McMullen Roadster Highlights Top Sellers at Mecum in SoCal
Walworth, Wis., Nov. 20, 2012 – Mecum Auctions set another milestone with the exciting inaugural Anaheim Auction, hosting capacity crowds every day of the three-day event held Nov. 15-17 at the Anaheim Convention Center. It was the largest collector car auction ever held in Southern Calif. as 850 vehicles crossed the block. Total sales for the weekend surpassed $15.2 million, highlighted by two SoCal hot rod icons: the famed McMullen Roadster, the top sale of the auction at $700,000, and the Jack Calori 1936 Ford Coupe, the number three top seller at $300,000.
Built by the legendary Tom McMullen, the 1932 Ford McMullen Roadster inspired a generation of hot-rodders when it appeared on the cover of Hot Rod Magazine in April 1963. Meticulously restored by another rodding great, Roy Brizio, the flamed, chopped and dropped McMullen Roadster earned Third in Class at the 2007 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, reinforcing its status as the World’s Most Iconic Hot Rod.
In keeping with the auction’s strong SoCal theme, the third-highest sale, right behind an ACD-certified Category 1 Original 1930 Duesenberg Model J hammered home at $370,000, was the famed Jack Calori Coupe. Another landmark machine in the hotrodding-customizing culture, the Calori Coupe first appeared on the cover of Hot Rod in 1949. Also restored by Roy Brizio, it won the first-ever Early Custom Cars 1935-1948 Class and the Dean Bachelor Award at the 2005 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
As always, muscle car and Corvette collectors had plenty of fine offerings to choose from, including two 1969 Boss 429 Mustangs (Lot S133, which sold at $175,000 and Lot S203 at $162,500), a rare 1953 Corvette roadster (Lot S86 at $170,000) and Lot S123, a matching numbers, rotisserie-restored 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge convertible sold at $135,000.
Mecum’s 2012 Anaheim Auction Top 10 Sales were:
1. 1932 Ford McMullen Roadster (Lot S109) at $700,000
2. 1930 Duesenberg Model J Limousine (Lot S122) at $370,000
3. 1936 Ford Jack Calori Coupe (Lot S116) at $300,000
4. 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 (Lot S133) at $175,000
5. 1953 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster (Lot S86) at $170,000
6. 1965 Chevrolet Chevelle Z16 (Lot S117) at $170,000
7. 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 (Lot S203) at $162,500
8. 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible 427/435 HP (Lot S112) at $145,000
9. 1950 Cadillac Custom Roadster (Lot S167) at $140,000
10. 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge Convertible (Lot S123) at $135,000
The next auction on Mecum’s busy calendar will be held Dec. 6-8 at the Kansas City Convention Center in Kansas City, Mo. To consign a vehicle or register to bid at the Mecum Kansas City Auction visit www.Mecum.com
About Mecum Auctions
The Mecum Auction Company has been specializing in the sale of collector cars for 25 years, now offering more than 12,000 vehicles per year. Mecum Auctions is the world leader of collector car, exotics, vintage motorcycles and road art sales. Auctions are held throughout the United States and broadcast live on Velocity, Discovery Network. For further information, visit www.Mecum.com or call 262.275.5050. Like, comment or share on Facebook at facebook.com/mecumauction or join the conversation on Twitter @mecum.
