Sam Krahn 
Mecum Auctions started 2021 off with an exciting lineup at the Kissimmee Auction last week, selling a number of exciting vehicles for big money, and failing to sell one critical vehicle. As with most Mecum auctions, it was a mix of old and new, with a focus on American Performance. That’s right up our alley at MC&T, so here’s a rundown of the most exciting auctions from 2021’s kickoff.
First up is a very special 1967 Chevrolet Corvette. It’s the very first 1967 Corvette produced with the sought-after L88 package, which essentially gave customers a race-ready Stingray. Chevrolet actually tried to steer customers away from the package, as Corvette engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov wanted serious racers to be the sole customers. It could only be run on 103 octane gas too, which helped give its monstrous output of somewhere between 540-580 hp.
In the end, only 20 L88 Corvette Stingrays were ever built, and this example is the first one made, and the only convertible in Tuxedo Black. It’s sold for millions at auction before, and this time was no different, commanding a final price of $2.5 million.
But it was far from the most expensive vehicle sold at the Kissimmee Mecum auction. That honor goes to a very special 1965 Shelby 427 Cobra, which sold for $5.94 million. The 427 Cobra is always a hot seller, with gorgeous Cobra looks and a massive V8 under the hood with over 400 hp. But this Cobra is even more special, as it was Carroll Shelby’s own personal car, and one of only 20 painted in Charcoal Gray. Shelby owned it from the day it left the factory to the day he passed away. In 2019, it underwent a full restoration, ending up in the condition you see here. Another Shelby 427 Cobra sold for $1.375 million at the Kissimmee Auction.
Another classic muscle car to fetch big money was a 1971 Plymouth Cuda Convertible. It’s one of only 17 Cudas produced in1971 with the massive 7.2 liter 440 6-BBL engine, and one of only 12 made with its exact configuration. It’s a highly specced model and comes with low mileage, and has been preserved and restored to maintain a like-new appearance. This special Plymouth Cuda sold for $962,500.
There were some interesting newer sales at the Kissimmee Mecum Auction, too. Or rather, lack of sales. The final 2020 C8 Corvette produced, a Sebring Orange Convertible, failed to meet its reserve with a $140,000 high bid. But another mid-engined American vehicle, a 2018 Ford GT, sold for a whopping $990,000, proving the market is as strong as ever for Ford’s supercar. This example features the red Heritage package, and the optional titanium exhaust.
The first Mecum Auction of 2021 had some great results for the second hand collector car market, and gave us a chance to take a look at rare vehicles like the first 1967 L88 Corvette, Carroll’s own Shelby 427 Cobra, Plymouth Cuda Convertible, Ford GT Heritage and the unfortunate flop of the last 2020 C8 Corvette.
Check out Mecum’s website for the full results.
