Mecum’s four-day October auction in Dallas provided some fodder for commentary. I’ll concentrate on the at least reasonably stock 1980s cars (and a few trucks) that sold (remember that Mecum auctions are not no reserve auctions—a red 1988 Porsche 930 Turbo Cabriolet with black leather seats was a no sale bid up to $77,000) and add some of my opinions. Eighties vehicles were about 9% of the 714 vehicle lots sold in this auction.
Wednesday, October 3rd:
- 1984 black Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham d’Elegance coupe with black leather seats, an HT-4100 135 bhp 4.1 liter/249 ci V8 with fuel injection, and an automatic—$12,500 hammer price.
- 1984 black/silver two-tone Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais Hurst/Olds 15th Anniversary coupe with maple red seats, a 180 bhp 5.0 liter/307 ci V8 with a Rochester 4MV Quadrajet four-barrel carburetor, an automatic attached to that famous lightning rod shifter, and 11,000 miles. At $25,000, the first vehicle in this auction to meet my criteria for serious 1980s collectability of mostly or entirely original cars or trucks: selling for equal to or above its original base list price. I’ll mark these vehicles in bold green.
- 1983 black Chevrolet El Camino mild custom pickup truck with gray cloth seats, a 5.0 liter/305 ci V8, and an automatic—$7,000
- 1989 blue Cadillac Brougham sedan with blue tufted leather seats, a 140 bhp 5.0 liter/307 ci V8 with a Rochester four-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 68,000 miles—$5,000
- 1981 blue Chevrolet Corvette coupe with silver leather seats, an L81 190 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with a Rochester Quadrajet four-barrel carburetor, and an automatic—$11,000
- 1989 red Subaru Samber fire truck with a gray bench seat, an unknown two-cylinder engine, and a three-speed manual—$4,750
- 1989 white Toyota TownAce pickup truck with a gray interior and an unknown diesel—$6,750
- 1985 medium blue/dark blue two-tone GMC Suburban mild custom SUV with a blue interior, an unknown V8, and an automatic—$13,500
- 1984 white GMC 3500 Olympic Edition crew cab pickup truck with a blue/white checked cloth bench seat, a 7.4 liter/454 ci V8, and an automatic—$5,750
- 1988 black Ford Mustang ASC/McLaren convertible with red leather seats, a 225 bhp 4.9 liter/302 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 80,000 miles—$12,250
- 1984 white Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz convertible with a white top, white tufted leather seats, an HT-4100 135 bhp 4.1 liter/249 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 85,000 miles—$6,500
- 1987 black/red two-tone Chevrolet Silverado custom (paint, wheels/tires) pickup truck with a black cloth bench seat, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8, and an automatic—$9,000
- 1983 black/tan Zimmer Golden Spirit coupe with a black/tan interior, a 4.9 liter/302 ci V8 with fuel injection, and an automatic—$9,500 for this Mustang-based “neo-classic.”
Thursday, October 4th:
- 1982 red Ford Mustang GT custom (engine, wheels/tires) hatchback coupe with red vinyl seats, a 4.9 liter/302 ci V8 with a Holley four-barrel carburetor, a four-speed manual, and 49,000 miles—$4,000
- 1987 red Ford Mustang GT custom (engine, wheels/tires) hatchback coupe with a gray interior, a 4.9 liter/302 ci V8, a manual transmission, and 21,000 miles—$7,000
- 1986 silver beige/black two-tone Chevrolet Corvette Malcolm Konner hatchback coupe with graphite leather seats, an L98 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with fuel injection, a Doug Nash 4+3 transmission, and 41,000 miles—$12,500 for 1 of 50 cars built in honor of what was once the highest selling Corvette dealer.
- 1984 red Chevrolet C10 pickup truck with a red cloth bench seat, an LE9 160 bhp 5.0 liter/305 ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor, and an automatic—$14,500
- 1989 black Pontiac Firebird Trans Am custom (KITT replica) hatchback coupe with a black interior, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8, and an automatic—$27,000
- 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 53,000 miles—$9,000
- 1980 copper/tan two-tone Chevrolet K5 Blazer SUV with patterned tan/white cloth seats, a 170 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with a Rochester four-barrel carburetor, and an automatic—$13,500
- 1984 red Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz convertible with white tufted leather seats, an HT-4100 135 bhp 4.1 liter/249 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 75,000 miles—$8,000
- 1989 blue Ford Bronco Eddie Bauer Edition SUV with tan cloth seats, a Windsor 185 bhp 4.9 liter/302 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 99,000 miles—$12,500
- 1987 red Chevrolet pickup truck with a red interior, an unknown V8, and an automatic—$8,000
- 1981 charcoal/silver two-tone Chevrolet Corvette custom (reversed two-tone) coupe with silver leather seats, an L81 190 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with a Rochester Quadrajet four-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 41,000 miles—$10,500
- 1980 red Chevrolet Corvette custom (engine) coupe with red leather seats, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with Rochester Quadrajet four-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 50,000 miles—$14,000
- 1987 black Buick Grand National coupe with black/gray cloth seats, a 245 bhp 3.8 liter/231 ci V6 with fuel injection and turbocharger, and an automatic—$31,000
- 1982 black Jeep CJ-8 Scrambler pickup truck with black seats, a 112 bhp 4.2 liter/258 ci inline six with Carter BBD two-barrel carburetor, and a four-speed manual—$26,500
- 1985 magnolia Rolls-Royce Corniche II convertible with navy blue leather seats, a 220 bhp 6.75 liter/412 ci V8 with Bosch fuel injection, and an automatic—$28,000
- 1986 black Buick Regal custom (engine, wheels) coupe with gray cloth seats, a 7.4 liter/455 ci V8, and an automatic—$13,000
- 1985 blue/silver two-tone Chevrolet C10 Silverado pickup truck with a blue cloth bench seat, a 5.0 liter/305 ci V8, an automatic, and 31,000 miles—$20,000
- 1987 black Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe with a burgundy cloth interior, a 180 bhp 5.0 liter/305 ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 16,000 miles—$20,000
- 1981 gray Mercedes-Benz 380SL convertible with both tops, blue leather seats, a 155 bhp 3.8 liter/234 ci fuel injected V8, and an automatic—$10,500
- 1987 blue/silver two-tone Chevrolet Blazer SUV with a blue interior, an unknown V8, and an automatic—$18,500
- 1988 white Chevrolet Corvette 35th Anniversary Edition hatchback coupe with white leather seats, an L98 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 72,000 miles—$9,500
- 1983 white Chevrolet Blazer custom (engine, interior) SUV with red seats, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8, and an automatic—$10,500
- 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, and an automatic—$10,500
Friday, October 5th:
- 1981 white Pontiac Firebird Turbo Trans Am Pace Car coupe with (excellent for the era) black/red Recaro seats, a 200 bhp 4.9 liter/301 ci V8 with Rochester four-barrel carburetor and turbocharger, an automatic, and 8,600 miles—$18,500
- 1989 white Pontiac 20th Anniversary Turbo Firebird Trans Am hatchback coupe with saddle leather seats, a 250 bhp (at least) 3.8 liter/231 ci turbocharged V6 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 16,000 miles—$15,500
- 1980 white Chevrolet Corvette coupe with black leather seats, an L48 190 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with Rochester Quadrajet four-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 27,000 miles—$12,000
- 1980 white Chevrolet Corvette Duntov Turbo convertible with red seats, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with a turbocharger, an automatic, and 15,000 miles—$10,000 for this rare car.
- 1984 blue/silver two-tone Chevrolet Silverado K1500 custom (engine) pickup truck with blue cloth seats, a 7.4 liter/454 ci V8, and an automatic—$19,000
- 1987 silver Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS coupe with a black cloth interior, a 180 bhp 5.0 liter/305 ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor, and an automatic—$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, and an automatic—$13,000. You had your pick of 82 CE’s at this auction.
- 1984 black Chevrolet C10 custom (engine, interior, wheels/tires) pickup truck with black seats, a 6.3 liter/383 ci V8, and an automatic—$25,500
- 1984 black Buick Grand National coupe with black/gray cloth seats, a 200 bhp 3.8 liter/231 ci V6 with fuel injection and turbocharger, an automatic, and 26,000 miles—$28,000
- 1984 black Buick Grand National coupe with black/gray cloth seats, a 200 bhp 3.8 liter/231 ci V6 with fuel injection and turbocharger, an automatic, and 55,000 miles—$23,000
- 1988 signal red Mercedes-Benz 560SL convertible with palomino leather seats, a 227 bhp 5.5 liter/338 ci V8 with Bosch KE-Jetronic fuel injection, an automatic, and 45,000 miles—$30,000
- 1989 black/gray two-tone GMC Jimmy SUV with gray cloth seats, a 210 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with fuel injection, and an automatic—$14,000
- 1980 black Chevrolet Camaro Z28 coupe with red cloth seats, an LM1 190 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with a Rochester four-barrel carburetor, and a four-speed manual—$29,000 for this handsome car.
- 1980 black Chevrolet Camaro Z28 coupe with a gray interior, an LM1 190 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with a Rochester four-barrel carburetor, and an automatic—$10,000
- 1981 red Jeep CJ-8 Scrambler very custom (powertrain, suspension, wheels/tires) pickup truck with a black interior, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8, and an automatic—$41,000
- 1988 black Land Rover Defender 110 custom (body, interior, wheels/tires) SUV with black seats, a 2.5 liter/152 ci diesel inline four with a turbocharger, and a five-speed manual—$58,000
- 1988 gray Land Rover Defender 110 SUV with black seats, a 134 bhp 3.5 liter/216 ci V8 with two Solex 175 CDSE carburetors, and a five-speed manual—$47,000
- 1982 tan Chevrolet Custom Deluxe stepside pickup truck with a tan bench seat, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8, and a four-speed manual—$19,000
- 1980 white Toyota FJ43 Land Cruiser SUV with gray seats, a 2F 135 bhp 4.2 liter/258 ci inline six with a carburetor, and a five-speed manual —$50,000
Saturday, October 6th:
- 1987 guards red Porsche 930 coupe with black leather seats, a 282 bhp 3.3 liter/201 ci flat six with turbocharger and fuel injection, a four-speed manual, and 26,000 miles—$77,500 for this Porsche in a classic eighties color combination.
- 1988 dark blue Ford Bronco Eddie Bauer Edition SUV with tan cloth seats, a Windsor 185 bhp 4.9 liter/302 ci V8 with fuel injection, and an automatic—$11,000
- 1981 blue Jeep CJ-8 Scrambler custom (engine) pickup truck with blue seats, a 5.0 liter/304 ci V8, and an automatic—$39,000
- 1987 red Chevrolet K5 Blazer SUV with red cloth seats, a 210 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with fuel injection, and an automatic—$20,000
- 1981 white Toyota FJ43 Land Cruiser SUV with gray seats, a 2F 135 bhp 4.2 liter/258 ci inline six with a carburetor, and a five-speed manual —$27,500
- 1982 anthracite gray Porsche 930 slantnose coupe with gray leather seats, a 296 bhp 3.3 liter/202 ci flat six with turbocharger and fuel injection, a four-speed manual, and 26,000 miles—at $85,000, the highest eighties vehicle sale of this auction.
- 1987 gray Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme 4-4-2 coupe with gray cloth seats, a 170 bhp 5.0 liter/307 ci V8 with a Rochester Quadrajet four-barrel carburetor, and an automatic—$11,000
- 1985 olive Toyota FJ45 Land Cruiser pickup truck with gray seats, an inline six, a four-speed manual, and 71,000 miles—$49,000
- 1985 beige Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser SUV with tan seats, an inline six, and a four-speed manual—$56,000
Among eighties vehicles, Chevrolets, Fords, and Toyota Land Cruisers were heavily represented in this auction—combining for 56% of the sold lots from that decade. What do you think of these results?
Eighties Cars 