Replica Go Karts Fetch Tremendous Prices At Mecum Auctions

Millions upon millions of dollar flew all over the place over the weekend during the Mecum auction at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. A 1956 Aston Martin DBR1 had top billing when it sold for a whopping $22.5 million, becoming the most expensive British car in history. A collection of road-going Ferraris combined for $16.5 million, including a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB that sold for $8.3 million. Even Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s 2010 Koenigsegg CCXR Trevita found a new owner who paid a cool $2.8 million for it. Lost in all the hoopla surrounding the auction were four vehicles that look the part of classics from yesteryear, but are actually miniaturized replica go-karts. It’s quite amusing considering that of all the cars that did sell for at least seven figures, these four go-karts were stars of the show in their own right.

Don’t feel bad if you mistake any of these cars – a Ferrari 330 P2 Le Mans, a 1956 “Baby Ferrari” Bimbo Racer, a Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR, and a 1961 Jaguar E-Type Junior – for the real things in the pictures. Look at them in person, though, and it’s clear that they’re mini replicas. Still, it doesn’t take away from the sheer awesomeness of these cars, which really aren’t your typical go-karts either, since some of them do carry materials like a steel chassis and a fiberglass body. And for what their worth, they were actually sold for impressive prices, including one that fetched a price tag that would’ve otherwise been close enough to buy an actual, brand-new Mercedes CLA-Class Coupe.

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How much did each of the four replica go-karts sell for?

While it’s true that some of these cars didn’t meet their estimate or reservation prices, they still sold for impressive amounts, some more impressive than others. Take the Ferrari 330 P2 Le Mans go-kart replica, for example. Not only does it feature a steel chassis and fiberglass bodywork, it also has a 2.5-liter Honda engine under its hood, one with enough power to get its top speed up to 25 miles per hour. It had an estimated price of around $35,000 to $40,000, but sold for “only” $30,000. That may be a disappointing return given the estimated price, but still, $30,000 for a go-kart replica is actually a premium.

Note: photo of the Ferrari 330 P2 Le Mans go-kart

Meanwhile, the replica Mercedes-Benz 300SLR was hammered home at $20,000. It didn’t get to as high as the 250 GT SWB go-kart, but for a car that has its own steel chassis, a silver body finish, a two-stroke 50cc engine, a set of 12-inch steel wheels, pneumatic tires, and an interior that’s dressed to the nines with hand-stitched leather and cloth, $20,000 is still a pretty good price given its status as a mini replica of the real 300SLR.

Note: photo of the Mercedes-Benz 300SLR go-kart

Either way, both cars met their reservation prices so their new owners should be happy at scooping them up with their winning bids. About the only disappointment was the auction of the 1956 'Baby Ferrari' Bimbo Racer. While it did come with a 12V electrical powertrain and controls, a fiberglass bodywork with period-correct red paint, Pirelli tires, wheels and hubcaps, and a leather interior, its auction price maxed out at just $15,000, an amount that sadly failed to meet the reserve price for the car.

Note: photo of the 1956 'Baby Ferrari' Bimbo Racer go-kart

Last but certainly not least is the go-kart replica of the 1961 Jaguar E-Type. Its reserve price was somewhere between $10,000 to $15,000, a modest estimate considering that the car itself has an exterior that’s been finished in a classic beige paint finish and an interior that features plenty of red leather, not to mention a wood-trimmed steering wheel. Ultimately, it sold for $11,000, which sounds like a huge bargain given the power of hindsight.