Used but tidy and maintained engine bay. A somewhat lightly used, mostly original car that looks good enough despite some imperfections. The bodywork is all metal but presumably this isn’t a real slant nose or the consignor would have made a bigger deal out of it. – A condition 3 Porsche 930 for condition 3 Porsche 930 money.Lot # S083 1970 Ford Mustang Mach 1 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 0F05M201521; Grabber Blue, , Black hood and side stripes/Black vinyl; Recent restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $27,500 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $29,700. With Reserve. 351/250hp, 4-speed, Radial T/A tires, rear window louvers, rear spoiler, shaker hood, dual mirrors, power steering, power brakes, bucket seats, Hurst shifter, woodrim steering wheel, Sony cassette stereo. – Passenger door fit slightly off. Very good paint. Decent chrome. Very good interior. Well restored, but not over the top. – More sexy looking than sexy performing, this is a reasonably enjoyable Mach 1 driver in very good condition at a realistic price.
Mecum Houston 2015 – Auction Report Page Seven
Lot # S088.1 1959 Jaguar XK 150 Drophead Coupe; S/N S838216; Cotswold Blue/Gray leather; Gray cloth top; Cosmetic restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $152,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $164,160. With Reserve. Centerlock wire wheels, BF Goodrich Silvertown wide whitewalls, dual wing mirrors, Lucas driving lights, locking filler cap, wood shift knob, wood dash. – Represented as a frame-up restoration done two years ago. White parts of the tires are crazing/cracking. Passenger door fit is off. Very good paint, chrome and interior. Interior shows barely any signs of use. Cleaned up but not detailed engine bay. A very pretty car that you could be proud of, but it is far from perfect. – The car offered here hardly meets what is expected of the described ‘frame-up restoration’ but the bidders paid enough money for it to acquire the best non-S 3.4 liter XK 150 drophead in the world, probably with a little left over. Seriously, this result is 50% over a realistic value for this car’s specifications and condition.Lot # S094 1972 Chevrolet Corvette LT1 Convertible; S/N 1Z67L2S502299; Ontario Orange/Black vinyl; Black top; 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $36,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $38,880. With Reserve. 350 LT1 engine with modifications including ceramic coated headers, Crower cam, larger radiator, Holley 750 CFM carb, chrome hub caps and trim rings, BF Goodrich Radial T/A tires, Kenwood CD stereo, dash clock. – Very good, clean engine bay. Sound older paint and interior, but lightly worn and not fresh. A very pretty older restoration to enjoy with the top down. – 1972 was the last year for the LT1 option, by which time the engine made 270 horsepower, a full 100 down from what it made in 1970. Modifications on this ’72 LT1 are claimed to have brought it back up to the 1970 number of 370. It was reported sold at here in 2012 for a generous $63,600 and offered at Mecum Dallas in 2014 with a reported high bid of $35,000. The price here was right on the money for a ’72 example, but the buyer here gets the performance of a more desirable early LT1 at a considerable discount while accepting the risks inherent in buying a modified car. All in all, a reasonable result with the seller some $25,000 in the hole for the experience.Lot # S094.1 1963 Chevrolet Corvette FI Coupe; S/N 30837S101194; Red/Black vinyl; Older restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $127,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $137,160. With Reserve. 327/360hp fuel injection L84, Muncie 4-speed, centerlock alloy wheels, Firestone red line tires, radio, dash clock. – NCRS Top Flight in 2009. Represented as matching numbers engine. Used but clean engine bay. Pitted original exhaust manifold. Very good paint and chrome. Excellent interior. A high quality body-off restoration that’s not super fresh, but needs nothing of any real consequence. – With one mile showing on the odometer this Fuelie Vette must have gone straight from the restoration shop to NCRS judging to the barn where it has sat ever since although the condition of the engine bay may raise questions about the restoration shop’s final step, attaching the cable to the back of the speedometer. The result here is appropriate and maybe even a little light for the car’s specifications and passing NCRS muster, a much better value in both rarity and performance than the XK 150 Drophead that sold just a few lots before for $27,000 more.Lot # S100 1969 Dodge Daytona Hemi 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N XX29J9B386573; Charger Red, , Black wing and bumblebee stripe/Black vinyl; Recent restoration, 1- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $625,000. With Reserve. 426/425hp Hemi, dual quads, 4-speed, Hurst pistol grip shifter, A33 Dana 60 Track Pack, Steel wheels with wheel covers, Goodyear red line tires, power front disc brakes, buckets and woodgrain console, Rallye instrument cluster, solid state AM radio, woodrim steering wheel. – Very pretty detailed engine bay. Excellent paint and interior. Among the world’s best, and a huge standout with this equipment. – Dodge Daytonas are much more rare than Plymouth Superbirds, especially with Hemi power and a 4-speed but it is hard even taking that into account to conceive of this car being worth substantially more than the reported high bid.Lot # S105 1970 Plymouth Road Runner Superbird 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N RM23R0A181254; Blue, , Black vinyl roof/White vinyl; Older restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $480,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $518,400. With Reserve. 426/425hp Hemi, 4-speed, A33 Dana 60 Track Pack, Rallye wheels, Polyglas GT tires, power steering, power front disc brakes, Hurst pistol grip shifter, bucket seats, Rally instrument cluster, AM radio. – Clean, detailed engine bay. Clean undercarriage. A few light scratches by right hood latch, but otherwise excellent paint. Very good roof vinyl. Excellent interior. Inevitably displayed next to the Daytona at the front of the red carpet. Rarity made it second choice to the Dodge, but this is still a great example. – And it is a more realistic result.Lot # S106 1935 Brewster V8 Town Car; S/N 182087137; Maroon, , Black/Black leather in front, Gray cloth in back; Older restoration, 3 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $50,000. With Reserve. Cream painted wire wheels with chrome hub caps, BF Goodrich Silvertown wide whitewalls, Tilt Ray headlamps, chrome radiator mascot, wood running boards, suicide doors, rear-mounted spare wheel, opera windows, jump seats, sliding glass rear division, wood window trim, dash clock. – Roof vinyl is good but a bit lumpy. Big touch up on top of the front passengers side window. Black paint is dull and lightly scratched. Door fit is off on all four. Some paint is flaking off the wheels. Small dent in the left side of the hood. Clean undercarriage. Very good, lightly worn interior. Advertised as a 2 1/2 year restoration, but that was some time ago. – Even with beaucoup money and a pedigree that was even better than Gerry’s numerous thoroughbreds the Thirties were a touchy time to ride around in mega-dollar luxury cars. Brewster filled the need for a more subtle alternative by applying its renowned coachbuilding skills (and distinctive heart-shaped radiator grille) to Ford V-8 chassis, thus creating one of the ironies of the classic era. It is a CCCA Full Classic ™ and a valued addition to any Ford collection. This one was reported bid to $59,000 at Russo and Steele’s Monterey auction last August and, given its deteriorated condition, could have been sold here with minimal regret for the reported high bid.Lot # S108 1965 Ford Mustang GT Convertible; S/N 5F08K639174; Dark Blue, , White side stripes/Light Blue, White vinyl; White vinyl top; 2 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $52,500. With Reserve. 289/271hp K-code engine, 4-speed, US Royal red line tires, dual mirrors, woodrim steering wheel, Rally Pac column-mounted tach and clock, later cassette stereo, woodgrain console, glovebox and instrument panel. – Very good, detailed engine bay. Very good paint and chrome. Door fit is slightly off, more on the passenger’s side. Good top with a couple of tiny scuffs. Very good, lightly worn interior. A great soft top Mustang GT, body-off restored and a desirable K-code 271-horse car as well. – Given this car’s great presentation and desirable equipment, it deserved quite a bit more and the seller would be wise to truck it off to another auction where he will hopefully have better luck in search of the $70,000 or so it should bring.Lot # S114 1973 Ford Bronco Utility; S/N U15GLQ57071; Avocado Green, , White roof/Avocado Green vinyl with Houndstooth cloth inserts; Truck restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $44,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $47,520. With Reserve. 302/205hp, automatic, white steel wheels with full wheel covers, BF Goodrich All-Terrain T/A tires, rear-mounted spare wheel with black vinyl cover, Ranger Package, Skid plates, power steering, bucket seats, AM radio. – Very clean, detailed engine bay. Wheel covers are original and have a few small dings. Driver’s side door doesn’t shut all the way. Very good paint and chrome, and an excellent interior. A fresh restored truck restoration done to high standards and equipped with the desirable 302 under the hood and the Ranger Package, which was introduced in 1972 and included color keyed carpeting, door trim and instrument panel, houndstooth cloth seat inserts, hood and lower body stripes, swing-away spare tire carrier, spare tire cover and coat hook. – An unusually good and meticulously restored Bronco, in much better condition than this amount would buy in an FJ-40. That may not translate to being a good value, but it is a good relative value and full value for the money.
Mecum Houston 2015 – Auction Report Page Eight
Lot # S115.1 2006 Ford GT Heritage Edition Coupe; S/N 1FAFP90S26Y402002; Light Blue, , Orange stripe/Black leather; 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $475,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $513,000. With Reserve. Alloy wheels, Goodyear Eagle F1 tires, power windows, air conditioning, CD stereo. – Looks practically new as you would expect. Like so many of these (especially the Heritage Editions, of which 343 were built), it went straight from the showroom to the owner’s garage and sat there and now has 13 miles on the odometer. – This car with its 13 miles on the odometer would have been a lot more impressive if Auctions America hadn’t just sold one in Fort Lauderdale with 2.7 miles on it. Even so, this one brought 25 grand more. Like the Fort Lauderdale car, this one is likely just going from one garage to another and probably won’t be seen, heard or driven by anyone other than the Reliable Transport team on an off a truck. Mecum’s track record with the Ford GT in all its various forms is consistently good almost to the point where it wouldn’t be a Mecum auction without a truckload of them. Usually adding their mileage up totals under a hundred miles.Lot # S121.1 1910 Peerless Model 27 Side entrance tonneau; S/N XX4302; Maroon, , Black hood and fenders/Maroon leather; Black vinyl top; Older restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $275,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $297,000. With Reserve. 411 cubic inch T-head four rated 30 ALAM hp, body color wood spoke artillery wheels, white Universal tires, flat chamber carb, automatic oiler, brass Rushmore headlamps, brass hub caps, brass Solar cowl lights, woodrim steering wheel, button tufted leather, wood dash and door trim. – From the Tom Goodlett collection. An older restoration. Dull brass. Chipped, dinged paint throughout and it’s dull. Solid underneath. Cracking on the doors. Very good, lightly worn interior. Decent top. – One of the heroes of the Brass era and a car for which no excuses are needed. Its somewhat worn condition is understandable, because it will be a delight to drive and brought a price that balances its rarity, style, performance and welcome at many enjoyable events against the age of its restoration.Lot # S124.1 1980 Ferrari 308 GTSi Targa, Body by Pininfarina; S/N ZFFAAD2A0032939; Red/Beige leather; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $44,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $47,520. With Reserve. Uniroyal Tiger Paw tires, roof spoiler, power windows, air conditioning, leather-wrapped Nardi steering wheel, later Alpine stereo. – Several scratches, dings and touch ups on and around the vents above the headlights. Very clean original engine bay. Dull exterior plastic, especially on the single driver’s side mirror. Very good original interior. The 51,735 miles on this car are somewhere between low and high for a Ferrari and the 1980 injected cars were down on power, but this mostly original car is in presentable shape and pretty enough to be seen in. – The 1980 308s are the less desirable middle children in the 308 family that have less power than both their predecessors and their successors. They have the same good looks, though, so for someone who wants a Prancing Horse badge and thinks 205 horsepower is plenty for roof-off cruising, they make quite a bit of sense. This was a driver quality example and the price paid was just right.Lot # S133.1 1973 DeTomaso Pantera L Coupe, Body by Ghia; S/N THPNMT04972; Light Red/Black vinyl; 3 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $65,000. With Reserve. Chromed alloy wheels, Michelin Pilot Sport tires, LeCarra leather-wrapped steering wheel, Becker Europa stereo, power windows. – Decent paint. Plastic bumpers are dull and ugly. Very clean trunk. Clean used engine bay. Very good, probably newer interior. Mostly original claimed low mile car showing 39,736 on its odometer that’s been refreshed a bit. – A later Pantera L with the detuned engine and less than elegant single plastic bumper across the front, this is among the less desirable Panteras and this example is no stunner, but at least it has been spared the heavy modification and heavier use that many Panteras have endured. The high bid here was appropriate for a Pantera L in this condition and the consignor would have been wise to take it.Lot # S136.1 1965 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible; S/N 194675S117312; Engine # 5117312; Goldwood Yellow/Black vinyl; Black vinyl top; Older restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $68,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $73,440. With Reserve. 327/365hp with FI added, 4-speed, side exhaust, 3.70 Positraction, Protect-O-Plate, centerlock alloy wheels, Goodyear gold line tires, AM/FM radio, dash clock. – An older body-off restoration that was originally blue on blue. Represented as matching numbers but claims to have an HL engine number, which indicates a restamp after it was upgraded with appropriate but non-original fuel injection. Fantastic paint and chrome. Visibly but lightly worn interior. Used but very clean engine bay. Lightly enjoyed, it’s barely lost any of its freshness. – A quality Corvette that should have taken a knock on account of its uprated engine and color change, but didn’t. This result is a realistic compromise among condition, specifications and configuration with little reward for the owner’s expense to upgrade it.Lot # S138 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 Fastback; S/N 9F02Z173015; White/Black vinyl; Unrestored original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $200,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $216,000. With Reserve. 429/375hp, 4-speed, Magnum 500 wheels, Goodyear Polyglas GT tires, 3.91 Traction-Lok, dual mirrors, power steering, power brakes, bucket seats, console, wood shift knob, Philco radio. – Used engine bay, two touch ups on the left front fender. Lightly crazing paint. Very good interior. A fantastic original unrestored example and showing just 53,793 miles. – After a burst into the stratosphere of pricing a few years ago, Boss Nines cooled off for a while only to re-emerge recently as a hot item among collectors. In the present environment this result is moderate for a known mileage, well-equipped, original car.Lot # S164 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air FI Convertible; S/N VC57S197572; Engine # C; Matador Red/Red, Silver vinyl; White vinyl top; Older restoration, 2 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $105,000. With Reserve. 283/283 fuel injection, column shift 3-speed, radio delete, power top, manual steering and brakes, dash clock. – From the Charlie Thomas collection. 146 miles since body-off restoration. Very pretty detailed engine bay. Very good paint, top and chrome. Excellent interior. Well-equipped driver-oriented Bel Air convertible that’s fresh and ready to casually show or very much enjoy. – Reported sold at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale in 2007 for $110,000, then from RM’s Charlie Thomas collection sale in 2012 for the same price. How it came to be back in Mr. Thomas’s possession to be offered here is a concern, and at the reported high bid it was close enough to what he had in it that it should have gone away.Lot # S169 1954 Mercury Monterey Sun Valley 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 160FH5418272; Light Green, , White roof/White, Light Green vinyl; Older restoration, 3 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $55,000. With Reserve. Merc-O-Matic transmission, body color steel wheels with full wheel covers, Cooper whitewalls, skirts, continental kit, tinted Plexiglas roof, power steering, power brakes, power windows, bench seats, pushbutton AM radio, power windows, dash clock. – From the Charlie Thomas collection. One of 9,751 examples of the Sun Valley, an expensive option on the Monterey that featured green-tinted Plexiglas over the front half of the roof. Very clean engine bay. Very good chrome. Black Mercury script stamped in rear bumper is flaking off. Dull older paint. Cracking all down the drip rail. Plexiglas is lightly scratched. Passenger door fit is slightly off. Good, lightly worn and lightly discolored interior. Owned by an active early Ford V-8 club member for 22 years and a long-time member of the Charlie Thomas collection. Well restored at some point, but it’s showing its age. – The Sun Valley is a fascinating and very well-equipped car that in its day was priced closer to a Lincoln than anything in the Mercury range and today they’re not often seen. This is a sound car, but it’s not in stellar condition and the bidders weren’t excessively enticed by the Plexiglas canopy. The $55,000 high bid here was plenty, even though it sold at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale in 2007 for $68,200.
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Lot # S171 1959 Lincoln Continental Mk IV Landau 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N H9YC424291; Presidential Black/White leather with Black cloth inserts; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $21,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $22,680. With Reserve. 430/350hp, automatic, wheel covers, Remington whitewalls, skirts, bench seats, power windows, Town and Country pushbutton radio, Autronic Eye, air conditioning, power steering, power brakes, power seat. – From the Charlie Thomas Collection. One of 6,146 made. Very clean, lightly used engine bay. Touch up above left rear window. Lightly pitting brightwork. Gold Continental badge and the hood ornament are coming loose. Crack in the windshield running down from the top. Door fit is a little off. Sound paint for the most part. Cloth upholstery is very good, but the leather not so much with visible wear. A largely original car that shows 66,671 miles and likely got a respray some time ago. – Even with this car’s less than gorgeous presentation, the buyer got a ton (actually two and a half tons) of car for his money. The size is one thing, with 227 inches in length and a weight of almost 7,000 pounds, but the huge list of power features is something else The engine may be rated only 350hp but it had stump pulling torque. That said, the price paid was actually generous for a car that for some reason doesn’t quite fetch the same kind of money as a comparable Cadillac. It sold at Barrett-Jackson in Palm Beach two years ago for $20,900 so, depending upon Mr. Thomas’s commission deal with Mecum, is essentially breakeven.Lot # S171.1 1958 Edsel Citation Convertible; S/N X8SY700217; Copper Metallic, , White/White, Copper leather; White vinyl top; Older restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $38,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $41,040. With Reserve. 410/345hp, Teletouch push button automatic, black steel wheels with color coded wheel covers, Goodyear whitewalls, continental kit, power top, power steering, power brakes, bench seats, floating speedometer, pushbutton AM radio. – From the Charlie Thomas collection. Very good older paint and chrome overall, but there are some big flaws in the back. The spare wheel cover is chipped heavily and has rust coming through the exposed spots. The white rear deck is chipped as well. Lightly discolored top. Very good interior. An older restoration that, aside from the trouble spots in the rear, is still very pretty but warrants immediate attention before it gets any worse. – Edsels – particularly the convertibles and station wagons – have a loyal cult following, but not much interest outside that set. This car certainly had some needs, but nothing too daunting for a knowledgeable new owner. No harm no foul, the price is realistic.Lot # S173 1957 Ford Thunderbird Convertible; S/N F7FH342056; Raven Black/Red vinyl; 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $175,000. With Reserve. 312/300hp, Paxton supercharger, automatic, 3.56 rear axle, hard top, black steel wheels with full wheel covers, Firestone whitewalls, skirts, tinted glass, power steering, bench seat, Town and Country radio. – From the Charlie Thomas collection. Several small cracks around the hood scoop. Several larger cracks around the driver door handle. Overall, the paint is older and has seen better days. Engine bay is clean but not detailed. Hard top has some light crazing on the back. Driver door fit is slightly off, but barely noticeable. Very good interior and chrome. The 27,242 miles on the odometer are believed to be actual. One of only around 200 examples of the potent supercharged F-Code Thunderbirds built, but this is an older restoration with its prettiest days far behind it. – Sold new in San Diego, this car is also one of only 25 fitted with a 3.56 rear axle and in general the F-Code is the car that Thunderbird people dream about. It sold at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale in 2003 for $51,840, then at Mecum’s Indy sale in May 2012 for $106,000. The most recent sale, probably to Charlie Thomas, was $124,020 at Mecum Monterey in 2012, and while the market has moved since then, it hasn’t moved that much. If there was money in the room it should have brought the Mecum shout, “The Reserve Is OFF!” long before reaching the reported high bid.Lot # S176.1 1953 Ford Crestline Victoria 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N B3FV232187; Flamingo Red, Sungate Ivory roof/Red, Ivory vinyl; Enthusiast restoration, 3- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $17,500. With Reserve. 239/110hp flathead V-8, automatic, dual exhaust, body color steel wheels with full wheel covers, whitewalls, front and rear bumper guards, dual Wagner spotlight/mirrors, continental kit, dual antenna, bench seats, radio, dash clock. – Advertised as a recent restoration but it was an enthusiast job done with preservation in mind. Restored clean engine bay with some original stuff. Original interior discolored and has rips. Quick respray with some orange peel. Very good chrome. A driver quality car and not particularly pretty. – Sold here a year ago for $17,000 hammer, $18,360 with commission, the seller’s expectation that it might be worth significantly more is sadly misplaced. Attractive but not particularly well done, getting out with only a minimal financial ding is a win for the seller who chose not to take it.Lot # S177 1959 DeSoto Adventurer 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N M491100225; Black, , Gold/Gold, White leather with Black and Gold cloth inserts; Cosmetic restoration, 2- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $70,000. With Reserve. 383/350hp, dual quads, pushbutton automatic, dual exhaust, black steel wheels with full wheel covers, BF Goodrich Silvertown whitewalls, dual mirrors, dual antenna, power steering, power brakes, bucket seats, pushbutton radio, dash clock, air conditioning. – From the Charlie Thomas collection. Good older paint and chrome. Excellent interior. Used but clean engine bay. Paint is older. An older body-on restoration, but a hugely impressive list of equipment and a rare car that compares favorably in quality and equipment with Chrysler’s own letter cars. – Sold at Barrett-Jackson in Scottsdale in 2013 for $46,200, why it didn’t sell today at the reported high bid is hard to fathom, unless there was only a bidding chandelier.Lot # S181 1966 Shelby Mustang GT350H Fastback; S/N SFM6S1991; Raven Black, , Gold stripes/Black vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $125,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $135,000. With Reserve. 289/306hp, 4-speed, American Racing wheels, Comp T/A tires, dual mirrors, roll cage, Hurst shifter, radio, dash tach, woodrim steering wheel. – Mostly unrestored and mostly original paint that is very good overall with a few small dings on the door as well as on the nose and hood scoop. Good chrome. Scratched Plexiglas rear quarter windows. Very good interior. It has an SVRA logbook and has been raced, but not thrashed. – Most of the 999 Hertz Shelbys were automatics thanks to the tendency of enthusiastic renters to return the early 4-speed cars with worn out clutches. Cars with manuals like this one are tempting to bring to the track back at a time when a street car with minimal safety equipment could be driven straight off the access road, into the paddock and onto the track.. This is still a streetable car, though, and could have brought 20 Grand more and still been a good value. Historians note the missed opportunity: in 2002 it crossed the block at the Kruse/eBay Scottsdale auction with 8,798 miles (12,136 today) with a high bid of $28,000Lot # S181.1 1957 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible; S/N E57S104441; Engine # F509EG; Aztec Copper, , White coves/Beige vinyl; Older restoration, 2- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $100,000. With Reserve. 283/270hp, dual quads, 4-speed, spinner wheel covers, BF Goodrich Silvertown whitewalls, hard top and power soft top, pushbutton radio. – One of 452 built in this color, F509EG engine code is appropriate to this configuration. Whitewalls are a little discolored, filler cap hangs open a little bit. Very good paint and chrome. Trunk fit is slightly off. Very good, barely worn interior. Tidy engine bay. An older body-off restoration that’s still very pretty. – Although this is a very pretty car with desirable equipment like the dual quads, 4-speed and power top, it has a couple of flaws and the $100,000 high bid was an appropriate price.Lot # S183.1 1970 Pontiac GTO Convertible; S/N 242670Z111912; Black/Red vinyl; Black cloth top; Recent restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $40,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $43,200. No Reserve. Reserve. 455/350hp, automatic, Positraction, Firestone Wide Oval tires, dual mirrors, hood tach, rear spoiler, power windows, air conditioning, tilt steering column, bucket seats, power steering, power brakes. – A body-off restoration with a used but clean engine bay and undercarriage. Excellent interior. Very good top. Very good paint. One of 241 built with this engine and transmission. Judge striping added later. – It is a lot of car for the money, by any standard, with the look, and the power to back it up. The new owner got a solid car at a moderate price.
Mecum Houston 2015 – Auction Report Page Ten
Lot # S184 1981 Toyota HJ-45 Land Cruiser Troop Carrier; S/N HJ45046214; Beige, , White roof/Brown vinyl; Cosmetic restoration, 3- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $35,000. With Reserve. 3.6-liter diesel, floor shift 4-speed, Hankook Dynapro tires, dual mirrors, tow hitch, later LG radio. – Represented as body-off restored in Costa Rica and legally imported. One of the Land Cruiser badges is coming loose. Engine bay is a little dirty. Presentable shiny paint, but the white roof is laid on too thick and it has globbed and pooled inside the drip rails. Wavy bodywork. Clean used undercarriage. Lightly scratched windows. Very good interior. Usable as-is and almost refreshing for having some flaws and not being overdone. Old Land Cruisers are everywhere and it seems that no auction is without at least one these days, but these longer HJ troop carriers don’t often crop up. – A rare Land Cruiser but done to a price by operatives not realistically described as craftsmen. Its rarity is severely compromised by its presentation and the reported high bid appropriately compromises its value.Lot # S185.1 1960 Porsche 356 B Cabriolet, Body by Reutter; S/N 154195; White/Black vinyl; Black cloth top; Older restoration, 3 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $107,500. With Reserve. 1582/75hp, chromed steel wheels with hub caps and trim rings, dual mirrors, tan cloth top boot, Blaupunkt pushbutton AM/FM radio. – Claimed to be a period correct replacement engine. One of 1,617 cabriolets. Restored ten years ago and recently serviced. Paint crazing around the hood and headlights, more so on the right one. Chips around the door edges. Passenger door fit is slightly off. Lower quality vinyl, but it’s in good shape. Looks like the older basic restoration that it is. This isn’t a prime collector car, but a satisfying driver. No stunner and far from showable, but you wouldn’t be ashamed to be seen in it. – Someone bought this Porsche at the Motostalgia auction in Houston in May 2014 for $93,500 and has been trying to unload it ever since. It was reported bid to $110,000 at Mecum Dallas last September with the same bid at Austin in December. It’s going nowhere and deserves to be unloaded at the first sign of real money over $90K.Lot # S201 2001 Ferrari 360 Spider, Body by Pininfarina; S/N ZFFYT53B000124514; Red/Tan leather; Unrestored original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $72,500 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $78,300. With Reserve. Paddle shifters, Kumho tires, power windows, power seats, Pioneer CD stereo. – Very worn, discolored upholstery and slightly dull but blemish-free paint. Driven 45,137 miles and not pampered. There’s also no mention of recent service, always something to consider with a Ferrari. – Someone got very, very lucky here to get this price for this neglected old 360 Spider. It sold at the Leake Oklahoma City auction last February (2014) for $57,200 and was bid to an appropriate $55,000 at Mecum’s Austin auction in December of last year. The price here is a magnanimous gift for a scruffy 360 Spider.Lot # S203 1971 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible; S/N 1512935366; Blue/Beige vinyl; Beige vinyl top; Cosmetic restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $10,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $10,800. With Reserve. Blue steel wheels with full wheel covers, store brand tires, factory pushbutton radio. – Represented as an older nut and bolt restoration. Tired, pitted chrome. Several dings on the nose. Orange peel on the hood. Chrome is flaking off the rear bumper. Excellent interior and top. A fun driver that has all the charm of a soft top Bug, but nothing to take seriously. – Beetle prices have slowly been floating upward but really only for cars in amazing condition, which this one was not. It’s a car likely to hold its value while the new owner enjoys it, but unlikely to send any kids through college.Lot # S212 1961 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible; S/N 10867S110011; Engine # 1110011F0622C8; Jewel Blue/Blue vinyl; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $90,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $97,200. With Reserve. 283/315hp fuel injection, 4-speed, body color steel wheels with hub caps, BF Goodrich Silvertown blackwalls, hardtop, dash clock, WonderBar radio. – Unusual, gorgeous colors. Represented as a matching numbers Fuelie with a recent body-off restoration and showing just 23 miles since completion. Very good detailed engine bay. Pitted original exhaust manifold. Very good paint and chrome. Excellent interior. – Matching numbers would be “CS” and is probably misread on the block as “C8”. A gorgeous, one year only color and the ultimate driveline specification. NCRS or Bloomington Gold certification is missing, however. That means a lot and is reflected in the price it brought, which could have been well into six figures with the i’s dotted and the t’s crossed.Lot # S229 1955 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible; S/N 556264633; Red/Red, White leather; Older restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $65,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $70,200. With Reserve. Chrome wire wheels, Remington whitewalls, Autronic Eye, power windows, power brakes, power top, bench seats, later cassette stereo, dash clock. – Door fit is slightly off, so is the hood fit. A 2008 restoration that’s been enjoyed and was probably never show quality. Good chrome. Decent paint. Crack on the right side of the hood. Trunk fit is slightly off. Boot cover has blisters and a sizable chip. Lightly worn upholstery. Nothing special, but a fun driver and a brilliant car for parades. – Sold for $42,350 at Barrett-Jackson’s Orange County auction in 2010 and magnanimously priced here for its tired and used condition.Lot # S243 1953 Dodge Coronet 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N D46123686; Dark Green, , White roof/Tan cloth; Unrestored original, 3- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $4,500. With Reserve. Six, column shift 3-speed semi-automatic, red steel wheels with full wheel covers, Denman wide whitewalls, Ram radiator mascot, dual roof-mounted mirrors, bench seat, pushbutton radio, later Sunpro oil pressure and temp gauges. – Sat in a garage for 33 years. Tired old paint with pitting and crazing. Scratched up old chrome. Uneven gaps. Very good original interior. Dirty but dry engine bay and undercarriage. Never a remarkable car and not particularly collectible, but this is a solid restoration candidate for someone who doesn’t want to spend a lot of money getting into a project. – Rerun of Thursday S53, bid to $8,000. A late evening Saturday rerun isn’t likely to find a welcoming audience among the bottom-feeding hangers-on, but even this bid is reasonable for this lump and should have been taken in a heartbeat if there was money even in the bleachers with no bidder numbers. Its blocky sedan body doesn’t even make a good basis for a custom car.Lot # S303 1989 Bentley Turbo R 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N SCBZ403B7KCX25853; White/Cognac leather; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $7,500. With Reserve. Garrett turbocharger, Uniroyal Laredo tires, power windows, power seats, VDO dash clock, CD stereo, burled wood dash and window trim, air conditioning. – Used but not filthy engine bay. Crazed paint with really bad chips and blisters on the nose and especially under the headlights. Long hastily touched up scratch on the hood. Lots of touch ups on the mirror, almost more of them than you can count can be found behind the passenger rear door. Dull exterior plastic. Interior wood has seen better days, but otherwise the interior looks like that of a used car with half the 95,662 miles that this one shows. Used Bentleys can be tempting and this one might be tantalizingly cheap, but you could do a lot better with not that much more money than it would take to buy this one. – You could argue that any Bentley, no matter how bad, is worth more than the reported high bid here, but the seller would have been wise to let it go before anything else went wrong on it.Lot # S321 1965 Austin Mini Traveler Station Wagon; S/N AAW7L715751; Engine # WFM102674NWX; Red, , Wood/Tan vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $8,500 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $9,180. With Reserve. Single SU carb, steel wheels with full wheel covers, Firestone tires, dual wing mirrors, Moto Lita steering wheel, bucket seats, wood shift knob, wood dash. – Filthy engine bay. Very rough, dull paint with chips around the edge of the hood as well as touch ups and bubbles around the drip rails and several big dings on the driver’s side door. Front badge is coming loose. The exterior wood is sound by comparison but is aged and coming up in a few places. Lightly worn but decent driver quality interior. Dry underneath. No rot. Salvageable, desirable woodie but it’s not good enough to enjoy as is. – Rerun of Friday F219, bid to $9,500. The seller got wise, even late on Saturday evening, and took the money.
