Latest news with #Mecum
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Market Collapse: Hemi Superbird Goes For Cheap
Read the full story on Backfire News After auctioning in 2022 for a whopping $1.5 million, setting a world record, a 1970 Plymouth Hemi Superbird just auctioned again with no reserve on May 17, bringing in a measly $380,000. While the latter price is still insane, it's also just a quarter of what the classic muscle car pulled in three years some serious price depreciation. You could chalk it up to just a bad showing at Mecum Indy 2025, but we've been seeing this trend building of late. This Hemi Superbird is just a symptom of a larger problem developing in the car collecting hobby. Fifteen years ago, many enthusiasts could still afford to buy at least one of their dream cars. Today, unless they're an insurance or private equity executive, most enthusiasts have found those same rides are well beyond their reach. Values have soared as the affluent discovered they could use classic and even modern exotics as investments. Many have little interest in the vehicles themselves, other than displaying them as works of art in their gallery-like garages, treating the machines gearheads adore as if they were part of a real estate investment portfolio. This trend intensified during the covid era, likely for a number of reasons. Many gearheads bitterly decided they could never afford the car of their dreams as they watched even some dogs get pricey. The market was out of control. Now we're in a period of correction, or what some would call a crash. Just how big it is and how long it will last isn't clear. And we don't know if investors will flood it yet again, pumping up values in a sick game once more. But many, not all, collector cars are seeing their values plummet. We've noticed a curious trend among auction houses. Instead of openly publishing individual results, many are putting such information in hard-to-find places, requiring users to register for access, or are just plain not releasing the numbers at all. If we didn't know better, we'd say they were trying to hide something. The fact this Mopar Wing Car saw its value on the open market dive 75 percent in just three years shows how bad things have become. At this rate, we just might be able to one day afford a dream car after all. See this Superbird's lot listing for yourself here. Images via Mecum Auctions
The Drive
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Drive
This Plymouth Superbird Sold for $1.65M in 2022. It Just Brought $418,000 at Auction
The latest car news, reviews, and features. In 2022, car collector Bobby Knudsen bought a 1970 Plymouth Superbird—you know, the one with the massive rear wing—for a record-breaking $1.65 million (after buyer's fees). Unfortunately for Knudsen's family, its value took a massive nosedive when they sold the numbers-matching muscle car at the Indy Mecum Auction over the weekend without reserve, as its new owner only paid $418,000 for it. Knudsen passed last December, so his family sold off 25 cars from his collection, including a few racing Pontiac Catalinas, a 1959 Nash Metropolitan, and, of course, the aforementioned Superbird. I'm not sure I've ever seen a classic car drop in value as much as Knudsen's Plymouth, but that could be because he massively overpaid for it three years ago. Even in its incredible unrestored condition, with 33,085 original miles, and rare automatic transmission (only 77 of these came with autos from the factory), this Superbird wasn't worth the $1.5 million Knudsen bid on it. At the time of his July 2022 bid, the priciest Superbird was $990,000, according to Hagerty. During the auction, this Superbird looked like it was going to sell for around $1.1 million, when Knudsen jumped up to $1.5 million to seal the deal. It's doubtful that the car realistically leaped half a million dollars in value during those six months, but he wanted his badly enough to knowingly overbid for it. Knudsen's Superbird wasn't the only one to sell at this past weekend's Mecum auction in Indy, though. The other sold for $550,000, with just under 21,000 miles on it. His family seems to have gotten the fair market price for his car, which proves just how far values have fallen in only three years. Mecum With its short-lived NASCAR pedigree, monstrous 426 cubic-inch Hemi V8, and iconic tall wing, it's easy to understand why the Superbird is so desirable. Still, this car's story is a painful reminder that everything has its fair price, no matter how desirable it may be to someone. Got tips? Send 'em to tips@ Nico DeMattia is a staff writer at The Drive. He started writing about cars on his own blog to express his opinions when no one else would publish them back in 2015, and eventually turned it into a full-time career.
The Drive
05-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Drive
This $24,000 'E-Wagon' Golf Cart Is Basically a Power Wheels for Grown-Ups
A country club membership can make you feel elite, like you're a class above the plebs who get stopped at the door. But what if you're elite even by country club standards? What if you're at the tippy-top of the financial food chain, a real one-percenter? You can't be slumming it on the green with every dentist and lawyer in regular golf carts. Instead, you need to get a Bodo E-Wagon golf cart, like this one that recently sold at a Mecum auction. OK, so aside from the fact that this is essentially just a rich grown-up version of a Little Tikes car, it's kind of fun. At a very quick glance, it could pass for a real Mercedes G-Class, at least until a human stands next to it, for scale. The proportions have clearly been tweaked for golf cart duty. Bodo has also traded Merc's three-pointed star logo for its own, but of course, anyone determined enough could always just change it out. Especially if they desire that badge as much as, or perhaps more than, the vehicle itself. Mecum The E-Wagon (or 'G-Wagon'—the official name and even solid info on the company that makes it is, perhaps unsurprisingly, hard to find) is a bit more sophisticated than what golfers normally use from tee to tee. For starters, it's fully enclosed, with power locking doors and even power windows. As someone whose allergies would be running wild on a golf course, that sounds nice. Once inside, it has caramel-colored leather seats, heating, air conditioning, four-wheel disc brakes with a brake boost, a backup camera, and entertainment screens for backseat passengers. So it ain't just for looks—the E-Wagon is a genuinely luxurious golf cart. It's nicer inside than my actual car. Speaking of actual cars, this E-Wagon is capable of driving on some public roads. Some states allow for low-speed vehicles (LSVs) to drive on streets with speed limits of 25 mph or less. That said, it's actually too fast for states like New Jersey, which only allow an attainable top speed of 25 mph, and this faux Merc golf cart can do 35 mph. But if you do drive it on the road, it has fully functioning headlights, turn signals, and even windshield wipers. Mecum You can drive it pretty far, too. Its 10-kWh battery gives it an impressive 80 miles of range. That's about as much as the original BMW i3. Of course, it only has a 20-horsepower electric motor, and it's considerably smaller and lighter. Still, not bad at all for a fully loaded golf cart. This specific E-Wagon recently sold at a Mecum auction in Glendale, but there are others available at Florida-based dealer Gulf Carts. And not only G-Class replicas, either; you can get Range Rover, Porsche Cayenne, and even Ram TRX-themed carts, too. Perfect for those kings and queens of the green who want to flex their pockets at the club. Got tips? Send 'em to tips@ Nico DeMattia is a staff writer at The Drive. He started writing about cars on his own blog to express his opinions when no one else would publish them back in 2015, and eventually turned it into a full-time career.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Streamer Duke Dennis Tracks Down His Stolen Dodge Challenger Black Ghost
Read the full story on Backfire News Online streamer Duke Dennis has millions of followers, but that fame comes at a price, like having his Final Call Dodge Challenger Black Ghost stolen from his house. But the guy didn't get famous by just playing victim, so Dennis tracked the limited edition muscle car down and had the thief began for Dennis after he said some fans figured out exactly where he lives. That's when people started camping outside his house and a couple of his vehicles were broken into. But thankfully the man had a plan in case someone swiped his pricey Mopar. Dodge only made 300 of the Challenger Black Ghost Last Call muscle cars, using the Hellcat Redeye Widebody as the base vehicle. Output is dialed up to 807-horsepower, but what really makes the Mopar hot are the unique aesthetics. Each one was designed to look like the famed Black Ghost, a 1970 Dodge Challenger RT SE which would race others on Woodward Avenue in Detroit back in the 70s. Supposedly, the mysterious muscle car never lost, often disappearing for months at a time, hence it being called a ghost by other street racers. While the original Black Ghost sold for over $1 million back at a Mecum auction in 2023, these limited edition tribute cars aren't worth nearly as much. But they're still pricey, with listings for those still at dealers sitting around $130,000 or so. MSRP for the Last Call model was announced at $100,000. With the Mopar muscle car worth that much, one would think the owner would have some extra security. We know Dennis had a couple of trackers installed, which he used to see where the Dodge was after the unnamed thief swiped it. Hopping on streaming, he declared that he was on his way to get the Challenger back and that police were called, later saying the thief was busted and his ride was recovered. Now the streamer is apparently considering moving so he isn't targeted again. Image via dukedennis/Instagram
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Pair of Classic Chevy Trucks to Rumble Across the Block at Mecum Houston 2025
Read the full story on Modern Car Collector Two standout Chevrolet pickups from the golden era of American trucks are set to cross the Mecum auction block Saturday, April 5, during the Houston 2025 event — each offering a distinct blend of show-stopping looks and brute force. Leading the charge is a 1971 Chevrolet C10 Cheyenne Super (Lot S242), restored from the frame up and fitted with a monster 572-cubic-inch V-8 crate engine. With aluminum heads and an automatic transmission, this short-bed pickup pairs classic looks with modern-day power. Finished in eye-popping red over a black interior, the C10 is outfitted with air conditioning, tilt steering, bucket seats, and a center console. It also boasts power steering and four-wheel power disc brakes, offering a comfortable drive to match its raw strength. Just steps away, the 1970 Chevrolet K10 Custom Pickup (Lot S238) presents a more rugged, trail-ready attitude. A fuel-injected 383-cubic-inch V-8 built with Holley Sniper EFI powers this 4x4 beauty, paired to a Turbo 350 automatic transmission and NP205 transfer case. Its glossy black exterior is accented by Cheyenne Super badging, new moldings, and custom lighting. Riding high on a 4-inch suspension lift with 20-inch Coys C30 wheels, this K10 mixes form with function, thanks to refinished bodywork, LED lights, and a spray-lined bed. Additional features include Classic Air climate control, a fully detailed engine bay, custom CVF hood hinges, and fresh interior updates. The truck retains its original owner's manual and Protect-O-Plate — key credentials for serious collectors. Whether your tastes lean toward street-cruising style or lifted trail dominance, these two classic Chevys are ready to turn heads and ignite bidding wars in Houston. To see the full selection of cars selling at Mecum Houston on April 3-5, visit Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
