"NART in the house!" What happened to Mecum’s ‘Main Attractions’ in Kissimmee

Just seven lots after a 1970 Chevrolet sold for $82,500, the last-ever Ferrari 250 GT California Spider, accompanied by the same retinue of black-clad Mecum car-pushers and afforded an identical high-octane build-up and holler of “Reserve is off!”, crossed the block.  After a similar two to three minutes of bidding it sold for $17.88m.
 
Welcome to a Mecum auction in the land of opportunity. It’s a far cry from a genteel event at Sotheby’s in New York or $1,000+-a-night Monterey Week. But, as we said in our preview to the big lots offered on Saturday in Florida, it’s all about the show. Significantly, it appeals to a different buyer, whose dollar is just as good as the next man’s and, importantly, Mecum makes them feel welcome.
 
The steel, short-wheelbase California Spider (pictured,top) went to the owner of a chain of new car showrooms who paid fair market price for a car whose only downside was its original presentation in red with beige – ‘Ferris Bueller-spec’.

The 1967 Ferrari 275 GTS/4 NART Spider – “In the house!”, the auctioneer roared – was taken to $23.5m and is claimed to be horse-trading around $24m post-sale, about what it cost its previous owner a decade ago. Mecum had wanted the dramatic effect of a car it owned sold live on the block, as was the case for its other two big-ticket Ferraris. If the NART deal doesn’t happen, expect it to pop up again and sell at Monterey this August. It will surely be joined by the 275 GTB/C Speciale, an unknown to the audience on Saturday night that generated no meaningful bids.

Overall, Mecum must be pleased with a blockbuster auction, where these headline lots seem to be there more to attract the crowds than necessarily find a buyer on the night. It’s their success in selling the thousands of ‘heavy metal’ classics that funds buying the high stakes lots that they can ultimately afford to hold until the right deal comes along.

Thursday 11 January
 
Lot T164.1 1968 Ferrari 330 GTC, est. $500k to $600k No Reserve. Sold for $451,000.
 
Friday 12 January
 
Lot F155 1966 Ford GT40 Mk I road car, est. ‘On Request’. Sold for $6,930,000. Big money, but a car everyone rated.
 
Lot F215 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4, est. $3m to $3.5m. Not sold – possibly too niche for this event. Might have found a new owner at Pebble, although the standard of its recent restoration would be critical.
 
Saturday 13 January
 
Lot S131 2004 Ferrari Enzo, est. $4.5m to $4.75m. Sold for $4,510,00, proving the allure of rare and unusual colours. Bought for $4.13m at Gooding in Pebble Beach 2022 and 18 miles covered since.
 
Lot S131.1 1992 Ferrari F40, est. $3.2m to $3.5m. Sold for $3,410,00. Desirable North American market F40 offered in just the right environment after failing at Bonhams Amelia Island last year.
 
Lot S137.1 1963 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Coupé Aerodinamico, est. $2.25m to $2.5m. Not Sold – one that needs the chinos, blazers and Panama set. Monterey here it comes.
 
Lot S138 1958 Ferrari 250 GT 'Tour de France' Berlinetta, est. $2.25m to $2.75m. Sold for $2,805,000 (barely 50 per cent of a ‘no stories’ car) due to its tangled history.
 
Lot S142 1951 Ferrari 212 Inter 2+2 Berlina by Ghia, est. $550k to $700k. Not Sold. Unsurprisingly.
 
LOT S148 1987 Porsche 959 Komfort, est. $1.85m to $2m. Sold for a fair $1,870,000.

Lot S195.1 1967 Ferrari 275 GTS/4 NART Spider (above), est. ‘On Request’. Not Sold.

Lot S195.2 1964 Ferrari 275 GTB/C Speciale (above), est. ‘On Request’. Not Sold.
 
Lot S195.3 1963 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider, est. ‘On Request’. Sold for $17,875,000.
 
Lot S218 1965 Ferrari 275 GTS, est. $1.25m to $1.5m. Not Sold. This one will come back again – fourth time lucky in August?
 
Lot S223.1 1974 Ferrari Dino 246 GTS, est. $450k to $500k. Sold for $467,500. Ok price for a ok car.
 
Lot S226.1 1967 Ferrari 330 GTC, est. $425,000 to $475,000. Sold for $440,000.
 
 All quoted auction results as declared by Mecum and include buyer’s premium.