Mecum Original Spring Classic 2012 – Auction Report

Lot # F182 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 4N66P115890; Burgundy/Black vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $25,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $26,500 -- 390/330hp Police package engine, 4-speed, no P/S or P/B, Durabrand cassette stereo, dog dish hubcaps, Kumho blackwall radials. Decent older repaint, otherwise original and unusually clean and orderly including the bench seat interior. Hey, this will be a really fun car at a modest price. It's not complicated, just a big block Ford with a 4-speed, drum brakes and a crappy radio. There's little to go wrong and a lot of fun to be had torturing the tires. The originality is pleasing and reassuring, if largely irrelevant to its value.

Lot # F184 1967 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 138177B189706; Red, Black vinyl roof/Black vinyl; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $55,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $58,300 -- 396/325hp, 4-speed, buckets and console with clock, dual outside mirrors, aftermarket tach, Rally wheels with trim rings, F70-14 Goodyear red line tires, P/S, power front disc brakes. Documented with Protect-o-Plate. Freshly restored to showroom condition. Excellent paint, chrome, interior and dash. A sharp, correct car. Chevy was late to the Muscle Car party but the Chevelle SS 396 more than made up for it. These early cars' appeal is growing fast, as this result indicates. It'd be hard, if not impossible, to find a better one making its premium price fully appropriate.

Lot # F188 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 124379N587627; Engine # V0103DZ; Olympic Gold, Black stripes, Black vinyl roof/Black vinyl; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $55,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $58,300 -- 302/290hp, 4-speed, P/S, P/B, console with gauges, Hurst shifter, pushbutton radio, rosewood grain steering wheel, Rally wheels with trim rings, Wide Tread GT tires, dual outside mirrors, cowl induction. Freshly restored to showroom condition with very good clearcoat paint, good chrome and interior. Represented as number-matching engine but not transmission. Documented with Protect-o-Plate, PDI and sales invoice. Needs nothing. An unusual color for a Z/28, and attractively equipped. The seller offered no excuses for the tranny, honesty that was also reflected in the car's presentation. It brought $67,760 at Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach in 2010 and would have been reasonable at a similar price today. It is a good value for the new owner.

Lot # F194 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N JH23J0B304192; Dark Brown Metallic, Matte Black hood and side graphics/Saddle vinyl; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $37,500 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $39,750 -- 340/290hp Six Pack, automatic, Slap Stick shifter, P/S, P/B, cruise control, ram air hood, Sure Grip, side outlet exhaust, buckets and console, Sanyo cassette, Rallye wheels with trim rings, Radial T/A tires, rear deck spoiler. A high quality cosmetic restoration with very good paint, chrome and interior. Underbody covered in old undercoat. Engine is good but shows use and some age. A quality driver in unusual original colors that will more than hold its own at cruise night. Sold earlier this year at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale for $48,400, the colors make this T/A even if the automatic challenges its enjoyability. Some work with swabs, rags and cleaners under the hood will improve its presentation and it represents good value for the money it brought here.

Lot # F234 2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo NASCAR; S/N 143; Black #3/Black; Competition restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $45,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $47,700 -- RCR chassis # 143 road race car driven to 11th at Watkins Glen in 2006 by Jeff Burton and restored in Dale Earnhardt, Sr. livery. Fresh SB2 engine, fire system, radio harness, camera mounts and somewhat battered seat padding. Mechanically and physically clean as a whistle and probably pretty much race ready. How much is the #3 Goodwrench livery worth? Oh, about $15,000.

Lot # F235 2007 Chevrolet Impala NASCAR; S/N 102; Red Bud #8/Black; Competition restoration, 2- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $32,000 -- DEI COT chassis #102 in oval configuration. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. finished 7th at Bristol. Complete and race ready with fresh DEI SB2 engine. Clean, sharp and appears to be race ready. Oval track Nextel/Sprint Cup cars are not very useful in a competition setting, but Dale, Jr. is NASCAR's perennial Most Popular Driver. Those things considered, the reported high bid is reasonable.

Lot # F256 1965 Sunbeam Tiger Mark Ia Roadster; S/N B382000677LRXFE; Red/Blares vinyl; Black leatherette top; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $55,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $58,300 -- 260 Ford V-8, 8-spoke alloy wheels, Yokohama blackwalls. Good paint, chrome and interior. A sound and presentable driver restoration. No Reserve. Cobras are fast becoming unapproachable which may explain the runup in Tiger prices. They're squirrely drivers, even with the smaller 260 V-8 like this, but still have the Shelby aura about them. There were four of them at Mecum Indy this year, ranging from straightforward like this to dressed up. None were inexpensive, like this one.

Lot # F274 1969 Chevrolet Corvette 427/435 Coupe; S/N 194379S738548; Engine # T1202LR 19S738548; Black/Silver; Unrestored original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $63,500 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $67,310 -- 427/435hp, 4-speed, AM-FM, Rallye wheels with trim rings, red line bias ply tires, T-tops, P/B. Original paint and interior except seat cushions. Original and very clean underhood. An impressively straight and clean original Corvette believed to be the last 427/435 built. VetteFest Golden Spinner award winner documented with the original tank sticker. Sold at Worldwide's Auburn auction in 2008, where it was represented as a 40,000 mile car with 40,144 on the odometer today, for $77,000 and certainly no worse today than it was then, making this a particularly telling transaction in recent auction history. The hammer price dropped 9.3% in four years to this, admittedly modest, result.

Lot # F278 1957 Jaguar XK 140 Roadster; S/N 812462; OE White/Red leather; Black cloth top; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $95,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $100,700 -- Steel wheels, hubcaps, whitewalls, fender mirrors, glass rear window, skirts, Lucas fog lights. Restored like new with excellent paint, chrome and Connolly leather upholstery. The restoration's age, however, is apparent under the hood, where the car badly needs detailing to return it to show-ready condition. This is this Jag's third time across a Mecum auction block following no sales at Indy and Monterey last summer at reported high bids of $110,000. The seller got real and took the money, and about time as it isn't getting any better with age.

Lot # F298 1970 Pontiac GTO Judge 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 2423701123200; Orbit Orange/Black vinyl; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $48,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $50,880 -- 400/366hp Ram Air III, 4-speed, Hurst T-handle shifter, P/S, P/B, Formula leather rim steering wheel, Rally II wheels, Radial T/A tires, hood tach, wing, Endura nose, buckets and console. GM of Canada documented. Good paint, chrome and interior. Restored like new a while ago with some subsequent use but could be detailed back to credible show condition. No Reserve. The buyer got a great Goat with gobs of eyeball appeal for a decidedly modest price.

Lot # F315 1964 Pontiac LeMans GTO Convertible; S/N 824F7995; Engine # 228735 78X; Grenadier Red/Red vinyl; White vinyl top; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $40,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $42,400 -- 389/325hp now with Tri-power, 4-speed, spinner wheelcovers, red line tires. Competent. but not excessive older restoration to nearly like new condition now showing some age. Good paint, chrome, interior, top and glass. PHS documented GTO. No Reserve. This is driver money for a driver GTO convertible and a reasonable result for both the buyer and the seller.

Lot # F320 1969 Shelby Mustang GT350 Convertible; S/N 9F03M481966; Red/Black vinyl; Black vinyl top; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $150,000 -- 351/290hp, 4-speed, P/S, P/B, A/C, 5-spoke Shelby wheels, F60-15 Polyglas GT tires, AM-FM, glass back window. 2009 AACA Senior winner, still better than new. Maybe the consignor had his eyes glazed by Carroll's recent demise because this is all the money and then some even for such a pretty GT350 convertible. The man was 89 years old, had almost as many replacement parts as this restored car and had led a long, full, exciting and productive life. As with all humans, his death was inevitable, but his has been imminent for a long time and fully accounted for in the pricing of vehicles bearing his name. Any bump in pricing will be small and fleeting.

Lot # F322 1964 Pontiac LeMans GTO 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 824P87684; Engine # 185746 78XW; Red, White roof/Red vinyl; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $60,000 -- 389/348hp, Tri-Power, 4-speed, P/S, P/B, A/C, wire wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, Saf-T-Track, pushbutton radio, buckets and console, Hurst shifter. Documentation since new and fresh, sharp show-winning restoration. Desirably equipped and impressively freshly restored, this bid wasn't enough to part it from the seller, nor should it have been. As well documented as it is, it should have been over $70,000.

Lot # F345 1990 Ferrari Testarossa Berlinetta; S/N ZFFSG17A1L0085381; Engine # F113040122117; Red/Black leather; Unrestored original, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $101,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $107,060 -- 847 miles and like new throughout, even the tires. Assembly #2226. Engine is nearly spotless. At least one belt service has been done, but it's unstated when it was. This car brought an originality premium of almost 100% over a similar car with modest use. That's not reasonable, particularly since there are many Testarossas with modest use and careful preservation. At this price, what possible use could it be except as one of many static Testarossas on display somewhere.

Lot # F346 1967 Chevrolet Impala SS 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 168877S208415; Engine # T0515IA 7S208415; Cream, Gold vinyl roof/Gold vinyl; Cosmetic restoration, 3 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $35,000 -- 396/325hp, 4-speed, P/S, P/B, factory in-dash tach, buckets and console, pushbutton radio, Rally wheels with trim rings, red line tires. Cosmetically restored with sound paint, chrome and interior, scuffed stainless and aluminum brightwork. Has been driven and needs a good cleaning, particularly under the hood. An attractively configured Impala, but not attractively presented. When bidders have the vast range of choice they did at Indy neglected and superficially presented cars like this don't come off well. The reported high bid was well and truly enough to buy it.

Lot # F347 1930 Ford Model A Roadster Pickup; S/N A3858545; Green, Black fenders/Brown leatherette; Tan cloth top; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $27,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $28,620 -- Cream wire wheels, whitewall tires, dual sidemounts with mirrors and tan cloth covers, etched wind wings, Motometer, varnished oak bed floor and sideboards. Shiny but orange peely paint gaudily tape coachlined, good interior and top. Frame painted over minimal prep. Dull radiator shell and headlight housings. Clean but aged and used underhood. Makes a good first impression that doesn't hold up under closer acquaintance. Sold here three years ago for $27,560. This result is essentially a flatline but still reflects a valid counter-argument to those who say the collectors of older cars are due to die off. It's a popular body (and one of five restored Model A roadster pickups on offer here in Indy) that was bought right.

Lot # F348 1967 Chevrolet Nova SS 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 118377W149214; Granada Gold, Black vinyl roof/Gold vinyl; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $32,000 -- 283/225hp, Powerglide, 3.36 Positraction, P/S, no P/B, buckets and console, Rally wheels with trim rings, red line tires, cassette stereo, underdash engine gauges. Good paint, chrome and interior, chassis and underbody have been freshly squirted with chassis black. Engine has been freshly detailed but that didn't include removing the road grime on the frame. Represented as matching numbers engine and transmission. This pretty but uninspiring 283 Powerglide car should have been on its way to a new home when the bidding topped $22,000.

Lot # F352 1936 Ford Deluxe Roadster; S/N 182823256; Armory Green/Brown leather; Beige cloth top and boot; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $56,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $59,360 -- Body color steel spoke wheels, hubcaps, wide whitewalls, trim rings, banjo spoke steering wheel, rumble seat, trunk rack. 1971 AACA National First Prize and Senior, 1982 Dearborn award. Still in extremely good condition. A choice little Ford, this '36 Roadster brought a healthy price.

Lot # F353 1935 Ford Deluxe Phaeton; S/N 181943681; Black/Brown leatherette; Beige cloth top; Cosmetic restoration, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $29,000 plus commission of 6.00%; Final Price $30,740 -- Fenton headers, duals, glass-pack mufflers, 3.78 rear axle, Green wire wheels, wide whitewalls, enclosed rear spare, heater, full weather equipment. Cosmetically restored decades ago and gently used with regular care since then. Abundant flaws and age but at the same time an impressive, solid and usable old car. This is a preferred body among Ford V-8 collectors and even with this much age and use it is a sound and solid example. The new owner got more car than the money spent on it.

Lot # F371 2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo #29 NASCAR; S/N 097; Black, Silver #29/Black; Competition restoration, 2- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $75,000 -- Ex-RCR, Kevin Harvick road race car with fresh RCR 358/825hp engine, fire system, letter of authenticity but no stated race history, In race ready condition. How much? The only way this pre-COT is worth even close to this much is if it had swept both NASCAR road course events and had an ex-Dale Earnhardt, Sr. race winning engine under the hood. It had neither and is worth about half this much.