Mecum Auction Block

I wanted to write and tell you about my experience at the Mecum auction two weeks ago. What a great experience; Let me first start by saying, this is the largest and most extravagant auction Mecum holds every year. If you ever get a chance to go to the Indianapolis or Kissimmee auctions, I would strongly suggest doing so. The cars or I should say, creatively restored “to mint condition” cars were amazing!

Starting Wednesday, there were approximately 1500 cars that went across the block that weekend, and 80% of those cars were unbelievable. This was literally the “Holy Grail” of muscle cars! Everywhere you turned, there was a car that brought you back to your good ole’ days; Chevy’s, Buick, Pontiac, Ford, everything your heat desired.

The auction prices went anywhere from $2,000 – to 6+ MILLION! This was Indianapolis’ Concourse De’ Elegance, not the same type of classics, but they held their own with the big boys in Pebble Beach. Oh and by the way, Mecum set a record with the most cars sold by this company and the most revenue produced for the auction.

Lights! Camera! Action!

If you had a pulse, being in their environment, made your heart race! The anticipation, speed of the auction, the lights, the camera’s, the gestures, the people, the auctioneers, the experts, the clapping and applause was something surreal! You really have to be able to contain yourself or you can get caught up very quickly and find yourself going home with a beautiful car you couldn’t afford.

Before our car went across the block it was extremely intimidating. I decided to walk along side our car before it got to the block, but that also meant, I had to walk side by side with some real heavy hitters too, which were, a Chevy Impala 409 and a 70’ Chevelle Convertible, not that we didn’t have a beauty to sell, but if you know about muscles, you know how intimidated I was.

Everything goes through your mind at that moment; did we pick the right paint color? How does the body look? Should we have put the top up or down? What mistakes did we make in the process? Why is this person looking at the car that way? Did we set the right reserve price? Did I turn off the oven when I left the house on Thursday? Everything and anything goes through your mind – you really find yourself racing for answers before it goes across; and then all of sudden….there you are, in the front of everyone – Lights! Camera! Action!

I found myself yelling inside my head!

I thought; “Holy Smokes, my car looks HOT” but, there was no time for admiring my prize at that moment, it was game time! I had to put on my game time face! I had two guys asking me question after question. One guy was the actual auctioneer, leaning over the stage looking “larger than life” asking me, what’s the price? Will you take lower than the reserve? What color is the top? I found myself yelling inside my head “re-iterate the key points to them!!!!!” So I blurt out “make sure to tell the audience, it’s a 4 speed, bucket seats and a convertible” What? I thought “of course they know it’s a convertible you idiot – the top is down.”

I didn’t even notice how fast the price was increasing by $500 increments. Ok, Ok…calm down clammy hands! Breathe in, breathe out. At this point everything’s in slow mo and this guy’s talking to me as if I took some Hallucinogen…”dooooooo yoouuuuuuu waaaaannnnt tooooooo seeelllll iiiiiit aaaaaat tttthhhiissss priiiiiiice?” And then complete silence – I couldn’t hear a thing! I wanted to ask them my own question… “Can I go back to my Mother’s womb where it’s nice and warm?” But, you’ve got to answer the question now, remember…game face! Wake up, look at the screen and make a decision! I said, in slow mo…“nooooooooo” and he said “how much is it going to take to sell it?” I gave him a figure, which was lower than what I really wanted to sell it for; he then told me the price he thought I could get for it. After about, what felt like, an hour of silence I shook his hand and walked off the auction block with my beauty. The price wasn’t right for either of us and we ended up where we began…back in the waiting facility where all the cars go to the famous “the bid goes on”.

What a Rush!

It’s over! I looked at my watch to check the time, thinking “wow that seemed like forever” came to find out I was up there for 3-4 minutes. 3 to 4 minutes! All the driving, flying, restoring, preparing, discussing, decision making, thinking, worrying and everything it took to get to this point…it took 3-4 minutes. But what a rush! it was like being on some kind of extreme adrenaline drug for only 3-4 minutes. I would do it all over again just for the experience and the things I learned. It really was something amazing!

So next time you’re watching the Mecum auction on television, just remember, each person standing up at the auction block is going through the same thing that every other seller is going through; thinking…”can I go back to my Mother’s Womb where it’s nice and warm?”

63 Impala SS 409

Well the Mecum auction has come and gone, and we saw some great cars roll through the auction block. One that caught my eye was a 1963 Silver Cortez, Chevy Impala SS convertible with the original 409 engine that sold for over $70,000. This was a pristine looking car but the fact that it was convertible with a rare original 409 engine is what brought in the big bucks.

There was eight engines available to power the Chevy Impala back in 1963, ranging from four versions of the small-block V-8 and three of the famous high power 409s. Chevrolet also introduced the Z-11. This was a 427 cid V8 based on the existing 409 but featured a smaller bore and a longer stroke. It made close to 500 bhp but was only available to factory approved customers through Chevrolet’s RPO (Regular Production Option).

The 409 was available in a tuned down version with 340 bhp and was also available with an optional Power-glide automatic transmission. But for the enthusiasts, Chevy offered the 409 with solid lifters and a single four barrel carb good for 400 bhp and a solid lifter 409 with two four barrel carbs good for a whooping 425 bhp.

This infamous engines popularity grew and the “hit single” produced by the Beach Boys called “409,” referring to the Chevy’s power engine, became an iconic song for Chevy owners.

There was approximately 153,000 Impala SS made in 63 and 16,900 came with the 409 an even smaller number of those were convertibles.

There is no doubt that the 63 Impala SS convertible is a desirable car but i would have never guessed it would be worth over $70,000. Don’t get me wrong, if I had that type of money I would have one sitting in my driveway right now that I would spend more time with then my wife *just kidding honey*. I guess in all collectible markets if you have that one of a kind item, then anyone with a large checkbook will stop at nothing to call it his or her own.

To learn more about the 409 V-8 engine check out this article at HowStuffWorks.com.
I also have a ton of photos from the Mecum action that you can see here. Mecum Photo Gallery

1969 Oldsmobile 442

The Spring Classic Mecum Auction in Indianapolis starts Wednesday May 13, 2009 and will run through Sunday the 17th. Over 1,250 cars will cross the block and our good friend will have his beautiful 1969 Oldsmobile 442 convertible on that famous stage, Sunday around 12:40.

Mecum offers two great ways to watch the auction live. Mecum’s Webcast streaming video and high-definition TV coverage ( check you local listings).

Here at Chevy Super Sport we’ll be streaming Saturday and Sundays auction live for your viewing pleasure.

Here are some of the cars that will be up for sale:

• 1954 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster
• 1967 Chevrolet Chevelle convertible
• 1967 Pontiac GTO Convertible
• 1968 Chevrolet Camaro Z-28
• 1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS
• 1969 Plymouth Road Runner
• 1970 Plymouth Hemi Barracuda Convertible
• 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS

Let us know what you think of the auction and/or any of the classic cars in it. See you on the 16th