Eighties Vehicles at the 2021 Mecum Kissimmee, Part One

January’s Mecum auction at Kissimmee always provides some interesting fodder for commentary, if only because it is so large. I’ll concentrate on the at least reasonably stock 1980s vehicles that sold (remember that Mecum auctions are not “no reserve” auctions—a white 1981 Chevrolet Camaro Yenko Turbo Z coupe with black bucket seats and 39,000 miles was a no sale bid up to $70,000) and add some of my opinions. I’m going to separate this auction into two posts—this first covers the eighties 14% of the approximately 680 vehicles sold from Thursday through Sunday.

Thursday, January 7th:

• 1983 yellow Cadillac Seville sedan with a black carriage roof, ivory leather seats, an HT-4100 135 bhp 4.1 liter/249 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 92,000 miles—$4,500 hammer price.
• 1986 Light Green Metallic Chevrolet El Camino pickup truck with a light green cloth bench seat, an LG4 150 bhp 5.0 liter/305 ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor, and an automatic—at $10,500, the first eighties vehicle in this auction meets my criteria for serious collectability of fairly original cars or trucks: selling for equal to or above its original base list price. I’ll mark these vehicles in bold green.
• 1988 Summit White Chevrolet 1500 Silverado pickup truck with garnet Custom cloth bucket seats, an L05 210 bhp 5.7 liter/305 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 63,000 miles—at $17,000, the highest eighties vehicle sale on Thursday
• 1987 Bright Red Chevrolet Corvette convertible with a white convertible top, red leather bucket seats, an L98 240 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with fuel injection, and the Doug Nash 4+3—$16,500
• 1988 black BMW 635Csi coupe with black leather bucket seats, an M30B35 208 bhp 3.4 liter/209 ci inline six with fuel injection, and an automatic—$9,000
• 1986 Black Chevrolet Camaro Z28 hatchback coupe with gray cloth bucket seats, an LB9 190 bhp engine with fuel injection, an automatic, and 62,000 miles—$5,000
• 1983 blue Dodge W150 Power Ram pickup truck with a blue cloth bench seat, a 5.2 liter/318 ci V8 with a two-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 52,000 miles—$8,500
• 1984 white Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 15th Anniversary Edition hatchback coupe with gray leather/cloth bucket seats, an LG9 HO 190 bhp 5.0 liter/305 ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 83,000 miles—$9,000
• 1984 Silver/Medium Gray two-tone Chevrolet Corvette hatchback coupe with red leather bucket seats, an L83 Cross-Fire 205 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with throttle body fuel injection, and an automatic—$4,500
• 1980 Olympic White with woodgrain AMC Eagle Limited station wagon with beige leather seats, a 110 bhp 4.2 liter/258 ci inline six with a two-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 82,000 miles–$12,000. Is this the nicest one left?

• 1984 Silver/Medium Gray two-tone Chevrolet Corvette hatchback coupe with graphite leather bucket seats, an L83 Cross-Fire 205 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with throttle body fuel injection, and an automatic—$6,000
• 1988 White Pontiac Firebird Trans Am GTA coupe with camel leather bucket seats, a B2L 225 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 83,000 miles—$11,000 for a rare notchback
• 1987 Midnight Black/Steel Gray two-tone Chevrolet Blazer Silverado SUV with slate gray Custom cloth bucket seats, an L05 210 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with fuel injection, and an automatic—$11,500
• 1984 white Pontiac Fiero Pace Car Edition coupe with red/gray bucket seats, an Iron Duke 92 bhp 2.5 liter/151 ci inline four with throttle-body fuel injection, an automatic, and 27,000 miles—$16,000
• 1987 Garnet Red Dodge Ramcharger SUV with red cloth bucket seats, a 143 bhp 5.2 liter/318 ci V8 with a two-barrel carburetor, and an automatic—$8,500
• 1982 silver Chevrolet El Camino custom (engine) pickup truck with blue cloth bucket seats, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8, and an automatic—$8,000
• 1988 red Mazda 323 GTX hatchback coupe with a 132 bhp 1.6 liter/97 ci inline four with fuel injection and a turbocharger, a five-speed manual, and 82,000 miles—$6,500 for the most interesting car on day one.
• 1980 green GMC Caballero custom (powertrain, exterior, wheels/tires) pickup truck with a cloth split seat, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8, and an automatic—$11,500
• 1988 tan Chevrolet 1500 pickup truck with an automatic—$3,000
• 1982 blue Fiat 124 Spider 2000 convertible with gray vinyl bucket seats, a 102 bhp 2.0 liter/122 ci inline four with fuel injection, an automatic, and 57,000 miles—$9,500

Friday, January 8th:

• 1987 red Chevrolet C10 custom (engine, exterior, suspension, wheels/tires) pickup truck with a gray interior, a Vortec 5.7 liter/350 ci V8, and an automatic—$16,000
• 1989 Cabernet Red Ford Mustang LX 5.0 convertible with a black top, scarlet red cloth bucket seats, a Windsor 225 bhp 4.9 liter/302 ci V8 with fuel injection, and a five-speed—$8,500
• 1986 burgundy Chevrolet Corvette custom (exterior, engine, interior) hatchback coupe with tan leather seats, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8, and an automatic—$7,500
• 1989 White Jeep Wrangler SUV with black bucket seats and an automatic—$5,000
• 1984 black Cadillac Series 75 Fleetwood limousine with a black interior, a 140 bhp 6.0 liter/368 ci V8 with throttle-body fuel injection, and an automatic—$12,500
• 1985 Sunrise Red Mazda RX-7 hatchback coupe with gray cloth bucket seats, a 12A 101 bhp 1.1 liter/70 ci two-rotor with a four-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 80,000 miles—$11,000
• 1985 silver/gray two-tone Chevrolet C10 custom (powertrain, suspension, wheels/tires) pickup truck with a burgundy cloth bench seat, a 6.3 liter/383 ci V8, and an automatic—$22,500
• 1981 Red Chevrolet Corvette coupe with red leather seats, an L81 190 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 53,000 miles—$21,000
• 1980 beige Toyota Land Cruiser HJ-45 SUV with black bucket seats, an H 3.6 liter/218 ci diesel inline six, and a four-speed manual—$39,000 made this the highest eighties vehicle sale on Friday

• 1986 white Porsche 944 Turbo hatchback coupe with brown leather bucket seats, a 220 bhp 2.5 liter/151 ci inline four with fuel injection and a turbocharger, and a five-speed manual, and 34,000 miles—$24,500
• 1987 Red Mercedes-Benz 560SL convertible with tan leather seats, an M117 238 bhp 5.5 liter/339 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 84,000 miles—$13,500
• 1987 Midnight Black/Apple Red two-tone Chevrolet Blazer custom (engine) SUV with red cloth bucket seats, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8, and an automatic—$11,500
• 1988 Arctic White Lincoln Town Car with a white vinyl carriage roof, oxford white leather seats, a Windsor 150 bhp 4.9 liter/302 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 8,800 miles—$19,000
• 1989 Silver Frost Lincoln Town Car with a silver frost vinyl carriage roof, titanium cloth seats, a Windsor 150 bhp 4.9 liter/302 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 19,000 miles—$16,000
• 1989 red Classic International Brillanté Vendetta convertible with an L98 340 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with fuel injection and an automatic—$18,000 for this Corvette-based Ferrari Testarossa imitator.
• 1986 medium blue/dark blue two-tone GMC Sierra Classic pickup truck with a blue vinyl bench seat, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8, and an automatic—$19,000
• 1986 blue/white two-tone Chevrolet C10 custom (exterior, interior, suspension, wheels/tires) pickup truck with a blue bench seat, an unknown V8, and an automatic—$14,500
• 1986 blue/white two-tone Chevrolet C10 custom (exterior, suspension, wheels/tires) pickup truck with a blue vinyl bench seat, an unknown V8, and an automatic—$21,000
• 1984 White Chevrolet Camaro Z28 hatchback coupe with tan vinyl bucket seats, a 5.0 liter/305 ci V8, and an automatic—$5,500
• 1986 blue/white two-tone Chevrolet Blazer SUV with blue vinyl bucket seats, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8, and an automatic—$21,000
• 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 46,000 miles—$22,000
• 1986 Dark Red Metallic 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 8,200 miles—$20,000
• 1985 White Chevrolet Corvette hatchback coupe with saddle leather seats, an L98 230 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 8,100 miles—$16,000
• 1985 White 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 24,000 miles—$16,500
• 1987 silver Toyota Supra Turbo hatchback coupe with blue cloth bucket seats, a 7M-GE 230 bhp 3.0 liter inline with fuel injection and a turbocharger, and a five-speed manual—$13,000
• 1984 white Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale Brougham coupe with burgundy cloth seats, an LV2 5.0 liter/307 ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor, and an automatic—$8,500

Saturday, January 9th:

• 1982 White Chevrolet Corvette coupe with dark red cloth bucket seats, an L83 Cross-Fire 200 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with throttle body fuel injection, an automatic, and 13,000 miles—$30,000
• 1987 red/white two-tone Chevrolet Silverado custom (suspension, wheels/tires) pickup truck with a black custom cloth bench seat, an 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with fuel injection, and an automatic—$34,000
• 1987 white Pontiac Fiero GT coupe with gray cloth bucket seats, a 135 bhp 2.8 liter/173 ci V6 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 27,000 miles—$9,000
• 1986 white Spartan II coupe with a gray interior, a 3.0 liter V6 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 39,000 miles—$20,000 for this Nissan 300ZX-based neo-classic
• 1988 Charcoal/Radiant Silver two-tone Dodge Ramcharger LE SUV with red cloth bucket seats, a 145 bhp 5.2 liter/318 ci V8 with fuel injection, and an automatic—$18,500
• 1988 brown/tan two-tone Chevrolet Suburban SUV with tan cloth bucket seats, an L19 230 bhp 7.4 liter/454 ci v8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 73,000 miles—$17,500
• 1983 yellow Toyota DLX mild custom pickup truck with gray cloth bucket seats, a 22R 2.4 liter inline four, a five-speed manual, and 101,000 miles—$16,500
• 1981 maroon Jeep CJ-8 Scrambler custom pickup truck with gray bucket seats, an unknown V8, and an automatic—$20,000
• 1988 red Sebring convertible with tan bucket seats, a 4.9 liter/302 ci V8, and an automatic—$19,000 for this Austin Healey 3000 replica
• 1988 White Chevrolet Corvette 35th Anniversary Edition hatchback coupe with white leather seats, an L98 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with fuel injection, the Doug Nash 4+3, and 6,300 miles—$26,000
• 1988 White Chevrolet Corvette 35th Anniversary Edition hatchback coupe with white leather seats, an L98 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with fuel injection, and an automatic—$15,500. A bidder had their choice of these distinctive coupes at this auction.
• 1980 red/black two-tone Chevrolet El Camino very custom (just about everything) pickup truck with red cloth bucket seats, a 406 ci V8, and an automatic—$13,000
• 1987 Candy Apple Red GMC Sierra Classic custom (engine, exterior, interior, wheels/tires) pickup truck with silver bucket seats, an LS2 6.2 liter V8, and an automatic—$28,000
• 1987 white Chevrolet C10 custom (powertrain) pickup truck with a red vinyl bench seat, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8, and an automatic—$27,000
• 1987 black Buick Regal T-Type custom (powertrain) coupe with gray cloth bucket seats, a 3.8 liter/231 ci V6 with a turbocharger, and an automatic—$35,000
• 1985 Burgundy Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS coupe with gray cloth bucket seats, a B4V 180 bhp 5.0 liter/305 ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 10,000 miles—$21,750
• 1989 Black Ford Mustang ASC/McLaren convertible with a black top, a gray interior, a 225 bhp 4.9 liter/302 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 44,000 miles—$15,500
• 1986 Shelby GLHS custom hatchback coupe with gray cloth bucket seats, a 2.2 liter/135 ci inline four with a turbocharger, an intercooler, and fuel injection, and a five-speed manual—$18,000
• 1986 black Nissan 300ZX hatchback coupe with black leather bucket seats, a VG30ET 200 bhp 3.0 liter/181 ci V6 with fuel injection and a turbocharger, a five-speed manual, and 43,000 miles—$31,500 is around $7,000 over #1/Concours money, according to Hagerty’s valuation tools.
• 1986 red GMC Sierra Classic pickup truck with a gray cloth bench seat, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8, an automatic, and 100,000 miles—$23,500
• 1985 black Ferrari 308 GTS Quattrovalvole coupe with black leather seats, a Quattrovalvole 230 bhp 2.9 liter/179 ci V8 with fuel injection, a five-speed manual, and 69,000 miles—$50,000
• 1986 Guards Red Porsche 911 Turbo coupe with black leather seats, a 282 bhp 3.3 liter/201 ci flat six with turbocharging and fuel injection, a four-speed manual, and 57,000 miles—$100,000 made this by far the highest eighties vehicle sale on this Saturday.

• 1980 red/white two-tone Plymouth Trail Duster custom (suspension, wheels/tires) SUV with red bucket seats and an automatic—$15,000
• 1985 silver Chevrolet K10 Silverado very custom (just about everything) pickup truck with a gray cloth bench seat, a Vortec 6.0 liter V8, and an automatic—$38,000
• 1986 hazel/brown two-tone Rolls-Royce Silver Spur sedan with a cream vinyl top, cream leather bucket seats, a 6.75 liter/412 ci V8, an automatic, and 17,000 miles—$35,000
• 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 15,000 miles—$34,000
• 1985 White Buick Riviera coupe with a white Landau top, blue cloth notchback 55/45 seats, a 5.0 liter/307 ci V8, an automatic, and 12,000 miles—$12,500
• 1985 Cotillion White Cadillac Eldorado coupe with a white vinyl top, blue leather seats, an HT-4100 135 bhp 4.1 liter/249 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 4,100 miles—$23,000
• 1984 black Oldsmobile 98 Regency coupe with a maroon vinyl top, red cloth seats, an LV2 5.0 liter/307 ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 4,500 miles—$27,000. Who saves these cars?
• 1989 green Land Rover Defender 90 SUV with brown bucket seats, a 2.5 liter/152 ci diesel inline four, a manual, and 69,000 miles—$60,000
• 1988 Black BMW M6 coupe with tan leather seats, a S38B35 256 bhp 3.5 liter/211 ci inline six with fuel injection, a five-speed, and 120,000 miles—$27,000
• 1980 Pollux Orange Toyota Land Cruiser pickup truck with gray seats, a 3.6 liter engine, and a four-speed manual—$40,000
• 1982 Black Mercedes-Benz 380SL convertible with a brown top, brown bucket seats, a 155 bhp 3.8 liter/234 ci V8 with fuel injection, and an automatic—$11,000
• 1986 silver Mercedes-Benz 560SEC coupe with gray leather bucket seats, an M117 238 bhp 5.5 liter/339 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 75,000 miles—$19,000

Sunday, January 10th:

• 1984 crimson Rolls-Royce Silver Spur sedan with camel leather bucket seats, a 6.75 liter/412 ci V8, and an automatic—$9,000
• 1988 white Rolls-Royce Silver Spur sedan with a white vinyl top, tan leather bucket seats, a 6.75 liter/412 ci V8, an automatic, and 97,000 miles—$9,500
• 1980 blue Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith II with a blue vinyl top, blue leather bucket seats, a 6.75 liter/412 ci V8, and an automatic—$9,000
• 1983 silver Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit sedan with tan leather bucket seats, a 6.75 liter/412 ci V8, and an automatic—$9,000
• 1988 dark blue Lincoln Town Car limousine with a dark green interior, a 4.9 liter/302 ci V8, and an automatic—$11,000
• 1988 Red Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z convertible with a black top, gray leather bucket seats, an unknown 5.0 liter/305 ci V8 (could be the L03 170 bhp engine with throttle-body fuel injection or the LB9 195 bhp engine with fuel injection), an automatic, and 29,000 miles—$22,000
• 1988 Delphin Gray BMW 635Csi coupe with pearl beige leather bucket seats, an M30B35 215 bhp 3.4 liter/209 ci inline six with fuel injection, an automatic, and 54,000 miles—$44,000 for this gray market car.
• 1989 blue Toyota FJ-70 Land Cruiser SUV with gray bucket seats, a 3F 155 bhp 4.0 liter/241 ci inline six with fuel injection, and a five-speed manual—$22,000
• 1988 White Chevrolet Corvette convertible with a white convertible top, red leather bucket seats, an L98 240 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 40,000 miles—$17,000
• 1980 White/Light Blue Metallic two-tone Chevrolet El Camino pickup truck with a blue vinyl bench seat, an unknown V8 (could be the L39 120 bhp 4.4 liter/267 ci with a two-barrel carburetor or the LG9 135 bhp 5.0 liter/305 ci with a four-barrel carburetor), an automatic, and 14,000 miles—$18,000
• 1983 blue Ford F100 custom (exterior, wheels/tires) pickup truck with blue seats, a 5.8 liter/351 ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor, and an automatic—$16,000
• 1989 Twilight Blue Lincoln Town Car sedan with an arctic white carriage top, shadow blue cloth seats, a 150 bhp 4.9 liter/302 ci V8 with fuel injection, and an automatic—$5,000
• 1984 silver/black two-tone Tiffany coupe with red leather seats, a 4.9 liter/302 ci V8, and an automatic—$15,000 for this Mercury Cougar-based “neo-classic.”
• 1989 black AM General Humvee SUV with a black interior, an automatic, and 18,000 miles—$20,000
• 1983 Sable Black Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz coupe with a bushed stainless steel roof cap, a black vinyl top, red leather “tufted multi-button” seats, an HT-4100 135 bhp 4.1 liter/249 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 19,000 miles—$27,000 for this striking Eldorado whose aftermarket continental kit actually doesn’t bother me that much.

• 1988 blue Ford Crown Victoria sedan with a dark blue vinyl top, blue cloth seats, a 4.9 liter/302 ci V8, and an automatic—$3,000
• 1986 blue Pontiac Firebird Trans Am hatchback coupe with gray cloth bucket seats, a 5.0 liter/305 ci V8, and an automatic—$7,000