The local market for older models might be in hibernation, but with summer approaching in the USA, a sale of quality American muscle machinery saw buyers spending big.
The venue was Mecum Auctions’ Indy 2025 sale where the headline car, a 2014 build La Ferrari, made US$3.85 million. However, the real action was playing out a little further down the page.
Heading a catalogue top-heavy with exceptional US-made muscle cars was a collection of early 1960s Pontiac drag cars, along with an extraordinary copper-bodied Shelby Cobra 427.
This car is effectively a replica but was built to emulate Carrol Shelby’s 427 S/C and features a genuine ‘side oiler’ FE Series engine. The stainless-steel chassis and copper sheet body panels were fabricated and assembled in the USA by Kirkham Motorsports and the car was initially sold in 2021 for US$375,000. This time, it fetched an impressive US$990,000.
Also included in the May 16-17 sale was the only L88-engined 427ci C2 Corvette to be produced in Rally Red. Despite frenetic bidding, this one-of-one car was reportedly unsold at a top bid of US$2.7 million.
It was amongst almost 50 versions of the C2 ‘Vette offered at Indy, with others finding owners including a restored ‘split window’ 327ci fuel-injected coupe. It made a deserved US$286,000 but was only marginally dearer than a near-identical car without fuel injection that reached US$264,000.
Heading the list of Pontiacs with a bid of US$742,500 – more than AU$1 million – was a 1963 Catalina Super Duty nicknamed ‘Swiss Cheese’. Campaigned by the Ace Wilson team in National Hot Rod Association and other events, the Pontiac with 120 extra holes in its body and frame – hence the name – was at times driven by famed Pontiac advertising executive Jim Wangers.
Accompanying this car across the block at Mecum was a similar Super Duty supplied to famed US racer Mickey Thompson which reached US$473,000 and a 1962 Super Duty with some competition history that offered exceptional value when sold for US$195,000.
Across on the Ford side of the 1960s drag car ledger, Mecum was able to present two examples of the Fairlane-based Thunderbolt. These street-driven drag cars came from the factory with lightened panels and 427ci engines, but didn’t generate the same publicity as Pontiac’s GTO.
The car that sold was in plain Wimbledon White and near stock, reaching US$253,000. The other came with competition history but had been restored in ways that perhaps diminished its collector appeal, meaning it only saw a top bid of US$170,000.
Standing taller than others in the Mecum saleroom, but still very much a muscle car, was a US$198,000 Ford Bronco. These US-made off roaders have achieved some extraordinary results in recent years, and this 1974 model with its Coyote V8 and six-speed automatic transmission – plus a recent restoration to show standard – didn’t let the side down.
Even though the Indy sale was largely a General Motors vs Ford battle, Mopar enthusiasts weren’t totally forgotten.
The ‘Cars Sold’ column included two aero-enhanced Plymouth Superbirds, headed by a rare automatic version that made US$605,000, along with a four-speed manual Roadrunner convertible that was also sold but at just $123,750.
Please note: All figures quoted are Hammer Prices in US Dollars and do not include any applicable Buyer Premium or other charges.
