Mecum Kissimmee 25th Anniversary Auction
Featuring Superbirds, Corvette Split Window Coupes, Ford GT40 MkI, and Much More
Mecum Auctions celebrated its 25th year in Kissimmee, FL at Osceola Heritage Park with the biggest sale of collector cars in the world. There were 13 days of non-stop bidding on 4,500 vehicles and more than 1000 pieces of memorabilia, making for a record-breaking Mecum event and a great way to kick off a new year for those in the hobby.
Million Dollar Cars
Fifteen vehicles sold for over $1 million, including a 1966 GT40 Road Car that sold for $6,930,000.
While Ferraris aren’t new to Mecum, this year 40 crossed the auction block. One of the most prized models on the docket was a 1967 Ferrari 275 GTS/4 NART Spyder, which received a high bid of $23,500,000, but didn’t meet the reserve. However, it sold after the auction for an undisclosed price. The NART Spyder was the top sale of the auction (and the highest sale in Mecum history), and the 1963 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder, which sold for $17,875,000, came in second.
Muscle Cars and Other Showstoppers
There are always plenty of muscle cars at Mecum auctions, and this year was no different. Mecum had a colorful flock of Superbirds, a collection of Split Window Corvettes, a Hemi Cuda convertible, Cobras and a whole lot more muscle. Also featured were multiple award-winning show cars, one of Dave Kindig’s custom-built 1953 Corvette CF1 Roadsters, a super rare 1948 Tucker, and Richard Petty with his 2009 Dodge Challenger. No wonder this was an event everyone was talking about.
Here are some of the sights and sounds of Mecum Kissimmee 2024.
Top 15 Sales
| Vehicle | Sold for |
|---|---|
| 1967 Ferrari 275 GTS/4 NART Spyder | Sold* |
| 1963 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder | $17,875,000 |
| 1966 Ford GT40 MkI Road Car | $6,930,000 |
| 2004 Ferrari Enzo | $4,510,000 |
| 1965 Shelby 427 Competition Cobra | $4,180,000 |
| 1992 Ferrari F40 | $3,410,000 |
| 1958 Ferrari 250 GT ‘Tour de France’ Alloy Berlinetta | $2,805,000 |
| 1967 Corvette 427 L88 (Only Red on Red) | Sold** |
| 1967/1969 Corvette 427 L88s (first and last built, sold as one lot) | $2,585,000 |
| 1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda Convertible | $2,145,000 |
| 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing | $2,035,000 |
| 1987 Porsche 959 Komfort | $1,870,000 |
| 1948 Tucker 48 | $1,870,000 |
| 1961 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster | $1,402,500 |
| 1990 Porsche 911 Carrera 2 Coupe by Singer | $1,127,500 |
*Sales price undisclosed (high bid at auction $23,500,000).
**Sales price undisclosed (high bid at auction $2,700,000).
Superbirds
Although the Mopar ‘Winged Warrior” cars are often seen at auctions, the Kissimmee auction offered a record 16 Superbirds (along with two Dodge Daytonas.) It was quite a gathering of aero cars with each of the seven “High-Impact” colors that was offered by Plymouth on display. There was even a Moulin Rouge (Pink) SuperBird in the flock, which was not a factory color but used in restoration to make one of the wild looking cars even more distinctive. The only thing missing may have been the iconic Mopar color ‘Plum Crazy Purple’, but surprisingly this wasn’t a factory color for Superbirds.
Corvette Split Window Coupes
This auction showcased 30 1963 Corvette Split Windows, which included coupes that were restored to their original specifications and some Restomods. A collection entitled “The Split Window Colorama,” with cars representing all seven factory colors, was a special attraction. This collection rolled out on the auction block as one group, but the cars were sold individually. Seeing that many Split Window Corvettes together center stage was quite an impressive sight.
| Color | Sold/High Bid |
|---|---|
| Silver Blue paint with Black interior | $412,500 |
| Tuxedo Black paint with matching Black interior | $308,000 |
| Sebring Silver paint with Riverside Red interior | $247,500 |
| Ermine White paint with Riverside Red interior | $203,500 |
| Riverside Red paint with Black interior | $176,000 |
| Saddle Tan paint with matching Saddle Tan interior | $211,750 |
| Daytona Blue paint and Dark Blue interior | $325,000 high bid (did not sell) |
Custom Show Cars
There continues to be a debate regarding originality versus customization. For the purist, originality is best, but for a growing number of enthusiasts, upgrading to a more reliable, comfortable, and safe vehicle is the way to go.
Taken to the next level, professional builders create exciting custom show cars that become the inspiration for many classic car owners. Mecum showcased many of these rolling pieces of art at its Kissimmee auction. From these show cars, we selected our “Great 8,” and from the final 8 we chose our “Best of Show” – a 1955 Chevy Convertible named “Chrome Blues,” built by Snodgrass Chevy Restoration.
More Auction Action
Note: Auction Prices include sales commission.
