Here are, in no particular order, my ten favorite cars being sold at this years Mecum Auction in Monterey during car week. These will be VERY brief overviews of each car, and if you would like to know more, visit mecum.com to look at all of the over 600 lots on the block this week.
2016 Aston Martin Vulcan
Estimate
$2,300,000 – $2,700,000
This Aston Martin shares its 7.0L, 820hp V12 with the other 24 Vulcans, but is the only one painted in Midnight Purple.The interior is very track-focused as this is a track only car. The car sends power through a six-speed Xtrac sequential gearbox.The big brute of a naturally aspirated V12 has less than 100 miles on it, and comes with factory supported service, driving, and storage training local to buyer.
1958 Lister-Jaguar ‘Knobbly’
Estimate
Call for estimate (ALOT)
The second of just nine original Knobbly Jaguars produced, which were built by Lister with heavy involvement from Jaguar as the successor to the legendary D-Types after Jaguar’s Browns Lane factory was destroyed by fire. This is 1 of 2 Ex-Briggs Cunningham Team Lister Knobbly Jaguars.This car was driven in period by such hereos as Stirling Moss, Briggs Cunningham, John Fitch, Ed Crawford, Walt Hansgen, Phil Forno, Ed Hugus, Chuck Daigh and others.The car is powered by a 3.4L Jaguar twin-cam 6 using dry-sump oiling and triple twin-choke Weber side-draft carburetors.
1957 Chevrolet Corvette Big Brake Airbox
Estimate
$450,000 – $550,000
This 1957 Corvette is 1-of-43 produced with the ‘Airbox’ option, which added cold-air induction developed in competition at Daytona and Sebring.This car was restored by Buddy Herin and was in his collection for over 30 years.The 283cui Small Block featured Rochester fuel-injection, fed through a rubberized tube by the fender-mounted Airbox option.
2011 Ferrari 599 SA Aperta
Estimate
$1,400,000 – $1,550,000
This 1-of-80 599 SA Aperta’s has the 6.0L 661hp V12 heart of the 599 GTO, while featuring a removable cloth roof. With a top speed of 202mph, it was the fastest open-top Ferrari in its time.This car has been driven less than 300 miles since new, and comes fully equipped and highly optioned. The F1 gearbox and F1 Trac magnetorheological suspension help ensure the car has the performance to match its looks.The 281-mile engine still has 661hp just waiting to be unleashed, racing through the optional yellow tachometer.
2009 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722S Roadster
Estimate
$900,000 – $1,100,000
While Mercedes-Benz and McLaren’s jointly-designed SLR arrived on the market in 2003, it is not until the 2009 SLR 722S was introduced that the design reached its peak. This is one of the 24 such cars produced for the US market, and features less than 2,000 miles.This car is sporting a Black semi-aniline-leather interior, and is virtually unused, with the most recent service performed in November 2016.The 722S package included a horsepower increase in its supercharged 5.4L V-8 from 617 to 650 HP, larger carbon-ceramic disc brakes, lighter 19-inch wheels and improved aerodynamics. In 2009, the Mercedes-Benz and McLaren collaboration unveiled the SLR 722S featuring a 10-mm lower ride height, special 19-inch alloy wheels and exclusive Crystal Antimony Gray paint.
2007 Maserati MC12 Corsa
Estimate
$2,300,000 – $2,500,000
Maserati’s Enzo-derived MC12 catapulted the brand to the top of the supercar race, with the 12 Corsa models being the pinnacle of the pinnacle. Developed from the GT1 racing car, this example is finished in Victory Blue, this 1-of-12 Corsa’s is one of the worlds most exclusive exotics.The intake is lavish–and very blue–for a race car, with the steering wheel showing the era of racing it was derived from.While the normal Enzo/MC12 6.0L V12 produced 625hp, this Corsa example produces 745hp being fed into a sequential-shift racing transmission.
2010 Koenigsegg CCXR Trevita
Estimate
$2,700,000 – $3,000,000
This is the only US-spec Koenigsegg CCXR Trevita ever built, numbered 3 of 3, although only 2 were built in total. This example has 1,947 miles and was previously owned by boxing champion Floyd Mayweather.The interior is highlighted by the Koenigsegg-designed Chrono Dial multi-function control cluster. Koenigsegg likens the driver’s gauge cluster to a multi-dial watch, its tachometer, speedometer and boost gauges arranged in concentric dials for quick readouts.The 4.8L 1018hp twin-supercharged DOHC aluminum V-8 engine feeds power through a Transversal paddle-shift 6-speed automatic gearbox and puts it to the ground via a double wishbone suspension with two-way adjustable VPS gas-hydraulic shock absorbers, which are pushrod operated.
1959 Fiat 600 Jolly Convertible
Estimate
$125,000 – $150,000
The Fiat 600 was a bigger Fiat 500, and just like its smaller sibling, several whimsical special editions were produced. This is one such trim, called the Jolly, of which less than 400 were produced. Of those 400, it is assumed fewer than 100 survive.As it is an open-air vehicle from the 60’s with whicker interior, the high attrition rate begins to make sense. This example received a full no-expense spared rotisserie nut and bolt restoration completed by renowned Fiat Jolly expert.Powered by the 633cc 4-cylinder engine and 4-speed manual transmission, this will not be a fast car, which is a good thing considering the crash characteristics of whicker.
1936 REO Speedwagon Pickup
Estimate
$80,000 – $100,000
This is one of six known examples of REO’s 1936 Speedwagon pickup known to exist, and as this one is in Concours-quality condition due to an extensive restoration, it may be the finest of all.Found in Canada in 2008, this example was immediately purchased by the Michael Kisber Vintage Truck Collection and restored by Tom Van Steyn of Full Circle Restoration in Lockeford, California.The REO’s Continental-built Silver Crown 209/72 HP inline-6 engine and 3-speed manual transmission drive a period-correct rear-end. The REO Speedwagon shared the front clip with the passenger cars made by the company, resulting in one of the most stylish trucks of its era.
1930 Cadillac Series 452 V-16 Coupe
Estimate
$350,000 – $450,000
This 1930 Cadillac Series 452 V-16 Coupe was formerly part of the famed Richard Burdick Central Texas Museum of Automotive History Collection and represents a height of the brands classic era.Designed to re-establish the company as “The Standard of the World”, the big Coupe featured a 1-of-98 Fleetwood Coupe Coachwork-built body resting on a 148-inch wheelbase.The iconic 16-cylinder engine displaces 452 CI, and utilizes a Synchromesh 3-speed transmission to put power to the ground.
Remember, this is only a list of 10 out of the over 600 lots crossing Mecum’s block this week, so check out the listings for yourself at mecum.com.
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The Speed Trap 