Tag Archives: mecum

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.

300SL Gullwing

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1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing

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

Photo – Mecum

Kind of amazing we’ve never featured a “run-of-the-mill” 300SL Gullwing before. We’ve featured an alloy-bodied car, a race car, a roadster, and a 300 SLR race car. But here we have the classic road car. The W198 300SL. With gullwing doors.

Just 1,400 coupes were produced between 1954 and 1957, and they were powered by a 2,996cc M198 inline-six that featured Bosch mechanical direct fuel injection and was canted at an angle in the engine bay to keep it low. Output was rated at 240 horsepower. Top speed was about 145 mph depending on what axle ratio was optioned.

This car is finished in black over a green interior with plaid seat upholstery. It was restored in Canada and now has an estimate of $2,300,000-$2,500,000. Click here for more info.

Update: Sold $1,650,000.

Consulier GTP

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1990 Consulier GTP

Offered by Mecum | Kissimmee, Florida | January 15, 2022

Photo – Mecum

Warren Mosler has been responsible for some pretty crazy cars over the years including this, the Consulier GTP. It was introduced in 1985 and produced until 1993, at which time it was re-branded as the Mosler Intruder and later the Mosler Raptor, which had some styling differences.

The GTP featured a rear-mid-engined layout with a turbocharged 2.2-liter Chrysler inline-four that, in this car, produced somewhere between 190 and 200 horsepower. It also had a fiberglass and foam monocoque chassis and a carbon-Kevlar body.

Mecum says that 83 of these were built, and the GTP also had racing success in IMSA. This one could probably stand to get some period wheels on it, but otherwise it’s an interesting piece of America’s supercar past. Click here for more info.

Update: Sold $33,000.

Nuffield Oxford Taxi

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1949 Nuffield Oxford Taxi

Offered by Mecum | Kissimmee, Florida | January 4, 2022

Photo – Mecum

The Nuffield Organization was the umbrella company that owned Morris, Wolseley, Riley, MG, SU carburetors, and other concerns. It was set up in 1943 and was replaced in name by BMC in 1952. Wolseley (and Morris Commercial) designed a taxi for post-war use in London and introduced it in 1947.

It was initially produced as a Wolseley at their plant until mid-1949, when production shifted to a new Nuffield plant. Cars built there were actually badged as Nuffields – the only such car to wear that name (there were also Nuffield tractors). Power is from a 1.8-liter Morris Commercial inline-four rated at 15 horsepower.

Production bumbled along until 1953, when new BMC management preferred to keep the Austin FX3 in production instead, killing off the Nuffield Taxi after only 1,926 had been made (including Wolseleys). Only three are known to exist. Click here for more info.

Update: Sold $15,400

Update: Sold, Bring a Trailer Auctions March 2023, $18,570

DeLorean

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1981 DeLorean DMC-12

Offered by Mecum | Kissimmee, Florida | January 13, 2022

Photo – Mecum

Maybe not the world’s most exciting car, but definitely one of the most recognizable. John DeLorean’s DeLorean Motor Company built about 9,000 of the “DMC DeLorean” (commonly called the DeLorean DMC-12, despite what DeLorean zealots will scream at your face) in Northern Ireland, of all places, before the whole thing blew up. Model years 1981, ’82, and ’83 were covered.

It has stainless steel bodywork, gullwing doors, and a rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout. Power is provided by a 2.85-liter V6 produced by PRV – Peugeot/Renault/Volvo, three companies really known for their reliable engines. Output was rated at 130 horsepower, which was not enough to make this exotic two-door really move that fast. It hit 60 mph in 10.5 seconds.

The other thing about these is that none actually have any miles on them. I mean, they might, but they all mysteriously have only a few thousand miles. This one shows 5,900 miles. Which is more believable than most. They’re funky, and people will always want them. And rightfully so: it is one of the coolest cars of the ’80s. Click here for more info.

Update: Sold $77,000.

Cord “Westchester”

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1937 Cord 812 Sedan

Offered by Mecum | Kissimmee, Florida | January 4-15, 2022

Photo – Mecum

E.L. Cord’s 810 (for 1936 and 812 for 1937) remains a pretty remarkable car. An early front-wheel-drive car, it featured an independent front suspension and was offered in a variety of body styles. Superchargers were also an option.

This naturally aspirated sedan is powered by a 4.7-liter Lycoming V8 that was rated at 125 horsepower. Shifting is through a four-speed pre-selector transaxle where you select the gear you want and then hit the clutch, which completes an electrical circuit, which then completes the shift. Fancy stuff.

The Westchester sedan was the most common version of the 810/812. It featured a fastback body style. There was also a Beverly sedan, which featured a bustle back trunk. The auction catalog calls this a Westchester, but it has a bustle back trunk. So it’s a Beverly… unless it’s a Westchester that has been modified later on. But it also seems to have a Westchester’s interior. At any rate, you can read more about it here.

Update: Not sold.

’67 Ghibli

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1967 Maserati Ghibli Coupe

Offered by Mecum | Kissimmee, Florida | January 4-15, 2022

Photo – Mecum

Maserati’s first Ghibli debuted at the 1966 Turin Motor Show. It was a sleek grand tourer with styling by Giorgetto Giugiaro at Ghia. Production lasted from 1967 through 1973 when it was kind of replaced by the Khamsin.

Coupes and Spyders were offered with two different engine choices. Initial cars, including this one, were powered by 4.7-liter V8 that was rated at 306 horsepower. This particular car was upgraded to SS specification when it was restored, so it now has the more desirable 4.9-liter powerplant.

There were 1,175 Ghibli coupes produced. This red-over-tan Maserati grand tourer has been with the same owner since just 2014, and it’s now selling at no reserve. Click here for more info.

Update: Sold $165,000.

Arnolt-MG Drophead Coupe

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1954 Arnolt-MG Drophead Coupe

Offered by Mecum | Kissimmee, Florida | January 4-15, 2022

Photo – Mecum

Stanley H. “Wacky” Arnolt was a successful businessman before he got into selling cars under his own name. The first of those cars were MG TDs that had been rebodied by Bertone, with the styling itself penned by Giovanni and Nuccio Bertone in addition to Giovanni Michelotti.

He planned to sell 200 such cars, but only 103 were produced between 1953 and 1954. Arnolt would continue with his Bertone alliance through a few one-offs before the Arnolt-Bristol. The Arnolt-MG is powered by the stock TD 1.3-liter XPAG inline-four.

Only 36 of the 103 built were convertibles. And production only ended because MG told Arnolt they couldn’t spare any more chassis for him. This one has been restored, and you’ll have to check back to see if it sells. Click here for more info.

Update: Sold $247,500.

DeSoto Firedome

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1958 DeSoto Firedome Convertible

Offered by Mecum | Kissimmee, Florida | January 4-15, 2022

Photo – Mecum

The DeSoto marque was founded by Walter Chrysler shortly after he took over Maxwell and founded Chrysler. DeSoto was set to compete with the likes of Pontiac and Willys in the mid-price range. Well, they did so for the next 30 years, but the brand was wound up in 1961.

In the late 1950s, Chrysler’s brands were competing against each other, which was a major reason DeSoto was axed. DeSoto introduced a few upmarket, expensive cars during that time, including the Firedome and Fireflite. DeSoto’s 1957-1959 styling was one of Chrysler’s great ideas of the 1950s. In 1958, The Firedome was powered by a 5.9-liter V8 rated at 295 horsepower. The Firedome slotted in the lineup below the Fireflite and Adventurer.

Convertible production in 1958 totaled just 519 units for the Firedome, making the body style rarer on this platform than in the upmarket Fireflite. This one is finished in a lovely ’50s two-tone green paint scheme with a matching interior. You can check out more about it here.

Update: Sold $198,000.

XM Turnpike Cruiser Concept Car

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1956 Mercury XM Turnpike Cruiser Concept Car

Offered by Mecum | Kissimmee, Florida | January 4-15, 2022

Photo – Mecum

This poorly photographed mid-century concept car is a pretty wild thing. First of all, it’s built on a 1954 Ford F-250 chassis, and it was designed by Mercury yet actually built by Ghia in Italy. Which seems backward of how it is supposed to have been done. Power is from a 4.8-liter V8.

But let’s talk styling. First off, we have split dual-Dagmar front bumpers. The exhaust has dual tips sticking through each quarter panel, and the fins have a weird rotated-3D look to them that are surrounded by a flat rear deck and vertical tail panel. The C-pillar buttresses are actually glass, and brake lights are also located at the rear top base of the roof. The four-seat interior is full-on jet age, too.

It toured around the show circuit in 1956 and was used as a pace car in Daytona in 1957. From there, it sat parked outside at Ford HQ, deteriorating. The owner restored it between 2017 and 2022. It’s as fresh now as it’s ever been.

It’s actually been a while since a good 1950s concept car came up for sale. And this is one that hasn’t been seen in a long time. Click here for more info.

Update: Not sold.