The annual event sent thousands of cars across the block—but the big shock was 25-year-old grocery-getters keeping up with the muscle-car fare
Billed as the world’s largest collector-car auction, Mecum’s 13-day extravaganza in Kissimmee, Florida this year saw 4,500 lots cross the block. Arguably the most famous race car of all time, the 1971 Porsche 917K purchased by Solar Productions to be driven by Steve McQueen in the film Le Mans was a no-sale at US$25 million.
That’s about $36 million in Canadian funds, but the enormous bid was not enough for actor comedian Jerry Seinfeld to part with this signature car from his renowned Porsche collection.
It was an up-and-down auction, with the most desirable cars attracting titanic closing bids. Muscle cars, Corvettes, supercars, track-proven race cars, Porsches of all types, Ford Broncos and Chevy Blazers, and rare classics from the 1930s all brought huge prices.
Perhaps surprisingly, though, vintage Japanese grocery-getters are now turning into collector cars in their own right, too, with prices rivalling what sought-after muscle cars are bringing at auction.
Japanese royalty fetches even bigger bucks
Of course, the strongest money was paid for the most collectible classics and movie cars.
Top sellers from across the board
On top of these prices, buyers attending the auction pay a 10% premium. Phone and internet buyers pay a 12% premium. Canadians paying for their auction purchases in U.S. currency find It takes approximately $1.45 Canadian to buy $1 US.
Strong sales at Mecum’s Kissimmee auction set values for the year, as does the Barrett-Jackson auction currently underway (January 18 through 26), where 1,800 collector vehicles are crossing the block.
Alyn Edwards is a classic-car enthusiast and a partner in a Vancouver-based public relations company. You can reach him at [email protected].
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