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 Grand Prix White 1987 Porsche930 coupe with black leather bucket seats and 40,000 miles was a no sale bid up to $85,000) and add some of my opinions. Eighties vehicles were about 9% of the approximately 1,100 vehicle lots sold in this auction.
Tuesday, May 14th:
- 1986 gray/red two-tone GMC custom (engine) pickup truck with a tan cloth/vinyl bench seat, a 6.3 liter/383 ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 54,000 miles—$10,000 hammer price
- 1989 Quicksilver/Midnight Blue two-tone Chevrolet Suburban R1500 Silverado SUV with blue custom cloth bucket seats, a 210 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 27,000 miles—$16,500
- 1985 silver/black two-tone Chevrolet C10 Silverado pickup truck with a gray cloth bench seat, an unknown V8, and an automatic—$13,000
- 1988 yellow Pontiac Fiero GT very custom (engine, body, brakes) coupe with gray bucket seats, a 4.9 liter Cadillac V8 (!), and an automatic—$8,500
- 1981 white Chevrolet Corvette custom (body) coupe with blue leather bucket seats, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with an Edelbrock carburetor, an automatic, and 37,000 miles—$7,500
- 1985 Bright Red Chevrolet Corvette hatchback coupe with gray leather bucket seats, an L98 230 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with fuel injection, and an automatic—$3,500
- 1987 silver/black two-tone Chevrolet C10 Silverado pickup truck with a gray cloth bench seat, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8, an automatic, and 47,000 miles—$12,000
- 1987 Flame Red Pontiac Firebird Trans Am GTA with tan leather bucket seats, an L98 210 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 141,000 miles—$3,500
- 1989 red Cadillac Allanté convertible with tan leather bucket seats, an HT-4500 200 bhp 4.5 liter/273 ci V8 with fuel injection, and an automatic—an ouch! at $2,000
- 1986 Zermatt Silver Metallic Porsche 944 Turbo hatchback coupe with black bucket seats, a 220 bhp 2.5 liter/151 ci inline four with turbocharger, intercooler, and fuel injection, a five-speed manual, and 89,000 miles—$11,500. You see more and more 9×4 Porsches at auction these days.
- 1980 blue Chevrolet Camaro Z28 coupe with blue seats, an LM1 190 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with a Rochester four-barrel carburetor, a four-speed manual, and 97,000 miles—at $12,500 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.
- 1988 black Mitsubishi Pajero SUV with gray cloth bucket seats, a 2.5 liter inline four, a five-speed manual, and 121,000 miles—$3,000
- 1983 white Buick Riviera convertible with a white top, red leather seats, a 5.0 liter/307 ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 77,000 miles—$9,000
- 1985 blue/silver two-tone Ford Bronco II SUV with blue cloth bucket seats, a Cologne 115 bhp 2.8 liter/170 ci V6 with a two-barrel carburetor, and an automatic—$8,000
- 1987 red Chevrolet Corvette custom (engine) convertible with tan leather bucket seats, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with a carburetor, and an automatic—$5,000
- 1983 black Datsun 280ZX Turbo hatchback coupe with tan bucket seats, an L28ET 180 bhp 2.8 liter/168 ci inline six with turbocharger and fuel injection, and an automatic—$7,000
- 1981 brown Datsun 280ZX hatchback coupe with tan cloth bucket seats, an L28E 145 bhp 2.8 liter/168 ci inline six with fuel injection, an automatic, and 105,000 miles—$5,000
- 1983 Red Firemist Buick Riviera convertible with a white top, red leather seats, a 5.0 liter/307 ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 75,000 miles—$8,500
- 1983 blue/silver two-tone GMC Sierra 1500 custom (engine, suspension) pickup truck with a blue interior and a 5.3 liter V8—$14,500
- 1981 white Chevrolet Corvette coupe with red leather bucket seats, an L81 190 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with a Rochester four-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 71,000 miles—$7,500
- 1980 white Fiat Spider 2000 convertible with a black top, a red interior, a 2.0 liter/122 ci inline four, a four-speed manual, and 28,000 miles—$7,500
- 1988 brown Ford Ranger custom (paint) pickup truck with a tan vinyl bench seat and 49,000 miles—$6,000
- 1986 black Pontiac Fiero SE coupe with gray cloth bucket seats, a 140 bhp 2.8 liter/173 ci V6 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 25,000 miles—$8,500
- 1984 black Chevrolet K10 custom (engine, body, suspension) pickup truck with gray cloth bucket seats, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8, and a four-speed manual—$13,500
- 1989 red Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck with red cloth bucket seats, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8, and an automatic—$7,500
- 1983 black Jeep CJ-7 custom (suspension, interior) SUV with tan bucket seats and a 5.0 liter/304 ci V8—$16,000
- 1987 red Dodge Power Ram 150 pickup truck with a red vinyl bench seat, an LA 5.9 liter/360 ci V8, and an automatic—$5,500
- 1987 black Pontiac Firebird Formula hatchback coupe with gray cloth bucket seats, an L98 210 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 106,000 miles—$5,000
Wednesday, May 15th:
- 1984 Oxford White Ford Mustang 20th Anniversary GT.350 hatchback coupe with red cloth bucket seats, a Windsor 175 bhp 4.9 liter/302 ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 62,000 miles—$7,000
- 1984 black Ford Mustang SVO hatchback coupe with charcoal cloth bucket seats, a Lima 175 bhp 2.3 liter/140 ci inline four with turbocharger, intercooler, and fuel injection, a five-speed manual, and 73,000 miles—$7,000
- 1987 black/gray two-tone Ford Mustang GT hatchback coupe with red cloth bucket seats, a Windsor 225 bhp 4.9 liter/302 ci V8 with fuel injection, a five-speed manual, and 43,000 miles—$15,000
- 1986 white Mercury Capri ASC/McLaren convertible with a tan top, tan leather bucket seats, a Windsor 200 bhp 4.9 liter/302 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 16,000 miles—$9,000
- 1980 brown Chevrolet Scottsdale pickup truck with a saddle vinyl bench seat, a 5.0 liter/305 ci V8, and an automatic—$13,000
- 1989 burgundy Dodge Ramcharger SUV with tan bucket seats, an LA 5.9 liter/360 ci V8 with fuel injection, and an automatic—$16,500
- 1987 silver/black two-tone Chevrolet Suburban Silverado SUV with gray cloth bucket seats, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8, and an automatic—$10,000
- 1985 beige Pontiac Parisienne Brougham sedan with tan leather seats, an unknown engine, an automatic, and 16,000 miles—$11,500. I can’t remember the last time I’ve even seen a Parisienne, much less one at auction.
- 1981 black and gold Pontiac Firebird Trans Am coupe with black bucket seats, an unknown V8, a four-speed manual, and 63,000 miles—$24,000
- 1983 maroon Lotus Esprit Turbo Investor’s Edition (really!) coupe with black leather bucket seats, a 205 bhp 2.2 liter/133 ci inline four with a Garrett T3 turbocharger, intercooler, and two carburetors, and a five-speed manual—$21,000
- 1989 Pearl White Jeep Wrangler custom (engine, suspension, wheels/tires) SUV with a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 and an automatic—$12,000
- 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—$21,000
- 1985 red/silver two-tone Oldsmobile Calais roadster (no top) with red/silver bucket seats, a Tech 4 215 bhp 2.7 liter/165 ci inline four, and an automatic—an astounding $45,000 for this real Indianapolis 500 pace car.
- 1985 blue Jeep CJ-7 Renegade SUV with a black interior, a 112 bhp 4.2 liter/258 ci inline six with a Carter BBD two-barrel carburetor, a five-speed manual, and 98,000 miles—$21,000
- 1988 Pearl White Cadillac Allanté convertible with tan leather bucket seats, an HT-4100 170 bhp 4.1 liter/250 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 72,000 miles—$4,000
- 1986 black/silver two-tone Chevrolet Blazer SUV with gray cloth bucket seats, a 5.0 liter/305 ci V8, and an automatic—$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, and 60,000 miles—$16,000
- 1986 red/white two-tone Chevrolet C10 pickup truck with a red cloth bench seat, a 5.0 liter/305 ci V8, an automatic, and 64,000 miles—$8,500
- 1983 stainless steel DeLorean DMC-12 coupe with gray leather seats, a 130 bhp 2.8 liter/173 ci V6 with Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection, an unknown transmission, and 2,100 miles—$29,000
- 1987 white Chevrolet S10 custom (engine) with a blue vinyl bench seat, a 7.4 liter/454 ci V8, and an automatic—$12,500
- 1986 medium blue/dark blue two-tone Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck with a light blue cloth bench seat, an unknown V8, an automatic, and 16,000 miles—$21,000
- 1987 black Buick Regal Grand National custom (engine) coupe with black/silver cloth bucket seats, a 4.1 liter V6 with fuel injection, turbocharger, and intercooler, an automatic, and 35,000 miles—$19,500
- 1981 aqua GMC custom (exterior, paint, interior) pickup truck with gray leather bucket seats, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8, and an automatic—$13,000
- 1987 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 27,000 miles—$27,000
- 1987 black Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck with a charcoal cloth bench seat, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8, and an automatic—$11,500
- 1986 silver Pontiac Grand Prix 2+2 Aerocoupe with gray seats, an LG4 165 bhp 5.0 liter/305 ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 32,000 miles—$9,500
- 1984 Cameo Ivory Cadillac Coupe de Ville with blue leather seats, an HT-4100 135 bhp 4.1 liter/250 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 29,000 miles—$5,000
- 1980 Frost Beige Chevrolet Corvette coupe with doeskin leather seats, an L82 230 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with Rochester four-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 75 miles—$27,000
- 1985 silver Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS coupe with blue cloth bucket seats, a B4V 180 bhp 5.0 liter/305 ci “H.O.” V8 with Rochester Quadrajet four-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 9,900 miles—$18,500
- 1983 Pearl White Chrysler Imperial custom (engine, body, paint, wheels/tires) coupe with red leather seats, a 6.6 liter/401 ci V8, an automatic, and 15,000 miles—$10,500
- 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—$24,000
- 1984 Black Mercedes-Benz 500 SEL sedan with Palomino leather seats, a 5.0 liter/304 ci V8 with Bosch Jetronic fuel injection, an automatic, and 38,000 miles—$12,500
- 1983 black Chevrolet custom (engine, suspension) with a cloth bench seat, a 7.0 liter/427 ci V8, a four-speed manual, and 81,000 miles—$30,000
Eighties Cars 