Picking your favorite cars at an auction can be a daunting task.
Mecum Auctions stages its Los Angeles collector car sale this weekend in Pomona. There are more than 600 vehicles displayed in several giant halls of the of the Los Angeles County Fairplex. I wandered through more than half of them and they all seemed to be dream cars, virtually perfect and ready to drive off and enjoy for many year.
Picking just a few to feature isn’t easy, but here goes:
1963 Chevrolet Corvette convertible
This one has its original 327cid V8 and 4-speed gearbox — and as-delivered air conditioning, One of the best extant. A fabulous restoration from 20 years ago that retains it excellence in fit and finish. The red interior looks unused save for the 20,000 miles of careful softening of the driver’s seat.
1993 Ferrari 512TR
It looks just like a Testarossa, and the similarity ends there. The factory was very proud of its redesigned and re-engineered top-of-the-line super car. It feels lighter, the brakes were completely new, the gearbox is slicker, the big GT is much quicker, all the suspension is new for the 512 and the factory told us there are only a few bolts that are used in both cars. If you are looking for an easily useable “Enzo-era” Ferrari you cold comfortably drive across country, look no further.
1966 Plymouth Satellite Hemi
If you are in the market for an American icon muscle car, nothing is more muscular that this dual-4-barrel treasure. One of only 503cid 4-speed Hemi Satellites from 1966. Its completely original sheet metal has been repainted its original color. It hooks-up through a Dana 60 Sure Grip differential and a set of correct American Racing alloy wheels. Factory documentation is included with the car. Be prepared to be the talk of Cars & Coffee, before you drive to the track for a touch of youthful vigor.
2014 Aston Martin Vanquish Volante
Aston’s best — and fastest —entry into its target “Super Sports Car” category. With its mighty 5.9 liter V12 delivering 565 horsepower through its 6-speed paddle-shifted transaxle the top-down entertainment is awesome — and NO ONE does a more elegant and luxurious interior as a place to enjoy driving — or traveling.
1963 Ford Thunderbird convertible
Arguably the most beautifully of the 4-place “Rocket-Birds.” Freshly painted in a period-correct shade of turquoise and made sparkle with a fresh set of wire wheels. Standard on all these Birds was Ford’s 390, automatic trans, power steering and brakes, air conditioning and a set of dual exhausts carefully “tuned” for entertainment.
1958 Volkswagen Transporter
The Mecum catalog lists more than a half-dozen VW buses in varying degrees of restoration, modification and memory-ignition. While only original on the outside, this one (see top photo) offers a stunning redesign of its original primitive seating. A luxurious sofa wraps around one side of the interior allowing both easy access from the passenger side door and lots of seating to be shared — and both powerful sound and TV. The adjustable ride-height suspension offers varying degrees of cool and comfy.
