Mecum scores biggest total at 30th anniversary Indy auction

With a rare Porsche high-performance 911 coupe leading the way, Mecum Auctions reached $55.6 million at its Original Spring Classic collector car sale in Indianapolis, Indiana, the highest total yet for the auction as it celebrated its 30th anniversary.

The sale last weekend sale sent 1,665 vehicles over the block, with 1,208 of them selling for a 73 percent sell-through rate.

The desirable 1996 Porsche 911 GT2 EVO hammered sold for $1.45 million, the only sale at Indy that exceeded seven figures (Mecum results do not include auction fees). The top seller was followed in the No. 2 spot by a 1967 Toyota 2000GT at $750,000 for the most-highly regarded collector car model from Japan.

The third highest sale, of a 1967 Chevrolet Corvette 427/435-horsepower coupe for $675,000, was an emotion-charged event; the crowd stood with hands over hearts as a bugle played taps in honor of the “vault-find” Corvette’s late original owner, a Vietnam veteran and two-time Purple Heart honoree.

Another Corvette, a 1963 Z06, was fourth with a sale of $410,000, while a true muscle car classic, a 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle LS6 convertible, reached $385,000 for the fifth highest sale.

Among the dozen private collections represented at the Indy auction, two cars from the Virginia Muscle Car Collection landed among the top 10 sales – a 1969 Chevrolet Yenko Camaro  hammered for $330,000 and a 1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda that brought $295,000.

Bob Dorfman’s collection of cars and automobilia items sold for a total of $2.9 million.

The top 10 sales for Mecum’s 30th anniversary Original Spring Classic were:

1. 1996 Porsche 911 GT2 EVO at $1,450,000
2. 1967 Toyota 2000GT at $750,000
3. 1967 Chevrolet Corvette 427/435 HP Coupe at $675,000
4. 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Z06/N03 at $410,000
5. 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle LS6 convertible at $385,000
6. 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 429 fastback at $335,000
7. 1969 Chevrolet Yenko Camaro at $330,000
8. 1967 Chevrolet Corvette 427/435 HP convertible  at $310,000
9. 2006 Ford GT at $300,000
10. 1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda  at $295,000

(Results do not include auction fees)

Mecum’s next collector car auction takes place June 16-17 in Portland, Oregon, with 600 vehicles expected, followed by the Denver auction July 20-22, with 1,000 vehicles foreseen. For information, visit the Mecum website.