Mecum Auctions’ record-setting 10-day auction, held January 18–27, exceeded all expectations, transforming more than 100 acres of land at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, FL, into the nation’s collector car epicenter. A total of 3,337 lots filled every building and 15 acres of tents with a total of 2,423 cars crossing the auction block and a huge selection of road art and memorabilia. With 1,806 vehicles sold, an impressive 75 % sell-through rate was achieved and total sales for the event reached $70,726,118. As sales continue to finalize with Mecum’s “The Bid Goes On” department, totals are expected to reach $75 million.
More than 75,000 people flooded the auction grounds to take part in the festival-like atmosphere of the largest collector car auction in the world. Whether they stayed for three or four hours, or they had gas and oil in their veins and stayed for two weeks with motorhome in tow, families with children of all ages took advantage of the beautiful Florida weather and the opportunity to see some of the best cars on the planet. The vast array of quality offerings included some of the best the Kissimmee auction has ever seen.
Mecum’s General and Operations Manager Harold Gerdes plays a huge role in getting an event like Kissimmee on its feet. “To put this event on is like putting on a professional basketball game and a rock concert at the same time and doing it every night, 10 nights straight,” Gerdes explained.
Thirty-two hours of the colossal event was broadcast live on Velocity, a Discovery Channel network, allowing those at home to take in the auction floor action right alongside the Mecum family and have a chance to be part of this truly historic event.
Within the massive lineup of vehicles, three private collections were featured which gnabbed eight of the top spots for highest hammer prices. Several record-setting sales were made, but sitting at the head of the Top Ten sales list is a 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 roadster, CSX3301, which sold for $779,100. An all-original and unrestored 8,000-mile 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 from the John Justo Collection claimed the third-highest sale, exchanging hands at an $442,020. With every segment of the collector car hobby well represented in Kissimmee, buyers had access to the greatest selection ever offered in one location.
The top ten sales results for the Kissimmee, FL, auction were:
(Prices include 6 percent buyers premium.)
1. 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 roadster CSX3301 (Lot S155) at $779,100
2. 1968 Chevrolet Corvette L88 convertible (Lot S172) at $583,000
3. 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 fastback (Lot S116) at $442,020
4. 1966 Ford Mustang SCCA Group 2 A/Sedan racer (Lot S132) at $424,000
5. 1970 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda 2-dr hard top(Lot S123) at $339,200
6. 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 coupe (Lot S128) at $328,600
7. 1963 Chevrolet Corvette 327/340 Split-Window coupe (Lot F242) at $291,500
8. 1967 Chevrolet Corvette 427/435 convertible (Lot S117) at $265,000
9. 1962 Chevrolet Corvette 327/360 Big-Brake Tanker convertible (Lot F245) at $256,520
10. 2005 Ford GT coupe (Lot S182) at $233,200