American Muscle Cars Converge In Indy For Dana Mecum’s Original Spring Classic
Dana Mecum’s 27th Original Spring Classic will take over the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis, this May 13-18 with a lineup of nearly 2,000 classic and collector cars doused in muscle set to cross the auction block. With six days of non-stop action and a plethora of America’s quintessential muscle cars and more, this annual event is one of Mecum Auctions’ most anticipated auctions of the year.
More than just an anniversary celebration for the auction house, the Indy auction embodies all that Mecum was built on: pure classic brawn. This year’s event will be held in the recently renovated 75-year-old grand Coliseum on the fairgrounds and will bring with it another downpour of some of the finest muscle cars the world has to offer.
Detailed below in a parade of muscle is just a sample of some of the featured lots set to cross Mecum’s auction block this month at Dana Mecum’s 27th Original Spring Classic.
Portions of the auction will be broadcast live on NBC Sports and Esquire networks with live segments also aired on Mecum.com. For more information on the upcoming auction, to consign a vehicle or to register as a bidder, visit www.mecum.com or call (262) 275-5050.
1968 Chevrolet Yenko Camaro SS (Lot S152)
One of 64 Camaros modified by Don Yenko in 1968, this powerhouse is documented as one of the first group of 20 cars. These first 20 cars were built without the COPO 9737 designation that included heavier-duty cooling systems, suspension and brake upgrades. In 1970 it was sold to drag racer and Memphis Rodders’ club member A.J. Lancaster, who prepared it for competition in the NHRA’s new Pro Stock class, removing and storing the Yenko engine and replacing it with a specially built dual tunnel-ram 427 CI unit for competition. Lancaster also removed and stored the original interior components and left the original body essentially stock, making the car’s restoration a relatively straightforward affair. That task was taken up by its present owner, Dr. Vance Shappley, who after acquiring it in 1991 refinished the car in its original Sequoia Green and reassembled it to its original configuration. It is once again as ordered with a Muncie M21 four-speed manual transmission and the original 427 CI engine installed by Yenko, which has been freshly detailed. This is among the most significant Yenkos today, having acquired a documented racing pedigree. Adding to its rarity is the fact that it accumulated most of its 1,304 miles a quarter mile at a time, making it one of the lowest-mileage Yenko Camaros in existence.
1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 (Lot F229)
This generously optioned special-order example is quite literally one of a kind, as unique as any vintage Z28 could possibly be. Unrestored and original but for a single repaint, its original purchaser, Mr. Lyle Mader of Madison, South Dakota, was not only a knowledgeable buyer but a quite particular one as well. He specified the car to reach the Z28 package’s maximum potential, and to put his personal stamp on his new baby, Mader ordered Special Paint to match the color of his pickup truck. Listed as Light Blue on the Chevrolet and GMC Commercial Colors palette, it was more widely referred to as Carolina Blue for its popularity with North Carolina dealers. While it is impossible to know for sure if any other Z28 Coupes were produced in the same color, it is almost certainly the only one in existence today and also quite likely the only one produced with its full-length stripes continuing past the rear spoiler and down to the bottom of the rear valence. This one-of-a-kind 1969 Z28 is well known in the collector community and has been described as the most unique, well-documented and well-preserved example in the world. At 46,432 miles it remains in extraordinarily original condition. Its fulsome documentation includes the original two-page retail sales order, window sticker, Protect-O-Plate, two-page rail shipper, loan and tax paperwork and key fob. This special-order Carolina Blue 1969 Cross Ram Z28 is a great specimen of its breed and a must-have centerpiece for any muscle car or Camaro collection.
1963 Shelby 289 Cobra Roadster, CSX2135 (Lot S134)
Serial number CSX2135, this stunning 1963 Shelby Cobra 289 is one of the first Cobras to employ rack-and-pinion steering and was used as a demonstrator to promote the new feature. After a year of such duties, the car was reconditioned for resale and spent 35 years in California with various caretakers. Today CSX2135 presents in beautifully pristine condition, needing nothing to make it ready for its new home with a committed Shelby Cobra enthusiast. Now sporting a clean coat of midnight blue with black https://www.montauk-monster.com/pharmacy leather interior, CSX2135 would be a crown jewel of any classic muscle car collection. The original 289 CI engine as well as a set of 5.5-inch Shelby knock-off wire wheels are included with this exceptional and rare early rack-and-pinion demonstration Cobra.
1966 Shelby GT350 Fastback (Lot S161)
This 1966 GT350 was owned and raced by Swiss ace driver Herbert Müller from 1966 through the early 1970s. A European export model shipped to Ford Advanced Vehicles in Slough, England, it was modified with R-Model type racing equipment including a roll bar, oil cooler, 37-gallon fuel tank, fiberglass front valence, American Racing Torque Thrust “D” alloy wheels and, most interestingly, a Weber-inducted GT40 engine built by Holman-Moody. Shelby serial number SFM6S342, the Müller GT350 remains configured as it was when delivered by Ford Advanced Vehicles, retaining the Holman-Moody engine. It is officially listed as an Independent GT350 Racer in the Shelby Registry and is offered with complete supporting documentation, including contemporary news articles, a copy of the invoice from Shelby American to Ford Advanced Vehicles and a copy of a letter confirming the Müller estate’s interest in selling the car.
1963 Pontiac Catalina Swiss Cheese (Lot S158)
This 1963 “Swiss Cheese” Catalina is perhaps the most famous of the just 14 that were built before GM’s racing ban. Sponsored by Packer Pontiac of Detroit, it was driven in 1963 by Packer employee Howard Maselles, who set the NHRA C/Stock class record with a 12.27 ET at 114.64 mph, a record that stood for several years. The car was discovered in the late '70s by famed Pontiac collector and historian Randy Williams, and was the first of several historically significant Super Duty Pontiacs that formed his famous collection. After years of collecting a vast treasure trove of Pontiac NOS parts and pieces, Williams and his good friend Scott Tiemann of Supercar Specialties in Portland, Michigan, began restoring the car, completing the project in 2000. Today the Packer Pontiac “Swiss Cheese” Catalina is regarded as the reference point for this rare group of Pontiac lightweight factory racers, a monument to Randy Williams’ dedication to preserving Pontiac history and to Scott Tiemann’s world class craftsmanship and expertise. It is extensively documented by the records and photographs compiled by Howard Maselles, including the original “For Sale” flyer created by Maselles to sell the car at the end of the 1963 season.
1971 Plymouth Hemi Cuda (Lot S185)
The final year for the Hemi-powered Plymouth pony car was 1971, and examples such as this Sherwood Green Metallic example are almost unheard of today. One of only 59 Hemi four-speed coupes produced in 1971, it has been in the care of a single dedicated owner for the last 35 years and received a rotisserie restoration in 2006. This factory R-code Hemi Cuda incorporates an unstamped warranty block fitted with correct heads, intake and 1971 Carter four-barrel carburetors. The driveline is completed with a Hemi-rated New Process four-speed manual transmission and A33 Track Pack Dana rear end with 3.54:1 gears. Like all Hemi Cudas, it is equipped with heavy-duty suspension and brakes and the distinctive Shaker hood and hold-down pins; additionally, it is optioned with a Black vinyl roof and Green bucket-seat interior with Rallye gauges and one of the rarest accessories from the Cuda catalog: an AM radio with console-mounted cassette recorder. Documentation includes the factory original broadcast sheet and fender tag.
About Mecum Auctions
Nobody sells more than Mecum. Nobody. The Mecum Auction Company is the world leader of collector car, vintage and antique motorcycle, and Road Art sales, hosting auctions throughout the United States. The company has been specializing in the sale of collector cars for 27 years, now offering more than 15,000 vehicles per year and averaging more than one auction each month. Established by President Dana Mecum in 1988, Mecum Auctions remains a family-run company headquartered in Walworth, Wis. For further information, visit Mecum.com or call (262) 275-5050. Follow along with Mecum’s social media news and join us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest and Instagram.
Schedule:
Dana Mecum’s 27th Original Spring Classic
Indiana State Fairgrounds
1202 E. 38th St.
Indianapolis, IN 46205
May 13-18, 2014
Admission: $20 per person per day, children 12 and younger receive complimentary admission
Preview: Gates open daily at 8 a.m.
Auction: Vehicles start at 10 a.m. daily with Road Art an hour prior
TV Broadcast Schedule:
Wednesday, May 14
Esquire: 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Live
Mecum.com: 6-7 p.m. Live
NBCSN: 11:30 p.m.-1 a.m. Same Day Delay
Thursday, May 15
NBCSN: 12-5 p.m. Live
NBCSN: 11:30 p.m.-1 a.m. Same Day Delay
Friday, May 16
NBCSN: 12-3 p.m. Live
Mecum.com: 5-7 p.m. Live
NBCSN: 11:30 p.m.-1 a.m. Same Day Delay
Saturday, May 17
NBCSN: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Live
Mecum.com: 5:30-7 p.m. Live
Sunday, May 18
NBCSN: 12-4:30 p.m. Next Day Delay
(All Times Eastern)
