Mecum Indy 2022

Friday, 13 May - Saturday, 21 May

BY: ANDREW NEWTON
PHOTOS: MECUM AUCTIONS

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In the middle months of the year, the U.S. auction season typically slows down a bit. Driving season is underway and events for using cars rather than buying them start filling the calendar.

The big, huge, sprawling exception to this is “Dana Mecum’s Original Spring Classic,” known to most of us auction-watchers simply as “Mecum Indy.” Typically spanning over a week and ending the weekend before the Indy 500, this is Mecum’s second largest sale after Kissimmee and the largest auction event going on between Amelia Island and Monterey.

This year will be the 35th running of Mecum Indy, and it seems to get bigger every year. Mecum moved into the 250-acre Indiana State Fairgrounds in 2008, and what was a four-day sale 14 years ago is now a nine-day mega auction. Indy is one of the few big live auctions to come through the pandemic largely unaffected (aside from a postponement in 2020 and some basic safety precautions), and last year was the sale’s biggest, with over 1500 cars and trucks selling for $92.3M in total sales. Plenty of records broke, including $1.87M for Parnelli Jones’ Baja 1000-winning “Big Oly” Bronco (which recently flipped on its lid).

1965 Brawner Hawk Ford (Mecum Auctions)

This year promises more of the same, and one reason we watch Indy so closely is the variety of vehicles that cross the block over the course of the week, from scruffy four-figure pickups to sparkling million-dollar hypercars.

Race fans will be all over Ray Evernham’s collection of open-wheel race cars, including the Brawner Hawk Ford with which Mario Andretti won Rookie-of-the-Year at the Indy 500 in 1965. It has a presale estimate of $1.6M-$1.8M. Ford and Shelby highlights include two Cobras, a one-owner ’66 GT350, a ’65 GT350R with South American race history, and an unrestored 837-mile Torino King Cobra.

1965 “Pilot Line” Convertible (Mecum Auctions)

1971 ZR2 Convertible (Mecum Auctions)

Among the nearly 300 Corvettes up for grabs in Indy this year is a 1965 “Pilot Line” car, a prototype used by GM to develop disc brakes and F41 suspension. It is also represented as one of the first Corvettes with a big-block engine and the first with a 427. Its presale estimate is $900,000-$1.2M. Also crossing the block is an unrestored 1971 ZR2, represented as one of just two convertibles equipped with the 454/425hp ZR2 package. Its presale estimate is $1.0M-$1.2M.

2002 Camaro Dick Harrell Widebody (Mecum Auctions)

1967 Nickey Camaro RS/SS Stage III (Mecum Auctions)

For the Camaro contingent there is the 1967 RS/SS convertible that served as official pace car for the Indy 500 that year (est. $800,000-$900,000), a 1967 Yenko RS/SS (est. $500,000-$600,000), a 1967 Nickey RS/SS Stage III (est. $450,000-$500,000), and a 630-horsepower 2002 Dick Harrell Widebody (est. $175,000-$200,000). And for Firebird fans there is a rare 1969 Trans Am Ram Air IV, estimated at $250,000-$300,000.

1969 Dodge Charger Dayona Hemi (Mecum Auctions)

Hemi-heads, meanwhile, will be watching the highly optioned Hemi Daytona 4-speed ($1.1M-$1.3M), the Hemi Daytona NASCAR racer ($350,000-$450,000), the six Hemi Cuda/Challengers, and rare oddballs like the one-of-three 1967 Hemi Coronet R/T Convertible (est. $150,000-$200,000).

1968 Javelin “Bonneville Speed Spectacular” (Mecum Auctions)

1972 Gremlin Super Stock (Mecum Auctions)

Even AMC enthusiasts are spoiled for choice, with a 1970 AMC Super Stock built by Hurst (est. $140,000-$160,000) and the 1968 Javelin driven by Craig Breedlove to a class record at Bonneville (est. $150,000-$175,000) both crossing the block. Both are part of the so-called “AMC Collection,” which also includes rare-spec Javelins and AMXs, Hurst SC/Ramblers, a Rebel Machine, Pacers, Jeep Cherokees, and even a Gremlin drag car. So much American Motors metal hasn’t been for sale in one place since the dealerships closed.

Finally, some of the newest and most expensive offerings (if they meet reserve) at Mecum Indy 2022 will be a one-of-13 2015 RUF RT12 R (est. $1.25M-$1.5M) and a 2020 McLaren Speedtail (est. $2.8M-$3M).

As always, (with the exception of 2020), we’ll be on the ground in Indy inspecting cars, analyzing the sales, and catching up with friends. Keep an eye on this page after the final hammer falls for updates featuring results and in-depth looks at Indy’s most interesting, most significant cars.