Mecum Kansas City 2011 – Auction Report

Lot # S127.1 1962 Chevrolet Impala SS 409 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 21847A198104; Engine # 198104 T0523QB; Red/Red; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $57,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $60,420 -- 409/409 dual quads, 4-speed, pushbutton radio, 90 degree tach on column, large Autogage engine gauges under dashboard, steel wheels, hubcaps, blackwall tires, buckets and console. Edelbrock carbs. Represented as numbers matching without documentation. The chassis number stamping on the block is uneven and decidedly odd looking but the Tonawanda stamping looks good. Excellent paint and body fits. Underbody is better than new. Chrome is thick, flat and brilliant; maybe even too brilliant. Close to being overdone. There's no way without a paper trail leading back to the original purchase to know if this car was built as it appears today and the price it brought balances that uncertainty with the desirability of the drivetrain and the excellent restoration it has received. It's an attractive and desirable Chevy at a reasonable price.

Lot # S130.1 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe; S/N 194377S117365; Engine # T0410JE 7117365; Marina Blue/Black; Older restoration, 2- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $105,000 -- 427/435hp, 4-speed, alloy wheels, red line tires, 4.11 Positraction, P/W, F41 suspension, telescopic steering column, AM-FM. NCRS Top Flight, represented as numbers matching, documented with tank sticker and owner history since 1970. Excellent older paint, chrome and interior, shows some age but essentially like new. It's worth more than this although how much in the present environment is open to question.

Lot # S133 1949 Hudson Commodore 8 Convertible; S/N 49418012; Maroon, Red/Maroon; Black cloth top; Cosmetic restoration, 3- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $37,500 -- 3-speed, turn signals, skirts, wide wheel covers, trim rings, whitewalls, windshield sun visor, remote spotlight, pushbutton radio, fog lights, power top, P/W. Cosmetically restored without being disassembled. Fair paint cracked over fender joints, sound interior, good major chrome, scuffed window sills, orderly but not fully restored underhood. Old undercoat on underbody and chassis. A barely presentable driver. It may be barely presentable but it still has plenty of charisma and appeal. The reported high bid isn't unreasonable and the seller could have accepted it with only slight regret.

Lot # S136 1960 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible; S/N 00867S102395; Red, White coves/Red; White vinyl top; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $39,500 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $41,870 -- 283/230hp, 4-speed, cassette stereo, spinner wheel covers, whitewalls. No engine number on block. Decent older paint, interior and major chrome. Badly scuffed stainless and trim. Underhood superficially redone but clean. A usable driver as is, with potential. No Reserve. Just a car with potential which was amply rewarded by the Kansas City bidders. It wouldn't have been a particularly good buy at $35,000.

Lot # S137 1954 Chevrolet 210 2-Dr. Sedan; S/N B54J054008; Red, White roof/Grey cloth; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $9,250 plus commission of 5.41%; Final Price $9,750 -- 235 six, 3-speed, pushbutton radio, wheel covers, whitewalls, skirts. Quick old repaint, chipped and used. Sound but incorrect upholstery. Underhood dressed up with brush and rattle can. Decent chrome and stainless. Scratched windshield and delaminating vent window. Larry Pfaff collection. No Reserve. Typical of the Larry Pfaff cars in condition and cosmetics as well as his rather odd taste in sculpted velour upholstery, this Chevy brought a healthy price for what it is.

Lot # S138 1941 Chrysler Windsor 2-Dr. Sedan; S/N 7929558; White/Grey cloth; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $11,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $11,660 -- Six cylinder, 3-speed, turn signals, red wheels with hubcaps, trim rings and whitewalls, heater, no radio. Decent repaint and good interior. Good major chrome and glass; erratic trim chrome. Orderly and presentable underhood but does not warrant being called restored. A fairly presentable and sound driver. Larry Pfaff collection. No Reserve. A usable car for weekends but far removed from being special either intrinsically or in its condition, the bidders accorded it a generous price.

Lot # S140 1934 Hudson Terraplane Coupe; S/N C52337; Metallic Blue, Black fenders/Beige cloth; Tan leather rumble seat; Older restoration, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $26,500 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $28,090 -- Opening windshield, cream wire wheels, whitewalls, rumble seat, rollup rear window, enclosed rear spare. Vent windows roll down with side windows. A very superficial restoration than somehow claims a 2007 AACA National First Prize. Poor paint prep, engine superficially painted silver, window frame chromed over pits and rust. A great car to avoid. This is a good place to begin a real restoration. Much of the hard work is done (if uncertainly) and much of what's left can be brought to a higher (one might say acceptable) standard with reasonable effort and cost. Even at that, though, this is a lot of money to pay for a seriously mediocre car.

Lot # S141 1949 Plymouth Special Deluxe Convertible; S/N 20336926; Light Blue/Blue vinyl, Beige cloth; Faded cloth top; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $23,500 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $24,910 -- 3-speed, pushbutton radio, fog lights, skirts, sombrero wheel covers, whitewalls, oil filter. Fair repaint, good major chrome, stained upholstery. Sound body, even gaps. Orderly underhood. Titled as 54,286 actual miles. No Reserve. Not many of these survive, adding an element of rarity to a car that otherwise has little appeal. Survivorship determines their value, which the result represents.

Lot # S144 1959 Austin-Healey 100/6 Convertible; S/N CA946362; Healey Blue/Blue leather; Blue leatherette top; Modified restoration, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $18,000 -- 302 Ford V8, Edelbrock intake and 4-barrel, 4-speed, Minator 5.5x15 8-spoke alloy wheels with 165/80R15 tires, louvered hood, alternator. Decent paint and chrome, good interior. Tidy engine installation. The most amazingly bad door fit, probably rent askew by the Ford's torque. Not surprisingly the Kansas City bidders looked askance at this Healey, a pig in a poke that only the bravest and mechanically inclined would undertake even at a bargain price. The reported bid would be that bargain.

Lot # S146 1958 Chrysler Imperial Crown Convertible; S/N LY115164; White/Red leather; Black vinyl top; Cosmetic restoration, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $75,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $79,500 -- Chrome wire wheels, wide whitewalls, power seats. Cosmetically restored without being taken apart. Good paint and major chrome. Weak trim chrome. Upholstery redyed over cracked piping, pitted interior chrome. Underbody slathered in shiny goop. An expensive car, done inexpensively. Usable and modestly presentable is about the best that can be said for this Imperial. The price reflects an intelligent compromise between the buyer and the seller.

Lot # S163 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 136370B115898; Red, Black stripes/Black vinyl; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $40,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $42,400 -- 396/375hp, 4-speed, Hurst shifter, tilt steering column, AM-FM, rally wheels, trim rings, Radial T/A tires, cowl induction hood. Repainted assembled, looks good but has some masking flaws and could have been finished better. Good interior and chrome. Chassis and underbody are clean and nearly like new. A handsome SS 396 that changed hands at an attractive price. It needs work, but those needs are reflected in the price it brought. The solid lifter 396 sounds great.

Lot # S167 1966 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible; S/N 194676S108074; Engine # 6108074 F1202HT; Red/Black leather; White vinyl top; Older restoration, 3 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $47,000 -- 327/350hp, 4-speed, 3.70 Positraction, side exhausts, repro alloy wheels, narrow whitewalls, teak steering wheel rim. Fair older repaint, good interior and top, said to have been fully restored a while ago but has been driven plenty since and shows its use and age. This car could have been sold for the reported bid.