Mecum Kissimmee 2026 Shatters Records with $441 Million in Sales, Led by $38.5 Million Ferrari 250 GTO
Mecum Auctions‘ flagship Kissimmee event concluded on January 18, 2026, delivering what can only be described as a seismic shift in the collector car market. Held at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, Florida, from January 6 – 18, the two-week extravaganza generated an unprecedented $441 million in total sales – nearly doubling the previous record of approximately $220 million and establishing new benchmarks across multiple segments of the collector car universe.
The auction’s staggering performance came from the sale of more than 4,500 vehicles, with Ferrari dominating the top tier in spectacular fashion. Ten of the top twelve sales exceeded $6 million, and remarkably, ten of those were Ferraris built in Maranello. The results signal not just a strong market for premium collector vehicles, but a fundamental repricing of Ferrari’s modern and historic halo cars that will reverberate through auction houses worldwide in 2026.
The Crown Jewel: 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO "Bianco Speciale"
The undisputed star of Kissimmee 2026 was chassis 3729GT, the only Ferrari 250 GTO ever finished by the factory in white. After months of anticipation and pre-sale speculation suggesting a potential $50-70 million result, the “Bianco Speciale” hammered at $35 million before reaching a final price of $38.5 million including buyer’s premium. The winning bid was placed by renowned Ferrari collector David Lee, adding the rarest of all GTOs to his extensive collection of prancing horse machinery.
While the $38.5 million result represents the highest price ever achieved at a Mecum auction, it fell short of the all-time auction record for a 250 GTO. The current benchmark remains the $51.7 million paid for a 1962 Ferrari 330 LM/250 GTO at RM Sotheby’s New York in 2023, followed by the $48.4 million achieved for another 250 GTO at RM Sotheby’s Monterey in 2018. Nevertheless, the Bianco Speciale’s $38.5 million price point places it firmly among the most expensive automobiles ever sold at public auction and represents a watershed moment for Mecum as an auction house capable of handling the world’s most elite collector cars.
Racing Provenance and Factory Uniqueness
What distinguishes chassis 3729GT from its 35 GTO siblings is not merely its factory-original white finish, but its exceptional racing history and preservation. Originally ordered by British racing team owner and Jaguar dealer John Coombs, the car was delivered in 1962 with right-hand drive configuration – one of only eight GTOs so equipped.
Coombs’ motivation for ordering the GTO in white was rooted in his business interests: as a Jaguar dealer facing the formidable Ferrari 250 GTO on British racing circuits, Coombs wanted to understand his competition intimately. In an audacious move, he loaned the Ferrari to Jaguar’s Competition Department for aerodynamic and performance testing in late 1962, where legendary test driver Norman Dewis wrung the GTO to 137 mph and systematically compared it against the E-Type. The testing revealed Ferrari’s superiority in nearly every performance metric and directly influenced the development of Jaguar’s lightweight E-Type program.
On the racing circuits, Bianco Speciale compiled a distinguished competition record throughout 1962 and 1963. The car’s roster of drivers reads like a Formula One hall of fame: Graham Hill drove it to second overall at the 1962 RAC Tourist Trophy at Goodwood, finishing just 3.6 seconds behind Innes Ireland in another GTO. Roy Salvadori piloted the car to second place in its competition debut at the Peco Trophy at Brands Hatch. Mike Parkes took the wheel at the 1963 RAC Tourist Trophy at Goodwood, finishing second overall by a razor-thin 0.4 seconds behind Graham Hill in a 1963-spec GTO. Jack Sears scored the car’s first outright class victory at the 1963 Guards Trophy at Brands Hatch, finishing fifth overall behind four sports prototypes.
Originality and Preservation
For high-stakes GTO transactions, originality and provenance command premium valuations. Chassis 3729GT has been owned by former racing driver Jack Sears from 1970 until 1999, and subsequently by Microsoft executive Jon Shirley for the past 26 years. During Shirley’s ownership, the car was refinished in its original Bianco color and adorned with livery from the 1962 RAC Tourist Trophy as driven by Graham Hill.
One factor that may have tempered bidding was the car’s engine history. While chassis 3729GT is powered by a Ferrari Classiche-certified Colombo V12 appropriate to the GTO specification, it is not the original engine that left Maranello in 1962. The original powerplant was separated from the chassis decades ago, as was common practice in period racing where engines were routinely swapped for performance or reliability reasons. When Shirley sent the car to Ferrari for Classiche certification, the factory cast a new block with correct stampings, restoring technical authenticity while acknowledging the deviation from “matching numbers” status. For the most exacting collectors who view 250 GTOs as blue-chip investments, this distinction – combined with the right-hand drive configuration – likely contributed to the final price settling below initial expectations.
The Bachman Collection: Record-Breaking Ferrari Sales
If the 250 GTO provided the headline, the late Phil Bachman’s extraordinary Ferrari collection delivered the substance. Tennessee-based Bachman spent more than four decades assembling what many consider one of the world’s finest private Ferrari collections, with a particular affinity for yellow examples and final production cars. All 46 Ferraris from the collection crossed the block at Kissimmee with no reserve, generating more than $114 million in combined sales within just two hours on Saturday, January 17.
The Bachman consignment shattered auction records for five Ferrari models and fundamentally reset market expectations for modern Ferrari halo cars. Leading the charge was a 2003 Ferrari Enzo finished in Giallo Modena yellow, which sold for an astonishing $17.875 million – nearly tripling the previous Enzo record of approximately $6 million set in 2023. With just 649 miles on the odometer, this Enzo is one of only 36 finished in Giallo Modena and one of merely 127 produced for the U.S. market. Ferrari outfitted the interior with distinctive two-tone Rosso and Giallo seats, creating a specification unlike virtually any other Enzo in existence.
The record-breaking continued with a 1995 Ferrari F50, formerly owned by professional golfer Ian Poulter, which achieved $12.21 million – obliterating the previous F50 record of $9.2445 million set in August 2025. A 1985 Ferrari 288 GTO from the Bachman collection brought $8.525 million, establishing a new model record. A 1992 Ferrari F40 with just 456 miles sold for $6.6 million, continuing the pattern of ultra-low-mileage, pristine examples commanding substantial premiums.
Perhaps most remarkably, a 2017 Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta – the final example produced – sold for $11 million, setting a new auction record for any Aperta. Finished in Giallo Triplo Strato with a thin Italian flag stripe specially ordered by Bachman, the car shows just 96 miles and includes the $71,779 removable carbon fiber hardtop. A 2015 Ferrari LaFerrari coupe established a new record for that variant at $6.71 million, surpassing the $5.23 million achieved at RM Sotheby’s Monterey in August 2025.
The Bachman collection’s performance reflects broader trends in the collector car market, where provenance, ultra-low mileage, and unique specifications drive outsized premiums. Market observers noted that Mecum’s Kissimmee sale attracted unprecedented international attention, with buyers and dealers traveling from across the globe to witness what many described as a market-resetting event.
Beyond Ferrari: Ford GT40 and Porsche 918 Spyder Records
While Ferrari dominated the top sales, other marques achieved significant results. The strongest non-Ferrari sale was a 1966 Ford GT40 Mk II Factory Lightweight, chassis XGT-3, which sold for $12.375 million – establishing a new model record and nearly tripling the previous GT40 high of $4.405 million set in 2022.
Chassis XGT-3 represents one of only three factory lightweight Mk II examples among the mere nine surviving GT40 Mk IIs. Built by Shelby American at their LAX facility with thin-gauge steel chassis, aluminum roof, adjustable suspension, and Le Mans fuel crossover tanks, XGT-3 is recognized by GT40 historian Ronnie Spain as the most original Mk II in existence. Unlike restored examples, it retains its original body, structure, and engineering details exactly as configured when it left Shelby American in 1965. Originally owned by Ford Motor Company until 1977, the car has passed through just four private collectors, each preserving its authenticity and historic value.
In the modern hypercar segment, a one-of-one 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder Weissach finished in Paint-to-Sample Pure Orange sold for $6.05 million, crushing the previous 918 Spyder auction record of $3.93 million set by RM Sotheby’s in December 2023. With just 845 miles on the odometer, the car features matching orange interior piping (replacing the standard Acid Green accents) and extensive carbon fiber elements from the Weissach Package, which reduces weight by approximately 90 pounds. The $21,000 Paint-to-Sample Pure Orange finish makes this the only 918 Spyder in this color, enhancing its desirability for collectors seeking ultimate exclusivity.
Market Implications and Historical Context
Mecum Kissimmee 2026’s $441 million total represents more than just strong sales – it signals a fundamental repricing of the collector car market’s upper echelon. The results align with broader market trends that show auction and online sales of collectible vehicles climbed 10% in 2025 to reach $4.8 billion. A new generation of collectors, more comfortable with online bidding and drawn to modern supercars and hypercars, is driving demand alongside traditional enthusiasts.
The Bachman collection’s performance particularly illuminates the trajectory for 1990s-2000s era halo cars, which have emerged as a bull market segment. Cars from this period – including the F50, Enzo, and modern limited-production Ferraris – combine analog driving characteristics with modern performance and safety, appealing to younger collectors while maintaining relevance for traditional enthusiasts. The spectacular results achieved for ultra-low-mileage examples underscore the premium placed on preservation and originality in today’s market.
For Mecum Auctions, Kissimmee 2026 represents a crowning achievement and validation of the company’s growth trajectory. The $441 million total more than doubles Mecum’s previous Kissimmee record of approximately $217 million set in 2022. The successful sale of the $38.5 million 250 GTO – Mecum’s all-time record – demonstrates the auction house’s ability to compete with RM Sotheby’s, Broad Arrow, Bonhams, and Gooding Christie’s for the world’s most significant collector cars.
As the collector car market moves deeper into 2026, the records established at Kissimmee will serve as reference points for upcoming sales in Scottsdale, at Retromobile in Paris, Amelia Island, and Monterey. Whether the extraordinary results reflect genuine market strength or represent an anomalous concentration of exceptional vehicles remains to be seen. What is certain is that Mecum Kissimmee 2026 will be remembered as one of the most significant collector car auctions in history – a two-week period when records fell, expectations were exceeded, and the collector car market demonstrated its enduring vitality and capacity for surprise.