When a car auction wraps up their event, everybody seems to focus on the high dollars selling cars. We hear about the mega bucks that switch hands and get press releases about this record or new collection that was sold off. But there are always plenty of cars and trucks that sell for fairly reasonable prices, especially in the first days of a multi-day auction.
The second annual Mecum Auction in Glendale, AZ was held on March 11-14, 2020 and was the last auction they held in person before the COVID-19 crisis caused a shutdown of car auctions worldwide. At that show they almost reached $30 million in sales and 65% of the 1210 vehicles offered for sale went home with new owners.
But I thought it might be illuminating to check out some regular, "aw shucks" trucks that were offered up for auction and how they fared. Remember all sales prices include a 10% buyer's premium. But you'll see that not all of these babies went home to new owners.
1960 El CaminoThis light yellow restoration had a fuel injected, 350 Ramjet engine with a 700R4 automatic transmission. Lots of new stuff was included during the 1500 hour restoration but bidding only went up to $32,000 and so it stayed with the seller.
1962 Ford Somebody took some time building this red F-100. Air Ride suspension with a 4 link rear and a C notched frame helped to get it low. It had a 396CI Windsor engine with a Turbo 400 transmission. Mustang II front end suspension helped get the winning bid to $42,900.
1971 Chevy C-10Hard to miss this hauler with the bright "Kandy Lime Mist Pearl" paint job. Had a LS1 engine with a 4L60E automatic. It rides on a Air Ride suspension and the bed floor raises up to reveal that chassis work. Plus the glass was flush mounted for a smooth look that the buyer liked to the tune of a winning bid for $62,700.
1955 Chevy CameoThis was an newer restoration and the black and yellow paint scheme might have scared off a few folks. It had a big block 454 CI engine and air conditioning. Modern interior with Dakota Digital gauges and a tilt steering column could not draw a bid higher than $60,000.
1953 ChevyThis was a basic resto-mod with a 350 engine/350 transmission combination,. Power steering and brakes were added to lots of new chrome with a custom but old school looking interior. But it drew a high bid of only $24,000.
1954 Chevy 3100The body work on this hauler was impeccable. It came with a fuel injected 350 CI short block and a Tremec 6 speed. The five window cab featured power steering/brakes with air conditioning to cool down the winning bid of $39,050.
1955 ChevyThis pick 'em up had a ton of upgrades from all the right names. The stroker 383 engine was rated for 420 horses and was linked to a Tremec 5 speed transmission. Rack and pinion steering helps to keep it between the lines and the leather seats will keep you planted in the cab. But the crowd stopped bidding at $55,000 which the seller wouldn't accept.
1964 Chevy C10C10's are hot, either restored or modernized. This restoration used a 283 CI engine and a ton of restored or NOS parts. The big rear window and a factory air conditioning setup helped get a final sale of $58,300.
1972 Chevy C10This white truck had a 6 liter engine and a 4L60 transmission. The frame off restoration allowed for lots of new chrome and stainless gas tank and exhaust. But the market prefers the short bed and perhaps that's why the bidding stalled at $16,000 ?
1986 Chevy Truck This red step side had a frame off restoration with a fuel injected Vortec engine. 3 inch drop spindles got the stance low but the bidding was low too, only reaching a disappointing $20,000.
So that was a look at a load of trucks that splashed into the scene at Mecum's Spring auction. Here's hoping before long there will be more auctions, but in the meantime Truck Round-Up is bound to have some sweet deals too. So check out all the pages and ads.
(c) 2020 Mark C. Bach