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Mecum’s Kansas City Spring Auction Reaches $9.6 Million in Sales
April 25-27 Auction Draws Large Crowd and Diverse Selection to Downtown K.C.
Walworth, Wis. – Magnificent and serene Kansas City, Mo., turns into a car collector’s paradise twice a year when Mecum Auctions comes to town. Last weekend, April 25-27, the Kansas City Convention Center was transformed into that dream location with 735 cars spread across the gleaming floor of beautiful Bartle Hall. With 446 cars selling over the three-day period for a 61 percent sell-through rate, the enduring auction brought a strong $9.6 million total.
The top sale at the Kansas City auction was a Historic Mount Vernon, N.Y., Ahrens-Fox BT piston pumper fire truck (Lot S201), which hammered at $125,000. The fully restored truck may be the finest example remaining of the small group of only nine that were manufactured. The second top spot on the top ten list was nabbed by a bold, Tropical Turquoise 1958 Chevrolet Impala Convertible that was the subject of a frame-off restoration and features a continental kit with a 348 CI Turbo-Thrust V-8 power plant. The car, which crossed the block as Lot S116, sold for a healthy $112,500.
The complete top 10 sales for Mecum’s spring Kansas City auction include (all sales reflect hammer prices):
1. 1936 Ahrens-Fox BT Fire Truck (Lot S201) at $125,000
2. 1958 Chevrolet Impala Convertible (Lot S116) at $112,500
3. 1931 Cadillac Roadster (Lot S121.1) at $112,000
4. 1989 Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary (Lot S106) at $111,000
5. 1969 Oldsmobile Hurst 442 (Lot S131) at $100,000
6. 1959 Chevrolet Impala Hardtop (Lot S120.1) at $80,000
7. 1970 Ford Mustang Twister Special (Lot S88) at $78,000
8. 1968 Shelby GT500 Fastback (Lot S94) at $73,000
9. 1955 Chrysler 300 Hardtop (Lot S148) at $67,000
10. 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible (Lot S105) at $64,000
For access to complete auction results and other member benefits, sign up for the free InfoNet service offered at www.Mecum.com.
Mecum’s next auction is just around the corner with the original, largest and best muscle car auction returning to Indianapolis this May 14-19 with Dana Mecum’s 26th Original Spring Classic at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. To consign a vehicle or to pre-register to bid at one of Mecum Auctions’ upcoming events, visit www.Mecum.com or call (262) 275-5050.
About Mecum Auctions
Nobody sells more than Mecum. Nobody. The Mecum Auction Company is the world leader of collector car and Road Art sales, hosting auctions throughout the United States. The company has been specializing in the sale of collector cars for 26 years, now offering more than 15,000 vehicles per year and averaging more than one auction each month. Established by President Dana Mecum in 1988, Mecum Auctions remains a family-run company headquartered in Walworth, Wis. For further information, visit www.Mecum.com or call (262) 275-5050. Follow along with Mecum’s social media news and join us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest and Instagram.
Source: Mecum Auctions
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RM Auctions’ Don Davis Collection Attracts Texas-Size Bids
· RM Auctions posts over $21.2 million at the record-breaking sale of the distinguished Don Davis Collection, April 27 in Fort Worth, Texas
· Top seller: a rare 1967 Ferrari 330 GTS sold for $1,936,000, to establish a new auction record
· Five lots achieve million-dollar-plus results, with numerous auction records shattered
· Toyota 2000GT enters history books with seven-figure sales price
· Exceptional collection attracts bidders from 14 countries around the world
FORT WORTH, Texas – RM Auctions continued its strong track record in Texas this past weekend with the record-breaking sale of the Don Davis Collection in Fort Worth, Texas. Held onsite at Mr. Davis’s estate, the single-day auction of the esteemed “collector’s collection” saw 64 prized automobiles sell for more than $21.2 million before a packed house.
The exceptional quality of the collection was reflected in the strong global interest in the sale, with bidders hailing from 14 countries around the world, including from as far away as Brazil, Australia, and Kuwait. Top sale honors went to a rare, matching-numbers 1967 Ferrari 330 GTS. Representing the epitome of mid-sixties Italian GT styling, and stunning in Blu Scuro, the example on offer attracted tremendous interest from collectors, selling for an extraordinary $1,936,000, which set a new world record for a Ferrari 330 GTS sold at auction.
Taking the number two spot was another dream car, the 1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spider, which garnered a remarkable $1,650,000. In total, five lots achieved individual million-dollar-plus results, while spirited bidding saw a number of automobiles well-exceed pre-sale estimates, to set no less than eight new world records.
Record-shattering sales were led by the 1967 Toyota 2000GT, which sparked an exciting bidding war, eventually selling for an amazing $1,155,000, which far-exceeds the previous world record for a Toyota 2000GT sold at auction. Also entering the history books and setting new auction records for their class were the highly sought-after 1988 Porsche 959 ‘Komfort’, which sold for an outstanding $770,000; the 1965 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III Mulliner Park Ward Drophead Coupe for $577,500; and the 1965 Lamborghini 350 GT Coupe for $550,000.
“We were honored to have been entrusted to offer Don Davis’s incredible collection,” says Ian Kelleher, Car Specialist, RM Auctions. “The fantastic results reflect not only the truly exceptional quality of the cars, but also the continued health of the collector car market and Mr. Davis’s reputation for collecting the best of the best. From the Toyota 2000GT to the Ferrari 330 GTS, this was certainly a record-setting sale that we’re very proud to add to our portfolio of private collection auctions and to our strong track record in the Lone Star State.”
RM Auctions’ Don Davis Collection Million-Dollar-Plus Sales
Lot 132
1967 Ferrari 330 GTS
$ 1,936,000 – Record for a Ferrari 330 GTS sold at auction
Lot 148
1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spider
$ 1,650,000
Lot 142
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing
$ 1,237,500
Lot 149
1967 Toyota 2000GT
$ 1,155,000 – Record for a Toyota 2000GT sold at auction
Lot 112
1965 Shelby 289 Cobra
$ 1,001,000
The Don Davis Collection sale is the latest on a list of highly successful single-vendor auctions presented by RM Auctions, furthering the company’s reputation as the specialist for private and estate collection sales.
“The entire RM Auctions group was outstanding in handling my auction,” said Don Davis following the sale. “From start to finish, every person handled each step of the process in an extremely professional and friendly manner. The enhancements made to my warehouse by the team completely transformed it to showcase the cars in the best possible way. From the outset, I was told all I needed to worry about was showing up on sale day. Because of the confidence I had in RM, that’s exactly what I did! My experience with the entire RM team was absolutely stellar!”
RM continues its busy 2013 auction season with the return of its highly anticipated biennial sale held during the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este weekend, May 25, on the shores of Lake Como, Italy. This will be closely followed by RM’s established U.S. summer sales, including its annual sale in Plymouth, Michigan, held in conjunction with the respected Concours d’Elegance of America at St. John’s, July 27, as well as RM’s flagship Monterey, California, sale, held during the same weekend as the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, August 16–17.
Full results from the Don Davis Collection sale, along with additional information on upcoming RM events, is available online at rmauctions.com.
*Results are listed in USD and are inclusive of a 10 percent buyer’s premium for all vehicles.
About RM Auctions
RM Auctions is the world’s largest collector car auction house for investment-quality automobiles. With over three decades of experience in the collector car industry, RM’s vertically integrated range of services, from restoration to private treaty sales, auctions, estate planning, and financial services, coupled with an expert team of car specialists and an international footprint, provide an unsurpassed level of service to the global collector car market. RM proudly holds five of the top ten all-time records for the most expensive motor cars sold at auction. RM’s restoration division has achieved unprecedented accolades, earning Best of Show honors at the world’s top concours events. For further information, visit rmauctions.com, find us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter @rmauctions.
Photo Caption:
The Don Davis Collection, 1967 Toyota 2000GT, 1967 Ferrari 330 GTS, 1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spider (Photo Credit Eugene Robertson © 2013 Courtesy of RM Auctions).
Media:
Meghan McGrail mmcgrail@rmauctions.com +1 519 437 3061
Katherine McFadden kmcfadden@rmauctions.com +1 519 437 3053
Source: RM Auctions
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‘Best Balanced Cars on Earth’ – New Porsche Cayman and Boxster Siblings Scoop ‘Car of the Year’ in 2013 Vehicle Dynamics International Awards
- All-new Porsche duo wows VDI’s biggest-ever international jury – 29 judges from 19 countries
- Ford’s dynamicists scoop two prestigious awards
2013 Award Winners:
- Car of the Year: Porsche Boxster/Cayman
- Dynamics Team of the Year: Ford
- Dynamicist of the Year: David Put, Ford TeamRS
- Innovation of the Year: RaceActive Chassis Control, McLaren
- Development Tool of the Year: AIBA, Continental
- Supplier of the Year: Magneti Marelli Suspension System
Always highly anticipated, the winners of the annual Vehicle Dynamics International Awards have today been announced, with Porsche rewarded for making two very fine handling cars even better with the design of the all-new Cayman and Boxster sports cars. Ford is also a big winner this year, having been recognised by the judges for the exceptional talent and achievements of its global Dynamics Team and also specifically for the work of David Put, who is responsible for tuning the ST and RS models from Ford TeamRS.
Graham Heeps, editor of Vehicle Dynamics International said: “This year Porsche has launched two cars that have simply changed the game as far as all-round dynamic performance is concerned in a mainstream sports car. Ford continues its long heritage of developing some of the best engineering talent to be found anywhere in the industry. All the award winners are exceptional achievers in their fields.”
When judging the Porsche Boxster and Cayman, the judges were struggling to find superlatives to do the cars justice. Respected German journalist, Jürgen Zöllter, summarised Porsche’s achievement nicely by saying: “The best-balanced cars on earth in terms of overall performance, handling, price and fuel economy.”
Hans-Jürgen Wöhler, Porsche’s head of the Boxster and Cayman product line, said: “I am very proud to get this award. The new Boxster and Cayman have both made big steps forward.”
Meanwhile Ford has developed a worldwide reputation for bringing exceptional dynamic performance to affordable, mainstream, production cars. The company’s global Dynamics Team has brought some very talented cars to the market in the past twelve months, including the B-MAX and the Kuga/Escape SUVs, and the judges were delighted to present Ford with the ‘Dynamics Team of the Year Award’.
Furthermore, David Put was individually recognised for his work at Ford TeamRS on the sports oriented ST and RS models. “It is a particular challenge to infuse a sporting personality into a mass audience vehicle platform”, says Phil Morse, himself a dynamacist and writer. “David Put has not only accomplished this, but has gone one step further: He has created seriously sporty offerings that may, in fact, be palatable to the masses.”
Other award winners include McLaren in the Innovation of the Year category for its RaceActive Chassis Control, a system developed exclusively for its P1 hypercar; Magneti Marelli Suspension Systems won the ‘Supplier of the Year’ award for its ground-breaking work in developing ultra-lightweight suspension components; and Continental for its Automated Indoor Braking Analyzer (AIBA), which secured the company the award for the ‘Development Tool of the Year.
Vehicle Dynamics International magazine has a worldwide reputation as the only international publication entirely focused on the latest news, technologies and developments relating to all aspects of suspension and chassis engineering. All areas of this specialist engineering sector are covered in detail, from stability and traction control, to steering, braking, ride and handling. Visit the website at www.vehicledynamicsinternational.com
About the Awards
The voting process works like this: nominations are received from VDI’s expert readership of chassis and dynamics professionals, and from the input of the editorial team. Between four and six shortlisted finalists in each category then go to the international and independent judging panel of automotive journalists, which votes for the winners. The judging panel was significantly expanded this year and now includes 29 judges from 19 countries!
The full list of judges this year was:
Halit Bolkan, auto motor & sport, Turkey; Christophe Congrega, L’Automobile magazine, France; Carl Cunanan, C! magazine, Philippines; Matt Davis, Freelance & VDI columnist, USA; Padraic Deane, Automotive Publications, Ireland; Tarcisio Dias, Mecânica Online, Brazil; Lorenzo Facchinetti, Auto, Italy; Leonid Golovanov, Autoreview, Russia; Graham Heeps, Vehicle Dynamics International, UK; John Heider, principal of Cayman Dynamics and VDI columnist, USA; Graham Johnson, UKIP Media & Events, UK; Matt Joy, Press Association, UK; Jim Kenzie, Toronto Star Wheels, Canada; Nikos Kounitis, 4 Wheels magazine, Greece; Marc Lachapelle, Le Guide de l’auto/MSN Autos US, Canada; Jürgen Lewandowski, Ganske Publishing, Germany; Nicol Louw, Car, South Africa; Frank Markus, Motor Trend, USA; Yves Maroselli, Le Figaro, France; John Miles, Dynamicist and VDI columnist, UK; Phil Morse, Dynamicist and writer, USA; Marc Noordeloos, Freelance, USA; Sergio Oliveira de Melo, El Informador, Mexico; Tomaz Porekar, Avto Magazin, Slovenia; Alvaro Sauras, Car&Tecno, Spain; Hormazd Sorabjee, Autocar India; Gabor Szecsenyi, Az Auto, Hungary; Oleg Vasilevsky, Auto Bild Ukraine; Juergen Zoellter, Freelance, Germany.
Source: Torque PR
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Stephen Cox: Motoring – The Driverless Car is a Stupid Idea and I Hate It and You Should, Too
California has passed a new law allowing “autonomous cars” on the roadways and Audi says it can have an automated car ready for sale by 2015.
Look no further, folks. It has begun. Leprosy, smallpox, malaria… and now the driverless car.
Let me be abundantly clear about why I don’t like the idea of a car with no driver. It’s not the car that worries me. Yes, I’m sure some technofreak out there can build one.
I oppose the fact that human beings are becoming less skilled by the day. “Civilization” has already caused us to lose most basic skills. Truth be told, without matches and grocery stores most of us would be dead within a month, for without these modern crutches we could neither start a fire nor provide our own sustenance.
“You’re overreacting,” some might claim. Perhaps. But let us look at the evidence first.
Your parents memorized the telephone numbers of every family member, every close acquaintance, and most of the places where they conducted daily business.
Can you recite even five phone numbers from memory? Nope. Your smart phone hath rendered thee dumb.
Your grandparents could build their own home, grow their own garden and hunt their own food. Even if they didn’t need to, at least they knew how. They could sew their own clothes, milk their own cows, cut their own wood and, yes… repair their own car.
Your children won’t even be able to drive one.
And what new abilities have we developed to replace all the basic life skills that we’ve lost?
We can use touch screens and recite the Starbucks menu by heart.
Meanwhile, our food magically appears in a box on a grocery store shelf from whence we know not. Our warmth is provided by a giant company that we’ve never actually seen. Our houses are built from pre-fab plans by big corporations using borrowed money printed on worthless paper lent by massive banks run by people whose only appearance to society comes through someone else’s recorded voice on an 800 number.
We no longer work to directly provide for ourselves. Do you realize that? We work to provide for the system in the hopes that the system will then bestow upon us what it deems necessary for our survival.
And it’s not just driving. It’s not just heat or food provisions. It’s the whole idea that human beings simply don’t have to function anymore. We’re becoming zombies.
Once upon a time, the automobile needed me in order to function. Then the car began making more and more of my decisions, each time taking away a bit more of my autonomy and replacing it only with a hard-to-find manual override button somewhere under the dash.
And now, the automobile has finally decided that it doesn’t need me at all. My only contribution to the entire transportation process is financial.
The new driverless automobile will not go any faster than your masters allow and it will not move an inch until your seat belt is buckled like a good little citizen. Roadside cameras will be re-programmed to enforce seat belt compliance and a thousand other petty rules as municipalities scramble to replace millions in lost revenues from speeding tickets.
Saturday night drag races will lose their appeal when competitors can only make faces at each other through the window to spice up competitions that invariably end in a tie.
These fool cars will undoubtedly spy on their own unwitting occupants and come armed with more cameras than a Department of Fatherland Security checkpoint.
They are certain to automatically pull over for police whether you want them to or not, which will make it very difficult to leave the scene of a bank robbery and nigh impossible to find gainful employment as a getaway driver.
All of this adds up to no fun whatsoever. A thousand curses upon the driverless car. I still want to live my own life.
Stephen Cox
Sopwith Motorsports Television Productions
#20 Boschett Timepieces/Ed & Co. Racing Supplies ARCA Truck
Co-host, Mecum Auto Auctions
Read Stephen’s book on the Can Am Champion L&M Porsche 917 – free online
http://www.facebook.com/SopwithMotorsports
http://www.twitter.com/SopwithTV
http://www.youtube.com/SopwithMotorsports
Source: Global Media/Sopwith Motorsports Television Productions
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2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Starts at $51,995
DETROIT – The 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray coupe will have a suggested starting retail price of $51,995, and the Corvette Stingray Convertible will start at $56,995. Both prices include a $995 destination fee but exclude tax, title, and license.
“The 2014 Corvette Stingray perfectly embodies Chevrolet’s mission to deliver more than expected for our customers,” said Chris Perry, vice president, Chevrolet marketing. “The Corvette Stingray delivers a combination of performance, design and technology that very few manufacturers can match, and none can even come close for $52,000.”
Standard features on the all-new 2014 Corvette Stingray include:
- Seating with lightweight magnesium frames for exceptional support, and eight-way power adjustment
- Five-position Drive Mode Selector that tailors up to 12 vehicle attributes
- New seven-speed manual transmission with Active Rev Matching
- 6.2L LT1 V-8 engine with direct injection, Active Fuel Management, continuously variable valve timing and an advanced combustion system
- Carbon fiber hood on all models, and a carbon fiber removable roof panel on coupes
- Aluminum frame that is 99 pounds lighter (45 kg) and 57-percent stiffer than the previous model’s structure
- Advanced, high-intensity discharge (HID) and light-emitting diode (LED) lighting
- Dual, eight-inch configurable driver/infotainment screens, with next-generation – Chevrolet MyLink infotainment system and rear vision camera
- Bose nine-speaker audio system with SiriusXM Satellite radio, Bluetooth connectivity, USB and SD card and auxiliary input jack
- Keyless access with push-button start
- Power tilt/telescope steering wheel
- An all-new, fully electronic top on the convertible that can be lowered remotely using the key fob
As shown at the North American International Auto Show, the Stingray coupe fitted with the major available options would be $73,360, including:
- 3LT interior package, with leather-wrapped interior ($8,005)
- Z51 Performance Package ($2,800)
- Competition sports seats ($2,495)
- Exposed-carbon-fiber roof panel ($1,995)
- Magnetic Ride Control with Performance Traction Management ($1,795)
- Dual-mode exhaust system ($1,195)
- Carbon fiber interior trim ($995)
- Sueded, microfiber-wrapped upper interior trim ($995)
- Red-painted calipers ($595)
- Black-painted wheels ($495)
The 3LT interior package includes: Bose 10-speaker surround-sound audio system; SiriusXM Satellite radio with one-year subscription and HD radio receiver; color head-up display; memory package; navigation system; heated and ventilated seats with power lumbar and bolster adjustment; premium Napa leather seating surfaces; and leather-wrapped dash and instrument panel, console and door panels.
The Z51 Performance Package includes: high-performance gear ratios; transmission-cooling system; larger 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels and tires; larger, slotted rotors and brake-cooling ducts; electronic limited-slip differential and differential cooling system; unique chassis tuning; and available Magnetic Ride Control active-handling system with Performance Traction Management. Equipped with the Z51 package, the Corvette Stingray is capable of accelerating from 0–60 mph in under four seconds, and more than 1 g in cornering.
About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, doing business in more than 140 countries and selling more than 4.5 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature spirited performance, expressive design, and high quality. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.
Monte Doran
Camaro, Corvette
Phone 313-665-4243
Mobile 313-348-2317
monte.doran@chevrolet.com
Source: Chevrolet
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