Mecum Kissimmee 2026, “The World’s Largest Collector Car Auction,” kicked off on January 6th and runs through January 18th at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, Florida. With over 4,500 vehicles slated to cross the block, this thirteen-day auction spectacular promises to be one of the most significant events on the collector car calendar. For serious collectors, investment-minded bidders, and automotive enthusiasts, the 2026 edition is shaping up to be exceptional – defined by headline-grabbing supercars, historic racing machines, and curated collections that represent some of the finest examples in automotive history.
The Crown Jewel: The 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO "Bianco Speciale"
Every Mecum Kissimmee auction has its defining moment, and in 2026, that moment belongs to one car: the 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO “Bianco Speciale,” chassis 3729GT. This vehicle stands alone in automotive history as the only 250 GTO ever delivered by the factory finished in white – a deliberate choice by its original owner, British racing team owner John Cooms. With pre-auction discussions suggesting a potential sale price between $50 and $70 million, this Ferrari could establish an entirely new benchmark for collector car auctions.
The significance of this particular GTO extends beyond its paint color. During its racing career, it was piloted by some of the era’s greatest drivers – Graham Hill, Mike Parkes, and Jack Sears among them. What makes this car particularly compelling to collectors is its authenticity: it has been raced, maintained, and refinished throughout its life, but never subjected to a complete restoration. This originality is increasingly prized in the market, where unrestored, well-preserved examples command premiums over pristine restorations. The car spent nearly three decades (1970 – 1999) in the personal collection of racing driver Jack Sears before becoming part of the Jon Shirley Collection, where it remained until now.
To put this car and its potential value in context: just three Ferrari 250 GTOs have crossed the auction block since 2014, with prices ranging from $38.1 million to $51.7 million. The Bianco Speciale’s unique color and racing provenance position it to potentially exceed even these historic results.
The American Racing Legacy: Three Ford GT40s
If the Ferrari represents European racing pedigree, the three Ford GT40s slated for Mecum Kissimmee 2026 embody American engineering’s greatest achievement in motorsports history. Each represents a different generation and tells a distinct story.
The 1965 Ford GT40 MkI, chassis P/1018, is one of only 48 race coupes ever produced. More significantly, it is one of just two GT40s known to have been driven by Carroll Shelby himself – though not in competition; Shelby drove it at the Santa Monica highway opening. This car served as a Shelby American demonstration vehicle and later became a successful vintage racing competitor, taking 11 wins from 13 starts at the Le Mans Classic. The provenance of being piloted by Shelby – the visionary who brought American performance to the world stage – commands respect and is expected to fetch approximately $6 million.
The 1966 Ford GT40 MkII Factory Lightweight, chassis XGT-3, occupies an even more exclusive category: it is one of only three factory lightweights ever constructed, and one of just eleven MkII models produced. Remarkably, this particular car has never been raced, making it possibly the most original MkII survivor. Designed with a singular purpose – to dominate at Le Mans – this GT40 represents the turning point when American engineering stood toe-to-toe with Europe’s finest and came out on top. Its factory lightweight specification and untouched race history make it a museum-quality piece.
The 1969 Ford GT40 MkIII, chassis P1/1085, rounds out the trio as what is believed to be the final unfinished GT40 chassis to reach completion. The original rolling chassis spent years in storage before being finished in 2009, making it a modern piece of history, eligible for vintage racing events and representing the ultimate evolution of the GT40 lineage.
The Bachman Ferrari Collection: Modern Excellence Without Reserve
Shifting gears into contemporary supercars, the Bachman Ferrari Collection represents an extraordinary assembly of low-mileage modern Ferraris, all being offered without reserve. This collection demonstrates how contemporary hypercars, when preserved in near-pristine condition, command significant collector interest.
The collection includes exemplary specimens across multiple generations: a 1985 Ferrari 288 GTO with just 2,007 kilometers; two F40s with 456 and 865 miles respectively; a 1995 F50 with 251 miles; a 2003 Enzo with 645 miles; and multiple LaFerraris – including a 2017 LaFerrari Aperta with just 96 miles. Perhaps most intriguingly, the collection includes a 2006 Ferrari FXX with 2,318 kilometers driven by Bachman himself, who participated in 22 FXX Programme events across 16 tracks on four continents. This represents not just ownership but active engagement with Ferrari’s most exclusive track-only program.
The no-reserve consignment signals collector confidence in current market values for these contemporary supercars, and it creates opportunity for bidders willing to engage seriously in the January auction block.
Curated Collections: Americana and Muscle Car Heritage
Beyond individual supercars, Mecum Kissimmee 2026 features several significant private collections that expand the auction’s appeal beyond ultraluxury segments into the broader collector car market.
The Jack Shewmaker Collection brings 60 vehicles to auction, all offered without reserve. Assembled with a focus on midcentury American machines, this collection reflects a lifetime of automotive passion and represents the breadth of American automotive design from the 1920s onward. Spanning from 1920s-era Model As through Studebakers, Cadillacs, and Lincolns, to iconic muscle cars like the Mercury Cougar, Dodge Polara, Plymouth Duster, and Oldsmobile 442, the collection extends into modern performance with a Shelby GT500KR and Nissan GT-R. The diversity of this collection may resonate with bidders seeking varied entry points into the collector car market.
The Cliff Ernst Collection focuses exclusively on American muscle, anchored by a remarkable concentration of Camaro and Yenko performance variants. The headliner is the 1969 Yenko Camaro Prototype – the very first pilot test vehicle built as the foundational example for Don Yenko’s COPO muscle car program. This single car represents automotive history at its most granular level. Supporting this star are multiple examples of production 1969 Yenko Camaros, drawn from a total production run of just 201 vehicles. The collection also includes a 1969 Yenko Nova and a pair of legendary Shelby GT500s, creating a museum-quality exhibition of American horsepower during the golden age of muscle.
The Apex Collection returns to Kissimmee for its second consecutive appearance, bringing 18 hand-selected vehicles emphasizing rarity and quality. Among its highlights is a 1966 Shelby 427 Cobra – one of only 32 factory “Narrow Hip” 427 Cobras produced, with original 427 cubic-inch dual four-barrel V8 engine, factory Green paint, and Black leather interior. Benefitting from a recent comprehensive restoration by a Cobra specialist, this car represents the configuration most enthusiasts consider the ultimate expression of Carroll Shelby’s legendary creation.
The Corvette Market: 300+ Examples Across All Generations
Corvette enthusiasts should note that over 300 Corvettes have been consigned to the 2026 docket, representing all eight generations of this iconic American sports car. The depth and quality of the Corvette offering reflects market resilience in this segment. Notable examples include four L88s (the holy grail of Corvette engines), two LS6s, two 1963 Z06s, the first 1957 airbox car, and numerous fuel-injected and big-block examples. This concentration makes Kissimmee a de facto Corvette specialist auction within the broader event, likely attracting dedicated Corvette bidders nationwide.
Notable Standalone Consignments
Several individual vehicles merit collector attention. The 1971 Plymouth Hemi Cuda Convertible represents one of just five automatic-transmission versions of this iconic muscle car. The 2007 Ferrari F430 F1 formerly owned by President Donald Trump arrives with remarkable provenance: purchased new by Trump, it carries 9,493 miles, the original title bearing Trump’s signature and Trump Tower address, and appeared at prominent events including Mar-a-Lago. Mecum observers note the car could achieve significantly higher prices than at previous sales – having sold for around $330,000 at Kissimmee in 2021 – given its celebrity ownership and the current geopolitical climate.
The Broader Market Context
Last year’s Kissimmee auction generated $224 million in total sales with a 74 percent sell-through rate, according to Hagerty data. However, the sell-through rate for vehicles in the $1,000,000+ segment declined notably from 58 percent in 2024 to 32 percent in 2025, suggesting softer market conditions for ultra-premium lots. This trend is worth watching as collectors approach the 2026 auction and decide bidding strategy for headline vehicles.
Conclusion
Mecum Kissimmee 2026 arrives with the confidence earned by decades of hosting the world’s largest collector car auction. The combination of the potentially record-setting Ferrari 250 GTO Bianco Speciale, three historically significant Ford GT40s, the Bachman Ferrari Collection with no reserve, curated American collections representing muscle car heritage, and variety of Corvettes, vintage Porsches, and prewar classics creates an event of genuine historical consequence for the collector car market. Whether you’re a serious bidder, a market observer, or an enthusiast seeking to witness automotive history, January in Kissimmee will deliver the spectacle and significance for which this auction is renowned.