Auction Recap: Mecum Seattle 2015

Mecum concluded its second annual sale in Seattle, Wash., on June 6 with $9,316,080 in total sales. Of the 578 lots on offer, 274 lots were sold, a sell-through rate of 47 percent. The average sale price was $34,000. Numbers were down across the board from the sale last year, when Mecum achieved $14,788,549 in total sales, a sell-through rate of 50 percent (304 sold of 606 offered) and an average price of $48,647. At least some of this decrease can be attributed to the fact that 2014 was Mecum’s first time in Seattle. Last year’s sale was also largely built around a Hemi Cuda convertible that brought $3.78 million. 2015 just didn’t have any lots that were comparable.

Top sales of the auction were mostly American muscle, with a 1970 Dodge Hemi Challenger R/T SE taking top spot at $185,000. A 1968 Shelby GT500 KR also sold for $165,000 and a 1969 COPO Camaro brought $155,000. Some European exotics brought big money as well, with a 1999 Lamborghini Diablo selling for $170,000, a 2002 BMW Z8 for $165,000 and a 1992 Porsche 911 Turbo S2 (one of 20 such cars built for Carrera Cup racing) for $130,000. And the lust for Mercedes 190 SLs isn’t over, as a 1956 example brought $140,000.

Some of the star cars that failed to sell included the mostly original 1969 Corvette L88 that was bid to a very low $275,000, the 1969 Chevrolet Yenko Camaro that was bid to a reasonably high $310,000, and the 1965 Holman Moody Mustang drag car that was bid to $375,000. Interesting bargains on the cheaper end of the spectrum, meanwhile, included a 1968 Ford Torino GT for  $12,500; a 1971 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40 with a 305-cubic-inch V-8 conversion for $16,000; and a 2001 Pontiac Trans Am with an LS1, the WS6 package and just 18,000 miles on the odometer for $9,500.

Top 10:

1. 1970 Dodge Challenger Hemi R/T SE sold for $185,000
2. 1999 Lamborghini Diablo Roadster sold for $170,000
3. 1968 Shelby GT500 KR Fastback sold for $165,000
4. 2002 BMW Z8 sold for $165,000
5. 1969 Chevrolet Camaro COPO sold for $155,000
6. 1970 Dodge Hemi Challenger R/T sold for $150,000
7. 1967 Shelby GT500 Fastback sold for $142,500
8. 1956 Mercedes-Benz 190SL sold for $140,000
9. 1992 Porsche 911 Turbo S2 sold for $130,000
10. 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Hardtop (Restomod) sold for $120,000

Mecum’s next collector car auction will be its inaugural sale in Denver on June 26 and 27.