Eighties Vehicles at the 2019 Mecum Kissimmee, Part Two

This year’s huge January auction at Mecum Kissimmee provided some interesting fodder for commentary. I’ll concentrate on the reasonably stock 1980s cars (and a few trucks) that sold (remember that Mecum auctions are not “no reserve” auctions—a Guards Red 1989 Porsche 911 Speedster convertible with cashmere beige leather seats and 252 miles was a no sale bid up to $260,000) and add some of my opinions. Mecum Kissimmee is a huge event, so I’m going to separate it into two posts—this second post covers the eighties 6% of the approximately 1,270 vehicles sold from Tuesday through Sunday.

Tuesday, January 8th:

• 1987 Blue Jeep Comanche pickup truck with a gray interior, a 173 bhp 4.0 liter/242 ci inline six, and an automatic—$5,500 hammer price.
• 1984 Black GMC C15 Blackjack Edition pickup truck with a black vinyl bench seat, a 5.0 liter/305 ci v8, an automatic, and 56,000 miles—$13,500. I’ve never heard of a Blackjack Edition.
• 1989 Bright Red Chevrolet Corvette custom (body) convertible with a black top, tan leather seats, an L98 240 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with fuel injection, and an automatic—$4,500
• 1981 Gray Volkswagen Rabbit LS hatchback sedan with beige vinyl seats, a 52 bhp 1.6 liter/97 ci diesel inline four, a five-speed manual, and 73,000 miles—$6,000. Who saves these cars?

• 1989 Yellow Chrysler TC by Maserati convertible with camel leather seats, a Turbo II 160 bhp 2.2 liter/135 ci inline four with fuel injection and a turbocharger, and 30,000 miles—$4,500
• 1986 Red Chrysler Laser XE hatchback coupe with black leather seats, a Turbo I 146 bhp 2.2 liter/135 ci inline four with Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection and a turbocharger, and 55,000 miles—$5,000
• 1988 White Chevrolet Corvette 35th Anniversary Edition hatchback coupe with white leather seats and an L98 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with fuel injection—$10,000
• 1983 Black Chevrolet Camaro Z28 hatchback coupe with Camaro-logoed burnt orange cloth seats, a Cross-Fire 175 bhp 5.0 liter/305 ci V8 with throttle-body fuel injection, an automatic, and 15,000 miles—$14,000
• 1986 Red Chevrolet Corvette convertible with a white top, red leather seats, an L98 235 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with fuel injection, the Doug Nash 4+3 transmission, and 8,000 miles—$21,000
• 1987 White Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe with burgundy cloth seats, a 180 bhp 5.0 liter/305 ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 78,000 miles—$8,000
• 1985 Red Mercedes-Benz 380SL convertible with tan leather seats, a 155 bhp 3.8 liter/234 ci V8 with fuel injection, and an automatic—$6,000
• 1989 Green Jeep CJ with completely unknown equipment—$6,000
• 1989 Purple Ford F150 custom (suspension, wheels/tires) pickup truck with a Windsor 4.9 liter/302 ci V8 and an automatic—$4,000
• 1986 Red Nissan 300ZX 2+2 hatchback coupe with burgundy seats, a VG30 160 bhp 3.0 liter/181 ci V6 with fuel injection, and an automatic—$6,000
• 1984 Gold/Black two-tone Nissan 300ZX 50th Anniversary hatchback coupe with burgundy seats, a VG30 160 bhp 3.0 liter/181 ci V6 with fuel injection, and a five-speed manual—$16,000

Wednesday, January 9th:

• 1985 Burgundy Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz coupe with red tufted leather seats, an HT-4100 135 bhp 4.1 liter/249 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 46,000 miles—$10,000 for this attractive top-of-the-line Cadillac coupe.

• 1980 Yellow Jeep CJ-5 Renegade SUV with an unknown engine (I think an inline six) and an unknown manual transmission—$15,000
• 1980 Orange MG MGB convertible with black vinyl seats, a 62.5 bhp 1.8 liter/110 ci inline four with a Zenith 150 CD4T carburetor, and a five-speed manual—$10,500
• 1985 Blue Jeep CJ-7 Renegade custom (everything) SUV with a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 and an automatic—$13,000
• 1983 Orange Mercedes-Benz 240 GD custom (interior, paint) SUV with black suede seats, a 71 bhp 2.4 liter/147 ci diesel, and a four-speed manual—$12,000
• 1985 Burgundy Jeep CJ-7 Laredo SUV with gray seats, a 112 bhp 4.2 liter/258 inline six with a Carter BBD two-barrel carburetor, and a four-speed manual—$12,000
• 1982 Yellow Jeep CJ-8 Scrambler pickup truck with black seats, a 115 bhp 4.2 liter/258 ci inline six with a Carter BBD two-barrel carburetor, and a four-speed manual—$19,000
• 1986 Gold/White two-tone Ford F150 XLT Lariat pickup truck with a tan cloth bench seat, a Windsor 4.9 liter/302 ci V8 with fuel injection, and an automatic—$10,000
• 1984 Blue Chevrolet C10 custom (suspension, wheels/tires) pickup truck with a gray cloth bench seat, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8, and an automatic—$14,000
• 1985 Red/White two-tone Ford F150 XLT Lariat pickup truck with a red cloth bench seat, a Windsor 4.9 liter/302 ci V8, an automatic, and 4,200 miles—$17,000
• 1987 Black Buick Grand National coupe with black/gray cloth seats, a 245 bhp LC2 3.8 liter/231 ci V6 with turbocharging and fuel injection, an automatic, and 4,500 miles—$39,000
• 1986 Black Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS coupe with burgundy cloth seats, a 180 bhp 5.0 liter/305 ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 38,000 miles—$16,500
• 1986 Red Ferrari Mondial 3.2 Cabriolet with a black top, tan leather seats, a 260 bhp 3.2 liter/195 ci V8 with Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection, and a five-speed manual—$26,000
• 1985 Bright Blue Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z hatchback coupe with blue cloth seats, an LB9 215 bhp 5.0 liter/305 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 6,000 miles—$14,500
• 1986 Dark Red Metallic Chevrolet Corvette convertible with a tan top, saddle leather seats, an L98 235 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 1,900 miles—$20,000
• 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 6,000 miles—$24,000
• 1988 Candy Orange Metallic/Cream two-tone Chevrolet 1500 custom (everything) pickup truck with orange/cream leather seats, an LS1 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with fuel injection, and an automatic—$40,000
• 1981 Red Toyota Land Cruiser FJ-44 SUV with a black interior, a 2F 135 bhp 4.2 liter/258 ci inline six, and a four-speed manual—$20,000

Thursday, January 10th:

• 1987 Black/Silver Metallic two-tone Chevrolet El Camino pickup truck with a gray interior, an LG4 150 bhp 5.0 liter/305 ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor, and an automatic—$7,500
• 1988 Black Chevrolet Suburban Scottsdale SUV with a blue vinyl bench seat, a 7.4 liter/454 ci V8, an automatic, and 50,000 miles—$6,000
• 1984 Light Briar Brown Oldsmobile Toronado coupe with brown cloth seats and an automatic—$2,000
• 1989 Brown Mercedes-Benz 560SL convertible with tan leather seats, an M117 238 bhp 5.5 liter/339 ci V8 with fuel injection, and an automatic—$25,000
• 1985 White Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Kammback station wagon with gray leather seats, an “H.O.” L69 190 bhp 5.0 liter/305 ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor, and a five-speed manual—$37,000 for one of four experimental eighties Kammbacks.

• 1989 Pearl White Land Rover Defender 110 custom (interior, body, wheels/tires) pickup truck with gray leather seats, an 83 bhp 2.5 liter/152 ci inline four with a carburetor, and a five-speed manual—$18,500

Friday, January 11th:

• 1980 Red Orange Chevrolet Camaro Hugger Z28 coupe with tan vinyl seats, an LM1 190 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor, and an automatic—$23,000
• 1988 Black with gray cladding Ford Mustang GT convertible with a black top, gray cloth seats, a Windsor 225 bhp 4.9 liter/302 ci V8 with fuel injection, a five-speed manual, and 66,000 miles—$14,000
• 1988 Foxhill Green Mercedes-Benz 560SL convertible with gray leather seats, an M117 238 bhp 5.5 liter/339 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 53,000 miles—$24,000
• 1981 Tan Jeep CJ-8 Scrambler custom (engine, interior) pickup truck with brown vinyl seats, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with fuel injection, and a five-speed manual—$31,000
• 1981 Stainless Steel DeLorean DMC-12 coupe with gray leather seats, a ZMJ-159 130 bhp 2.8 liter/174 ci V6 with Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection, an automatic, and 36,000 miles—$35,000
• 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 21 miles—$45,000
• 1985 Dark Sage Green Ford Mustang SVO hatchback coupe with charcoal leather seats, a Lima 175 bhp 2.3 liter/140 ci inline four with turbocharging and fuel injection, a five-speed manual, and 52,000 miles—$11,000
• 1980 Red Mercury Cosworth Capri hatchback coupe with gray cloth seats, a 186 bhp 1.6 liter inline four with two Weber carburetors, a five-speed manual, and 468 miles—$51,000
• 1988 Dark Gray Metallic Rolls-Royce Silver Spur sedan with red leather seats, a 6.75 liter/412 ci V8, and an automatic—$13,000
• 1980 Guards Red Porsche 911 SC Targa coupe with black leather seats, a 180 bhp 3.0 liter/183 ci flat six with fuel injection, and a five-speed manual—$28,000
• 1983 Blue Audi Quattro hatchback coupe with brown leather seats, a 156 bhp 2.1 liter/131 ci inline five with Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection and turbocharger, and a five-speed manual—$25,000. Are we going to start seeing more of these rare and pricey when new Quattros at auction?

Saturday, January 12th:

• 1987 Black Buick Grand National coupe with black/gray cloth seats, an LC2 245 bhp 3.8 liter/231 ci V6 with turbocharging and fuel injection, an automatic, and 1,800 miles—$44,000
• 1987 Black Buick Grand National coupe with black/gray cloth seats, an LC2 245 bhp 3.8 liter/231 ci V6 with turbocharging and fuel injection, an automatic, and 6,000 miles—$40,000
• 1982 Garnet Red Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit sedan with beige leather seats, a 6.75 liter/412 ci V8 with a carburetor, and an automatic—$19,000
• 1989 Jet Black Mercedes-Benz 560SL convertible with palomino leather seats, an M117 238 bhp 5.5 liter/339 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 19,000 miles—$53,500 is a lot for a 560SL, somewhere between #1/Concours and #2/Excellent money, according to Hagerty’s valuation tools.
• 1989 Rosso Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary coupe with tan leather seats, a 455 bhp 5.2 liter/315 ci V12 with Bosch KE-Jetronic fuel injection, a five-speed manual, and 5,500 miles—$215,000
• 1983 Rosso Corso Ferrari 512 BBi coupe with tan leather seats, a 335 bhp 4.9 liter/302 ci flat 12 with Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection, a five-speed manual, and 8,400 miles—at $250,000, the highest eighties vehicle sale of this auction.

• 1987 Red Chevrolet Silverado custom (powertrain, suspension, wheels/tires) pickup truck with a red/black interior, a ZZ502 580 bhp 8.2 liter/502 ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor, and an automatic—$35,000

Sunday, January 13th:

• 1987 Red Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck with gray cloth seats, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8, and an automatic—$27,000
• 1982 Blue Toyota Land Cruiser FJ-40 SUV with black vinyl seats, a 2F 135 bhp 4.2 liter/258 ci inline six, and a four-speed manual—$28,000
• 1984 White Chevrolet Caprice Classic coupe with a blue cloth bench seat, a 150 bhp 5.0 liter/305 ci V8 with a Rochester E4ME four-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 14,000 miles—$8,000
• 1981 Black Chevrolet Caprice Classic coupe with a red cloth bench seat, an automatic, and 17,000 miles—$7,250
• 1988 Black with woodgrain Chevrolet Caprice Classic Estate Wagon with a tan bench seat, a 140 bhp 5.0 liter/307 ci V8 with a Rochester four-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 12,000 miles—$8,250
• 1984 Bright Silver Metallic Chevrolet Corvette hatchback coupe with medium gray leather seats, an L83 Cross-Fire 205 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with throttle body fuel injection, an automatic, and 1,700 miles—$11,000
• 1982 Black Chevrolet Caprice Classic coupe with a tan cloth bench seat, a 145 bhp 5.0 liter/305 ci V8 with a Rochester E4ME four-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 14,000 miles—$7,250
• 1981 Beige Chevrolet Corvette coupe with camel leather seats, an L81 190 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with a Rochester four-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 19,000 miles—$9,000
• 1981 Stainless Steel DeLorean DMC-12 coupe with gray leather seats, a ZMJ-159 130 bhp 2.8 liter/174 ci V6 with Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection, a five-speed manual, and 20,000 miles—$37,000
• 1982 Silver/Blue two-tone Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Pace Car Edition hatchback coupe with silver/blue cloth/vinyl seats, a Cross-Fire 165 bhp 5.0 liter/305 ci V8 with throttle-body fuel injection, an automatic, and 76,000 miles—$7,000
• 1984 White Pontiac Fiero Pace Car Edition coupe with red/gray cloth/leather seats, an “Iron Duke” 92 bhp 2.5 liter/151 ci inline four with fuel injection, an automatic, and 9,700 miles—$7,000
• 1986 White Chevrolet Corvette convertible with a white top, red leather seats, an L98 235 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 868 miles—$22,500
• 1987 Red Chrysler LeBaron Pace Car Edition convertible with black leather seats, a 146 bhp 2.5 liter/152 ci inline four with Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection and turbocharger, an automatic, and 1,800 miles—$9,000
• 1988 Black Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Pace Car Edition convertible with a black top, gray cloth seats, an LB6 130 bhp 2.8 liter/173 ci V6 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 618 miles—$24,500 for this rarely seen car (most of the 50 built were bought back by Oldsmobile).

• 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 132 miles—$45,000
• 1985 Blue Porsche 911 Carrera Targa coupe with blue leather seats, a 217 bhp 3.2 liter/193 ci flat six with fuel injection, and a five-speed manual—$32,000
• 1986 White Porsche 911 Carrera convertible with burgundy leather seats, a 217 bhp 3.2 liter/193 ci flat six with fuel injection, a five-speed manual, and 52,000 miles—$33,000
• 1985 White Chevrolet Corvette hatchback coupe with red leather seats, an L98 230 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic—$5,000
• 1983 Black Porsche 911 Turbo custom (slantnose conversion) coupe with black leather seats, a 296 bhp 3.2 liter/202 ci flat six with fuel injection and turbocharger, and a four-speed manual—$32,000 for this (I believe) gray market car.
• 1981 Dark Brown Metallic Pontiac Firebird Turbo Trans Am custom (body, interior) convertible with tan leather seats, a 200 bhp 4.9 liter/301 ci V8 with a Rochester four-barrel carburetor and turbocharger, and an automatic—$20,000
• 1985 Blaze Red Pontiac Firebird Trans Am hatchback coupe with red/gray luxury cloth seats, an LB9 205 bhp 5.0 liter/305 ci V8 with fuel injection, and an automatic, and 17,000 miles—$11,000
• 1981 Green Toyota Land Cruiser FJ-43 SUV with a black interior, a 2F 135 bhp 4.2 liter/258 ci inline six, and a four-speed manual—$24,000
• 1981 Red Toyota Land Cruiser FJ-40 SUV with red vinyl seats, a 2F 135 bhp 4.2 liter/258 ci inline six, and a four-speed manual—$16,000
• 1984 White Toyota Land Cruiser FJ-40 SUV with a black interior, a 2F 135 bhp 4.2 liter/258 ci inline six, and a four-speed manual—$18,000
• 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—$16,000

Chevrolet had their usual dominance among eighties vehicles (30% of the total), but I thought the big story for this decade at Kissimmee was the onslaught of the Land Cruisers, which put Toyota in a solid second place with 10%. Following reasonably closely were Ford (8%) and Jeep (7%).