The Mecum Kissimmee Auction 2014 was held January 17-26 at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, Florida, resulting in $63,435,490 in total sales and a 64% sell-through rate. The ten-day Kissimmee auction saw 2,750 vehicles and 3,000 items of automotive memorabilia cross the auction block in Florida.
Staged during nationwide weather issues that resulted in thousands of cancelled flights, the 2014 Mecum Kissimmee sale nevertheless saw more than 70,000 attendees taking part in the largest collector car auction in the world. More than 48 hours of the sale were broadcast on NBC Sports and Esquire networks drawing more viewers than any other live Mecum auction broadcast in the auction house’s six-year history on television.
The lineup of Corvettes at the Mecum Kissimmee auction saw a staggering 232 change hands for a total of $11,896,560. The top Corvette result went to a 1968 L88 Coupe (Lot S179) that hammered sold for $530,000, followed by a 1969 L88 Convertible (Lot S165.1) that sold for $510,000, a 1963 Z06 Tanker (Lot S150.1) that hammered at $475,000 and a 1964 Big Tank Coupe (Lot S181.1) that made $350,000. The sale of the headline 1956 Chevrolet Corvette SR Prototype “The Real McCoy” (Lot S132) has been postponed due to third party claims of ownership of parts used in the restoration.
High-performance Fords and Shelbys demonstrated strong sales as well with the modern-day supercar Ford GTs continuing to demand high dollar. A 2006 Heritage Edition (Lot S196) brought $320,000, and a GT wearing Speed Yellow (Lot T181.1) brought $242,500. A total of 68 percent of the 178 Mustangs and Shelbys offered were sold for nearly $5 million dollars in all with a 1969 Boss 429 Fastback (Lot S141) hammering at $240,000.
Mopars were well represented in at the 2014 Mecum Kissimmee Auction with numerous strong prices as 105 of the 155 offered were hammered sold. An unrestored 1971 Plymouth Hemi Cuda (Lot S143) grabbed the top result of $560,000, and the famous 1967 Plymouth Barracuda Hurst “Hemi Under Glass” (Lot S200) hammered at $300,000.
Among European makes, Porsche again grabbed the spotlight with 40 of the 60 offered changing hands with examples like a Gemini Metallic 1973 911S Coupe (Lot S180) selling for $200,000 and a 1958 356A 1600 Super Cabriolet (Lot S85) coming in at $195,000.
Mecum Kissimmee 2014 – Top Ten Auction Results (prices do not include buyer’s premium)
1. 1971 Plymouth Hemi Cuda (Lot S143) – $560,000
2. 1968 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Coupe (Lot S179) – $530,000
3. 1969 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Convertible (Lot S165.1) – $510,000
4. 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Tanker (Lot S150.1) – $475,000
5. 1964 Chevrolet Corvette Big Tank Coupe (Lot S181.1) – $350,000
6. 2006 Ford GT Heritage Edition (Lot S196) – $320,000
7. 1967 Plymouth Barracuda Hurst “Hemi Under Glass” (Lot S200) – $300,000
8. 2006 Ford GT (Lot T181.1) – $242,500
9. 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe (Lot S156) – $240,000
10. 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 Fastback (Lot S141) – $240,000
For complete results, visit Mecum.com.
Mecum’s next classic and collector car auction — featuring 1,000 vehicles — will be held April 10-12, 2014 at the Reliant Center in Houston followed by the April 13th vintage motorcycle auction at the same venue. For more details on an upcoming auction, to consign a vehicle or to register as a bidder, visit Mecum.com or call (262) 275-5050.
[Source: Mecum; photos: John Hollansworth Jr.]
The TV coverage was a disappointment compared to past coverage. No live coverage of the best part of the auction on Saturday!!!! A 64% sell through is also disappointing. From my observation this was not one of Mecum’s best. Sales, sell through, and average price per car was all down from 2013. Several of their featured top cars did not sell. In fact of their eight top cars featured only 1 sold. I think readers would want to know this.
The impression is that when brother Mecum wants the auction to move faster the hammer comes down as soon as he talks the seller into dropping the reserve, yet it is very noticeable how hard the sale of certain customer vehicles get worked after reserve is dropped. I would have to count my fingers after I shook hands with Mr. Mecum to be shure he didn’t steel one.