The highest prices paid at the Mecum Kissimmee 2017 collector car auction were for a Maserati Ghibli Spyder, Chevrolet Corvette and a Porsche Carrera GT. A yellow 1969 Maserati Ghibli 4.9 Spyder became to first car in 2017 to achieved over a million dollar (premium included) at public auction. Mecum Auctions’ Kissimmee sale is the largest collector car auction in the world – in 2017, around 3,000 cars were on offer.
Mecum Kissimmee Collector Car Auction 2017
While the other major classic car auctioneers were still warming up for the Scottsdale, Arizona, auctions, Mecum was already selling at Kissimmee in Florida. The Mecum Kissimmee auctions were held from January 6 -15, 2017.
At the Kissimmee 2017 sale, Mecum offered around 3,000 vehicles in addition to other automobilia – more than all the Scottsdale and Arizona auctions together. Mecum earned $68 million from 1981 cars sold – a high 75% sell-through rate.
Mecum Kissimmee 2017 Top Results
The following were the top ten results at the Mecum Kissimmee 2017 collector car auctions:
- $920,000 – 1969 Maserati Ghibli 4.9 Spyder
- $775,000 – 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible
- $625,000 – 2005 Porsche Carrera GT
- $525,000 – 1963 Chevrolet Impala Z11 “Old Reliable IV”
- $450,000 – 1957 Chevrolet Corvette Big Brake Airbox
- $430,000 – 1963 Pontiac Catalina Swiss Cheese
- $400,000 – 1980 BMW M1
- $340,000 – 1963 Chevrolet Impala Z11
- $327,500 – 2006 Ford GT Heritage Edition
- $300,000 – 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Split Window Coupe
The prices are hammer prices as published by Mecum post-auction. Add at least 10% to compare with other premium-included results.
1969 Maserati Ghibli 4.9 Spyder
The first million-dollar result of 2017 was achieved at the Mecum Kissimmee 2017 auction for a 1969 Maserati Ghibli 4.9 Spyder. The hammer came down at $920,000 but if 10% premium is added $1,010,000 was due (actual premium paid may even be higher).
Maserati built only 125 Ghibli Spyders with only 25 equipped with the 4.9 L engine. The Maserati Ghibli is in its correct bright Giallo Yellow over black color scheme but a recent restoration is not up to concourse standard. A Ghibli Spyder sold for $1.5 million at the Gooding Pebble Beach 2016 auction while one at Mecum Monterey 2016 received a highest bid of $850,000 (it may have been the same car sold at Kissimmee).
1967 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible
A 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible sold for $775,000 at the Mecum Kissimmee 2017 collector car auction. This car is the only Tuxedo Black/Bright Blue 435 HP 1967 Corvette Convertible known to exist.
This Corvette comes with Bloomington Gold Certification and multiple NCRS Top Flight Awards – it has never scored below 98.8% at any judged events. The car comes with full known ownership history and has been driven for only 35,000 miles.
Two further Corvettes were among the top-ten results at Mecum Kissimmee 2017: a 1957 Chevrolet Corvette Big Brake Airbox sold for $450,000 and a 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Split Window Coupe for $300,000.
2005 Porsche Carrera GT
Porsche prices are hot at the moment and a seemingly endless stream of high-value Porsches is on offer at classic car auctions at the start of 2017. No major classic car auction seemed complete without at least a Carrera GT on offer – two more will be on offer at Scottsdale 2017 auctions while at least 18 tested the market at public auctions in 2016. Thus far, only Mecum has succeeded in selling a Carrera GT for over a million dollar – twice in fact: at Mecum’s Monterey sales in both 2015 and 2016.
The red 2005 Porsche Carrera GT that sold for $625,000 (hammer price) at Kissimmee 2017 came with a relatively high 2,720 miles and two previous owners. Many of the Carreras offered at auctions seemed to have hardly been driven at all.
At Mecum Kissimmee 2016, two Carrera GTs were on offer and highest bids of $650,000 and $850,000 were rejected. The failure of many of these cars to reach sellers’ high expectations seems to have led to more realistic reserve margins.
Drag Racers at Mecum Kissimmee 201
Four Chevrolet Impala Z11 lightweight drag racers from the Lifelong Collection of Don Fezell were on offer at the Mecum Kissimmee collector car sale.
The highest result – $525,000 (hammer) – was achieved for the most famous Z11 ever built: the Bill “Grumpy” Jenkins-prepared “Old Reliable IV”. A further 1963 Chevrolet Impala Z11 from the collection also achieved a strong $340,000. It is one of only two built in black.
A further famous drag racer the 1963 Pontiac Catalina Swiss Cheese, achieved $430,000. This car from the Jackie and Gary Rynzon Collection is one of only 14 ever built. It was sponsored by America’s Largest Pontiac Dealer—Packer Pontiac of Detroit.
Mecum sits out the traditional Scottsdale and Arizona auctions and will have its next major car auction in Los Angeles mid-February while antique motorcycles will be on sale in Las Vegas en January.