Tag Archives: mecum

Dodge Custom Royal Lancer

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1956 Dodge Custom Royal Lancer Convertible

Offered by Mecum | Indianapolis, Indiana | May 12-20, 2023

Photo – Mecum

Dodge’s 1956 model lineup went like this: at the bottom there was the Coronet, which was topped by the Royal. Above the Royal, and at the top of the heap, was the Custom Royal. The Custom Royal line was only offered from 1955 through 1959.

A total of 49,393 Custom Royal cars were produced for 1956 across four body styles, with the convertible being the priciest at $2,878 when new. No breakout for convertible production is available. This one is powered by a 218-horsepower, 5.2-liter Super Red Ram V8. It also has a push-button transmission, power steering and brakes, and a record player.

The car was restored in 2001, with paintwork finished in two-tone Wedgewood and Royal Blue. Since then, it’s garnered a pile of AACA awards. You can read more about it here.

Update: Sold $214,500.

Stegeman Truck

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1914 Stegeman 1526 Stake Bed Truck

Offered by Mecum | East Moline, Illinois | March 24, 2023

Photo – Mecum

The Stegeman Motor Car Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was founded in 1911 and produced heavy trucks through 1917. The actually offered at least six models of varying capacity – up to seven tons.

You can tell this is one of the heavier trucks because it utilizes solid rubber tires. Lighter trucks used pneumatic ones. It’s a three-ton truck powered by an inline-four engine. It’s also got a three-speed manual transmission and an open-cab body with a stake bed.

Later Stegemans could be had with a six-cylinder engine and electric start. This particular example is one of three from the manufacturer in the U.S. known to exist. You can read more about it here.

Update: Not sold, high bid of $25,300.

Qvale Mangusta

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2001 Qvale Mangusta

Offered by Mecum | Glendale, California | March 30, 2023

Photo – Mecum

The De Tomaso Bigua was a concept car that debuted in 1996 in conjunction with Qvale, which was started by Kjell Qvale, who was the West Coast distributor for Jaguar. His son Bruce started the car company to partner with De Tomaso.

But De Tomaso and Qvale broke off the partnership right before deliveries of the car were set to begin. By this point they had acquired the name De Tomaso Mangusta, but at the last second the cars were rebranded as the Qvale Mangusta.

Just 284 were produced between 2000 and 2002. They are powered by a 4.6-liter Ford V8 rated at 320 horsepower. They feature resin body panels styled by Marcello Gandini, four seats, and a retractable hardtop. You can read more about this one here.

Update: Withdrawn from auction.

’51 Mercury Woodie

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1951 Mercury Station Wagon

Offered by Mecum | Indianapolis, Indiana | May 12-20, 2023

Photo – Mecum

Mercury’s 1951 model line consisted of one model: their eight-cylinder car, the design of which was in its last year of a three-year run. Technically it was the Series 1CM in 1951, and the M-79 two-door station wagon was the only wagon variant they offered.

Just 3,812 were produced for the model year. All of them were powered by a 4.2-liter V8 that was rated at 112 horsepower. The car is finished in a wonderful shade of ’50s teal with real wood bodywork – from the last year for which Mercury used real wood on their wagons.

Obviously restored, the car also features three rows of seating and a three-on-the-tree transmission. Click here for more photos and info.

Update: Sold $53,900.

’55 Nomad

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1955 Chevrolet Nomad

Offered by Mecum | Glendale, California | March 28-April 1, 2023

Photo – Mecum

The Nomad remains the most iconic 1950s American station wagon. Descended from a GM Motorama show car from the year before, the Nomad was a two-door wagon version of the Bel Air, sharing its forward styling paired with forward-angled B-pillars and rear glass. It’s hot stuff.

Their exclusive pricing (they were just $500 less than a new Corvette) helped ensure their rarity. Just 6,103 were produced for the model’s initial model year in 1955. They would remain a two-door wagon only through 1957 before going the four-door route in 1958.

This restored example has been fitted with about every possible option and is powered by a 4.3-liter (265ci) V8 that made 162 horsepower when new. Power could be bumped to 180 with an optional four-barrel carburetor. Click here for more info.

Update: Sold $93,500.

K-1 Attack

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2011 K-1 Attack Roadster

Offered by Mecum | Glendale, California | March 28-April 1, 2023

Photo – Mecum

K-1 Engineering is based in Slovakia and has been around since 1991. Their first real car was the Attack, which premiered in 2002 and has sort of been available since, although less than 40 have been built and it’s unclear when the last one was made, but probably somewhere around 2019.

This car was the seventh built and features a mid-mounted turbocharged Honda 2.2-liter inline-four that made about 220 horsepower. In other words, the motor doesn’t quite live up to the supercar looks. Later cars had Ford engines, but output never really crested 265 horsepower save for a special edition model.

Later V6-powered cars were capable of 155 mph. What you’re really getting here is a somewhat exotic (Eastern Europe is exotic, right?) junior sports car with a supercar layout and looks. The price? Who knows, these don’t exactly change hands often. Click here for more info.

Update: Sold $49,500.

Pegasus 2000

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1990 Pegasus 2000

Offered by Mecum | Houston, Texas | April 13-15, 2023

Photo – Mecum

The Pegasus 2000 was a vaguely Pontiac-looking fiberglass sports car built in the late-1980s by Pegasus Motor Cars, which was founded by Charlie Van Natter of Pasadena, Texas. It’s a late-1980s Pontiac Firebird Trans Am underneath and a “Ferrari-ish”please confuse it for a Ferrari” fiberglass body on top.

Power is likely provided by either a 5.0-liter or 5.7-liter V8. This particular car looks a little more out there because it was modified by its owners, which were a combo of Texaco and a Saudi refining company. They used it as a promotional car for their “Wipe Out Waste” program, hence the “WOW” decals all over the exterior and interior.

If you want something that will make people do a double take, here’s your ride. Folks won’t know if this is related to Back to the Future, Speed Racer, or Knight Rider. Click here for more info.

Update: Sold $13,750.

Shelby GT350

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1970 Shelby GT350 Fastback

Offered by Mecum | Kissimmee, Florida | January 11, 2023

Photo – Mecum

The first Shelby Mustang was a GT350 in 1965. A second generation was produced for 1967 and ’68, and the third and final versions were sold in ’69 and 1970. Examples of the latter model year were actually unsold 1969 models re-VIN’d and fitted with a chin spoiler and hood stripes.

They were powered by a 5.8-liter Windsor V8 rated at 290 horsepower. Fastback coupes and convertibles were offered. This particular fastback has an automatic transmission and other exotic options like power-assisted steering and brakes along with a center console.

The total number of 1970 Shelbys was 789 cars, split between GT350s and GT500s. As far as Shelby Mustangs go, these are not the most expensive. Still though, the average price hovers around six figures over the last few years. Click here for more info.

Update: Sold $77,000.

Packard Caribbean

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1955 Packard Caribbean

Offered by Mecum | Kissimmee, Florida | January 6, 2023

Photo – Mecum

Tasty. And not just because of the dessert-y paint job. The Caribbean (or “Carribean” as Mecum calls it) was the sort of halo car for Packard from 1953 through 1956. The models were restyled for 1955 (which carried over to ’56), and looked just like this. Convertibles were the only body style offered for three of the years, and a hardtop joined for the final model year.

Two-tone paint was an option in 1954, and two- and three-tone paint jobs were offered in 1955 and 1956. It’s an iconic look. The 1955 Packard Caribbean is one of the most slyly iconic and fantastic American cars of the 1950s.

Just 500 were built for 1955, all of which were powered by a 275-horsepower, 5.8-liter V8. This one was restored 30 years ago, and you can read more about it here.

Update: Not sold.

Testarossa

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1987 Ferrari Testarossa

Offered by Mecum | Kissimmee, Florida | January 14, 2023

Photo – Mecum

The Testarossa was the successor to the 512 BBi, and it was a pretty big step forward into the 1980s when it launched in 1984. It was also the most mass-produced Ferrari when it went out of production in 1996 (including the more limited 512 TR and F512 M variants). Over 9,900 were made all together.

It’s also one of the more iconic and instantly recognizable Ferraris. Synonymous with the ’80s, the cars are powered by a 4.9-liter flat-12 that made 380 horsepower in U.S.-spec trim. Early “monospecchio” cars are a little more outlandish with their single top-mounted rearview mirror. This ’87 model has more traditional mirrors on both sides.

It’s hard to beat a red Ferrari with enormous side strakes. This one has 30,000 miles, a recent belt service, and a Tubi Style exhaust. Click here for more info.

Update: Sold $176,000.