Mecum Auctions has been involved with collector cars for almost three decades now, growing from a small family business to selling roughly 20,000 lots per year. In addition to top-dollar automobiles, Mecum also offers vintage motorcycles, collectible road art, and believe it or not, tractors. But you and I don’t really care about all that other stuff – we’re in it for the cars, from cutting-edge performance machines to ironclad muscle cars, antique classics to no-frills racers. Thankfully, Mecum has the entire spread on tap. The auction house averages more than one event per month, but one of the biggest is in California for Monterey Car Week. Roughly 600 vehicles are slated to hit the block for 2016, and we’ve got some of the most interesting of them profiled right here.
Highlighting the lineup for Monterey is the Modern Speed Collection, a host of ultra-high-end speed-mobiles from the present day. Mecum calls it “the apex of 21st Century automotive performance,” and picking through the offerings, I’m inclined to agree. Think rare, gorgeous, and absurdly quick.
TopSpeed will be on the scene this year, bringing you all the latest. Read on for a taste of what’s in store.
Update 08-20-2016 5:00 P.M. PST We're on the scene at Mecum and have updated this preview with a welcome video. Check it out in the preview below.
Continue reading to learn more about the 2016 Mecum Monterey Auction.
Welcome to Mecum in Monterey 2016
Vulcan at Mecum
The Lots
2016 Aston Martin Vulcan (Lot #S99)
Estimated Value – $2,300,000 to $3,300,000
Give Aston free rein to make the most over-the-top, hardcore, no-nonsense track car it can possibly come up with, and you get this – the Vulcan. The spacey name is perfectly appropriate when you start digging into the specs: it’s made from carbon fiber, using the same construction as the One-77. The drivetrain utilizes titanium, and the Brembo brakes are made from carbon ceramic. Four airjacks make for quick pit stops. A 7.0-liter V-12 provides hyderdrive-esque thrust.
Only 24 were made. This is number 11.
Read the full review here.
2003 Ferrari Enzo (Lot #108.1)
Estimated Value – $2,500,000 to $3,500,000
There are actually several Ferrari Enzo’s heading to the Mecum event in Monterey this year. This one’s painted red. Named after the man that founded the marque, the Enzo follows the same tradition as the F40 and F50 – ultimate performance, no matter the cost.
The exterior uses F1-inspired aero, while mounted in the middle is a 6.0-liter V-12 laying down 660 horsepower and 485 pound-feet of torque. With the long skinny pedal properly depressed, this thing can sprint to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds and hit a top speed of 221 mph.
Read the full review here.
2004 Maserati MC12 (Lot #130.1)
Estimated Value – $1,800,000 to $2,200,000
This is the Trident badge in try-hard mode. Based on the same platform as the Ferrari Enzo, this street-legal bruiser is purpose built for ultimate speed – specifically, in the FIA GT World Championship. It uses the same overall shape as its Prancing Horse cousin, but includes significantly altered aerodynamics. Motivation comes from the same 6.0-liter V-12, but output was slightly detuned to 624 horsepower and 481 pound-feet of torque. Production was limited to just 50 units.
Read the full review here.
2014 Ferrari Laferrari (Lot #S110)
Estimated Value – $3,900,000 to $4,500,000
Ah yes, the Ferrari squared. This is one of the few cars in existence that can hang with the McLaren P1 and Porsche 918 when it comes to performance and sheer drama, and it achieves those outcomes in the usual Ferrari fashion – 6.3-liter V-12 in the middle, delivering 949 horsepower to the rear axle. Red line is 9,250 rpm. Every inch of it is pure Formula 1 for the street.
This particular example stands out thanks to its Nero DS Opaco matte black paint finish (one of only three produced), plus it has just 211 miles on the odometer, making it practically brand new.
Read the full review here.
1966 Ford GT40 Mk.1 (Lot #S103)
Estimated Value – $4,000,000 to $5,000,000
The Ford GT has already returned to Europe to once again conquer the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and as such, the original model is getting quite a bit of renewed interest in the collector car market.
This particular example is the first road car delivered to North America, and was used as a test bed and promotional vehicle, not to mention plenty of competition on the track. Interestingly, it’s also the only GT40 delivered new with air conditioning, a leather interior, and storage for luggage. It’s got 11,000 miles on the odometer, and is considered “among the most significant of the road going GT40s.”
Read the full review here.
1968 Lamborghini Miura P400 (Lot #S77)
Estimated Value – $750,000 to $900,000
Traditionally, Lamborghini’s have been considered somewhat tricky animals to tame, and not necessarily friendly to the casual novice. Part of this association undoubtedly comes from the Miura, the first-ever production vehicle to sport a mid-engine layout. While ideal for serious drivers, less capable hands could quickly find themselves crossed up and backwards if they weren’t careful.
But that’s part of the appeal of the Miura, and the desirability of this historic model remains high today. This particular example comes with extensive documentation, while the 3.9-liter V-12 engine was rebuilt as recently as 1997.
Read the full review here.
2006 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 (Lot #S91)
Estimated Value – $1,200,000 to $1,500,000
Any collection of cars that claims to be the “the apex of 21st Century automotive performance” simply must include a Veyron. Everything about this thing is excessive – 16-cylinder engine, four turbochargers, three radiators, 1,001 horsepower, and a top speed of 253 mph. Of course, with the release of the Chiron, it’ll be interesting to see how this old standby of the supercar world holds up.
Read the full review here.
1987 Porsche 959 ‘Komfort’ (Lot #S127)
Estimated Value – $1,100,000 to $1,300,000
The 959 is often credited for ushering in the modern age of high-tech super cars. Built for homologation in Group B rally racing, the 959 offered such forward-thinking features as adjustable dampening, an adjustable ride height, extensive utilization of composite materials, and variable geometry turbochargers. Stuttgart mounted the engine in the back and divided the 444 horsepower between all four wheels. Porsche offered two trim levels – the race-oriented “Sport,” and the road-oriented “Komfort.” This particular model is the latter, and it’s the 36th example of 292 units produced.
Read the full review here.
1931 Cadillac Series 370 Phaeton (Lot #S49)
Estimated Value – $210,000 to $250,000
After Cadillac started cooking up V-12 and V-16 engines back in the late ‘20s, the make needed the right model to mount them in. This V-12-powered 1931 370 was one of the first, and sold well compared to its 16-cylinder equivalents.
Behind that glittering radiator grille, you’ll find a 6.0-liter, 368 cubic-inch V-12 engine. Output when new was rated at 135 horsepower and 284 pound-feet of torque, which is routed rearwards via a three-speed transmission.
Outside is a burgundy and white two-tone paint scheme, which is echoed by burgundy upholstery in the cabin. There are spare wheels mounted on the sides, a “Goddess” radiator ornament, and wire wheels wrapped by whitewall tires.
Despite its age, the whole thing looks practically brand new. That’s because it was restored as recently as the late ‘90s, and in the roughly two decades that followed, this car has seen only 169 miles on the road.
Read the full review here.
1958 Studebaker Scotsman Wagon (Lot #F21)
Estimated Value – $40,000 to $60,000
The Scotsman was created as a low-cost alternative to competing products from other American automakers. To this end, it was equipped with very little in terms of amenities or aesthetics, but with a starting price under $2,000, the model quickly became a hit. Now, five decades after Studebaker finally bit the dust, the Scotsman is a collectible, and this particular example is expected to fetch a good deal more than what it originally sold for.
The Scotsman is one of the automaker’s most important models, helping to extend the life of the Studebaker-Packard Alliance until 1962. And while the ‘50s were known for highly visible, showy designs, the Scotsman bucked the trend with fewer chrome details, somewhat understated color options, and a simple (yet functional) interior.
The Scotsman was also hugely fuel efficient, with up to 40 mpg possible from the 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine first offered at the vehicle’s debut. This particular model, however, is equipped with a 5.7-liter V-8, offering substantially more output than the six-cylinder’s 101 horsepower.
Read the full review here.
1961 Lincoln Continental Convertible (Lot #S39)
Estimated Value – $100,000 to $125,000
Between 1939 and the present day, the Continental nameplate has seen a total of 10 separate generations. This particular model is from 1961, making it a fourth-generation vehicle, which is considered the most desirable amongst collectors. However, the real defining feature of this car is its ownership history. You see, it was once part of the White House garage as Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis’ personal transportation.
With a timeless design and cool features suicide doors, this car is quite the looker, but paired with its history, Lot S39 is a truly unique offering for the Mecum auction. Under the hood is a 7.0-liter V-8 producing 300 horsepower. Unfortunately, the Secret Service gear has long been removed.
Read the full review here.
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible (Lot #S33)
Estimated Value – $160,000 to $180,000
Compared to the austere Studebaker Scotsman, the Chevy Bel Air is an absolute peacock. That’s doubly so if you’re talking about the drop-top model. Lower the roof, and the Bel Air really starts to strut its stuff, flashing in the sun with chrome details and character lines, then leaving in the wake of enormous rear tail fins.
This particular example has all that and more, coming off a recent restoration that leaves it as tight and trim as new. The bright red paint is a hue sourced from Porsche, while inside is tan leather upholstery.
This car also has modern mechanicals, including a thumping 5.7-liter LS1 engine from a late-model Corvette, laying down 350 horsepower and 365 pound-feet of torque at the rear axle by way of a four-speed automatic transmission. Its also got 17-inch Foose wheels, under which are tucked four-wheel disc brakes from Wilwood.
Read the full review here.
1965 Bizzarrini P538 (Lot #S111)
Estimated Value – $750,000 to $950,000
Bizzarrini is a big name in the world of Italian performance, and this is the company’s racer. Unfortunately, the P538 saw only limited competition, and it wasn’t until much later that the car got the respect and desirability it deserved.
It looks the part of a classic European apex hunter, with swoopy fiberglass bodywork, plenty of ducts and vents, and bright red paint. The cabin is stripped down for the track, with four-point harnesses and fixed bucket seats. In back, you’ll find a 327 cubic-inch (5.3-liter) V-8 engine from Chevrolet, but other examples got V-12’s from Lamborghini. Output is rated at 365 horsepower, while the top speed is 174 mph.
Read the full review here.
1980 Porsche Bisimoto 911BR “One-of-a-Kind” (Lot #S40)
Estimated Value – $135,000 to $175,000
There are few Hollywood actors as closely tied to motorsport as Steve McQueen. As such, any model with a little McQueen fairy dust sprinkled on top is usually a big hit with collectors, and by all accounts, this 911 should be no different.
While the King of Cool didn’t actually own it, this 911 was built from the ground up as a tribute to the man’s style and tastes. The exterior is draped in Slate Grey, plus all the body panels were swapped for old school equivalents to give it a more vintage appearance. Aluminum performance seats are in the cabin, while out back there’s an air-cooled flat-six engine.
Best of all, proceeds from the sale will go to benefit the Boy’s Republic, a youth-oriented non-profit with strong ties to McQueen.
Read the full review here.
1996 Porsche 911 GT2 EVO (Lot #S76)
Estimated Value – $1,250,000 to $1,750,000
Air-cooled Porsches are doing spectacularly well on the collector car market these days, and this example in particular should clean up. Its from the third-gen, 993 line of 911’s, the last of the air-cooled models, but even more importantly, it’s an ultra-rare GT2 Evo, one of only 11 produced by the factory.
The GT2 Evo is a special homologation variant of the 993 Turbo, and as such, it comes with all the race-inspired goodness you’d expect. First and foremost, it looks badass thanks to huge aero enhancements. Under that gigantic rear spoiler, you’ll find a twin-turbo 3.6-liter flat six-cylinder engine. Output when new was rated at 600 horsepower and 490 pound-feet of torque, blessing it with a top speed of 187 mph – even with all that wing.
Combined with a low curb weight, this thing is a real monster on the track. To sweeten the deal, there’s only 7,000 km (roughly 4,350 miles) on the clock of this particular example.
Read the full review here.
The Details
Where: The 2016 Mecum Monterey Auction will be held at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa, located near the Del Monte Golf Course at 1 Old Golf Course Road, Monterey, California, 93940
When: The auction will be held for three consecutive days between Thursday, August 18, and Saturday, August 20. The auction will commence daily at 10:00 AM. You can find more information about the auction by clicking here.
How: 1-day tickets are available for $30 per person, per day. You can also get an Event Pass good for all three days for $60 per person. Children aged 12 and younger are free. If you are interested in bidding, click here.