Mecum Auctions, CenturyLink Field Event Center, Seattle, Washington, June 13-14, 2014
Mecum Auctions is constantly refining its calendar, trying new places and dates, usually with success.
Frank Mecum said, “We looked at where we’re shipping cars, and a lot were heading to the Pacific Northwest so we thought this would be a good place to try an auction.” It turned out that they were right, with a good consignment of cars headlined by the locally-owned ‘Cuda Hemi convertible and Corvette L88 and a huge spectator turnout.
The numbers were not so good with a 51.2% sale rate on 305 of 596 cars sold. The total, at $15,113,131 including commission is credible and the mix of cars sold with an average transaction with commission of $49,551 and $27,000 median transaction (54.5% of the mean) was largely consistent despite the distortion of the $3,780,000 sale to a phone bidder of the ’71 ‘Cuda Hemi convertible.
Mecum knows that you make your own luck and to their credit engineered the ‘Cuda Hemi’s appearance and phone bidder sale to juice the numbers. It could have been sold in the same circumstances anywhere, with perhaps greater probability it might have ignited a bidding war at another venue with deeper pockets in attendance – or willing to step up, since there are hardly deeper pockets than in Seattle, home of Microsoft, Amazon, Costco, Boeing and many more technology heavyweights.
The venue, the CenturyLink convention center between the Seahawk’s CenturyLink Field and the Mariners’ Safeco Field, was filled to capacity with cars, even out into the Centurylink lobby. More influential, though, were the spectators who came and grabbed any paper in sight to be autographed by the Mecum Auctions TV stars. ‘We’re so thrilled to have you here.’ ‘To meet you.’
And yet, Dana, Frank and the rest of the Mecum crew seem unimpressed by their celebrity. What makes a difference for them is the auction block excitement, selling cars.
Their humility is affecting. Mecum defers to the cars, the consignors, the bidders. The approach is, if much thought is given to it, why Mecum Auctions’ presentation is so effective.
The Pacific Northwest has been, despite a huge car collecting culture (or, as one local put it, ‘We’re buyers, not sellers’,) a relative wasteland of high profile collector car auctions. Mecum Auctions has set its standard in the epicenter, Seattle, and attracted solid cars and droves of spectators.
Expect them back, bigger and better, next year.
Mecum Seattle 2014 – Auction Report
Lot # F245 1969 Pontiac GTO Convertible; S/N 242679Z113946; Engine # 0240188 YB; Yellow/Black vinyl; Black vinyl top; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $25,000 – 400/265hp 2-barrel engine out of a Catalina according to the YB code on the block, column shift automatic, P/S, P/B, pushbutton radio, Rally II wheels, Radial T/A tires. – A superficial cosmetic redo with sound but unattractive paint and interior. Engine rebuilt by Pacific Auto Machine. Engine compartment given the matte black treatment over everything. Foggy gauge lenses. Flat left front tire completes the presentation. – Despicable? Not quite, but pretty close and no wonder the Seattle bidders let it pass. It wouldn’t have been unreasonably expensive at this price, but who knows what other miserable excuses for GTO-ness were perpetrated on this car?Lot # S010 1956 Porsche Replica 550 Spyder; S/N AZ269758; Silver/Red leather; Facsimile restoration, 2 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $30,000 – 1966cc/200hp, 4-speed, chrome wheels, Toyo radial blackwalls, banjo spoke steering wheel, 4-wheel disc brakes, Weber carbs, coil spring suspension. – Large diameter tube frame, 1,300 pounds. Very good bodywork, interior and workmanship. – Not ‘real’ but thoroughly enjoyable although as the seller noted he’d driven it only 770 miles since it was built. It’s a toy, and this is enough for it.Lot # S048 1970 Pontiac GTO Convertible; S/N 242670Z118562; Engine # 0235301 WT; Black/Dark Red; Black vinyl top; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $51,000 – 400/350hp WT Firebird engine with Ram Air, 4-speed, P/S, P/B, Hurst T-handle shifter, buckets and console, Rally II wheels, G70-14 Polyglas tires, wings, hood tach, pushbutton radio, Judge trim added. – Good paint, chrome, top and interior. Not like new, but competently done to good driver standards. Not represented as the original engine, which is appropriate to the added Judge trim. It is a GTO, however. – Not ‘matching numbers’ although the bidders may not realize it. It should be a $ 35-40K car, and would be an enjoyable driver at that price. The reported high bid is a pipe dream.Lot # S062 1986 Porsche 911 Turbo Slantnose Coupe; S/N WP0JB0937GS050226; Engine # 68G00202; Guards Red/Tan leather; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $40,000 – Simmons gold center modular wheels, Kumho blackwall tires, wing, Kenwood CD stereo, sliding sunroof, aftermarket woodrim steering wheel, P/W, A/C.. – Represented as 63,485 miles. Slantnose conversion. Good paint, worn and surface-cracked upholstery. Dusty engine compartment. Condition borders on tired but is sound and usable. – Used, modified and the beneficiary (if that’s the term) of uncertain modifications. It could have been happily unloaded at the reported high bid It’s 911 Turbos like this that make unmodified, consistently maintained 911 Turbos look good.Lot # S064.1 1939 Mercury 99A Club Coupe; S/N 99A93297; Tan/Tan cloth; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $26,000– 239/95hp, 3-speed, Columbia 2-speed axle, radio, clock, no heater, hubcaps, trim rings, whitewalls, fog lights. – Good paint, chrome and upholstery, cracked steering wheel, some poor interior trim fits, pitted gauge bezels. Underbody is restored and clean. A sound and attractive older restoration with potential to be even better. – Seattle wasn’t paying much attention when this Mercury crossed the block. It’s Mercury’s first year and an attractive body style, desirably equipped with the Columbia 2-speed rear axle. Its condition is far from the best, but it is handsome and usable and would have been a sound buy at $30,000.Lot # S085 1955 Packard Caribbean Convertible; S/N 55881356; White, Red, Black/white, Red, Black leather; White vinyl top; Cosmetic restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $82,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $88,560 – 352/275hp dual quads, automatic, P/S, P/B, chrome wire wheels, whitewall tires, WonderBar radio, P/W, skirts, dual rear antennas. – Excellent new paint, chrome and interior. Engine compartment glows with glossy black paint, but underbody is covered in dirty old undercoat. Window pockets are coated with body shop detritus. Makes a great first impression but deserves better. – Caribbeans are complicated, expensive cars to restore, as this moke demonstrates. Brought to a certain state of attractive paint, chrome and upholstery they are showpieces … if their engines and chassis are kept under wraps. This is a perfect example but is a sound value at this price.Lot # S095 1971 Plymouth ‘Cuda Hemi Convertible; S/N BS27R1B315367; Blue/Blue vinyl; Black leatherette top; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $3,500,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $3,780,000 – 426/425hp Hemi, dual quads, 4-speed, matte black shaker, dog dish hubcaps, Polyglas GT tires, Hurst pistol grip shifter, P/B. – Restored better than new with excellent paint, panel fits, gaps, chrome and more. Represented as the original Hemi and drivetrain, mostly original sheet metal. Sharp and fresh. One of two believed delivered in the U.S. with a 4-speed, extensively documented. – There are two avidly competing considerations in the result for this ‘Cuda Hemi convertible. It is undeniably rare, one of seven 1971 ‘Cuda Hemi convertibles and one of two 4-speeds. It is recognized everywhere for its rarity and performance. On the other hand, why were there only seven ‘Cuda Hemi convertibles? Because without the roof they flexed like a bowl of spaghetti under the torque of the 426 Hemi engine. Especially with a 4-speed. Launch this missile in first gear and the skinny little Polyglas GT tires simply evaporate while the chassis twists into a pretzel. It’s the age-old contest between rarity and reality. This was never a good car, but, boy, does it have profile. Dana Mecum said, ‘It’s going to a new collector in the Midwest.’ From the price it brought it’s apparent it’s a new collector with no perspective on values. A trophy piece, but an exorbitantly expensive trophy.Lot # S095.1 1974 Jaguar XKE SIII V12 Roadster; S/N UE1S23577; Dark Blue Metallic/Navy Blue leather; Navy Blue cloth top; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $52,000 – Chrome wire wheels, narrow whitewall radials, automatic, A/C, Nardi woodrim steering wheel, hardtop, no radio. – Mediocre old repaint, sound original upholstery, good chrome. Just a car out of long term storage, and none the better for it. – A slush-box V-12 XKE that’s been stored for two decades or so? It should have been on its way to a new owner long before reaching the reported high bid.Lot # S100 1957 Ford Thunderbird Convertible; S/N F7FH372610; Colonial White/Black, White vinyl; Black cloth top; Older restoration, 1 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $130,000 – 312/300hp supercharged, automatic, no P/S or P/B, Town & Country radio, wheel covers, whitewalls, skirts, telescopic steering column. – Multiple award winning trailer queen, extremely well preserved and still looks freshly restored nearly three decades after its 1987 restoration. – The pinnacle of two-seat Thunderbirds, but only slightly better, if any, than the amount bid for it here in Seattle.
Mecum Seattle 2014 – Auction Report Page Two
Lot # S105.1 1960 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster; S/N 12104210014402; Blue DB350, Blue hardtop/Tan leather; Beige cloth top; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $120,000 – Hubcaps, trim rings, narrow whitewalls, Solex carbs, two tops, clock, AM-FM, Nardi woodrim steering wheel. – Very good clearcoat paint, chrome, interior and top. Carefully restored with showroom presentation under the hood and under the car, except for the chromed cam cover and intake plenum. – The 190SL nitwits weren’t in Seattle, leading this very good 190SL to fall short of its consignor’s exaggerated expectations. No matter how it’s parsed, however, $120,000 is a lot to pay for a 105hp boulevardier produced in prodigious (25,881) quantity. ‘Hogs get slaughtered’, and this is the time to get out of 190SLs, a concept lost on this consignor.Lot # S106.1 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 136370K151985; Engine # T0105CRV; Cortez Silver, Black stripes/Red vinyl; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $150,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $162,000 – 454/450hp, 4-speed, P/S, P/B, cowl induction, SS Rally wheels with trim rings, F70-14 Polyglas tires, buckets, no console, pushbutton radio, F41 suspension, 4.1 Positraction. – Represented as matching numbers engine and transmission, documented with three build sheets. Restored like new. Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Impressive, fresh engine compartment. Impossible to fault. – Should we compare this ’71 Chevelle SS 454 hardtop, numbers-matching throughout, with 450 notoriously conservative horsepower with the $3.5 million ‘Cuda Hemi convertible? No, probably not, because it would make the ‘Cuda look even more irrational. Its price is 4% of the ‘Cuda Hemi’s, but owning it is much more than 4% of the bragging rights. A sound value … as long as it is what is claims to be.Lot # S110 1971 Ferrari 246 GT Dino, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 01968; Black/Black leather; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $350,000 – Cromodora alloy wheels, Michelin XWX tires, Becker Mexico cassette stereo, P/W, headlight covers. – An older restoration with good chrome, new paint and new interior. Underbody not done to the standards of the top, and shows some age and use but a very attractive driver. Represented as 33,494 original km. – Offered by RM at Amelia in March of last year with a high bid of $230,000, and no better now than it was then, the consignor had exaggerated expectations for a quality but not exceptional Dino.Lot # S113 1967 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Coupe; S/N 194377S117076; Marina Blue, Black stinger/Black vinyl; Older restoration, 2+ condition; No bidding interest shown $3,700,000 – 437/430hp, M22 4-speed, Rally wheels with hubcaps and trim rings, side exhausts, US Royal Laredo blackwall tires, 4.11 Positraction, J56 brakes, P/B, F41 suspension. – Tank sticker documented L88, Nabers brothers restoration, Bloomington Gold Special Collection 1988, 92 and 98. The real deal, restored better than new. Not represented as numbers matching. – A choice Corvette, but there wasn’t a bid in sight anywhere for it.Lot # S114 1958 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible; S/N J58S102069; Engine # VK084695; Silver, Grey coves/Silver vinyl; White vinyl top; Modified restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $78,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $84,240 – 350/325hp, 4-barrel, 4-speed, MSD distributor, spinner wheel covers, whitewall tires, WonderBar radio, two tops. – Fresh paint, chrome and interior over an older restoration and later 350 V-8. A pretty driver. – This price should have bought a numbers-matching ’58 Corvette, especially in this mediocre presentation. ‘Expensive’ hardly begins to characterize this price.Lot # S118 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 429 Fastback; S/N 0F02Z142806; Calypso Coral, Matte Black scoop/Black vinyl; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $340,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $367,200 – 429/375hp, 4-speed, Hurst T-handle shifter, P/S, P/B, chrome rim Magnum wheels, F60-15 Polyglas GT tires, pushbutton radio. – KK #2500. Beautiful paint and chrome, pristine interior. A nearly fresh, prize winning restoration. The first of the ‘Calypso Coral’ Boss Mustangs offered in Seattle, and a quality representative of its kind. Documented with original build sheet, Shelby Nationals award winner. Beyond perfect. – OK, the inevitable comparison with the $3.5 million (hammer) ‘Cuda Hemi convertible. The Boss-Nine’s roof doesn’t go down, but its ‘semi-hemi’ V-8 is a marvel of technology. The ‘Cuda Hemi convertible’s price would buy ten Boss-Nines like this, an unfavorable comparison to the ‘Cuda even at this expensive price.Lot # S118.1 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Fastback; S/N 9F02G189568; Calypso Coral, Matte Black hood/Black vinyl; Older restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $115,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $124,200 – 302/290hp, 4-speed, P/S, P/B, hood tach, chrome rim Magnum wheels, Polyglas GT tires, rear window slats, wing. – Restored like new with excellent paint, chrome and interior. 2011 Mustang Dream Giveaway car, featured at SEMA, displayed at Dearborn, autographed by Parnelli Jones. Documented with two original build sheets and MCA judged. – Sold at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale in 2012 for $203,500 as a pair with 2012 Boss 302 and turned around here at essentially the same all-in two-for-one result. See the notes on Lot #119.1 for further comments on valueLot # S119 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Fastback; S/N 0F02G204828; Calypso Coral, Matte Black hood and side stripe/Black vinyl; Older restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $105,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $113,400 – 302/290hp, 4-speed, Hurst T-handle shifter, P/S, P/B, chrome rim Magnum wheels, F60-15 Polyglas GT tires, 3.91 Traction-Lok, rear window slats, wing, pushbutton radio. – Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Restored like new a while ago and now showing some age and surface rust on uncoated surfaces. Built as a Ford marketing vehicle and promotion car. Represented as original drivetrain and sheet metal, in showroom condition. – Highly optioned and carefully restored in a desirable color, this is a reasonable, if not modest, price for a desirable Boss 302.Lot # S119.1 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Patriot Edition; S/N 1ZVBP8CUXC5224821; Calypso Coral, Gloss Black hood and roof/Black cloth; Unrestored original, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $86,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $92,880 – ‘The Patriot Edition’ 2012 Boss 302, unique color combination developed by Ford and Steeda for the Mustang Dream Giveaway. 302/444hp, 6-speed, Recaro seats, 19-inch black alloy wheels, adjustable lowered suspension. – Like new with 420 miles. – Sold at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale in 2012 as a pair with ’69 Boss 302 s/n 9F02G189568 (Lot # 118.1 here) for an all-in price of $203,500. The sum of the current two transactions is $217,080, little different from what the two cars brought in 2012 although with slightly heavier weight toward this car, which is now beginning to assert some collectability on its own.
Mecum Seattle 2014 – Auction Report Page Three
Lot # S120 1969 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Coupe; S/N 194379S710179; Engine # T1029MR 19S710179; Fathom Green/Green vinyl; Older restoration, 2- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $400,000 – 427/’430’hp L88, 4-speed, P/B, heater, Rally wheels with trim rings, red line tires, radio delete, tee tops. – Represented as numbers matching engine, documented with build sheet. The restoration is nine years old but hardly looks like it is older than a few months. – Reported sold at Russo and Steele in Scottsdale in 2006 for $187,000, then a year later at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale for $264,000. Its impact here in Seattle was diminished by the presence of one of the fabled ’67 L88s and the lackluster bidding gave it little hope of selling. It’s worth every bit of half a million dollars.Lot # S122 1962 Chevrolet Impala Convertible; S/N 21867B257297; Engine # T0306QB; Twilight Turquoise/Black vinyl; Black vinyl top; Older restoration, 2- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $63,000 – 409/409hp, three 2-barrels, 4-speed, P/S, P/B, body color wheels, hubcaps, blackwall times, bench seat, rear antenna, pushbutton radio. – Ten year old AACA National First Prize restoration with 5,000 miles since but well-maintained, clean and sharp. Use and age are apparent but only validate the quality of the restoration. An Impala anyone would be proud to own and drive. – Reported sold at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale in 2005 for $58,320. The engine is properly coded for its year and configuration, but nowhere is it claimed to be the original which makes the reported high bid an appropriate one to recognized the uncertainty, but reasonable also for a sharp ’62 Impala convertible with a legendary engine.Lot # S125 1968 Shelby Mustang GT500KR Fastback; S/N 8T02R215955-04186; Acapulco Blue, White stripes/Black vinyl; Older restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $160,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $172,800 – 428/335hp, 4-speed, P/S, P/B, 10-spoke wheels, Radial T/A tires, pushbutton radio. – Documented with its original build sheet and Marti report, represented as having its original engine and transmission. Very good paint, chrome and interior. A sharp, clean car with a few careful miles since it was done. – A highly desirable Shelby Mustang in attractive colors and benefiting from a sharp, fresh restoration and good documentation. The price it brought reflects its quality, and could even have been a little more without exceeding good sense.Lot # S127 1966 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe; S/N 194376S115139; Engine # T0211IP 6115139; Yellow/Black leather; Recent restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $72,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $77,760 – 427/425hp, 4-speed, AM-FM, transistor ignition, side exhausts, F41 suspension, power antenna, spinner wheel covers, blackwall radials. – Very good paint, chrome and leather interior. Nearly like new underhood with no appreciable use, just some age. Sharp, clean gauges. Block number matches the chassis, but is not represented as matching numbers. – Overlooked in the sizzle surrounding the following year’s 427/435 engine the ’66 427/425hp represents solid value at this market-level price.Lot # S130 1936 Packard Eight Coupe Roadster; S/N 919249; Black/Black leather; Tan cloth top; Older restoration, 2- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $135,000 – 320/130hp, 3-speed, Black wire wheels, wide whitewalls, rumble seat, luggage rack. – Very good older paint, chrome and interior. Not fresh but very well maintained. A standard Eight restored and maintained to Super Eight standards. – Bought only a few months ago at Gooding & Company’s Scottsdale auction at a mid-estimate price of $155,000 hammer, $170,500 with commission, the consignor professed little motivation to sell and the Seattle bidders did not come close to giving sufficient motivation with this bid. As a practical matter it is a $135-$150,000 hammer Packard that will have to be driven and enjoyed to extract some psychic income from ownership.Lot # S140 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Coupe Race Car; S/N 30837S106844; Engine # 3106844 F0104RF; White/Black vinyl; Competition restoration, 2 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $520,000 – 327/360hp Fuel Injection, 4-speed, 36 gallon tank, radio and heater delete, polished aftermarket alloy wheels. – Originally owned by Mickey Thompson, used to promote the Mickey Thompson Rader wheels that do nothing for its appearance. Good paint, chrome and interior. Clean and orderly underhood. sympathetically redone and very close to like new. – A highly desirable Z06 with an interesting ownership history, restored to perfection that was reported bid to $450,000 at Mecum’s Monterey auction in 2012. Another $70,000 didn’t seem to be enough to separate it from its owner’s hands, although maybe it should have.Lot # S148.1 1992 Acura NSX Coupe; S/N JH4NA1156NT000768; Red/Black, Red leather; Unrestored original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $34,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $36,720 – 18 inch front, 19 inch rear Via modular wheels, Pioneer CD stereo, Momo steering wheel matching the Red/Black leather seats. – Well maintained, clean used car with very good paint and interior. Tidy, clean engine and underbody. Custom wheels and leather seats. – Mildly customized but impressively maintained and showing 81,937 believable miles on the odometer, the impending introduction of a new generation NSX (which Honda’s image badly needs) may provide some needed impetus to the values of the original NSXs. They are great driving cars and this is a healthy but not unreasonable result for a sound and well-maintained one.
Mecum Seattle 2014 – Auction Report Page Four
Lot # S151 1976 Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser; S/N FJ40215975; Red/Black vinyl; Truck restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $42,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $45,360 – 2F engine, 4-speed, Warn front hubs, 33-inch T/A offroad tires, center-facing folding rear seats, pushbutton radio, raised suspension. – Freshly restored throughout. Very good paint except for heavy orange peel on the right front fender and the driver’s window sill. Engine is like new, as is the chassis. A very nice example. – Prices for FJ40s are all over the lot, with some recently bringing near six-figure money. Presented like this, with the suspension and wheel/tire upgrades that most FJ40s seem to have, this is a sound value in the present fashionable marketplace, even if similar functionality and bragging rights might be found in a Jeep product for half the money.Lot # S157.1 1957 Studebaker Golden Hawk; S/N 6103685; Red, White accent/Black vinyl; Cosmetic restoration, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $65,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $70,200 – 289/275hp supercharged, automatic, P/S, P/B, pushbutton radio, dual rear antennas, chrome wire wheels, whitewalls, P/W, Twin Traction axle. – Weak chrome and badly scuffed stainless. Sound old upholstery. Delaminating driver’s vent window. Flawed old paint. Good underhood. Not abused, but not treasured, either. – Reported sold at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale in 2011 for $108,900. The many visible flaws on this Golden Hawk do nothing to build confidence in its overall restoration, preservation or presentation. Even at this substantial discount from its price at B-J just three years ago it is a strong result for a flawed car.Lot # S160.1 1960 Porsche 356B Coupe, Body by Reutter; S/N 111700; Engine # P602633; Yellow/Green leather; Older restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $58,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $62,640 – 1,582cc/70hp, chrome wheels, hubcaps, no radio or spare, sliding sunroof, folding rear seats, Weber carbs, K&N air filters. – Documented with a Porsche CofA. Sound paint, chrome and interior but superficially restored and used. Not a good combination. – This result is more money than the ordinary car it bought, by 25% or so.Lot # S161 1970 Pontiac GTO Judge 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 242370R130683; Engine # 0242327 YS; Orbit Orange, Orange accent/Sandalwood vinyl; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $45,000 – 400/330hp, automatic, P/S, P/B, Rally II wheels, Wide Oval tires, pushbutton radio, buckets and console, HD suspension, wing. – PHS documented, represented as matching numbers driveline. Restored like new with better paint, chrome and interior. More age than miles since restoration. Very good but not too good to be driven. – Eyeball searing but attractive colors. Well done and worth all of $35-40K, but no more than the reported high bid, even with the color combination.Lot # S163 1958 Buick Limited Convertible; S/N 8E1064452; Pale Yellow/Pale Yellow, Beige leather; White vinyl top; Older restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $150,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $162,000 – 364/300hp, Dynaflow, P/S, P/B, P/W, WonderBar radio, chrome wire wheels. – Excellent paint, chrome, interior. Underbody is like new. A little dusty underhood but with some attention could be show ready. A choice and rare Buick in pretty colors with immense eye-appeal. – A big Buick, too, with power everything and enough chrome for two lesser cars. As impressive as a Cadillac and far more rare as one of just 839 built, this is Cadillac convertible money, but a car the new owner will be proud to own and show.Lot # S176 1976 Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser; S/N FJ40213371; Ivory/Black vinyl; Truck restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $42,500 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $45,900 – 2F engine, 4-speed, Warn front hubs, 31-inch T/A offroad tires, center facing folding rear seats. – Freshly restored in a shop where they didn’t fill the rust pits in the hood before they painted giving it a fine texture like bed liner. Sanding scratches visible under fender paint. Frame and suspension painted assembled. Engine is like new. – Rushing to capitalize on the perhaps fleeting popularity of the Land Cruiser produces this kind of superficially restored vehicle. It’s not that it’s bad, it’s just not done right or consistently. The new owner is going to notice those shortcuts (as well as being exposed to others not visually apparent) and find it desirable to spend more money on this Land Cruiser’s presentation. That shouldn’t be necessary at this price.Lot # S190 1959 DeSoto Adventurer 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N M491100658; Black/White, Gold vinyl, cloth; Cosmetic restoration, 3 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $42,000 – 383/350hp dual quads, pushbutton automatic, P/S, P/B, P/W, pushbutton radio, wheel covers, swivel seats, whitewall bias ply tires, A/C, dual rear antennas. – Rerun of F213. Mediocre repaint, good new upholstery, dressed up underhood. Frame and underbody are dry and lightly surface rusted. Sound and presentable, even with the hood open. – The reported high bid should have been sufficient for the seller to realize, on its second time across the block this week, that it’s all the money. The car is no better than the money offered, and may not even be as good as this offer.Lot # S208 1937 Packard Twelve Victoria Convertible, Body by Dietrich; S/N 1027207; Packard Cream/Caramel leather; Black cloth top; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $150,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $162,000 – Body color steel wheels, hubcaps, trim rings, wide whitewalls, radio, luggage rack, Packard driving lights, dual enclosed sidemounts with mirrors. – Sound older paint, chrome and interior. Orderly underhood. A good but not show quality older restoration that’s been toured but taken care of. Orderly underhood with some miles evident but not excessively used or aged. – This is the epitome of Classic Packard, with strong, smooth V-12 power, refined later 30’s independent front suspension and hydraulic brakes and one of the best body choices, the blind rear quarter victoria convertible. Restoring one of these correctly is massively expensive and the quality of this Packard’s restoration is apparent in the way it’s held up. It is a sound value at this price.
Mecum Seattle 2014 – Auction Report Page Five
Lot # S210 1959 Jaguar XK 150 3.8 Fixed Head Coupe; S/N S835883; Engine # S7329-9; Red/Tan leather; Older restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $43,500 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $46,980 – Chrome wire wheels, Vredestein blackwall radials, underdash radio. – Head number LC9449-8. Decent repaint, chrome and interior. Not beautiful, but sound and usable. A twenty year old restoration that’s holding up well despite being driven. – The buyer of this Jag was pumped about getting it, and should have been, despite the mis-matched block and head numbers. It’s a pretty, reasonably well maintained, sound example at a respectable price. Not the best one in the world (in fact, far from it) but more than good enough.Lot # S213 1955 Ford Thunderbird Convertible; S/N P5FH160326; Turquoise, White porthole hardtop/Turquoise, white vinyl; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $57,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $61,560 – 292/193hp, automatic, P/S, P/B. P/W, power seat, hardtop only, wheel covers, whitewalls, Frigette underdash A/C. – Good paint, interior and major chrome. Scratched door molding. Clean underhood and under the car. Shows a little age but still better than just a driver. – This price is generous, but not enough to be egregiously generous, just more than enough for the Thunderbird it bought.Lot # S214 1968 Plymouth Road Runner Hemi 2-Dr. Sedan; S/N RM21J8A175017; Blue, Black hood bump/Blue vinyl; Modified restoration, 3 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $70,000 – 426/425hp Hemi, 4-speed, Hurst pistol grip shifter, Gear Vendor overdrive, traction bars, headers, P/S, no P/B, body color wheels, hubcaps, blackwall radial tires, line lock, front brakes upgraded to discs, bench seat, accessory gauges. – Represented as a matching numbers engine, modified as it would have been after a few years. Presentable paint, chrome and interior, orderly underhood and underbody. An intriguing driver. – Offered at the Kruse Auburn Fall auction in 1991 before it got all the upgrades. While the presentation is intriguing, the idea that a modified Road Runner Hemi should be worth more than the reported high bid exceeds the bounds of reality. It’s a good hot rod, but that’s all.Lot # S215 1969 Chevrolet Impala SS Convertible; S/N 164679R006771; White/Black vinyl; White vinyl top; Visually maintained, largely original, 4+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $12,000 – 4-barrel, Hydramatic, P/S, P/B, A/C (not connected), Alpine cassette, console, Rally wheels with trim rings, Radial T/A tires. – Tired, dirty and original underhood. Worn original interior with pulled seams. Steering wheel held together with old duct tape. Dead body seals. Sound body (except for the rust hole in the cowl) and a better repaint than the rest of the car would lead you to expect. – There is not a clue what engine is under the hood, just a ‘Big block’. It needs everything and should have been loose and selling well before reaching the reported bid. In fact, it should have been No Reserve –Lot # S216 1958 Chevrolet Bel Air Impala Convertible; S/N F58S187624; Engine # T122H; White/Red vinyl; White vinyl top; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $85,000 – 348/280hp three 2-barrels, Powerglide, P/S, P/B, P/W, WonderBar radio, dual spotlight-mirrors, skirts, spinner wheel covers, whitewalls, continental kit. – Decent paint, chrome and interior. Engine compartment given a quick once over where it can be seen but less attention paid to what is more obscure. Upholstery is good but the interior paint is of dubious quality. Frame is surface rusty. A driver quality restoration that makes a good first impression. – The first impression doesn’t hold up to close inspection and the H suffix on the block decodes to the 250hp 4-barrel Turboglide 348, not the 280hp solid lifter three deuces engine with Powerglide that’s in it. It was sold last September at Auburn Fall for $68,200 and doesn’t appear to have had a lick of work done on it, just put 34 more miles on the odometer. Under the circumstances it should have been on its way to a new owner long before it reached the reported high bid.Lot # S232 1969 Pontiac GTO Convertible; S/N 242679Z121468; Engine # 0562821 WS; Verdoro Green/Black vinyl; Black vinyl top; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $75,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $81,000 – 400/366hp, Ram Air III, 4-speed, P/S, P/B, Rally II wheels with trim rings, Radial T/A tires, rally gauges, rear speaker, HD suspension and radiator, hood tach, Safe-T-Track, pushbutton radio. – Restored better than new with very good paint, chrome, interior, top and engine compartment. Underhood finishes are a little too shiny but show well. – A very good but expensive car on account of its originality. It is worth every penny of the price paid here.Lot # S232.1 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 242379A119466; Engine # 0420224 WS; Carousel Red, Black accent/Parchment vinyl; Detailed to restored, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $55,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $59,400 – 400/366hp Ram Air III, 4-speed, P/S, P/B, Rally II wheels, Eagle GT blackwall tires, 3.55 Safe-T-Track, hood tach, Rally gauges. – One old and surprisingly good repaint, good original interior. Fully documented including original bill of sale. Freshly detailed to nearly like new condition. – Owned by the same person who owned Lot 232. Very original and impressive and like Lot 232, worth every penny of the price it brought.Lot # S238 1965 Pontiac LeMans GTO 2-Dr. Sedan; S/N 237275P352564; Engine # 686827 YS; Starlight Black/Red vinyl; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $52,500 – 389/335hp upgraded to Tri-Power, later TH350 automatic with Hurst His’n’Hers shifter, P/S, P/B, A/C, buckets and console, pushbutton radio, dog dish hubcaps, red line tires. – Good older repaint, good original interior and carpets. Lightly scratched front bumper, good trim chrome. Freshly detailed underbody; engine compartment is clean and orderly but not restored. An exceptionally good and highly original car. – Very original and finely detailed. Flawed by the TH350, but more drivable. Owned by the owner of Lots 232 and 232.1. This GTO lacks eye-appeal and might be a bargain to someone who can accept its lack of bling although no more than the declined high bid. But, hey? He’d just sold two other GTOs for a total of $130K and probably had little incentive to let this one go.Lot # S244 1958 Packard Golden Hawk; S/N 58LS1011; Beige, Brown roof/Tan vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $60,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $64,800 – 289/275hp supercharged, automatic, P/S, P/B, signal-seeking radio, wheel covers, whitewalls. – Poor old repaint over superficial prep and now showing flaws. Sound but aged old upholstery. Uneven door and trunk fits. Dirty engine compartment. Underbody freshly spayed with undercoat over everything. Nasty car. – It sure didn’t bring Nasty money, though. A premium price for what [little] it is and a sorry end to the otherwise glorious history of Packard.
Thanks, Rick, for your thorough and engaging report. Almost as good as being there!
Reading the fascinating review, one can’t help but have the impression that Mecum delivered market level results for many sellers who had unrealistic values for their cars. They should have sold and commissions should have been paid. Number 3-4 level condition on barely collectibles. Looks like (over)promises were made to bring cars to a new venue as most of these were clearly no reserve autos.
Watched this auction streamed over the three days, and was amazed at the length of time it took to get a bid from the floor. There were some nice cars there, but Rick made a comment that I’d agree with – many cars should have sold at pass-in or before: overvalued, and some didin’t deserve the price they got. Mecums did a good job for their clients, that’s for sure.
Danas comment about the Cuda never being a good car is puzzling. The rarity and performance speaks for itself. Perhaps more dime a dozen chevys is what he likes. Dan.
I restored the 70 Boss 302. Finished it early 2008
Too bad they never kept it up. A lot of NOS parts in that car.
Back yard resto.. Az car since purchased from Ford late 1970