Eighties Vehicles at the 2018 Mecum Indianapolis

As usual Mecum’s huge May auction in Indianapolis provided much interesting fodder for commentary. I’ll concentrate on the at least fairly stock 1980s cars (and a few trucks) that sold (remember that Mecum auctions are not “no reserve” auctions—a green, gold, and white 1989 Porsche 962 Miller High Life race car was a no sale bid up to $1,500,000) and add some of my opinions. Eighties vehicles were about 7% of the 1,242 vehicle lots sold in this auction.

Tuesday, May 15th:

• 1982 silver blue/dark blue two-tone Chevrolet Corvette coupe with dark blue interior, an L83 Cross-Fire 200 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with throttle body fuel injection, and an automatic—a $3,570 hammer price marks an ignominious start for eighties vehicles.
• 1988 red Cadillac Allanté convertible with tan leather seats, an HT-4100 170 bhp 4.1 liter/249 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 39,000 miles—$6,250
• 1985 red Jaguar XJS coupe with gray leather seats, an HE 262 bhp 5.3 liter/326 ci V12 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 48,000 miles—$5,000
• 1985 silver Porsche 928 S hatchback coupe with black leather seats, a 288 bhp 4.7 liter/285 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 64,000 miles—$8,750
• 1983 tank green Honda Civic custom station wagon with green seats, a B18B 1.8 liter/121 ci inline four with fuel injection from an Acura Integra, and a five-speed manual—$11,500
• 1988 white Chevrolet 3500 Cheyenne stake flatbed truck with tan bench seat, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 54,000 miles—$8,000
• 1980 dark green metallic Chevrolet Corvette coupe with doeskin leather seats, an unknown (could be an L48 or an L82) 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with Rochester four-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 88,000 miles—$7,000
• 1987 red Jeep Wrangler SUV with black seats, a 4.2 liter/258 ci inline six with Carter two-barrel carburetor, a five-speed manual, and 2,700 miles—at $20,000 the first vehicle in this auction to meet my criteria for serious 1980s collectability of original cars or trucks: selling for equal to or above its original base list price. I’ll mark these vehicles in bold green.
• 1986 gray GMC Sierra Classic mild custom pickup truck with gray cloth bench seat, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with four-barrel carburetor, and an automatic—$16,000
• 1981 dark maroon metallic Pontiac Firebird Trans Am coupe with tan seats, a 145 bhp 5.0 liter/305 ci V8 with 4-barrel carburetor, a four-speed manual, and 76,000 miles—$12,500
• 1985 silver/blue two-tone Chevrolet El Camino Conquista pickup truck with blue velour bench seat, an LG4 145 bhp 5.0 liter/305 ci V8 with 4-barrel carburetor, and an automatic—$7,500
• 1986 orange/red two-tone Ford F150 Supercab XLT Lariet pickup truck with red seats, a Windsor 5.8 liter/351 ci V8 with four-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 53,000 miles—$7,500
• 1980 red Chevrolet Corvette coupe with black leather seats, an unknown (could be an L48 or an L82) 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with Rochester four-barrel carburetor, and an automatic—$7,500
• 1983 beige Lincoln Continental Mark VI coupe with beige leather seats, a 4.9 liter/302 cubic inch V8 with fuel injection, and an automatic—an ouch! at $1,000.
• 1984 light bronze/dark bronze two-tone Chevrolet Corvette coupe with bronze leather seats, an L83 Cross-Fire 205 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with throttle body fuel injection, and an automatic—$4,570
• 1984 autumn maple firemist Buick Regal custom station wagon with brown cloth seats, a 7.5 liter/455 ci V8 (!) and an automatic—$8,000
• 1985 blue GMC K15 mild custom (lifted, tires, exhaust) pickup truck with blue cloth seats, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with four-barrel carburetor, and an automatic—$13,000
• 1986 white Chevrolet custom pickup truck with a burgundy interior, an 8.8 liter/536 ci V8, and an automatic—$12,000
• 1986 white Ford F150 mild custom (wheels, exhaust) pickup truck with a red interior, a Windsor 4.9 liter/302 ci V8, and an automatic—$9,750
• 1984 white Mazda RX-7 mild custom (body kit, wheels) hatchback coupe with red cloth seats, a 12A 101 bhp 1.1 liter/70 ci two-rotor Wankel, and a five-speed manual—$4,000
• 1985 black Mercury Grand Marquis sedan with a maroon interior, 4.9 liter/302 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 43,000 miles—$3,750
• 1986 yellow Chevrolet Corvette Pace Car Edition convertible with black seats, a black convertible top, an L98 235 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with fuel injection, the Doug Nash 4+3, and 5,000 miles—$16,000
• 1984 brown/beige two-tone Volkswagen Vanagon Campmobile Wolfsburg Edition van with a brown cloth interior, an 83 bhp 1.9 liter/117 ci inline four with fuel injection, a four-speed manual, and 82,000 miles—$16,500

  

• 1980 silver Mercedes-Benz 450SL convertible with a hard top, blue leather seats, a 160 bhp 4.5 liter/276 ci V8 with Bosch Jetronic fuel injection, and an automatic—$15,000
• 1985 gold Oldsmobile Toronado Caliente coupe with tan leather seats, a 140 bhp 5.0 liter/307 cubic inch V8 with Rochester four-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 27,000 miles—$8,250
• 1986 canyon red metallic Ford Mustang GT convertible with a black top, gray leather seats, a 200 bhp 4.9 liter/302 cubic inch V8 with fuel injection, a five-speed manual, and 95,000 miles—$9,500
• 1984 blue Buick Regal T-Type coupe with a blue interior, a 200 bhp 3.8 liter/231 ci V6 with fuel injection and turbocharger, and an automatic—$9,000
• 1987 maroon Pontiac Firebird Trans Am GTA hatchback coupe with a gray interior, an LB9 190 bhp 5.0 liter/305 cubic inch V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 52,000 miles—$9,500
• 1986 dark brown Chevrolet C10 mild custom (exhaust, fender skirts) pickup truck with a tan interior, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8, and an automatic—$10,000
• 1988 gray Porsche 928 S4 hatchback coupe with beige/burgundy leather seats, a 320 bhp 5.0 liter/302 ci V8 with fuel injection, and an automatic—$7,500
• 1981 blue Chevrolet C10 pickup truck with a blue interior, a 5.0 liter/305 ci V8, and an automatic—$1,250
• 1989 maroon Porsche 928 S4 hatchback coupe with tan leather seats, a 320 bhp 5.0 liter/302 ci V8 with fuel injection, and an automatic—$29,000 is #3 money according to Hagerty’s valuation tools.
• 1989 red Mercedes-Benz 560SL convertible with a hard top, beige leather seats, a 227 bhp 5.5 liter/338 cubic inch V8 with Bosch KE-Jetronic fuel injection, and an automatic—$6,500

Wednesday, May 16th:

• 1982 black Chevrolet crew cab pickup truck—$3,250
• 1982 silver beige Chevrolet Corvette Collector Edition hatchback coupe with beige leather seats, an L83 Cross-Fire 200 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with throttle body fuel injection, an automatic, and 4,500 miles—$21,500
• 1985 white Mercury Capri ASC/McLaren hatchback coupe with gray cloth seats, a 210 bhp 4.9 liter/302 ci V8 with four-barrel carburetor, a five-speed manual, and 17,000 miles—$19,000
• 1987 red Ford Mustang ASC/McLaren convertible with a black top, gray leather seats, a 200 bhp 4.9 liter/302 ci V8 with fuel injection, and a five-speed manual—$9,000
• 1987 red Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z hatchback coupe with saddle cloth seats, an LB9 190 bhp 5.0 liter/305 ci V8 with fuel injection, and an automatic—$6,000
• 1986 midnight blue Chevrolet C10 custom (engine, wheels) pickup truck with a blue cloth bench seat, a 7.4 liter/454 ci V8, and an automatic—$18,000
• 1986 red Nissan Safari fire truck with blue seats, an unknown inline six, a five-speed manual, and 5,600 miles—$4,250
• 1988 black Toyota Crown hearse with blue seats, an unknown inline six, a four-speed manual, and 38,000 miles—$9,000
• 1981 martinique blue Pontiac Firebird Trans Am custom (engine, body, wheels) coupe with a 6.6 liter/400 ci V8 and a four-speed manual—$17,000
• 1985 burgundy Zimmer Golden Spirit coupe with red leather seats, a 4.9 liter/302 ci V8 with fuel injection, and an automatic—$17,500 for this Mustang-based “neo-classic.”
• 1989 red Chevrolet Corvette convertible with a white convertible top, red leather seats, an L98 240 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 5,600 miles—$16,000
• 1983 black/silver two-tone Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais Hurst/Olds 15th Anniversary coupe with gray cloth seats, a 180 bhp 5.0 liter/307 ci V8 with Rochester four-barrel carburetor, an automatic attached to that famous lightning rod shifter, and 41,000 miles—$19,000
• 1989 red Chevrolet Camaro RS hatchback coupe with gray cloth seats, an L03 170 bhp 5.0 liter/305 ci V8 with throttle body fuel injection, and an automatic—$5,500. Almost all eighties Camaro auction action centers around Z28s and IROCs; rare indeed are the sport coupes, Berlinettas, and RSs.

  

• 1980 red Chevrolet Camaro Z28 custom (engine, exhaust, wheels) coupe with gray cloth seats, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8, and a four-speed manual—$16,000
• 1986 black Porsche 944 Turbo custom (body, wheels) hatchback coupe with a black interior, a 2.5 liter inline with fuel injection and turbocharger, and a five-speed manual—$24,000
• 1982 white Pontiac Firebird Trans Am very custom (engine, body) hatchback coupe with a black interior, a 9.1 liter/555 ci V8 with a supercharger, and an automatic—$14,500
• 1983 silver/black two-tone Rolls-Royce Silver Spur sedan with black leather seats, a 6.8 liter/412 ci V8, and an automatic, and 23,000 miles—$16,000
• 1981 red Chevrolet Corvette coupe with an L81 190 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with Rochester Quadrajet four-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 19,000 miles—$8,500

Thursday, May 17th:

• 1987 black Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS coupe with maroon cloth 55/45 seats, a B4V 180 bhp 5.0 liter/305 ci “H.O.” V8 with Rochester Quadrajet four-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 17,000 mile—$16,000
• 1987 beige Zimmer Golden Spirit coupe with tan leather seats, a 4.9 liter/302 ci V8 with fuel injection, and an automatic—$18,500. Two Zimmers in the same auction?
• 1981 red Chevrolet Corvette coupe with red leather seats, an L81 190 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with Rochester Quadrajet four-barrel carburetor, and an automatic—$10,500
• 1989 blue Ford Bronco XLT SUV with tan cloth seats, a Windsor 210 bhp 5.8 liter/351 cubic inch V8 with fuel injection, and an automatic—$24,000
• 1984 blue Chevrolet pickup truck with a blue vinyl bench seat, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8, and an automatic—$14,000
• 1986 red Pontiac Fiero SE coupe with an L44 140 bhp 2.8 liter/173 ci V6 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 8,300 miles—$8,000
• 1986 orange Chevrolet custom (body, engine, interior) pickup truck with brown leather seats, a 6.3 liter/383 ci V8, and an automatic—$17,000
• 1984 brown Jeep CJ-7 Renegade SUV with tan vinyl seats, a 105 bhp 2.5 liter/150 ci inline four with Carter YFA one-barrel carburetor, a four-speed manual, and 42,000 miles—$12,000
• 1984 silver Nissan President sedan with gray tufted cloth seats, a Y44E 200 bhp 4.4 liter V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 42,000 miles—$8,000
• 1984 white Porsche 928 S hatchback coupe with tan leather seats, a 288 bhp 4.7 liter/285 ci V8 with fuel injection, and an automatic—$23,000
• 1980 francisco red Pontiac Firebird coupe with a red interior, an “original powertrain” (could be 3.8 liter V6, 4.3 liter V8, 4.9 liter V8, or 5.0 liter V8, but I’m betting it one of the first two), an automatic, and 18,000 miles—$12,500
• 1981 white Chevrolet Corvette coupe with red leather seats, an L81 190 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with Rochester Quadrajet four-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 15,000 miles—$16,000
• 1988 red BMW 325i convertible with a black top, black leather seats, a 168 bhp 2.5 liter/152 ci inline six with Bosch Motronic fuel injection, and an automatic—$5,000
• 1984 red Chevrolet custom (engine, interior, paint) pickup truck with red/black bench seat, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8, an automatic, and 90,000 miles—$12,000
• 1982 blue/silver Datsun 280ZX coupe with blue/silver leather seats, an L28E 145 bhp 2.8 liter/168 ci inline six with fuel injection, and an automatic—$5,000
• 1981 stainless steel DeLorean DMC-12 coupe with gray leather seats, a 130 bhp 2.8 liter/173 cubic inch V6 with Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection, an automatic, and approximately 50,000 miles—$18,000
• 1988 black Ford Mustang Saleen convertible with a black top, gray leather seats, a 225 bhp 4.9 liter/302 cubic inch V8 with fuel injection, a five-speed manual, and 14,000 miles—$28,500
• 1982 black Porsche 930 Turbo coupe with black leather seats, a 3.3 liter flat six with fuel injection and turbocharger, a four-speed manual, and 17,000 miles—$67,000 makes for the highest eighties vehicle sale of the week.
• 1987 red/black two-tone Chevrolet S10 Blazer SUV with red cloth seats, a 2.8 liter/173 ci V6 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 50,000 miles—$12,500
• 1986 black Shelby Omni GLH-S hatchback sedan with gray cloth seats, a 175 bhp 2.2 liter/135 ci inline four with fuel injection and turbocharger, a five-speed manual, and 23,000 miles—$34,000

  

• 1989 red Porsche 944 hatchback coupe with black seats, a 165 bhp 2.7 liter/164 ci inline four with Bosch fuel injection, and a five-speed manual—$9,500
• 1988 dark shadow blue metallic Ford Mustang SSP coupe with a black top, blue cloth seats, a 225 bhp 4.9 liter/302 cubic inch V8 with fuel injection, and an automatic—$19,000

Friday, May 18th:

• 1983 orange Toyota pickup truck with beige seats, an 22R 2.4 liter/144 ci inline four, a five-speed manual, and 60,000 miles—$17,000

  

• 1984 black/silver two-tone Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais Hurst/Olds coupe with maroon cloth seats, a 180 bhp 5.0 liter/307 ci V8 with Rochester four-barrel carburetor, an automatic attached to that famous lightning rod shifter, and 59,000 miles—$19,000
• 1982 silver beige Chevrolet Corvette Collector Edition hatchback coupe with silver beige leather seats, an L83 Cross-Fire 200 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with throttle body fuel injection, an automatic, and 9,500 miles—$18,000
• 1989 white Dodge Ramcharger LE mild custom (lift kit) SUV with blue cloth seats, a 5.8 liter/360 ci V8 with fuel injection, and a four-speed manual—$21,000

Saturday, May 19th:

• 1989 white Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z mild custom (wheels, seats) convertible with a black top, white leather seats, the base L03 170 bhp 5.0 liter/305 ci V8 with throttle body fuel injection, an automatic, and 64,000 miles—$6,500
• 1982 pale yellow Rolls-Royce Corniche convertible with a saddle top, saddle leather seats, a 220 bhp 6.75 liter/412 ci V8 with Bosch fuel injection, an automatic, and 57,000 miles—$36,000
• 1985 dark red Oldsmobile Toronado Caliente coupe with dark red leather seats, a 140 bhp 5.0 liter/307 cubic inch V8 with Rochester four-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 12,000 miles—$25,000. Suddenly, eighties Toronados are showing up at auction.

  

• 1981 gold metallic Chevrolet Camaro Z28 coupe with camel vinyl seats, an LG4 165 bhp 5.0 liter/305 ci V8 with four-barrel carburetor, a four-speed manual, and 12,000 miles—$33,000
• 1985 red Porsche 911 Carrera Targa coupe with black leather seats, a 207 bhp 3.2 liter/193 ci flat six with fuel injection, a five-speed manual, and 52,000 miles—$50,000
• 1986 yellow Chevrolet Corvette Pace Car Edition convertible with a black convertible top, black seats, an L98 235 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 5,000 miles—part of 16 vehicle Corvette pace car collection that sold for $1.6 million.
• 1985 red Chevrolet Corvette custom (engine, exhaust, wheels) coupe with red leather seats, a 6.9 liter/420 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 770 miles—$23,000

Sunday, May 20th:

• 1986 yellow Chevrolet Corvette Pace Car Edition convertible with black leather seats, an L98 235 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with fuel injection, and an automatic—$18,000
• 1989 british racing green Jaguar XJS convertible with a tan convertible top, tan leather seats, an HE 262 bhp 5.3 liter/326 ci V12 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 85,000 miles—$5,500
• 1986 black Buick Regal Grand National coupe with black/silver cloth seats, an LC2 235 bhp 3.8 liter/231 ci V6 with fuel injection, turbocharger, and intercooler, an automatic, and 67,000 miles—$18,000
• 1981 red Chevrolet Corvette custom (engine, exhaust) coupe with black cloth seats, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with Edelbrock carburetor, an automatic, and 13,000 miles—$15,000
• 1988 red Porsche 944 S hatchback coupe with black seats, a 187 bhp 2.5 liter/152 ci inline four with Bosch fuel injection, a five-speed manual, and 102,000 miles—$4,500
• 1986 white Chevrolet Corvette convertible with a white convertible top, red leather seats, an L98 235 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 16,000 miles—$15,000
• 1988 white Bentley Turbo R sedan with blue leather seats, an approximately 325 bhp 6.75 liter/412 ci V8 with Bosch KE-Jetronic fuel injection and turbocharger, and an automatic—$5,000
• 1987 dark maroon metallic Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS mild custom (hood) coupe with maroon interior, a B4V 180 bhp 5.0 liter/305 ci “H.O.” V8 with Rochester Quadrajet four-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 27,000 miles—$7,500

I found it striking how General Motors dominated the eighties vehicle sales at Mecum Indy—all told, GM vehicles marked 54% of eighties sales, with Chevrolet alone accounting for 37%. What do you think of these results?