Mecum to offer 1,000 vehicles at Houston

Mecum Auctions plans to parade 1,000 cars across the block April 5-7 when it stages its annual sale in the NRG Center in Houston.

Featured on Friday will be two private collections. The “Investment-Grade Viper Collection” includes nine of the powerful, hand-built Dodge sports cars, including the 79th of 285 produced for 1992 and the only one driven as much as 9,000 miles since new.

One of the cars, a 1994 Viper RT/10, has been driven barely more than 1,000 miles. Seven of the cars are roadsters, the others are a 1997 GTS Coupe and a 1998 GTS-R.

Also on the docket for Friday is The Rick Smith Collection of 60 vehicles including a 1953 Buick Skylark Custom convertible with a 572cid fuel-injected V8, 1967 Ford Mustang supercharged with a full pro street setup, 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible in turquoise, and a Hemi-powered 1971 Plymouth ‘Cuda convertible.

Mecum says other notable consignments include a 1970 Plymouth Superbird with its original 4-speed gearbox, a 2005 Ford GT driven only 2.6 miles, a 1967 Shelby GT500 Ford Mustang with a 428cid V8, and a 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429, one of only 279 equipped with the 820-S NASCAR solid-lifter engine.