Highlights of Mecum Kissimmee 2024's Final Weekend
Mecum‘s 2024 Kissimmee auction is well underway and more than 4,000 vehicles are expected to cross the auction block before it ends. As we’ve come to expect, many of the most valuable cars are set to cross the block in the final days of the sale. We wanted to highlight ten cars that are worth watching, and bidding on if one is so inclined, that will be offered for sale Friday and Saturday, five cars from each day.
Friday
This is a fairly low-mileage example of the 2005 Ford GT, showing just 594 miles since new. Finished in red with a black interior, this is a four-option car and as such includes the painted brake calipers and racing stripes, as well as the McIntosh stereo and forged alloy BBS wheels. This seems to be a decent step between the Ford GTs that were parked as soon as they were purchased and the ones that saw more extensive road usage.
It’s impossible to make this list and not include this 1966 Ford GT40 Mk I Road Car, one of just 30 that were produced. It shows 13,442 original miles since new and is offered from the Apex Collection. Powered by a 289 cubic inch V8 that’s paired with a five-speed manual transmission, this car is incredibly original and has never been crashed or damaged. It spent almost 30 years out of the public eye and comes with a copy of its original build sheet, as well as a history file from noted expert Ronnie Spain.
This E-Code Ford Thunderbird is powered by a 312 cubic inch V8 that produces 271 horsepower and is paired with a three-speed manual transmission. It presents nicely in Colonial White with a white interior. It’s one of less than 1,500 E-Code Thunderbirds built for 1957 and underwent a comprehensive restoration, after which it’s covered about 1,000 miles – enough to address any final touches the car needed. It’s in remarkably nice condition and is equipped with the Town & Country radio and whitewall tires. The market for Thunderbirds isn’t what it was ten years ago, but that may present an excellent opportunity for a collector looking to add one to their collection.
This is one of only three 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Coupes finished in Daytona Blue with Saddle leather interior. It’s won Bloomington Gold and NCRS Top Flight awards, as well as the MCACN Triple Diamond. Offered from the Charles Lingenfelter Collection, it’s a matching-numbers example and is one of only 199 Corvettes equipped with the Z06 package in 1963. Following its various awards in 2019, the car underwent a thorough restoration that was finished in 2022. It includes the original dealer invoice and original key as well as the protection plan book and owner’s manual. There is likely no finer Z06 in existence so it’s no wonder Mecum placed such a high estimate on it.
Estimate: $700,000 – $800,000
Another example offered from the Apex Collection, this 1965 Shelby GT350 is an early production car and features the trunk-mounted battery with Cobra-branded battery caps. It was used as a demonstration car by the factory when it was new and includes copies of the dealer invoice, order form, shipping documents and owner’s manual. Following a rotisserie restoration this Shelby won its class at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance and also took home an MCA Concours Gold award, as well as winning the Greenbrier Concours d’Elegance Spring House Award.
Estimate: $500,000 – $550,000
Saturday
Offered from the Apex Collection, this 1993 Jaguar XJ220 shows 1,133 km since new, just over 700 miles. It scored a stunning 9.998 at the Jaguar Club of Florida Concours d’Elegance and took Best in Class at the Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance in 2021. It includes its original books and service records as well as tool kit and even first aid kit. Although Mecum is expecting this to sell for a strong price, it may still be the right time for someone looking to add a supercar from the 90s to their collection as prices on competing models continue to increase, seemingly with each passing month.
Estimate: $700,000 – $800,000
Featuring serial number 1021, this is one of only 51 examples of the Tucker 48 ever built and one of just four that were finished in black. It’s powered by a 335 cubic inch flat six-cylinder that produces 166 horsepower and is paired with a four-speed pre-selector gearbox. Completed in August of 1948, this car has had only three owners since it was new, passing to its third owner in 2023. It has original body panels and features original paint still present in door jambs. It includes a copy of the original bill of sale and a letter from the original owner to the second owner as well as factory records and many other Tucker-related documents. This may be the last three-owner Tucker 48 in the world, so bidders should expect some competition.
Estimate: $1,700,000 – $1,900,000
This 1972 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 Coupe is one of just 20 built with the LT1 engine for the 1972 model year. It’s a numbers-matching car with the original M22 four-speed manual transmission paired with its 350 cubic inch V8 that produces 255 horsepower. It shows 24,604 miles since new and that number is believed to be correct. The car benefits from a frame-off restoration by Corvette Repair that cost more than $150,000. It’s won many prizes over the years and wears its original body/trim tag. It comes with copious amounts of documentation all the way back through its four owners to when it was new. It’s undoubtedly one of the finest C3 Corvettes on the market today.
Estimate: $225,000 – $275,000
Showing 14,679 miles since new, this 1987 Porsche 959 Komfort is being offered from the Apex Collection. It’s one of just 292 examples of the 959 that were built and is still equipped with its matching-numbers twin-turbocharged flat six. It started life in France and has been certified for smog testing in California. The only options on this car, thanks to how well-equipped the standard 959 Komfort was, are an alarm system and heated power seats. Clearly one of the best maintained examples of the 959 to hit the market in some time.
Estimate: $1,850,000 – $2,000,000
Only twenty examples of the Chevrolet Corvette were produced with the L88 engine option for 1967 and this is the only one known to be finished in Rally Red with Red interior. It took Bloomington Gold honors four times as well as a variety of NCRS awards and was the Carlisle L88 for its 50th anniversary in 2017. It retains its tank sticker. It’s equipped with the J56 option for heavy duty brakes as well as the J50 power brakes option. Although it does not have its original engine, it’s as close to original as possible. Considering how rare L88 Corvettes are, it’s not surprising to see Mecum list such a strong estimate for when this car hits the block.
Estimate: $3,400,000 – $3,800,000