Eighties Vehicles at the 2019 Mecum Harrisburg

Mecum’s late July/early August auction in Harrisburg provided some 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 black 1984 Land Rover Defender 110 custom pickup truck with brown leather bucket seats was a no sale bid up to $65,000) and add some of my opinions. Eighties vehicles were about 11% of the 776 vehicle lots sold in this auction.

Wednesday, July 31st:

• 1989 burgundy Cadillac Sedan deVille with burgundy leather seats, an HT 155 bhp 4.5 liter/273 ci V8 with throttle-body fuel injection, an automatic, and 19,000 miles—$6,000 hammer price.
• 1986 Dark Red Metallic Chevrolet Corvette convertible with a black top, medium gray leather bucket seats, an L98 235 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 39,000 miles—$7,000
• 1986 Silver Beige/Medium Bronze two-tone Chevrolet Corvette hatchback coupe with medium gray leather bucket seats, an L98 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with fuel injection, and an automatic—$5,750
• 1984 white with woodgrain Chrysler LeBaron convertible with still lovely Mark Cross brown leather bucket seats, a Mitsubishi 4G54 99 bhp 2.6 liter/156 ci inline four with a two-barrel carburetor, and an automatic—an ouch! at $1,000.
• 1987 beige Mercedes-Benz 560SL convertible with a black soft top, brown leather seats, a 227 bhp 5.5 liter/338 ci V8 with Bosch KE-Jetronic fuel injection, and an automatic—$7,000
• 1986 Yellow Chevrolet Corvette hatchback coupe with medium gray cloth bucket seats, an L98 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with fuel injection, and an automatic—$7,500
• 1986 silver/gray two-tone Dodge D150 pickup truck with a red cloth bench seat, an LA 5.9 liter/360 ci V8, an automatic, and 42,000 miles—$7,000
• 1987 silver Lincoln Continental Mark VII coupe with gray leather bucket seats, a Windsor 150 bhp 4.9 liter/302 ci V8 with fuel injection, and an automatic—$3,000
• 1983 black Mercedes-Benz 380SL convertible with a brown convertible top, a hard top, gray bucket seats, a 155 bhp 3.8 liter/234 ci V8 with Bosch Jetronic fuel injection, an automatic, and 78,000 miles—$10,500
• 1989 red Ford Mustang LX convertible with a black top, red cloth bucket seats, a Windsor 225 bhp 4.9 liter/302 ci V8 with fuel injection, and a five-speed manual—$7,500
• 1987 burgundy Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS coupe with a burgundy interior, a 180 bhp 5.0 liter/305 ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor, and an automatic—$11,000
• 1981 Seaspray Green/Neptune Aqua two-tone Cadillac Seville sedan with an LF9 105 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci diesel and an automatic—$2,000 for this car, striking in this color combination but stunningly slow.

• 1986 red/cream two-tone Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck with a tan cloth bench seat, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8, an automatic, and 45,000 miles—$11,000
• 1980 Frost Beige Chevrolet Corvette coupe with oyster leather bucket seats, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with a Rochester Quadrajet four-barrel carburetor, and an automatic—$3,500. This car paid a brutal price for its period color combination.
• 1989 black Mercedes-Benz 560SL convertible with a black soft top, cream beige leather bucket seats, a 227 bhp 5.5 liter/338 ci V8 with Bosch KE-Jetronic fuel injection, an automatic, and 60,000 miles—$23,500
• 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, 73,000 miles, and a rebuilt/salvage tires—$4,500
• 1981 black Lancia Beta Zagato targa coupe with a black interior, a 108 bhp 2.0 liter/122 ci inline four with Bosch L-Jetronic fuel injection, a five-speed manual, and 80,000 miles—$5,500
• 1987 Orange Pearl Chevrolet Blazer custom (just about everything) SUV with gray cloth bucket seats, a 6.3 liter/383 ci V8, and an automatic—$13,500
• 1981 Dark Brown Pontiac Firebird Trans Am coupe with light sandstone cloth bucket seats, an LG4 145 bhp 5.0 liter/305 ci V8 with a Rochester four-barrel carburetor, and an automatic—$10,000. A strange car, as most sources believe the LG4 was only available with a four-speed manual in the second-generation’s final year.
• 1980 Black Chevrolet Corvette coupe with black leather bucket seats, an L48 190 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with a Rochester Quadrajet four-barrel carburetor, and an automatic—$6,750
• 1983 light brown Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight Regency Brougham sedan with a burgundy vinyl top, a red interior, an LV2 5.0 liter/307 ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor, and an automatic—$2,500
• 1983 red Porsche 944 hatchback coupe with black bucket seats, a 150 bhp 2.5 liter/151 ci inline four with fuel injection, and a five-speed manual—$5,500
• 1986 white Pontiac Fiero custom (paint, engine, wheels/tires) coupe with gray cloth seats, a V6, and a four-speed manual—$2,000
• 1987 red/cream two-tone Chevrolet Suburban SUV with a tan interior, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8, and an automatic—$5,000

Thursday, August 1st:

• 1986 red TVR 280i convertible with a black top, black bucket seats, a Cologne 160 bhp 2.8 liter/170 cubic inch V6 with Bosch fuel injection, a five-speed manual, and 10,000 miles—$8,000
• 1984 White Chevrolet Corvette hatchback coupe with red leather seats, an L83 Cross-Fire 205 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with throttle body fuel injection, an automatic, and 58,000 miles—$7,000
• 1980 white Toyota HJ-47 Land Cruiser custom (camper unit) pickup truck with gray cloth bucket seats, a turbo diesel, and a five-speed manual—$14,500
• 1987 green/beige two-tone Mitsubishi Delica van with gray cloth bucket seats, a diesel inline four, and a five-speed, and 91,000 miles—$9,500
• 1985 red Nissan Safari fire truck with blue bucket seats, an unknown inline four, a four-speed manual, and 5,700 miles—$7,500
• 1989 Bright Red Chevrolet Camaro RS hatchback coupe with gray custom cloth bucket seats, an L03 170 bhp 5.0 liter/305 ci V8 with throttle-body fuel injection, a five-speed manual, and 60,000 miles—$10,000. Not an IROC? Not a Z28? Who saves these cars?
• 1983 Guards Red Porsche 911 SC custom (body) coupe with a black top, black leather seats, a 180 bhp 3.0 liter/183 ci flat six with fuel injection, a five-speed manual, and 65,000 miles—$43,000
• 1989 red Ford F150 pickup truck with a black/red bench seat, a 150 bhp 4.9 liter/300 ci inline six with fuel injection, an automatic, and 54,000 miles—$11,500
• 1989 light blue metallic Mercedes-Benz 560SL convertible with a blue soft top, blue leather bucket seats, a 227 bhp 5.5 liter/338 ci V8 with Bosch KE-Jetronic fuel injection, an automatic, and 58,000 miles—$34,000. The really nice eighties SLs are starting to separate from the average ones; $34,000 is between #3/Good and #2/Excellent money, according to Hagerty’s valuation tools.
• 1987 Dark Red Chevrolet Corvette Callaway convertible with a tan soft top, tan leather bucket seats, a 345 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with twin turbochargers and fuel injection, the Doug Nash 4+3 transmission, and 17,000 miles—$16,000
• 1982 beige Mercedes-Benz 380SL convertible with a blue soft top, a hard top, blue bucket seats, a 155 bhp 3.8 liter/234 ci V8 with Bosch Jetronic fuel injection, an automatic, and 70,000 miles—$9,000
• 1986 red Mercedes-Benz 560SL convertible with a dark tan soft top, tan leather bucket seats, a 227 bhp 5.5 liter/338 ci V8 with Bosch KE-Jetronic fuel injection, an automatic, and 56,000 miles—$45,000
• 1986 red/white two-tone Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck with a red cloth bench seat, a 5.0 liter/305 ci V8, and an automatic, and 72,000 miles—$9,000
• 1986 silver Toyota SR5 pickup truck with blue/gray cloth bucket seats, a 22R-TE 135 bhp 2.4 liter/144 ci inline four with a turbocharger, and a five-speed manual—$17,500 makes thus the first vehicle in this auction to meet my criteria for serious collectability of 1980s cars or trucks in stock condition: selling for equal to or above its original base list price. I’ll mark these vehicles in bold green.

• 1985 black Pontiac Firebird Trans Am hatchback coupe with pewter/graphite cloth bucket seats, an LB9 210 bhp 5.0 liter/305 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 6,100 miles—$17,000
• 1987 red Chrysler LeBaron convertible with a black top, black bucket seats, a 2.5 liter/153 ci inline four with a turbocharger, an automatic, and 1,800 miles—$8,500
• 1986 black Dodge Shelby Omni GLHS hatchback sedan with gray cloth bucket seats, a Turbo II 175 bhp 2.2 liter/135 ci inline four with a turbocharger and intercooler, and a five-speed manual—$17,500
• 1986 black Buick Grand National coupe with black/gray cloth seats, a 235 bhp 3.8 liter/231 ci V6 with fuel injection and turbocharger, an automatic, and 4,900 miles—$33,000
• 1983 red Aurora convertible with black leather seats, a 4.9 liter/302 ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor, a four-speed manual, and 13,000 miles—$25,000 for this Shelby Cobra replica.
• 1984 brown GMC Caballero pickup truck with a 5.0 liter/305 ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 48,000 miles—$10,000
• 1986 burgundy Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme coupe with a burgundy interior, a 5.0 liter/307 ci V8, an automatic, and 42,000 miles—$4,000
• 1985 Blaze Red Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z hatchback coupe with gray cloth bucket seats, an LB9 215 bhp 5.0 liter/305 ci V8 with fuel injection, and an automatic—$7,000
• 1984 white Toyota FJ-40 Land Cruiser SUV with black bucket seats, a 2F 135 bhp 4.2 liter/258 ci inline six with a carburetor, and a four-speed manual—$19,000
• 1985 black Alpha Romeo Spider Graduate Edition convertible with a black top, red leather bucket seats, a 115 bhp 2.0 liter/120 ci four with Bosch L-Jetronic fuel injection, a five-speed manual, and 58,000 miles—$7,000
• 1984 red Chevrolet K10 pickup truck with a burgundy interior, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8, and an automatic—$19,500
• 1986 Bright Red Pontiac Firebird Trans Am custom (it’s a convertible!) convertible with tan bucket seats, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 21,000 miles—$12,500
• 1982 cream Excalibur Series IV Phaeton with a tan top, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8, an automatic, and 34,000 miles—$21,000 for the most prestigious of the neo-classics, now judged by the AACA.
• 1982 Silver Beige Chevrolet Corvette Collector Edition hatchback coupe with silver beige leather bucket seats, an L83 Cross-Fire 200 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with throttle body fuel injection, an automatic, and 93,000 miles—$9,000
• 1988 black with woodgrain Chevrolet Caprice Classic Estate station wagon with light brown 50/50 seats, a 5.0 liter/305 ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 12,000 miles—$12,500
• 1989 gold Jaguar XJ-S convertible with a tan convertible top, beige leather bucket seats, an HE 262 bhp 5.3 liter/326 ci V12 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 40,000 miles—$9,500
• 1987 red Dodge Ram pickup truck with a red vinyl bench seat, an LA 5.9 liter/360 ci V8, and an automatic—$4,750

Friday, August 2nd:

• 1982 Bright Blue Chevrolet Corvette coupe with notably faded dark blue cloth bucket seats, an L83 Cross-Fire 200 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with throttle body fuel injection, an automatic, and 61,000 miles—$13,500
• 1986 black Buick Grand National coupe with black/gray cloth seats, a 245 bhp 3.8 liter/231 ci V6 with fuel injection and turbocharger, an automatic, and 47,000 miles—$24,000
• 1981 Beige/Dark Bronze two-tone Chevrolet Corvette coupe with camel cloth bucket seats, an L81 190 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with a Rochester Quadrajet four-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 30,000 miles—$17,000 is solid money for a 1981 Corvette.
• 1980 Bright Caramel Mercury Bobcat Runabout hatchback coupe with orange cloth bucket seats, a Lima 88 bhp 2.3 liter/140 ci inline four with a Motorcraft 5200 two-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 53,000 miles—$10,500. It’s an auction cliche, but is this the nicest one left?

• 1984 red/silver two-tone Ford F150 pickup truck with a red bench seat, a 122 bhp 4.9 liter/300 ci inline six with a carburetor, an automatic, and 500 miles—$10,000. If you were looking for six-cylinder F150s, Mecum Harrisburg was your auction.
• 1985 yellow Chevrolet custom (body, engine, suspension, wheels/tires) pickup truck with a gray cloth bench seat, a 6.5 liter/ 396 ci V8 with fuel injection, and an automatic—$12,000
• 1980 Red Chevrolet Corvette coupe with oyster leather bucket seats, an L48 190 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with a Rochester Quadrajet four-barrel carburetor, and a four-speed manual—$9,000
• 1982 silver Mercedes-Benz 380SL convertible with both tops, blue leather bucket seats, a 155 bhp 3.8 liter/234 ci V8 with Bosch Jetronic fuel injection, an automatic, and 73,000 miles—$9,000
• 1982 White Chevrolet Corvette coupe with camel leather bucket seats, an L83 Cross-Fire 200 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with throttle body fuel injection, an automatic, and 63,000 miles—$13,500
• 1987 blue/tan two-tone Chevrolet S10 Blazer SUV with tan cloth bucket seats, a 125 bhp 2.8 liter/173 ci V6 with throttle body fuel injection, an automatic, and 64,000 miles—$4,500
• 1984 white Chevrolet Camaro Berlinetta hatchback coupe with gray cloth seats, a 5.0 liter/305 ci V8 with a Rochester E4ME four-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 77,000 miles—$6,000
• 1987 black Jeep Wrangler SUV with black bucket seats, a 112 bhp 4.2 liter/258 ci inline six with a Carter BBD two-barrel carburetor, a five-speed manual, and 48,000 miles—$11,000
• 1983 Bright Red Ford Mustang GLX convertible with a black top, black bucket seats, an Essex 112 bhp 3.8 liter/231 ci V6 with a two-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 29,000 miles—$6,000
• 1986 red Ford Mustang custom (body, engine, wheels/tires) hatchback coupe with gray cloth bucket seats, a V8 with a supercharger and a fuel injection, and a five-speed manual—$9,000
• 1988 red Land Rover Defender 110 custom (exterior, interior, wheels/tires) SUV with red/ black seats, a 2.5 liter/152 ci diesel inline four with a turbocharger, and a five-speed manual—$45,000
• 1985 Dark Maroon Metallic Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS coupe with maroon cloth bucket seats, a B4V 180 bhp 5.0 liter/305 ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 41,000 miles—$14,000
• 1980 black cherry Chevrolet Corvette custom (paint, engine, wheels/tires) coupe with black leather bucket seats, an L98 5.7 liter/355 ci V8 with fuel injection, and an automatic—$30,000
• 1989 blue/gray two-tone GMC Jimmy SUV with blue cloth bucket seats, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with fuel injection, and an automatic—$10,000
• 1983 silver Mercedes-Benz 380SL convertible with a hard top, red leather bucket seats, a 155 bhp 3.8 liter/234 ci V8 with Bosch Jetronic fuel injection, and an automatic—$24,000
• 1984 red Maserati Biturbo coupe with tan leather bucket seats, a 192 bhp 2.5 liter/152 ci V6 with a Weber two-barrel carburetor and twin turbochargers, and a five-speed manual—$4,500
• 1982 beige Jeep CJ-8 Scrambler pickup truck with tan bucket seats, a 110 bhp 4.2 liter/258 ci inline six with a Carter two-barrel carburetor, and an automatic—$24,000

Saturday, August 3rd:

• 1980 red Chevrolet Corvette custom (body, engine) coupe with oyster leather bucket seats, a 6.3 liter/383 ci V8, and an automatic—$13,000
• 1987 white/red March 87C race car with a black seat and a 2.65 liter/162 ci Cosworth DFX V8 with a turbocharger—$40,000 for this piece of eighties CART history.
• 1981 black/gold Pontiac Firebird Trans Am coupe with light sandstone cloth bucket seats, an LU8 200 bhp 4.9 liter/301 ci V8 with a Rochester four-barrel carburetor and a turbocharger, an automatic, and 9,200 miles—$63,000. Remember when nice late second-generation Trans Ams could be purchased for a song?
• 1980 green Jeep CJ-5 Golden Eagle custom (interior, wheels/tires) SUV with black leather bucket seats, a 119 bhp 5.0 liter/307 ci V8 with a Motorcraft two-barrel carburetor, and a four-speed manual—$17,500
• 1982 olive Toyota FJ-43 Land Cruiser SUV with tangerine seats, a 2F 135 bhp 4.2 liter/258 ci inline six with a carburetor, and a four-speed manual—$35,000
• 1982 silver/gray two-tone Buick Regal Grand National coupe with silver/black cloth/vinyl bucket seats, a 125 bhp 4.1 liter/252 ci V6 with a Rochester four-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 20,000 miles—$26,000 for this rare proto-Grand National.

• 1983 blue Toyota FJ-40 Land Cruiser SUV with brown bucket seats, a 2F 135 bhp 4.2 liter/258 ci inline six with a carburetor, and a four-speed manual—$35,000
• 1983 stainless steel DeLorean DMC-12 coupe with gray leather bucket seats, a ZMJ-159 130 bhp 2.8 liter/174 ci V6 with Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection, a five-speed manual, and 12,000 miles—$31,000

Mecum Harrisburg had the usual profusion of Chevrolets, along a plethora of Mercedes-Benz SL convertibles and a solid amount of Fords, Pontiacs, and Toyotas. What do you think of these results?