An icon of the custom car era, Bob Hirohata’s 1951 Mercury customized by the Barris shop, will go up for grabs at the Mecum Kissimmee (Florida) auction to be held Jan. 6-16.
The rise of custom car culture paralleled hot rod culture in the post World War II period. Many shops in Southern California began customizing 1949-’51 Mercs, using the slab-sided bodies as blank canvases for their vision of what cars could be. Chopping the tops, channeling the bodies, and shaving the trim for a smoother look transformed what was otherwise deemed a frumpy design.
The Hirohata Merc is viewed as the pinnacle of Merc lead sled design, and is recognized as the most famous custom of all time. Built by the Barris brothers, George and Sam, at Barris Kustom, it received all the right changes to make it look sleek and elegant, but not overstyled.
The main changes reworked the profile. The shop chopped the top four inches in the front and seven inches in the rear, leaned the the rear window forward, and replaced the B-pillars with channel stock to give the coupe a hardtop look. To give the car its low stance, the Barris brothers cut the front coil springs, C-sectioned the rear frame, de-arched the rear leaf springs, and set the rear on two 1.5-inch lowering blocks.
1951 Hirohata Mercury
Along the sides, the Barris brothers replaced the straight fender trim with rounded trim from a 1952 Buick Riviera that provides a delineation for a two-tone Ice Green and Organic Dark Green paint scheme. The bright color was a departure from the many dark colors on customs of the day. Large fender bulges were added to the rear, fronted by functional handmade scoops decorated with teeth from a 1952 Chevy grille.
At the front, the grille was shortened and a new handmade grille bar inserted. The bumper was modified, the headlights frenched (the trim rings molded into the fenders for a cleaner look), and wraparound parking light moldings were made using 1950 Ford parts. The hood lost its chrome and was extended and reshaped to fit with the new grille opening. The rear was given frenched 1952 Lincoln taillights.
Inside, the car received a rolled and pleated upholstery. Noted pinstriper Von Dutch applied his art to the dash, and Hirohata himself made his own teardrop dash knobs from plastic.
1951 Hirohata Mercury
Once the customization was complete, Hirohata had the engine swapped with the mill from a 1953 Cadillac, earning the car the nickname “Mercillac.”
The car won several awards, was featured in numerous magazines, and appeared in the 1955 movie “Runnin’ Wild.” Hirohata drove it for a few years, then sold it in 1955. In 1959, a high school student named Jim McNeil found it on a used car lot. He drove it until 1964, and then put it away. It resurfaced in 1989, when Rod & Custom editor Pat Ganahl coaxed McNeil into restoring the car with the magazine’s help.
The revived Hirohata Merc appeared at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 2015, and was then added to the National Historic Vehicle Register.
Now, this piece of automotive history can be yours. We’ll see if it sells and how much it goes for in January.
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The last Buick Grand National ever made is heading to auction with Barrett-Jackson at the company’s flagship Scottsdale, Arizona, auction scheduled for Jan. 22-30, 2022.
The Grand National was Buick’s muscle car for the 1980s. A performance version of the Buick Regal, it used a turbocharged 3.8-liter V-6 instead of a traditional V-8, extracting a surprising amount of performance from General Motors’ aging rear-wheel drive G-body platform.
The turbo V-6 was good for 245 hp and 330 lb-ft of torque, and was coupled to a 4-speed automatic transmission. Buick also launched a GNX closeout special (short for Grand National Experimental) for the 1987 model year, which upped output to 276 hp and 360 lb-ft of torque.
The last 1987 Buick Grand National (photo via Barrett-Jackson)
The 1987 model year was the Grand National’s last because GM dropped the G-body in favor of a new front-wheel-drive platform for the Regal. A standard Grand National rather than a GNX, the last car was built on Dec. 11, 1987, marking not only the end of Grand National production, but also the end of production at GM’s Pontiac, Michigan, assembly plant, which had been building cars since 1927.
The last Grand National has been treated as a celebrity since it rolled off the assembly line 34 years ago. It’s been kept in a climate-controlled storage space and only brought out for special appearances, such as Buick’s 2003 centennial celebration in Flint, Michigan. It also appeared in the 2012 Grand National documentary “Black Air.” Today, it shows just 33 miles, according to the auction listing.
While there can only be one last Grand National, several other low-mileage examples have emerged from hibernation recently. Barrett-Jackson featured a GNX with just 8.7 miles earlier this year, and a 49-mile Grand National went up for auction in 2018. An unsold GNX with 202 miles was listed on Bring a Trailer last year, and also appeared on Jay Leno’s Garage.
Jaguar only made 275 examples of the XJ220 supercar in the early 1990s, and one of those cars is scheduled to cross the block at the Silverstone Auctions event in England to be held July 31 and Aug. 1.
The XJ220 was supercar icon of its era, despite under delivering on specs. Jaguar originally promised a V-12 and all-wheel drive, but the production version ended up with a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6 and rear-wheel drive. Jaguar also cut some corners, giving the XJ220 a cheap, parts-bin interior, and even using Rover taillights.
So while Jaguar allegedly attracted around 1,500 deposits after the XJ220 concept’s 1988 British motor show debut, many customers canceled their orders after seeing the production version. They missed out.
1995 Jaguar XJ220 (photo via Silverstone Auctions)
The XJ220 was developed by Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR), which was running Jaguar’s motorsports programs at the time. While it lacked the prestige of a V-12, the twin-turbo V-6 still developed 542 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque. The XJ220 also briefly held the record for world’s fastest production car, but was quickly beaten by the McLaren F1.
This particular XJ220 was originally sold in the UK, and is one of 84 right-hand-drive examples, as well as one of four cars finished in Daytona Black, according to the listing. It currently shows 9,600 miles, and was also featured in a 2004 Jeremy Clarkson special, in which it beat a Pagani Zonda in a drag race, the listing says.
Silverstone Auctions gives a pre-auction estimate of $223,000-$251,000 based on current exchange rates. That’s substantially less than the pair of XJ220s that sold for $385,000 and $433,000 at auction in 2019, both of which had been recently restored. This XJ220 will be auctioned off with several other notable Jaguars, including a pair of 1951 XK120s and a 1961 E-Type roadster.
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A 1979 Porsche 928 used during filming of “Risky Business” is set to go under the hammer at Barrett-Jackson’s inaugural sale in Houston, Texas, which starts September 18.
If you were of movie-going age in the early 1980s, there’s a good chance you saw the movie in theaters (and no doubt you’ve seen it by now on VHS or DVD). While the plot and story may have been replaced in your memory banks, there’s a good chance you’ll remember three things.
First, it was the breakthrough movie for a young actor by the name of Tom Cruise; second, Rebecca De Mornay may well have been the hottest woman on the planet when the movie was filmed; and third, the Porsche 928 was seriously quick by early 1980s standards.
We’re sure Risky Business did more to boost 928 sales than any car review ever penned, and now you can own the very same Porsche 928 that appeared on screen.
1979 Porsche 928 used during filming of “Risky Business” – Photo credit: Barrett-Jackson
Three driveable 928s were used to film Risky Business, while a stripped-out example was the one rolled into Lake Michigan. This one, which bears the VIN 9289201213 and actually left the factory with green paint, is the only known and documented Risky Business survivor, and was used for the bulk of the wide-shot driving scenes, including the famous chase scene. It also features signatures from some cast members, including Joe Pantoliano (Guido), Bronson Pinchot (Barry), and Curtis Armstrong (Miles).
It was sold after the shoot and was only rediscovered in the mid-2000s by Lewis Johnsen. He detailed his search for the car in the documentary, “The Quest for the RB928 (Risky Business 928).”
According to the sales listing, movie producer Jon Avnet said this particular example was the car in which Cruise learned how to drive stick. The car features a 5-speed manual sending drive from a front-mounted 4.5-liter V-8 to the rear wheels. Peak power is 219 hp, or enough for 0-60 mph acceleration in 6.8 seconds and a top speed of 143 mph.
A search of the classifieds shows plenty of 928s for sale starting from about $20,000. Given this car’s history, we expect it to sell for much more than that. It’s not just a Porsche 928, after all; it’s the Porsche 928—and it’s set to be offered with no reserve.
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An automotive unicorn, that was (and is) the Isdera Commendatore 112i, a one-off creation that debuted in 1993 and that now has been consigned to RM Sotheby’s annual Paris auction, scheduled for Retromobile week in February 2021.
The car will be offered at no reserve and RM Sotheby’s has not announced a pre-sale estimated value for the car, however noting that, “It would not be surprising to see the Commendatore 112i attracting lots of attention at concours events in the coming years, alongside comparable boutique supercars developed in the 1990s, such as the Koenigsegg CC8S or Pagani Zonda C12s.”
Isdera is short for — take a deep breath — Ingenieurgesellschaft fur Styling, Design, und Racing mbH of Leonberg, Germany. The company was founded by Eberhard Schulz, a designer and engineer who built his first sports car, the Erator GTE, in 1971. He later worked at Porsche, and then joined B&B gmbH & Co Auto KG of Frankfurt, where in 1978 he helped develop the CW311 prototype, a car based on Mercedes-Benz mechanicals and displayed at the Frankfurt show.
RM Sotheby’s reports that Schulz went on his own in 1982 with Isdera, which a year later presented the Isdera Spyder, a mid-engine sports car powered by 3.2- and 3.6-liter 6-cylinder Mercedes engines, at the Geneva show. He followed up a year later with the Imperator, a V8-powered coupe with a top speed of 180 mph. RM Sotheby’s adds that as many as 20 examples of the Imperator were produced, the last in 1991.
But what Schulz really wanted to do, we’re told, was to develop a production version of the CW311, and thus the Commendatore 112i, which he named in honor of Enzo Ferrari.
The car has a 6.o-liter Mercedes V12 rated at more than 400 horsepower and a one-off flywheel and modified RUF Porsche 6-speed transmission. The low-slung aerodynamic body was tested in the Mercedes wind tunnel, where it recorded an 0.306 coefficient of drag and was judged capable of more than 200 mph.
The car developed something of a cult following after being featured in the 1997 Need for Speed II video game and, after an infusion of money from a Swiss consortium, the Commendatore was displayed as “the Silver Arrow” at the 1999 Frankfurt show.
Without details on what happened in the interim, RM Sotheby’s reports that Isdera, which does consulting research and development for a variety of automakers and is working its own electric-powered GT, reacquired the car in 2016 and returned it to its 1993 specification.
“Offered for sale in this specification, the car boasts its correct BBS wheels, Porsche Arctic Silver paintwork, Recaro blue and black trim and the iconic Isdera periscope rearview mirror,” RM Sotheby’s adds.
“Today, it has covered less than 10,500 km from new. Having been rebuilt with road-use in mind, the car is currently registered in Germany and was previously registered in Switzerland, showcasing that this is no museum piece, and a car best enjoyed on the open road.
“It is accompanied by an intriguing history file, as well as its certificate of authenticity from Isdera, confirming it to be the only example in existence. Offered directly from Isdera, this is undoubtably one of the most interesting one-off automobiles built in the 1990s.”
The Lamborghini collection
In addition to the Isdera Commendatore, RM Sotheby’s announced that its Paris sale will feature a single-consignor collection of Lamborghinis, including a 1967 400 GT 2+2, a 1968 Espada Series 1, a 1969 Islero GTS, a 1971 Miura P400 SV, a 1977 Countach LP400 ‘Periscopio’ and a 1984 Countach LP500S.
Because of ongoing coronavirus concerns, RM Sotheby’s added that the Paris auction will be a two-part sale with a live-streamed sale February 13 and a time-based Online Only that follows.
The Alfa Romeo B.A.T. concepts astounded in the 1950s, as they still do today | Ron Kimball/RM Sotheby’s
Three of the most-stunning concept cars of all time, the sculptural Alfa Romeo B.A.T. designs penned by Franco Scaglione and produced by Carrozzeria Bertone, will be offered as a single lot by RM Sotheby’s, in cooperation with Sotheby’s fine-arts division, during the Contemporary Art Evening Sale, livestreamed October 28 from New York.
The Berlina Aerodinamica Tecnica cars, created for the Turin auto salons of 1953, 1954 and 1955, are world-renowned for their artful approach to aerodynamics and aesthetics, and are just as astonishing today as they were in the 1950s, remaining instantly recognizable to generations of automotive and design enthusiasts.
The dramatically curved tailfins of the B.A.T. 7 | David Schnabel/RM Sotheby’s
Coming out of single long-term ownership, the B.A.T. trio is being offered to the public for the first time, according to an RM Sotheby’s news release. The sale of these iconic concept cars is a monumental event sure to attract global attention.
“The three cars were more than just design studies and a showcase of what world’s best panel beaters and craftsmen could create; they were also an incredibly effective demonstration of forward-thinking design engineering and advanced aerodynamics,” the news release says. “Although designed around modest Alfa Romeo road car chassis, the cars stunned the public with a hitherto unseen blend of sculpture and efficiency, and with more than just a hint of fantasy and science-fiction resonating from each of the three designs.”
The three B.A.T. concepts were never shown together in period | David Schnabel/RM Sotheby’s
The Contemporary Art auction venue seems entirely appropriate for what are considered to be among the finest of automotive masterpieces. The estimated value for the three B.A.T. concept cars is $14 million to $20 million.
The cars are named with consecutive odd numbers starting with B.A.T. 5, Scaglione’s first effort to create a visual language that maximizes airflow and, in the process, produce a dramatic design that was fresh and memorable. Show-goers at the 1953 Turin show were starstruck by the spectacular shape, but the beauty was more than skin deep.
“As with its successors, the running gear was sourced from the Alfa Romeo 1900, but it is a notable fact that the automaker would remain relatively uninvolved with the design process until the final design, the B.A.T. 9,” according to the release. “Output from this four-cylinder engine, mated to a five-speed manual transmission, was approximately 90 horsepower, yet the wind-cheating lines afforded the car a top speed approaching 125 mph.
The B.A.T. 5 broke new ground in aerodynamics |
“This remarkable performance was thanks to its drag coefficient, calculated at an incredibly low 0.23 Cd – impressive even by today’s standards. Its pontoon fenders, nose vents, wraparound glass cockpit, tapering tailfins and wheel skirts, all combined to produce both aerodynamic efficiency and a design considered to be, almost literally, ‘out of this world’.”
After the triumphant debut of B.A.T. 5, Scaglione began working on B.A.T. 7, an update of the original design that was revealed in 1954 in Turin with much acclaim.
“Given the first car’s success, Scaglione was encouraged to emphasize various characteristics of the original, and he obliged by narrowing the front air intakes, lowering the hood by over two inches, and lengthening the tailfins while adding increased angular pitch to the extremities,” the release continues. “The rear-wheel skirts and pronounced side vents remained.
B.A.T. 7 had even more-slippery aerodynamics
“The resulting design’s coefficient of drag was, at 0.19 Cd, even more remarkable than its predecessor. This figure is lower than many 21st century super car designs, and this was achieved in 1954 without wind-tunnel testing or computer-aided design. A remarkable feat.”
For the 1955 Turin show came B.A.T. 9, the final concept, in which Alfa Romeo took a greater role in making it not only visually exciting but with greater practicality as a road car.
“For B.A.T. 9, Scaglione explored a roadworthy gran turismo interpretation of the theme with the fins reduced in size to improve rear visibility, and the rear wheel skirts eliminated,” RM Sotheby’s said. “A new pronounced beltline was added toward the rear, while a standard production triangular Giulietta grille, including the famed Milano crest, was fitted to the front grille, highlighting the car’s identity as an Alfa Romeo.
B.A.T. 9 was designed to be more practical for the road
“Despite this more practical approach to the design, the result proved to be the crescendo of the design iteration and was much admired for its jet-age design that perfectly combined both form and function.”
The three B.A.T. cars were never shown together in period and were each sold off after their show tours. The first time they were united was in 1989 at the Pebble Beach Concours d’ Elegance, where they were presented by Nuccio Bertone, who oversaw their commission and construction.
Shortly after the concours, the current owner acquired each car individually and had them restored, maintained and kept together ever since. The B.A.T. concepts have made some public appearances during the past 30 years, RM Sotheby’s notes, “and the cars are undoubtedly one of the most important single collections of vehicles in existence.”
“To be able to offer the Alfa Romeo B.A.T cars as a single lot triptych at auction is a once-in-a-generation opportunity,” said Rob Myers, chairman of RM Sotheby’s. “To do so in Sotheby’s Contemporary Art evening sale only adds further validation to the global significance of the B.A.T cars.
“The importance of the offering of these cars cannot be underestimated either within the automotive or within the art, sculpture and design world.”
These are not the first automobiles offered at Sotheby’s evening art auction, with a Ferrari Formula 1 car driven by Michael Schumacher sold at the sale in November 2017, noted David Galperin, head of Sotheby’s Contemporary Art Evening Auctions in New York.
“Designed and executed in the early 1950s, the Alfa Romeo B.A.T. automobiles represent the great creative ingenuity that marks post-war Italy and the European avant-garde at this period in history,” Galperin said. “Presented in the context of our Contemporary Art Evening Sale, alongside works by titans of post-war Italian art and design such as Lucio Fontana and Carlo Mollino, the sheer radicality, sculptural brilliance, and unique artistic vision of these automotive icons will be ever more magnified.”
For more information about the B.A.T. cars and the Contemporary Art Evening Sale, visit the auction website.
“The Son of Moto Vincent” is a unique Vincent Black Shadow race bike built by Gordon Colquhoun | Bonhams photos
The Barber Motorsports Museum near Birmingham, Alabama, will be the main venue for Bonhams’ annual fall auction of Collectors’ Motorcycles & Motorcars, although two other sites in distant parts of the US also will be part of the live/online bidding action taking place October 10.
While most of the bikes and cars will be on display at the Barber museum, some of the entries will be shown at the Simeone Automotive Museum in Philadelphia or at Bonhams’ Sunset Boulevard gallery in Los Angeles. The vehicles can be previewed October 9 at Barber, Simeone and the Bonhams gallery, with bidding held at Barber as well as online and by phone.
The auction, primarily a motorcycle sale, is usually held in conjunction with the Barber Vintage Festival, which was canceled for 2020 because of COVID-19. Bonhams will still hold the auction at the Barber museum, although in the same pandemic-restricted format used in its recent Quail auction.
The impressive 1937 Harley-Davidson Knucklehead has some custom features
The auction arena will be scaled back and pandemic protocols will be enforced, with online bidders able to use Bonhams “virtual viewing” platform “for condition reports and a one-to-one bespoke ‘walkaround’ inspection with a specialist to examine a specific bike or car in detail from front to back,” according to Bonhams.
The auction is mostly about motorcycles, with an array of about 80 bikes on the docket, along with a good-sized collection of motorcycle memorabilia including posters, toys and other items. Eleven collector cars also will be offered.
The most valuable motorcycle at the auction is also the oldest, and it has three wheels: a restored 1900 De-Dion Bouton tricycle from the dawn of motoring. The beautiful antique has a pre-auction estimated value of $145,000 to $155,000.
The 3-wheeled 1900 De-Dion Bouton
Other valuable old timers include a 1937 Harley-Davidson EL Knucklehead, valued at $60,000 to $70,000, and a 1948 Indian Chief 348 Roadmaster, with a value from $30,000 to $40,000.
British bikes will be well-represented, led by “The Son of Moto Vincent,” a unique Vincent Black Shadow competition machine built by Gordon Colquhoun cq that’s valued at $70,000 to $100,000.
Also on the docket is a “historically significant” 1962 Norton Manx 40 that was raced by Ray Petty, an accomplished engineer and Manx specialist who tuned the bike to his liking. The Norton, valued at $40,000 to $50,000, was kept by its current owner in his living room.
Beautiful 1962 Norton Manx 40, an iconic Isle of Man TT racer
Other British motorcycles that will be offered include a number of Triumphs and BSAs, plus those from Matchless, AJS and a hand-built “Triton” café racer.
Vintage BMWs also are on the Bonhams docket, such as a 1927 R57 valued from $50,000 to $70,000; a 1937 R12 with Steib sidecar, $20,000 to $30,000; and a 1966 R69S, $15,000 to $20,000.
The 1927 BMW R27 opposed twin was one of the most-advanced motorcycles of its era
Italian two-wheelers ranging from Ducati racers to Vespa scooters will be on board, with a gorgeously styled 1934 Benelli Monalbero Sport estimated at $55,000 to $65,000.
Japanese motorcycles, which have been rising in interest and value in recent years, will be included in the bidding, including some Yamaha and Suzuki dirt bikes, a few road racers and street bikes that include an iconic 3-cylinder, 2-stroke 1972 Kawasaki 500, valued at $11,000 to $13,000.
The extravagantly styled 1934 Benelli track bike
Aside from the high-priced featured motorcycles, quite a few of the collector bikes are valued in the 4-figure and low-5-figure range, making this a truly egalitarian event.
For more information about Bonham’s live/online event, visit the auction website.
The Lincoln convertible was the last car Kennedy rode in before going to Dallas and his assassination | Bonhams photos
Two historically important Lincoln limousines that carried President John F. Kennedy – one of which he rode in on day that he was assassinated – will be offered during Bonhams’ live/online American Presidential Experience Auction in New York on October 14, just three weeks ahead of the presidential election.
The white 1963 Lincoln Continental convertible that was designated “Limo One,” and which carried the President and first lady on the morning of November 22, 1963, in Fort Worth with Texas Governor John Connally, has a pre-auction estimated value of $300,000 to $500,000.
President Kennedy, the First Lady and Texas Governor John Connally being driven in the 1963 Lincoln | Archive photo
The Lincoln, which was on loan from Bill Golightly of Golightly Auto Sales for the Fort Worth tour, carried the Kennedys and Connally to the Hotel Texas Ballroom, where Kennedy delivered his last speech, and then to Carswell Air Force Base where they boarded the flight to Dallas.
The other Lincoln is a 1960 Lincoln Continental Mark V Executive Limousine used by President Kennedy for personal trips in Washington, DC. The Mark V was specially outfitted by Hess and Eisenhardt for presidential use with bulletproof doors, divider window, passenger air controls and a two-way telephone in the back seat, which was an uncommon luxury for the period.
The 1960 Lincoln Continental used by Kennedy in Washington, DC
The car was sold in March 1964 to James C. Walsh, a doctor who had known John Kennedy. Walsh confirmed in a letter that “He [President Kennedy] did use this car for his own personal uses in contrast to the official use of the larger White House limousine.”
Valued at $200,000 to $300,000, the ’60 Lincoln has had its body restored but the interior is original, according to Bonhams.
Several unusual collector’s items from the Kennedy years also be auctioned, including two mockups that provided a glimpse into the President’s life.
The display mockup of the Boeing 707 Air Force One
Kennedy was known as the first jet-age president, when Air Force One became a Boeing 707, and a full-scale replica of the plane that was used as an exhibition piece for the public will be among the auction offerings.
“The replica includes the full cockpit, crew officers’ workstations, the state room where Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as President and the President’s quarters,” Bonhams says in a news release. “It recreates in minute detail the original designs by Raymond Loewy, who created the distinct blue livery which has been used for all Air Force One airplanes since.”
The display piece is valued at $200,000 to $300,000.
The replica Oval Office has been used as a television prop
Just as evocative is a full-scale mockup of the White House Oval Office, “complete with wooden panels, a fireplace and furniture including a scale fine-wood reproduction of the Resolute Desk,” Bonhams says.
The replica, which has been used on such TV programs as Saturday Night Live and The Today Show, is valued at $40,000 to $60,000.
A more-personal item from the Kennedy pieces is the leather Air Force One bomber jacket originally owned by the president. The government-issue G-1 flight jacket with the presidential seal sewn on was given by Kennedy to his close friend and “special assistant” David Powers during Kennedy’s term in office.
The presidential flight jacket is valued at $200,000 to $300,000.
Kennedy gave the leather flight jacket to close friend David Power
Bonhams will conduct the Presidential Experience Auction, which also includes a number of other historic presidential items, with a live auctioneer on the rostrum at the Bonhams’ showroom on Madison Avenue and live streamed on the Bonhams website, with bids accepted online, by phone or by absentee bidding.
The Kennedy limousines will be available for viewing at the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum in Philadelphia from October 9 through 11, then by appointment at Motor Car Manor in Ramsey, New Jersey.
The top-selling 1965 Shelby GT350R Prototype on the auction block | Mecum Auctions photos
Touting “a triumphant return to live auctions,” Mecum Auctions reported results for its Indianapolis event of $74 million in sales of collector cars and Road Art memorabilia, a historic best result for the company’s flagship sale.
The overall sell-through rate was more than 90 percent, Mecum said, with 78 percent of about 1,800 vehicles hammered sold.
The high point of the auction was the resounding sale of the 1965 Shelby GT350R Prototype – the famous Flying Mustang driven in competition by Ken Miles – which rang the bell with a $3.85 million sale, the highest known price ever paid for any Mustang. The sale eclipsed that of the Steve McQueen Bullitt Mustang sold by Mecum six months ago.
1966 GT350 convertible was another Shelby that reached into 7 figures
“The car exists as the first Shelby R-Model competition car built and the first Shelby Mustang to win a race, easily qualifying it as the most historically significant Shelby Mustang in the world,” according to Mecum’s Indy results news release.
Another Shelby Mustang that hit 7 figures was the 1966 Shelby GT350 convertible, a highly original car that was one of only four GT350 convertibles built for 1966 and the first one by serial number. It sold for $1.1 million.
Among the top 10 collector cars sold at the auction, five were Shelbys.
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1964 Shelby 289 Independent Competition Cobra hit $990,000
The most-highly valued car at the sale, a 1965 Ford GT Competition Prototype Roadster, GT/109, which was the only open GT40 to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, was a no-sale when the high bid of $7.5 million did not meet reserve. Owned by Dana Mecum, the head of the auction company, it was the second time the race car failed to sell at a Mecum auction.
The 33rd annual Indianapolis auction was the first live event for Mecum since the pandemic shutdown. Usually held in May, the auction was postponed until July 10-18. The results are higher than the May 2019 sale at the Indianapolis Fairgrounds, which scored a then-record $70.4 million in total sales.
The auction was held under strict pandemic protocols, according to Mecum, with protective masks, hand sanitizers and social distancing. Online sales were strong, Mecum said, with 346 vehicles sold to online-only bidders with a total of $10.3 million.
A 1965 Ferrari 275 GTS was the second-place top seller
“We put forth tremendous effort to follow, meet and exceed all of the safety protocols necessary to provide a safe environment to conduct a successful, full-scale live auction. Not only did we succeed, we raised the bar,” said Frank Mecum, director of consignments. “By enhancing both our on-site and live-online bidding processes, we were able to open so many new doors and allow everyone to participate in whichever way made the most sense for our customers.
RELATED:Open Roads online auction is added to RM Sotheby’s summer catalog
“The results speak for themselves: the auction in Indy was the annual event’s best outcome ever, and I think I can speak for everyone here at Mecum in saying that we are thrilled to be back with live auctions for our customers and fans alike.”
The top-10 highest sellers for the Indy 2020 auction were:
1965 Shelby GT350R Prototype at $3.85 million
1965 Ferrari 275 GTS at $1.43 million
1966 Shelby GT350 convertible at $1.1 million
1964 Shelby 289 Independent Competition Cobra at $990,000
2018 Ford GT at $946,000
1965 Shelby GT350 Paxton Prototype at $880,000
1966 Shelby GT350 Paxton fastback at $852,500
1963 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III drophead coupe at $726,000
1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona at $715,000
2011 Ferrari 599 GTO at $698,500
The top-10 highest-selling Road Art items were:
Cobra Powered by Ford Autographed Banner at $53,100
Ford A-1 Pylon Used Cars and Trucks Dealership Porcelain Neon Sign at $40,120
1967 Le Mans Starting Flag Embroidered Silk at $36,580
Ford A-1 Used Cars Double-Sided Porcelain Neon Sign at $30,680
1965 Shelby American 427 Cobra Sunburst Wheels/Blue Dot Tires at $29,500
“Daytona Coupe” Original Bronze Sculpture by J. Paul Nesse at $29,500
“Miles Ahead” Original Bronze Sculpture by J. Paul Nesse at $25,960
Ford Jubilee Dealership Single-Sided Porcelain Neon Sign at $25,960
Cobra Powered by Ford Autographed Banner at $53,100
Ford A-1 Pylon Used Cars and Trucks Dealership Porcelain Neon Sign at $40,120
RELATED:Only GT40 roadster raced at Le Mans is on Mecum’s Indy docket
(All results include auction fees)
Mecum’s next live auction will be the recently announced Kissimmee Summer Special slated for August 27-29 at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, Florida, with 1,000 collector vehicles expected.
