FEBRUARY 2012
KISSIMMEE CLAIMS THE CROWN
MECUMMONTHLY
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TO CONTACT MECUM AUCTION
Via Mail, E-mail, Phone or Fax: Mecum Collector Car Auctioneers 445 South Main Street Walworth, Wisconsin 53184 Website: www.MECUM.com Office: (262) 275-5050 Fax: (262) 275-3424 E-mail: info@mecum.com
FEBRUARY 2012
CONTENTS
FEATURES PAGE
6 CLAIMING THE CROWN
SELL A VEHICLE
AT A MECUM AUCTION
Download a “Request for Position” form today. Visit www.MECUM.com. Click on the Seller info tab at the top of the home page to fill out or download all forms. Be sure to fill out separate forms for each vehicle when requesting positions.
$60 million over 6-day auction marathon
13 MEET THE TEAM
Getting familiar with our staff
14 CADILLAC MUSEUM COLLECTION Collector and business man Sterling McCall
24 HISSSTORIC FUNNY
Prudhomme’s Pepsi Challenger
BUY A VEHICLE
AT A MECUM AUCTION
Mecum provides two ways to become a registered bidder and purchase vehicles at our auctions. In addition to conventional onsite bidding (recommended), we also offer absentee services to bid via the telephone. For complete bidder registration information, visit www.MECUM.com, click on the Bidder info tab at the top of the home page. For any questions contact the bidder department at 262-275-5050.
COLUMNS
1 5 THE DEALMAKER
25 Years in the Making
www.facebook.com/mecumauction
17 AT THE REDLINE
When Excess Was Just Enough
21 REAL BARN FINDS Tractor of the Century
22 SPOKE ‘N’ WHEEL
The Art of the Motorcycle
23 INSIDER’S SCOOP Clean or Cluttered?
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Mecum Auctions has been specializing in the sale of collector cars for 25 years, and has become America’s largest Collector Car Auction Company offering more than 10,000 vehicles per year. With auctions spanning coast to coast, Mecum is able to provide the utmost in customer service while giving both buyers and sellers the greatest of options.
Copyright © 2012 Mecum Auction, Inc. All rights reserved.
The Dealmaker
DANA MECUM
A MECUM
MILESTONE I’ve always had a personal goal of offering 2000 vehicles at one auction, and that was achieved this year in Florida. After 25 years in the making, over 2,100 vehicles crossed the Mecum block and an epic 60 million dollars in sales were generated as a result. On behalf of my family and the entire Mecum organization, thank you for making Kissimmee2012 the largest auction in company history! Success also brings friendly competition, and that leads us to our company’s next great challenge for 2012. As Kissimmee has captured the crown as the World’s Largest Collector Car Auction, our staff is working day and night to give this years 25th Annual Original Spring Classic at Indy a chance to reclaim the title as “World’s Largest.” Please enjoy this month’s issue of the Mecum Monthly, and visit mecum.com often to view the lastest offerings headed for the next four auctions: Kansas City, Houston, Gone Farmin’ and challenging contender for the crown, Indy2012!
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CLAIMING THE CROWN
Kissimmee DELIVERS HISTORIC SALES RECORDS
In the wake of the 2012 Mecum Kissimmee auction, the list of shattered records continues to grow. The Florida auction kicked off Mecum’s 25th year and a staggering 2,158 vehicles crossed the block, the most in company history. The six-day event, held at Osceola Heritage Park on
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January 24-29, 2012, achieved a 30% increase in attendance over last year. Hammer price sales for the week-long auction totaled $55,397,462, and factoring in Buyer’s premium, total gross sales are reaching close to $60,000,000 as Bid Goes On sales continue to rise.
Mecum sold 1,548 vehicles with an amazing 73% sell-through rate. The auction was broadcast live on Velocity for 32 hours allowing enthusiasts to take in all the action from the comforts of home. Mecum Auctions president Dana Mecum said, “Kissimmee
Kissimmee 2012 Top 10 Vehicle Sales 1. 1963 Shelby Cobra Dragon Snake . ......................(Lot S220) . ........$850,000 2. 1969 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Convertible .............(Lot F199) ..........$610,000 3. 1969 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Coupe . ...................(Lot S103)...........$270,000 4. 1963 Chevrolet Corvette RestoMod .........................(Lot S226) . .........$255,000 5. 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible ....................(Lot T188) ..........$227,500 6. 1930 Packard 745 Waterhouse ..................................(Lot S83)..............$225,000 7. 1941 Packard Darrin 180 Convertible Victoria .....(Lot S122) . ........$220,000 8. 1970 Plymouth Superbird ........................................(Lot K56)..............$200,000 9. 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible .......................(Lot S163) . ........$200,000 10.1957 Ford Thunderbird F-Bird ..............................(Lot S129) . ........$200,000 (all sales reflect hammer prices)
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kicked off the 2012 auction season and Mecum’s 25th year in business, and I can’t think of a better way to begin celebrating our Silver Anniversary than with a record-breaking auction. Company records were smashed in nearly every category
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including number of vehicles offered, vehicles sold, total sales, attendance, and number of registered bidders.” Top Ten sellers at the auction covered a wide swath in enthusiasts dream sheets. With 325 Corvettes offered during the
Kissimmee auction, quite a few were in the Top Ten, but sitting on top of the list is a 1963 Shelby Cobra Dragon Snake (Lot S220), which sold for $850,000. Furthermore, Mecum sold 78% of the Corvettes offered for a total of $13.4 Million.
102 Shelbys and Mustangs sold for a combined $4 Million. Mopars were represented with 100 sold for $4 Million as well. Camaros and Chevelles sales tallied $6.85 Million and Late Great Chevrolets (1955-1964) contributed $4.3 Million.
Mecum also featured scores of motorcycles, a dozen wooden boats, a handful of motor homes and RoadArt in Kissimmee. Dana Mecum observed, “We have a heavyweight title bout going on within our own organization for the title of
World’s Largest Collector Car Auction. With the great success from this auction, Kissimmee 2012 has captured the crown from Indy 2011 as the World’s Largest. Stay tuned for ‘Indy in May’ as it works to regain the crown as the World’s Largest.” M
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SPRING
2012
KANSAS CITY
MARCH 29-31
Kansas City Convention Center • Kansas City, MO
TIME TO CONSIGN 262-275-5050
www.MECUM.com
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Meet the Team AARON SNYDER joined the Mecum road crew over five years ago at one of the Fall Premier events in St. Charles, IL. With years of experience as an Independent Carpenter in Indianapolis, Aaron came recommended by his coworkers as someone who could accomplish any task. As one of the first members of the Mecum team to arrive at the auction site, Aaron’s primary responsibility is to help set the auction stage before the first bidder arrives. When the auction goes live, you can find Aaron at the On Deck position of the block, helping get every car ready for center stage!
ABBEY SCHMID first experienced a Mecum Auction at Indy in 2011. With two auction blocks running at the same time, lead auctioneer Mark Delzell brought in the reinforcements and it was from that point forward Abbey became part of the crew. Evolving from a relief role at the bid screen and Internet bidding desk to bidder assistant on the auction floor in less than a year, Abbey has proven herself as a solid member of the auction team. “My family owns and operates an auction company at home, and when I’m on the road with Mecum I get the same comfort of being with one big happy family.”
MEGHAN GAINES assumed her role as Website Content Coordinator in August 2011. The website catalogs for every auction that are available at mecum.com are the result of Meghan’s hard work and dedication to present our consignors vehicles in their best possible light. There are many facets of the website that are taken for granted, but if you see it on the web, chances are Meghan was a part of it. Working one-on-one with every consignment to ensure photos are uploaded, cataloged, and archived is certainly no small task, but as Meghan always says, “Helping present Mecum and the image for our customers with the content I upload to the web everyday makes it all worth it!” M MECUMMONTHLY
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Sterling McCall CADILLAC Museum Collection Story and Photography by
JOHN HOLLANSWORTH, JR. When Sterling McCall was a senior in high school, he was asked by the school newspaper editor what he wanted to do in life after graduation. He replied, “I would like to run a Cadillac dealership”. That didn’t happen right away, but it certainly was a foreshadowing of events to come. Mr. McCall’s love affair with the automobile began as a youngster. During his high school years, he bought cars, fixed them up, and resold them. In fact, as a youth he actually repainted a 1937 Ford with
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a car paint kit he bought from Sears and Roebuck department store … the paint was actually rubbed on with a “paint mitt”! Following college graduation, Sterling went on to law school at the University of Texas, and then served his country in the Air Force JAGS Corps in France for three years. Returning to the U.S., McCall joined an 8 man law firm in Houston that specialized in business, finance, and real estate. During the course of this work, he
eventually met a client that would change his vocational direction for the remainder of his career. In the 1960’s Toyota was making its way to the United States, and they were looking for an individual to establish a Toyota dealership in the Houston area. After researching Toyota, their products, and their success in California, Mr. McCall elected to leave his law practice and get into the retail car business. And the rest, as they say, is history. He opened the first Toyota dealership in Houston in 1970.
He also opened the first Lexus dealership in Houston in 1989. Honda and Acura dealerships followed. In 1995 Sterling was one of the founders of Group 1 Automotive, a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE:GPI).
McCall attributes his success to focusing on people skills, business management, and hard work. The Sterling McCall Cadillac Museum (a 501c3 not for profit foundation) was a labor of love, but his original car collection began in a somewhat unusual fashion.
Early on in the car dealership business, he had a customer with a Ford Model T who wanted to trade it in for a new Toyota Corolla. McCall took the Model T in on trade, and that became the first car in his vintage car collection! The collection grew over time, at
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one point with over 100 cars in the group. A significant number of the cars were purchased from the late Jerry Moore, another well-known Houstonian with a massive high quality auto collection. Mr. McCall has particular affection for two of the cars in his current collection: a 1931 Cadillac V12 Roadster, and a 1928 Cadillac 2 Door Doctor’s Coupe. He smiles as he says, “These two cars represent a fantastic era in the history of Cadillac”.
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The ’31 Cadillac V12 and ’28 Cadillac Doctor’s Coupe represent just 2 of the 27 automobiles that the Museum Foundation will offer for sale at Mecum’s upcoming Houston auction at the Reliant Center on April 13-14. Proceeds from these sales will go the Sterling McCall Family Foundation, a 501c3 not for profit corporation organized exclusively for charitable, religious, literary and educational purposes. M
At The Redline
WHEN EXCESS WAS JUST ENOUGH
Following the conclusion of WWII, legendary GM styling boss Harley Earl created the vestigial tail fin that debuted on the sensational 1948 Cadillac, drawing inspiration from the Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighter aircraft. I wonder if Earl knew how significantly this first “Jet Age” styling touch would influence the design of the automobile into the 1950’s… We know now that the 50’s decade saw the transformation of styling from mundane to utterly outrageous! No other decade has experienced such a rapid evolution of automotive design by a variety of noted stylists. Chrysler design chief,
JOHN KRAMAN
Virgil Exner, countered General Motors with his distinctive “Forward Look” concept including the first pointed tail fins on the 1956 Plymouth.
the 50’s decade saw the transformation of styling from mundane to utterly outrageous! All manufacturers added acres of chrome and bright two- and tri-tone color schemes along with suitably flashy interiors. Each year saw sleeker, longer and lower bodies leading up to what is considered the ultimate example
of the styling excess tour de’ force, the 1959 Cadillac. The massive size, glittering brightwork, and towering tail fins of this imposing icon has only increased the demand to collectors around the world. Interestingly, both cars and trucks from the 50’s have recently enjoyed a renewed interest. This era represents sheer Americana, from the birth of rock n’ roll, the dawn of the space age, and the emergence of television. The great vehicles of the 1950’s will forever remain significant and sought after by both nostalgic and legacy driven collectors around the world. M MECUMMONTHLY
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LOT
2012
S117
1957 Ford Thunderbird
HOUSTON APRIL 13-14
The Reliant Center • Houston, TX
TIME TO CONSIGN 262-275-5050
www.MECUM.com
BROADCAST LIVE ON
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road art The Finishing Touch to Every Collection
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The Real Barn Finds DAN MECUM
TRACTOR OF THE CENTURY
This 1939 Ford 9N will cross the block at the 3rd Annual Gone Farmin’ Tractor Auction August 3-4, in Walworth, WI.
It was October, 1938, and a “handshake agreement” between Henry Ford and Harry Ferguson would result in what is generally regarded as the tractor of the century. Incredibly, the prototype of the 9N Ford-Ferguson would be designed and built is a matter of months. There hasn’t been as revolutionary a tractor introduced since this ground-breaking design saw the light of day on June 29, 1939 in Dearborn, Michigan. Henry Ford once said, “I have walked many a weary mile behind a plow, and I know the drudgery of it”. The advances made by the 9N put nearly 20 million agricultural working horses out of business. Henry Ford recognized the use of hydraulic power as the wave of the future, and when he saw the Ferguson threepoint hitch demonstrated, he immediately came to an agreement with Ferguson with the desire
of building a tractor that was inexpensive, rugged, and reduced the grueling physical workload for the farmer. The beauty of the Ferguson system was that its three-point hitch system allowed an operator to change to any of 18 implements in a matter of minutes, and with its patented Draft Control, the hydraulic system would regulate the working depth of the implement. So effective was the
half of any comparable tractor, this was a value-rich machine. Early examples of the 9N were built with aluminum cast hoods, grills, and side panels. Approximately 600-700 were built with alloy parts. Most original hoods were destroyed under harsh working conditions, or replaced with steel hoods when the harder material was available. There are fewer than 35 known examples of original aluminum-hood 9N tractors remaining. I recently received a phone call about some rare Ford tractors, and I headed out into a blizzard to see what was being offered. When I saw this 1939 aluminum-hood 9N, Serial #528, I knew that braving the elements had been worth it. While hundreds of thousands of 9N’s and their Ford successors have been built, pristine examples of a very early 9N are something of a Holy Grail. This will be an outstanding addition to any serious collection. M
a tractor that was inexpensive, rugged, and reduced the grueling physical workload for the farmer.. Ferguson system that virtually every tractor built since the 9N has used variations of the system. A bevy of standard features included rubber tires, and electrical system utilizing a starter, generator, and a direct-driven distributor, and a rear Power Take Off. Essentially using a 28-horsepower Ford Model A engine, and with a price tag almost
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Spoke ’N’ Wheel
GAVIN TRIPPE
THE ART OF THE MOTORCYCLE In late 1988, the prestigious Guggenheim Museum in New York City hosted a three-month exhibition called “The Art of the Motorcycle”. It was enthusiastically attended, and critics who had zero exposure to two-wheeled transportation quickly learned that the wide-spread appeal of motorcycles transcended all barriers. Motorcycles could be transportation, and art, at the same time! The exhibition covered a broad range of historic motorcycles, from pre-20th Century velocipedes and tricycles, to an MV Agusta F4. The intent of the show was to use motorcycles as a way of exploring themes such as mobility and personal freedom in a way that automobiles cannot. A unique romance has been long attached to motorcycles and the open road, and the Guggenheim Museum’s show highlighted this relationship. In the wake of the Guggenheim’s exhibit, Forbes Collector magazine (July, 2006) took a comprehensive look at motorcycles as both transportation devices and as collectable items, as well as pureart objects. Motorcycles have always outdistanced automobiles in quantity and affordability, essentially putting the masses on wheels. The intrinsic mechanical beauty of motorcycles is now being appreciated by an ever-growing audience. Some bikes are driven, some are displayed in garages, and some find use as art in a living room. Regardless of the reason, 22
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motorcycles are stepping onto the main stage as collectable objects. In the coming months, Mecum Auctions will explore this diverse, drivable art form with exciting
sign of diminishment. Whether your taste, and budget, runs from single bikes to large collections, Mecum Auctions can satisfy your craving. In fact,
new consignments. In the pipeline is a genuine, original 19th Century velocipede, followed by generations of European and British brands, as well as early American Board Track racers. Other fascinating motorcycles that will be featured include RestoMod versions of rare cycles, and very rideable bikes from the 1950-60 eras that can be obtained for approximately $10,000. Personal expression has always been a hallmark of motorcycle ownership, and that trait shows no
Mecum Auctions will be offering, as a single lot, a complete collection of seventy-one MV Agustas, spanning the earliest offerings to the latest models. Motorcycles have been on the road for well over a century, and we look forward to making this rolling history available to you. Check out our website and watch for bikes that push your buttons. They’re the “More” in Mecum’s “Muscle Cars & More”! M
The intrinsic mechanical beauty of motorcycles is now being appreciated by an ever-growing audience.
Consignors and bidders, check mecum.com or contact Gavin@ mecum.com
Insider’s Scoop
CLEAN or CLUTTERED? by DAVID NEWHARDT
The old saw “A picture is worth a thousand words” is pure truth when it comes to showcasing a vehicle in a Mecum Auctions catalog. A good image can stimulate buyer interest in a car; a poor photo can scare people away. We’re going to touch upon some basic photographic techniques that you can use to create images that will generate buyer buzz. And isn’t that the point? Too often, we at Mecum Auctions receive photos of a beautiful car parked in front of a background that effectively renders the vehicle invisible. For instance, photographing a dark green car in front of a stand of trees can result in a game of “Find the car
in this photo”. Try parking the auto in front of a background that contrasts with the color of the car. That dark green muscle car will look far more dramatic in front of a tan wall. Position your red sports car so that a blue wall is seen behind the vehicle. Then
watch how the car seems to leap from the screen! Another cringe-worthy mistake some people make when pointing a camera at a car is to position the vehicle in front of a spectacular
structure or view. Remember, you want potential buyers to get excited about the car, not the background. A visually boring background is an automobile photographers friend. Treat the car as the star! The next time you’re thumbing through your favorite automotive magazine, take a moment to figure out why that photo you love is so good. Chances are the photographer positioned the subject vehicle in front of a background that doesn’t call attention to itself. So your eye locks onto the car. That’s what we want your vehicle to do in our catalog. When potential buyers eyes lock onto your car, chances are they’ll be waving their bidders paddles at the next auction. M MECUMMONTHLY
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HISSs TORIC FUNNY by BILL STEPHENS
Truly one of the most historically significant automobiles in NHRA history, Don “The Snake” Prudhomme’s 1982 Pontiac Trans Am-bodied nitro Funny Car, the “Pepsi Challenger,” rewrote drag racing history on two separate occasions during the 1982 NHRA season in an era when such NHRA champions as Kenny Bernstein, Raymond Beadle, and Frank Hawley were constantly put to the test by Prudhomme’s dominance. On May 29, 1982 at the NHRA Cajun Nationals in Baton Rouge, LA, Prudhomme drove this car to the sport’s first 250 MPH Funny Car pass during qualifying, 250.00 MPH. And on September 4th at the 1982 U.S.
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Nationals in Indianapolis, IN—drag racing’s most prestigious event— Prudhomme ran an amazing 5.637-second elapsed time, which was nearly 2/10 of a second quicker than the existing national record, despite the fact the engine suffered considerable internal damage on the run. It is still considered the greatest single Funny Car pass in NHRA history. Both of his spectacular runs were listed on the NHRA’s 60 Greatest Moments which were compiled in 2011 to commemorate the NHRA’s 60th anniversary. In 2001, Prudhomme, the first racer in NHRA history to win four consecutive Funny Car world championships (1975-1978), was chosen No. 3 on the list of the NHRA’s All-Time 50 Greatest Drivers. Tuned by Prudhomme’s longtime Hall of Fame crew chief, Bob Brandt, the “Pepsi Challenger”
won three NHRA national events in 1982, qualified No. 1 four times, and carried “The Snake” to a thirdplace finish in the championship points. The “Pepsi Challenger” has been restored to the exact race-ready condition in which it competed in 1982. The 484-cubic-inch, all-aluminum Hemi engine, built by the great Keith Black, which powered this landmark Funny Car to its barrier-breaking 250 MPH run, is still mounted in its chromemoly tubular chassis along with its two-speed racing transmission. Prudhomme retired as a driver at the end of the 1994 NHRA season after scoring a total of 49 national event victories in both Top Fuel Dragster and Funny Car, placing him No. 8 all-time on the list of professional winners. He drove to eight career victories at the NHRA U.S. Nationals in both categories and added three more victories
there as an owner, in 1995, 2001, and 2005 with his Top Fuel driver, Larry Dixon. Offered from Prudhomme’s own private collection at Indy 2012 on Saturday May 19th, the 1982 Pontiac Trans Am “Pepsi Challenger” represents the first time any of the legendary, record-setting racecars owned by this worldrenowned drag racer have been made available for sale. M
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TM
Gear Up. www.MecumGear.com Your source for official Mecum high performance gear. From stylish and comfortable apparel to great novelty items all emblazened with the trusted Mecum name. Get Mecumized from our great selection of Mecum Gear for yourself, family, friends... great gift items too!
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201 2 INDY DANA MECUM’S 25TH ORIGINAL SPRING CLASSIC
Indiana State Fairgrounds • Indianapolis, IN
LOT
MAY 15-20
S165
1963 Corvette Mickey Thompson ZO6 The Sears Allstate Tire Test Car
TIME TO CONSIGN 262-275-5050
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445 South Main St.,Walworth, WI 53184
UPCOMING MECUM AUCTIONS BROADCAST LIVE ON
SPRING
2012
KANSAS CITY
MARCH 29-31
Kansas City Convention Center • Kansas City, MO
BROADCAST LIVE ON
2012
HOUSTON APRIL 13-14
The Reliant Center • Houston, TX
BUY. SELL. SPECTATE.
APRIL 14 Walworth, WI
BROADCAST LIVE ON
INDY2012 DANA MECUM’S 25TH ORIGINAL SPRING CLASSIC
MAY 15-20
Indiana State Fairgrounds • Indianapolis, IN
JUNE 22-23
Pheasant Run Resort • St.Charles, IL
JUNE 22-23
Minnesota State Fairgrounds • Minneapolis, MN
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