Mecum Monterey Daytime Auction overall sales reach $57.4 million

1929 Duesenberg Model J

(August 18, 2021)  Mecum Auctions has been holding its annual Daytime Auction in Monterey during the famed Car Week since 2009, and this year’s return to the Del Monte Golf Course on the grounds of the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa marked the company’s most successful Monterey auction to date. As a total of 519 vehicles crossed the block throughout three auction days, Aug. 12-14, 411 cars hammered sold for an exceptional sell-through rate of 80% and total overall sales of $57.4 million.

All 10 of the auction’s top-selling vehicles eclipsed seven figures with the top slot claimed by a 2014 Ferrari LaFerrari that brought $3.41 million.

There are very few vehicles that can hold a candle to a 131-mile Rosso Corsa LaFerrari, but the remaining top sellers at Mecum’s Monterey auction all boasted fiery flames of their own. Ferraris and Shelbys dominated, claiming seven seats among the top 10 sales list.

CSX3045,  a celebrated Semi Competition Cobra that is one of just 29 built, took the second seat in top sales bringing in $2.86 million, and the Ford Special Project, Codename: Daisy — a 2004 Shelby Cobra Concept car — came in next selling for $2.64 million.

The three remaining Ferraris to land top 10 seats included a 1966 275 GTB/6C Long Nose that sold for $2.64 million, a 1965 500 Superfast  that brought $1.88 million and a 1963 250 GT Lusso Berlinetta Scaglietti that achieved $1.76 million, and the lone remaining Shelby on the list, a 1965 GT350R Fastback , brought $1.27 million.

2014 Ferrari LeFerrari

Other marques to make an appearance in top sales included Duesenberg and Porsche, with a 1929 Duesenberg Model J Murphy Convertible Sedan  achieving a final sale of $2.37 million, a 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder Weissach selling for $1.6 million and a 2004 Porsche Carrera GT  reaching $1.21 million.

Another hit with bidders at the Daytime Auction in Monterey was Serial No. 1 of just 350 2022 Acura NSX Type S  slated for production. The yet-to-be-built car was offered with all proceeds to benefit charity— including the Center for Science and Industry and an innovative STEAM education program for underserved youth — and it ultimately achieved a final sale price of $1.1 million, far exceeding its base price of $171,495.

2004 Ford Shelby Coba Concept

Similarly, a 2022 Triumph Scrambler 1200 Steve McQueen Edition motorcycle crossed the Monterey auction block with proceeds to benefit the Boys Republic non-profit youth-treatment community. The bike and its charitable cause were well-received by the crowds in Monterey, and it achieved a final sale of $55,000, more than three times its $16,400 base price.

Other notable motorcycle sales in Monterey included a 1953 Vincent Black Shadow that sold for $148,500, a 1914 Harley-Davidson Model 10F Two Speed  that sold for $101,200 and a 1917 Henderson 4-Cylinder Racer  that brought $100,100.

Private collection offerings are a highlight at nearly every Mecum auction, and Monterey 2021 featured a top-shelf selection of them. Big Al’s Collection of 84 cars, engines, motorcycles and more achieved total sales of $12.05 million, and the more modestly sized Don Wallace Collection of six stunning collector vehicles saw all six of its crew hammer sold for an aggregate $2.2 million.

The complete top 10 collector car sales at the 2021 Daytime Auction in Monterey include:

    1.    2014 Ferrari LaFerrari  at $3,410,000
    2.    1967 Shelby 427 'Semi Competition' Cobra  at $2,860,000
    3.    2004 Ford Shelby Cobra Concept at $2,640,000
    4.    1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/6C Long Nose at $2,640,000
    5.    1929 Duesenberg Model J Murphy Convertible Sedan at $2,365,000
    6.    1965 Ferrari 500 Superfast at $1,875,000
    7.    1963 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso Berlinetta Scaglietti at $1,760,000
    8.    2015 Porsche 918 Spyder Weissach  at $1,595,000
    9.    1965 Shelby GT350R Fastback  at $1,265,000
   10.    2004 Porsche Carrera GT  at $1,210,000