Deals on Wheels: It’s Almost Like Some Coveted Muscle Cars Were ON SALE at Mecum Indy
Low-low prices on hot rods were in effect at Mecum’s big spring auction. Here are the top 10 muscle cars sold.
As high-end vehicle auctions go, one thing is certain: The final two days of Dana Mecum’s 38th Annual Spring Classic at the Indiana State Fairgrounds (May 16–17) will be remembered for a long, long time.
AI Quick Summary
Mecum’s Spring Classic saw unexpectedly low bids, with some muscle cars selling below expected prices. Highlights include a 1970 Superbird sold for $418k and a Yenko Camaro for $715k. The top 10 list features Shelby Mustangs, Roadrunners, and a Pontiac GTO Judge.
This summary was generated by AI using content from this MotorTrend article
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Before attending this auction, we had been to a lot of Mecum shows and witnessed hot rods sell for record amounts. Well, that was not the case this go ’round. What we saw in Indianapolis was lower bidding energy. A question we overheard in several conversations was, “Are times changing based on the current economic climate in the U.S.?”
Sales appeared to be down, and more important, closing prices for No Reserve units were much lower than anticipated. A prime example of this is the TorRed 1970 Superbird that’s included in this rundown of the Top 10 muscle cars sold at Mecum/Indy. The rare hot rod that was sold for $1.65 million in 2022 changed hands to a new owner for only $418,000 (all-in/with buyer’s fees included) on the auction’s final day this year. We also met one giddy buyer who landed a 2007 Ford Shelby GT500 for half the amount that the Mustang sold for at a 2024 Mecum auction.
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To be fair, there also were a lot of muscle cars that changed hands for much more money than expected. For example, going into sale day, the unrestored 1969 Chevrolet Yenko Camaro that headlines this group was a hopeful $350,000–$400,000 car. However, after the sale closed, $715,000 was the final number, including the buyer’s fees.
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The big-block 1970 Chevy Nova SS we featured also turned a nice profit for the seller, hammering for $126,500 after being estimated at $60,000–$75,000.
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However, with several instances where as many as eight or more consecutive lots were passed by (including Dana’s super-rare 1965 Ford GT Competition Prototype Roadster that didn’t sell with a high bid of $7,750,000) and moved to “The Bid Goes On...” which is Mecum’s onsite agency for second-chance sales efforts on lots that don’t hit their reserve price. Using observations from past auctions we’ve attended as a non-scientific control, sales activity was not normal in the two days we were there.
Top 10 Muscle Cars Sold at Mecum Auctions Indianapolis
Speculation about why the sale atmosphere seemed different aside, a lot of awesome muscle cars did move at Dana Mecum’s 38th Annual Spring Classic (in some instances, for bargain-basement prices).
This gallery of the top 10 rides mostly consists of five Shelby and Boss Ford Mustangs, with Plymouth Roadrunners (standard coupe and two 1970 Superbirds [one of them hemi-powered]), a Pontiac GTO Judge convertible, and the, highest-money-earning Yenko Camaro making up the remainder of the top sellers.
1966 Shelby GT350 Fastback (Lot F127) / SOLD! $258,500
1969 Plymouth Hemi Road Runner Coupe (Lot F137) / SOLD! $275,500
1970 Pontiac GTO Judge Convertible (Lot F261) / SOLD! $286,000
1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 Fastback (Lot F238) /SOLD! $302,500
1968 Shelby GT500 Convertible (Lot T186) / SOLD! $412,500
1970 Plymouth Superbird (Lot S112) / SOLD! $418,000
1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 Fastback (Lot F206) / SOLD! $500,500
1970 Plymouth Hemi Superbird (Lot S217) / SOLD! $605,000
1970 Ford Mustang Boss 429 Fastback (Lot F150) / SOLD! $627,000
1969 Chevrolet Yenko Camaro (Lot S170) / SOLD! $715,000
I'm definitely a long time car guy. My love of "all-thingsautomotive" dates back to the early 1960s, shortly after I said the word, "car" for the first time. I feel fortunate that I was able to grow up in the Muscle Car era of the late '60s and early '70s. I immersed myself in reading magazines, and learned everything I could about high-performance from that period, and knew that one day I would work in the performance industry in some way, shape or form. Since graduating from the University of Pittsburgh (with a Bachelors degree in Communications) in 1985, my professional career has included work in network radio and television, Internet/online media, Ford Service, BMW Service, Internet/online automotive data, and my current job; Senior Technical Editor of 5.0 Mustang & Super Fords magazine. The constant in my long career has been "cars;" specifically, 1986-to-present, V-8-powered, Ford Mustangs. I have learned a lot about late-model Mustangs (and I'm still learning), and the position I now hold allows me to share the knowledge I've gained with like-minded Mustang enthusiasts all over the world. Owning, building, modifying and writing about late-model Mustangs has become a true passion for me. A great stop, on a very wild life ride.
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