MECUM INDY 2023 COLLECTOR CAR AUCTION BRINGS $113 MILLION IN SALES
Nine-Day Flagship Event Sees Multimillion-Dollar Individual Sales, 76% Sell-Through Rate
Mecum’s annual flagship classic and collector car auction event in Indianapolis achieved more than $100 million in overall sales for the second year in a row, and with a $113 million total realized at this year’s auction, it stands as the second-highest total ever reached in the event’s 36-year history. A 76% sell-through rate was representative of the stellar offerings available and the strong crowd of bidders that the event attracted, and individual sales proved to be exceptional as well, led by main attraction offerings such as the 1970 Plymouth Cuda 440 Rapid Transit Show Car (Lot F152) and the 1970 Dodge Hemi Challenger R/T SE ‘The Black Ghost’ (Lot F142), which sold for $2.2 million and $1.07 million, respectively.
The energy in the room was palpable when the Indy auction’s headlining vehicles took to the stage. After a successful promotional campaign spanning several months led by rare and historic offerings like the auction’s two leading vintage Mopar muscle car legends, bidders and spectators couldn’t wait to see the live auction action surrounding the cars unfold in real time. The long-awaited moments did not disappoint, with both vehicles reaching into the seven-figure range after heated bidding and the Cuda exceeding $2 million.
The complete list of top 10 sellers in Indianapolis proved to be an excellent reflection of the auction’s overall diversity of offerings, including an array of both vintage and modern vehicles and encompassing both luxury and performance autos as well. The singular consistency among the group was their shared status as American-built machines. Two Ford GT Heritage Editions made the list—a 2020 model (Lot S216) that sold for $1.38 million and a 2006 model (Lot S215.1) that sold for $660,000. A pair of Corvettes made the top 10 list as well, with a 1971 Chevrolet Corvette Export ZR2 Coupe (Lot S116) bringing $715,000 and a 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible (Lot S105) reaching $660,000.
Private vehicle collections offered in Indianapolis sold for an aggregate of more than $35.76 million, with top-selling assemblages including the Hustle for the Muscle No Reserve Collection that saw 61 vehicles sell for a total of $8.66 million, and The Apex Collection, which saw 24 of its cars sell for a total of $4.23 million. The Clyde Horst Collection of 14 cars sold in its entirety for more than $2.04 million, and The Chris Bishop Collection of 24 cars also saw a 100% sell-through rate bringing $2.49 million in total.
1970 PLYMOUTH CUDA 440 RAPID TRANSIT SHOW CAR $2,200,000
2020 FORD GT HERITAGE EDITIO N $1,375,000
1970 DODGE HEMI CHALLENGER R/T SE ‘THE BLACK GHOST’ $1,072,500
1969 CHEVROLET CAMARO ZL1 $770,000
1971 CHEVROLET CORVETTE EXPORT ZR2 COUPE $715,000
2006 FORD GT HERITAGE EDITION $660,000
1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE CONVERTIBLE $660,000
1931 CADILLAC SERIES 452 V-16 CONVERTIBLE COUPE $660,000
1967 SHELBY GT350 FASTBACK $632,500
1970 PLYMOUTH HEMI SUPERBIRD $605,000
