Mecum Kissimmee E body results

[JH27N0B]

I get some relief from my winter blahs watching the Mecum extravaganza that is happening now.  It's always interesting seeing selling prices to get an idea where collector car prices are going for the new year.
Here's some that have run so far over the last week.
Hemi cuda clone originally an N code sold for $89,100
https://www.mecum.com/lots/1139059/1970-plymouth-cuda/?aa_id=652064-0
74 E bodies with 360s intrigue me since they are so rare.  Sadly most of them are like this one having gotten dinked up a lot over the years.  $24,200 was its sales price
https://www.mecum.com/lots/1133183/1974-dodge-challenger-coupe/?aa_id=645803-0
50K bid goes on for this 72 Challenger.  I find bid goes on results to be meaningless as the house often shill bids up to near reserve
https://www.mecum.com/lots/1132654/1972-dodge-challenger/?aa_id=649044-0
99K seems really strong money for this AAR sale seeing how many flaws it has
https://www.mecum.com/lots/1132725/1970-plymouth-aar-cuda/?aa_id=635293-0
120K bid goes on for this LA built v code cuda
https://www.mecum.com/lots/1136822/1970-plymouth-cuda-coupe/?aa_id=654456-0
Nice looking 71 Challenger resto mod sold for $82,500
https://www.mecum.com/lots/1138368/1971-dodge-challenger-r-t/?aa_id=652506-0
$57,200 is pretty strong money for a 72 318 Challenger sale!
https://www.mecum.com/lots/1126386/1972-dodge-challenger/?aa_id=621310-0
75K bid goes on for this T/A
https://www.mecum.com/lots/1133265/1970-dodge-challenger-t-a/?aa_id=635308-0
71 Challenger convertible 340 clone sold for $70,400
https://www.mecum.com/lots/1132662/1971-dodge-challenger-convertible/?aa_id=650557-0
Today starts the second week of the festivities!

[Cuda Cody]

 

[70_440-6Cuda]

Thanks for the links @JH27N0B!

I really like the '70 V code 'Cuda, with the exception of no rallye dash optioned nicely.

Question for the experts - what would you expect to pay in todays market for a '70 V code similar to this one? I have been seriously considering trading my build for a car that is already done, just wondering what a fair but realistic  price range would be - $120K seems pretty fair, but I assume it is not enough to take it home

[Bullitt-]

Thanks for the links @JH27N0B!

I really like the '70 V code 'Cuda, with the exception of no rallye dash optioned nicely.

Question for the experts - what would you expect to pay in todays market for a '70 V code similar to this one? I have been seriously considering trading my build for a car that is already done, just wondering what a fair but realistic  price range would be - $120K seems pretty fair, but I assume it is not enough to take it home

Here's a resource that may help you determine a reasonable value
https://bringatrailer.com/plymouth/barracuda/?yearFrom=1970&yearTo=1971

[70_440-6Cuda]

Thanks!  Looks like $120K should get a pretty nice car....

I did notice quite a few Hemi cars with column shift - surprised there are so many out there...

[MoparCarGuy]

I looked at the 1971 Challenger R/T in the staging lanes right before it hit the block.
A previous post for this car (JS23N1B127352) noted that it is a true TX9 black car with V68 stripe delete that is now painted FJ6 Sassy Grass Green with an added vinyl top. 1971 Challenger R/T SOLD 1/15/2023

Added dual-painted mirrors, manual transmission, etc. are desirable but I would love to have seen it in "as-built" condition considering it was a legit R/T (JS23).

[JH27N0B]

So the car sold at Mecum a year ago, for the exact same price as it did there this year?  That seems suspicious.

[MoparCarGuy]

So the car sold at Mecum a year ago, for the exact same price as it did there this year?  That seems suspicious.

Two years ago.
https://www.mecum.com/lots/533791/1971-dodge-challenger-rt/

Also, advertised and SOLD here with date unknown: https://classiccars.com/listings/view/1867863/1971-dodge-challenger-for-sale-in-pawtucket-rhode-island-02860

[MoparCarGuy]

Something that is also suspicious is this.
The two pilot convertibles, 1 x Challenger RT V-Code in Red and 1 x Cuda V-Code in White, were both at Kissimmee again. This time in the glass building near the food vendor area. Who owns these cars? Maybe Mecum.
The interiors were still covered in sandy dust/dirt just like they were in past Kissimmee auctions. Very odd.

[JH27N0B]

Something that is also suspicious is this.
The two pilot convertibles, 1 x Challenger RT V-Code in Red and 1 x Cuda V-Code in White, were both at Kissimmee again. This time in the glass building near the food vendor area. Who owns these cars? Maybe Mecum.
The interiors were still covered in sandy dust/dirt just like they were in past Kissimmee auctions. Very odd.

They have appeared many times in recent years at their auctions.  I would guess that Mecum does own them.  Mecum owns many cars.  In fact, a guy that works for Mecum told me once that Mecum owns 100s of cars that they have stored at various locations in southern WI around where their HQ is.  That is why when you look at the listings for auctions you'll recognize cars that you've seen previously listed at their auctions.  They use them as "fillers" and also as attention getters with some of the more notable examples.  They will sometimes buy cars or collections outright when someone contacts them about listing them, especially in the case of estates.  Also, they will buy cars at their own auctions if the reserve is not too high and bidding isn't strong on a car, that they will then "flip" at future auctions.
The snaky thing that I've been told by insiders that they also do, is on some cars they "short hammer" the bidding on cars that they are interested in buying, so they end up buying it for less than a legitimate bidder in the crowd was willing to pay.
A guy who worked for them told me there was some sort of a signal when a car Mecum was interested in came up, to alert the auctioneer and the bidding assistants to not work the bidding too hard on that car so Mecum could get it by this "short hammering" on a car running across the stage. Although he worked for them for some time, he never figured out what the signal was, but he knew there was one.
You'll notice the infamous Dave Walden 4 door Barracuda is also running this time.  It seems to have been in 3 or 4 of their auctions a year for the last couple years.

[camarochevy1970]

99K seems really strong money for this AAR sale seeing how many flaws it has

So that one was me, and I probably did over pay but something just hit me on this one.

I know it's not perfect but unlike the last 2 owners (both dealers), I did not buy it to try and flip. I plan to drive it and enjoy it, and hopefully be a good custodian of it like we do with our other cars.

[JH27N0B]

99K seems really strong money for this AAR sale seeing how many flaws it has

So that one was me, and I probably did over pay but something just hit me on this one.

I know it's not perfect but unlike the last 2 owners (both dealers), I did not buy it to try and flip. I plan to drive it and enjoy it, and hopefully be a good custodian of it like we do with our other cars.

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on your purchase!
Sorry if my comment in my list of E Bodies that have run at Mecum came across as being too critical of your car.
I saw a lot of odds and ends with the car mostly under the hood that prompted what I said.  Fortunately, most of them can be fairly easily be improved or corrected. As far as the overall condition of the car, it's hard to judge from pictures in their listings, and the no underside pictures.  Hopefully the body and paint were done well on the car and have held up well since the resto.
Is it #s matching?  With Mecum listings, if they don't list numbers matching in the description I have come to assume it is not, but I'm sure that isn't always the case.
Lots of great information and helpful members on this forum, so if you want to start a thread on your car, you'll get a good advice and support!
Again, congrats and glad to hear you bought the car to enjoy not just to try to turn around and make a few bucks off it.  Definitely too many cars have been taken out of circulation by investors instead of being enjoyed by enthusiasts!

[camarochevy1970]

99K seems really strong money for this AAR sale seeing how many flaws it has

So that one was me, and I probably did over pay but something just hit me on this one.

I know it's not perfect but unlike the last 2 owners (both dealers), I did not buy it to try and flip. I plan to drive it and enjoy it, and hopefully be a good custodian of it like we do with our other cars.

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on your purchase!
Sorry if my comment in my list of E Bodies that have run at Mecum came across as being too critical of your car.
I saw a lot of odds and ends with the car mostly under the hood that prompted what I said.  Fortunately, most of them can be fairly easily be improved or corrected. As far as the overall condition of the car, it's hard to judge from pictures in their listings, and the no underside pictures.  Hopefully the body and paint were done well on the car and have held up well since the resto.
Is it #s matching?  With Mecum listings, if they don't list numbers matching in the description I have come to assume it is not, but I'm sure that isn't always the case.
Lots of great information and helpful members on this forum, so if you want to start a thread on your car, you'll get a good advice and support!
Again, congrats and glad to hear you bought the car to enjoy not just to try to turn around and make a few bucks off it.  Definitely too many cars have been taken out of circulation by investors instead of being enjoyed by enthusiasts!

Nope I didn't take the comment as critical at all

So the trans isn't the right one for the car and the engine has a correct block but looks like someone may have restamped the vin, it looks a little off. The last real owner had it from the 90s and didn't change the block so assuming it may have happened early in life

The body overall is very good. The paint job is old so has some defects but overall very nice. Honestly looking forward to getting it home and spring to get some seat time in it!