Ah, the things we collect and save. You never know what they’ll be worth someday. Well, not unless you offer them up for sale at an event such as the recent and inaugural Mecum Road Art auction, where 90 percent of the more than 950 consignments sold for a total of $1,369,752.
The sale was held in Mecum Auction’s headquarters building in Walworth, Wisconsin, which was turned into the ultimate man cave — and then some — with areas dedicated not only to automotive signs and stuff but to barbershop memorabilia, Coca-Cola and various other categories of collectibles.
For example, a freestanding bank teller window robbed by Jesse James’ Gang sold for a high bid of $31,000 and a partially restored 20-horse carousel sold for $19,000.
The high sale of the auction was $63,000 paid for the huge, wolf-shaped, double-sided porcelain neon sign that for many years hung above the Wolf Chevrolet dealership in Belvedere, Illinois. The sign was more than 10 feet tall.
What is believed to be the largest porcelain neon Chevrolet “bowtie” sign in the world — stretching some 28 feet wide — brought $50,000.
Top 10 sales, Mecum Road Art auction:
- Wolf Chevrolet wolf-figure sign, $63,000
- Chevy Bowtie neon sign, $50,000
- Jesse James Gang-robbed bank teller window, $31,000
- Chevrolet dealership neon sign, $19,000
- 20-Horse Carousel, $19,000
- Mobil Pegasus sign (facing left), $13,000
- Mobil Pegasus Sign (facing right), $11,500
- 1948 Bally Rocketship kiddie ride, $11,500
- Eco Texaco air meter, $10,000
- United Motors electrical service sign, $9,500
Mecum’s next classic and collector vehicle sale is July 30-August 2 at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and then the crew heads west for its annual Daytime Auction, August 13-15 at Monterey, California.
