Mecum Monthly - September 2012

SEPTEMBER 2012

2 MECUMMONTHLY MECUM.COM

MECUMMONTHLY 3 MECUM.COM

4 MECUMMONTHLY MECUM.COM Copyright © 2012 Mecum Auction, Inc. All rights reserved.

TO CONTACTMECUM AUCTION

Via Mail, E-mail, Phone or Fax:Mecum Collector Car Auctioneers

445 South Main StreetWalworth, Wisconsin 53184Website: www.MECUM.com

Office: (262) 275-5050 Fax: (262) 275-3424

E-mail: [email protected]

SELL A VEHICLEAT 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.

BUY A VEHICLEAT 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.

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.

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SEPTEMBER 2012CONTENTS

FEATURES

PAGE

6 SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE IN IOWA Des Moines Auction Results

8 GONE FARMIN’ GOIN’ FANTASTIC Tractor Auction Results

10 LEADING THE WAY IN MONTEREY The Daytime Auction Results

18 THE CARS OF HALLBROOK Exclusive Collection Offering in Dallas

20 SHE’S SO FINE Documented Factory 409

22 CORVETTE C1RS RESTO MOD Resto Mod on a Whole Other Level

28 2012 MILLER MEET Event Photos

COLUMNS

1 5 THE DEALMAKER Results, Results and More

15 AT THE REDLINE To Be or Not To Be

17 DANA’S KAR KORNER The Rarest Muscle Car on the Planet

25 ROAD ART LITHOGRAPHY Collectible Advertising Artwork

31 INSIDER’S SCOOP Surfaces

RESULTS, RESULTSAND MORE

Results, results and more results. Last time we were here, I was headed off to sell cars in Des Moines. 1200 cars and 300 tractors later, here we are again. It’s been a great tour on the road this summer catching up with old friends in Des Moines, watching the Gone Farmin’ team selling tractors here at home, and meeting so many new customers along the way in Monterey. This month’s issue of the Mecum Monthly is packed with the latest sales results and some amazing new consignments at upcoming auctions including the world’s most iconic hot rod, The McMullen Roadster which will be featured at Mecum’s inaugural Muscle Cars and More TV auction in SoCal at The Anaheim Convention Center in November. Wednesday September 5th is fast approaching, and if you’ve not yet previewed the exceptional collection being offered on Day 1 in Dallas, you must go to mecum.com now to check it out. The Cars of Hallbrook will be a wonderful opportunity to acquire some great cars, and an opening auction day you cannot and must not miss.


The DealmakerDANA MECUM

Mecum’s mid-summer tradition in Des Moines, Iowa took place July 20-21 this year with a great group of nearly 500 collector cars. Top seller was a 1969 Shelby GT350 Fastback selling for $80,000 and a top ten centered around 50s cars and American Muscle. Velocity cameras took in all the action during both days, sending the action live

to viewers at home, giving folks a glimpse at the entire spectrum of what Mecum offers on the auction block. Often times, the high-dollar investment grade vehicles take most of the limelight during live television broadcasts, but the Mecum Auction in Des Moines offered a wide variety of entry-

level collectibles and successfully showcased that Mecum services the collector car hobby at all levels. A big part of the Mecum model is offering something for everyone, and going from Des Moines in July, to Monterey in August is about the best example of diverse offerings as one can get! M

SOMETHING FOR EvERYONE

DES MOINES 2012


AUCTION RESULTS TOP 10 SALES # vEHICLE DESCRIPTION SOLD FOR* LOT#

1. 1969 Shelby GT350 Fastback 351 CI, Automatic $80,000 S98 2. 1960 Mercedes-Benz 220SE 2.2 L Fuel Injection $76,000 S235 3. 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Split Window Coupe 327/250 HP, Automatic $73,000 F165 4. 1957 Ford Thunderbird Convertible 312/245 HP, Automatic $70,000 S141 5. 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Resto Mod 327 CI, 4-Speed $57,000 S170 6. 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 302 CI, 4-Speed $55,000 S129 7. 1967 Chevrolet Camaro RS/SS 396/375 HP, 4-Speed $53,500 S179 8. 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air 2-Door Hardtop 283 CI, Automatic $52,500 S159 9. 1968 Ford Mustang Fastback 351 CI, 4-Speed $52,500 S182 10. 2012 Chevrolet Corvette 100th Anniversary Edition $51,000 S180.1 *ALL SALES REFLECT HAMMER PRICES


Gone Farmin’ 2012 has exceeded all our expectations, and continues to grow into one of the largest vintage tractor auctions in the country. We would like to thank our partners at RFD and Rural TV for all their help and support in promoting, filming, and broadcasting our live August 3-4

event. We sold over 80% of our consignments and exceeded many of our seller’s price expectations. We celebrated our success by participating in a world record setting tractor ride in Grand Island Nebraska. Our Gone Farmin’ team, along with eleven hundred tractor collectors from around the

country, set a new Guinness World Record for the largest continuous tractor ride ever. While the mud dries on our tractor tires we are preparing for our new auction on November 3rd to be held at the Mississippi Valley fairgrounds in Davenport Iowa. It’s now “time to consign.” - Dan Mecum M

GONE FARMIN’GOIN’ FANTASTIC

AUCTION RESULTS TOP 10 SALES # TRACTOR SOLD FOR* LOT#

1. 1937 John Deere 62 $52,000 S77 2. 1939 Ford 9N $29,500 S66 3. John Deere 620 LP Orchard $28,500 S87 4. Oliver Super 77 Diesel High Crop $26,500 S22 5. Oliver 995 $25,500 S55 6. 1959 John Deere 430 H $20,000 S61 7. 1960 John Deere 330 $19,000 S105 8. 1951 John Deere AH $18,000 F50 9. 1960 John Deere 730 Standard $15,250 S73 10. 1955 John Deere 80 $15,000 S49 *ALL SALES REFLECT HAMMER PRICES


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AUCTION RESULTS TOP 10 SALES # vEHICLE DESCRIPTION SOLD FOR* LOT#

1. 1972 Porsche L&M 917/10 Spyder ‘72 Can-Am Champion Driven by George Follmer $5,500,000 S123 2. 1908 Simplex 50 Speedcar Roadster The Oldest Simplex Known to Exist $1,900,000 S101 3. 1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spyder 1 of 122 Produced, Only 21,185 Miles $1,050,000 S151 4. 1974 Porsche 911 RSR IROC The Emerson Fittipaldi Car $875,000 S116 5. 1987 Porsche 962 Bob Akin’s Last 962 $825,000 S120 6. 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Chassis# 5500637, Matching Luggage $675,000 S128 7. 1965 Shelby Cobra 289 Roadster CSX 2428, Highly Optioned Example $600,000 S139 8. 1968 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Convertible Bloomington Gold Certified $575,000 S140 9. 1961 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster Matching Numbers, 2 Owner Car $575,000 S100 10. 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS Lightweight 1 of 200 Lightweights Produced $470,000 S157 *ALL SALES REFLECT HAMMER PRICES


Thousands congregated on the grounds of the beautiful Del Monte Golf Course at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa to preview an amazingly diverse group of quality collector vehicles gathered for sale

at Mecum’s 4th Annual Daytime Auction, held Thursday, August 16-18, 2012. Each day of auction saw a standing-room-only audience as Mecum lead the way in Monterey

with sales figures by volume sending a total of 364 vehicles to new homes around the world. The 1972 Can-Am Champion L&M Porsche 917/10 Spyder driven by George Follmer (Lot S123)


LEADING THE WAY IN MONTEREY

hammered sold at $5,500,000 on Saturday afternoon, leading all sales for the auction. Throughout the three-day event, Mecum sold an unprecedented total of 30 Porsches, which contributed more than $10

Million to the weekend totals. Other notable sales included a 1908 Simplex Speedcar (Lot S101), the oldest Simplex known to exist for $1,900,000 and a 1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spyder (Lot S151)

with only 21,185 miles changing hands for $1,050,000. Once final figures including Bid Goes On post-auction sales are tallied, Mecum expects total sales to exceed $34 million, an


increase of more than 65% over last year’s figures. After the auction, Dana Mecum, President and CEO commented, “It’s great to see such incredible growth for a young sale like our daytime auction in

Monterey which is only in its 4th year, and I’m happy that our team was able to produce great results for our customers.” M


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We have all heard the old adage about only being original once, but when does restoration become the right option for a vintage vehicle? Neither term really has clear meaning as there are several variations to consider for both categories. A true original vehicle in pristine condition is certainly not a candidate for any restoration. Fortunately there are many unbiased judging opportunities available to verify and acknowledge originality by experts well versed in this very specialized field. But what do you do with a vehicle that is still original but condition a bit below par?

A careful sympathetic restoration strategy just may be the way to go. Refreshed mechanicals, new paint and any safety related items addressed is a great way to keep a vintage vehicle looking and performing well while retaining as much originality as possible. A frame up restoration is the next option to control costs yet provide as new appearance, inside and outside. This process can be completed in a fairly short time, and is especially well suited for entry and mid-level collectibles transforming them into the very popular and desirable high quality driver category. The top level is the frame

off restoration where the entire vehicle is disassembled and rebuilt to a very high standard, and is best suited for truly significant and high valued cars. Many important and valuable cars have been resurrected by various talented restoration facilities available across the nation. Costs involved will be high, but the finished vehicle will be spectacular in presentation! A very strong Mecum Auctions market does exist for entries in all of these condition levels. And it is very gratifying to see so many enthusiasts able to seek out and purchase great vehicles in a condition/price range well suited for their budget. M

TO BE OR NOT TO BE


At The RedlineJOHN KRAMAN

Dallas Convention Center • Dallas, TXSEPTEMBER 5-8

262-275-5050REGISTER TO BID aT MEcuM.cOM

At the recent Concours d’Elegance of America at St. John’s held on July 29th, Dana’s 1968 Camaro Z28 Convertible took 1st in Class for American Muscle. This award was especially meaningful to Dana as this year’s trophy was named “The Al Maynard Award.” Al and Dana were friends for years, and Al owned this very significant car himself for many years. The car has had a total of eight owners over the years

including Chevrolet General Manager Pete Estes. Dana Mecum was the 4th and now, the 8th owner, and Al Maynard was the 7th. Often referred to as “The Rarest Muscle Car on the Planet,” this is the only first generation Camaro Convertible to wear the Z28 badge, and was originally built for Pete Estes to encourage his endorsement for the Z28 to be part of the Trans Am series. M

THE RARESTMUSCLE CARON THE PLANET

... this is the only first generation Camaro Convertible to wear the Z28 badge...


Dana’s Kar KornerDANA MECUM

The rolling hills and beautiful scenery of the Ozark Highlands provide the backdrop for the sprawling Hallbrook Stables outside Joplin, Missouri, where owners Gary and Donna Hall breed, race and sell quarter horses. It is a passion they have shared together for years, but it is not the only one. There is another enthusiasm at play behind the scenes at Hallbrook, one having to do not with horses but with horsepower, for this is also the home to a vast collection of very special automobiles - the Cars of Hallbrook, a gathering of significant American automobiles from around the country and throughout the 20th century. The Cars of Hallbrook constitute some of the rarest,

most exclusive American automobiles in existence, with strong emphasis on minimal mileage and maximum originality, but there are also a number of cars that


THE CARS OF

HALLBROOK

competition, and established their pedigrees in such venues as Amelia Island and Pebble Beach. Best of all, there is something for every taste, from an all-original 1969 Corvair 500 with an astounding 25 miles on the odometer, to Zora Arkus Duntov’s LT1 Corvette Test Car to a 1966 Chrysler LeBaron Crown Imperial, a gift from Chrysler Corporation to Pope Paul VI on the occasion of his visit that year to the United States. Join us September 5th at the Dallas Convention Center for this exciting and exclusive offering of prized automobiles from the Cars of Hallbrook on the opening day of Mecum’s 2nd annual Dallas, Texas auction. M

have been expertly restored to factory original, even Concours quality. Many have been past award winners in AACA, LCOC, TCI, Bloomington Gold and NCRS


By 1962 the Stock and Super Stock ranks of drag racing were the hotbeds of competition between the factories, all of whom were busy supplying new developments to a throng of racers clamoring for more horsepower and speed. The Ault and James Speed Shop-sponsored 1962 Chevrolet Biscayne 409 and driver Dave Cates came to national drag racing prominence in Stock Eliminator, running against other 409 Chevys driven by such all-time greats as “Dyno Don” Nicholson, Ronnie Sox, Dave Strickler and chassis wizard Hayden Proffitt. It is probably the most thoroughly documented factory 409 in existence, and it is believed to be the only car to win a race against the similar car run by the formidable team of Strickler and Bill Jenkins. Typical of the period, the car is plain Ermine White with matching stamped steel

wheels and minimal graphics, replicating the original race livery. The as-original Red interior is Biscayne-plain, retaining the original four-speed shifter and steering-column-mounted Sun tach that was dealer-supplied to all 409 customers. The full-race “W-Head” 409 CI engine is outfitted with the requisite dual four barrel Carter AFB carbs, aluminum intake manifold, high-lift performance cam and new-for-1962 lightweight valve train. The engine and its environs are lessons in correctness and restraint in a restoration. Everything is as it should be, right down to the proper paint finish on the twin-snorkel air cleaner. Best of all are the sweeping fenderwell headers, a genuine visual treat for every fan of the great factory bashers. This is an amazing and historically significant 409 factory race car with excellent

history, well-restored to its original configuration. The extent of this car’s documentation is virtually unprecedented; it includes the original factory build sheet, dealer purchase order from Stomps Chevrolet of Dayton, Ohio, mortgage agreement, period racing photos and a photographic record of the restoration. This incredible car is scheduled to cross the block on Friday, September 7 during Mecum’s 2nd annual auction in Dallas, Texas. M

SHE’S SO FINE

DOCUMENTED 409


RAISING RESTO MODchassis using Detroit Speed and Afco suspension components, Forgeline 3-piece wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport rubber and giant Brembo disc brakes. Every

Winner of the Goodguys Street Machine of the Year and SEMA GM Design Award for Best Hot Rod in 2009, this 1962 Chevrolet Corvette was custom built for its

current owner, who envisioned its no-holds-barred nature as a prize-winning piece of Resto Mod art. Known as C1RS, it begins with a Roadster Shop custom tube


TO A WHOLE OTHER LEvELpanel and detail of the car received the custom treatment, from the one-off carbon fiber body accents to the European-inspired leather interior with custom aluminum

dash, console and trim. A Kinsler Cross Ram-injected 427/640 LS7 engine, Tremec T56 Bowler 6-speed and Ford 9-inch Posi third member complete the power train.

This mesmerizing showpiece is scheduled to cross the block on Saturday, September 8 during Mecum’s 2nd annual auction in Dallas, Texas. M


NOBODY SELLS MORE THAN MECUM. NOBODY.

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C O N S I G N A V E H I C L E 262-275-5050 R E G I S T E R T O B I DGet PRePAReD At MecuM.coM

BROADCAST LIVE ON

LOTS81

1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z28302 CI, 4-Speed, JL8 4-wheel disc brakes

Brothers Ėdouard and Andrė Michelin ran a rubber factory in Clermont-Ferrand, France, and they got their start in pneumatic tires when a passing bicyclist needed a flat fixed. Displeased with the tire technology of the day, they invented a tire that could be easily removed, unlike the glued-on tires in use. They were issued a patent in 1888 for their invention, and they quickly branched out into automobile tires when the new-fangled invention was widely accepted. Like any good business, they knew that advertising was key to success, and Michelin embraced lithography as way to get the word out. Art has always been embraced in France, and

Michelin cleverly used large lithographs to show fanciful situations where the Michelin “spokesman”, the corpulent Bibendum, would use Michelin products to save the day. Bibendum was the result of the Michelin brothers and French cartoonist Marius Rossillon, commonly known as O’Galop, using the form of a tire to create one of the most recognized trademarks in the world. This beautiful lithograph was created by René Vincent, and shows Bibendum supplying a new tire to a grateful motorist, as

his wife and children look adoringly at the big stogie in Bib’s craw. Today’s depiction of Bibendum is a bit different than

seen in this piece of work; now he is slimmer, and devoid of the cigar and a pince-nez. But he is still widely used in Michelin advertisements, both in print and on television. Lithographs like this piece are a beautiful reminder of a time when advertising was a treat for the eyes, not an intrusive annoyance. It was a superb melding of art and commerce. Pieces such as this are rare, with demand far outstripping supply. As the years go by, this lithograph will only increase in value. M

LITHOGRAPHIC ROAD ART


Road ArtBob Sain

750 Vehicles • Anaheim Convention Center • Anaheim, CA NOVEMBER 15-17

BROADCASTLIVE ON

Buy, Sell and Spectate at the

California License #81410

Famed Cover Car, Awarded Best in Class at Pebble Beach

L O T # S 1 1 6

THE ’36 FORD CALORI COUPE

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SoCal Auction Event of the Year.

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World’s Most Iconic Hot Rod

2012 MILLER MEETHOSTED JULY 6-7 BY

the haRRy a. MILLeR CLub

The 1933 Fred Frame Ford, America’s 1st winning stock car 1937 Thorne Sparks Big Six

Vanderbilt Cup Era race cars headlined the 2012 entry roster, featuring 58 vintage Indy cars and 12 hours of track time.


1931 Miller V-16 crosses the finish line

Indy Cars running 3 wide at the Milwaukee Mile1961 Chenowth Chevy Roadster takes the lead

1919 Miller TNT Special at speed

1909 Blitzen Benz on the trackScale Diorama of the 1912 Vanderbilt Cup Race

2013 MILLER MEETJULY 12-13



SAVE THE DATE SAVE THE DATE

75 Vehicles and over 1000 pieces of Road Art and Memorabilia!ALL TO BE OFFERED AT NO RESERVE

Fran and Ron Green’s

VERDE CLASSICSMUSEUM COLLECTION

FEBRUARY 22-23, 2013BOYNTON BEACH, FL

FOR MORE INFORMATION:WWW.MECUM.COM

262-275-5050


Asphalt and grass suck. Light, that is. They are veritable sponges of illumination. That’s a fancy way of saying that parking a car on either of them is a quick way to create a dull, dark photograph of your pride and joy. And if you’re going to consign a car to Mecum Auctions and submit a series of images to help promote it, you don’t want dull, dark photographs. Neither do we. In past columns, I’ve touched on some lighting techniques, such as having the sun over your shoulder, or using side or reflected light to show off the side of a vehicle. But many people point their cameras at a car after positioning it in the perfect spot, only to have disappointing results. Many times the culprit is what the car is parked on. That surface can make all the difference between an eye-catching image or a visual yawn. We don’t like visual yawns.

Reflected light can bring a photo to life, lighting up areas that normally wouldn’t be visible. When you park your car on concrete, the sun bouncing off the surface will light up the underside of the vehicle, including rocker panels, grills, and beneath the bumpers. It’s an easy and quick way to “glam-up” any automobile. Check out the shots of the Bentley compared to the International; the photo taken on concrete looks far more attractive than the image shot on grass/dirt. Lower body sections glow, and this upscale car looks like the star

SURFACES by DAvID NEWHARDT

Insider’s Scoop

it is. But the grass surface just deadens the SUV. The bottom of the International disappears. Lots of not attractive. Big yawn. Speaking of visual yawns, park a car on grass. Modern cars don’t belong on grass, unless the driver lost control and ended up on a front lawn. Brass era vehicles look good on grass, as there were few roads when they were new, and everyone drove on dirt, gravel, and grass. But muscle and sports cars were designed to be driven on paved roads. Leave the grass to the John Deere, and put that classic on concrete. M

UPCOMING MECUM AUCTIONS


anaheim Convention Center • anaheim, Ca NOVEMBER 15-17

Dallas Convention Center • Dallas, tX SEPTEMBER 5-8

Kansas City Convention Center • Kansas City, MO DECEMBER 6-8

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NEW AUCTION DATES

EXPANDED TO 4 DAYS

Pheasant Run Resort • St.Charles, IL OCTOBER 25-27

Fran and Ron Green’s

VERDE CLASSICSMUSEUM COLLECTION

75 VehiclesPlus Over 1000 lots of

ROad aRt & MeMORabilia!

ALLOFFERED

AT NORESERVE

Boyton Beach, FL FEBRUARY 22-23, 2013

KISSIMMEEFlorida 2013

Where the Cars AreOsceola Heritage Park • Kissimmee, FL JANUARY 22-27

445 South Main,Walworth, WI 53184

Mecum Monthly - September 2012

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