Kissimmee Auction: Mecum Starts the Year with a Bang

Mecum in Kissimmee, a small town in Florida that at the start of every year transforms into the world capital of classic car auctions, has become a much-anticipated classic. And not just because it’s the first sale of the year. Take the sheer number of cars: each year, around 4,000 are auctioned over 12 days—an immense figure. Just to give you an idea: on Thursday the 16th alone, 404 cars were offered.

And don’t think that quantity and quality don’t go hand in hand: in each edition, the total consistently exceeds $200,000,000. And, just to give you an idea in this case as well, only six auctions in history have surpassed this milestone: Mecum in Kissimmee has achieved this feat four times in the last four editions.

A smart feature: visitors receive a map at the entrance to help locate the various cars in a massive lot. Now some numbers to compare it with 2024: the number of cars offered dropped slightly from 4,043 to 3,823 (-5.42%), but despite this, the number of cars sold actually rose slightly from 2,842 to 2,875 (+1.16%), with a significant increase in the success rate: from 70.29% in 2024 to 75.21% in 2025. However, it didn’t go as well in terms of value: they didn’t reach the $226,348,600 achieved last year, but with $202,034,225, they still managed to stay above $200 million (ranking fifth among the most successful auctions ever). The average price per car fell from $79,644 to $70,273.

The results would have been different, and record-breaking, if the $25 million offer for the legendary 1969 Porsche 917K had been accepted. This is the most famous Porsche 917K, adorned with Gulf livery, and the hero car from the iconic Le Mans movie driven by the equally iconic Steve McQueen. For comparison, another 917K used in the film sold for $14,080,000 in 2017 by Gooding. Today’s offer would have marked a significant jump in value. But the seller wasn’t satisfied. Was it the right decision, or will they regret it?

1969 Porsche 917K Steve McQueen’s Hero Car from “Le Mans" Movie went unsold at $25,000,000 (€24,241,000).

Let’s move on to one of the 31 Ford GT40 MkI cars from 1966, the first road-legal example sold to a private owner. Repainted in the iconic Gulf livery in the mid-1970s, it was restored in the early 2000s to its original British Racing Green. It was already auctioned in January 2013 by RM but failed to sell for $2.15 million (estimate: $2.4–3.0 million). Restored again and offered without a reserve, it sold for $7,040,000 — a figure perfectly in line with the market, in my opinion.

1966 Ford GT40 MkI Road Car sold for $7,040,000 (€6,826,500).

Its successor, the 2006 Ford GT, surprised everyone by setting a new record. Three years ago, a Heritage Edition (343 units in Gulf livery) with 24 miles sold for $797,500. Prices then cooled, with subsequent sales hovering between $600,000 and $650,000. That changed on Friday, January 17, 2025, when lot F220, a 2006 GT Heritage Edition with 71 miles, sold for $1,001,000, becoming the first Ford GT to cross the million-dollar mark. And it didn’t stop there: the next day, another Heritage Edition with 1,940 miles sold for $852,500. The outlook for this model is clearly on the rise.

2006 Ford GT Heritage Edition sold for $1,001,000 (€970,500).

Chevrolet also had plenty to celebrate with three record-setting Corvettes. Chronologically, the oldest was a 1957 Corvette with the rarest and most collectible specifications: the 283/283 engine with fuel injection, airbox for increased performance, and competition-grade brakes and suspension (only 43 produced). In pristine condition, certified Bloomington Gold, it easily surpassed the previous $440,000 record for a ’57 Corvette, selling for $715,000.

1957 Chevrolet Corvette Big Brake Airbox sold for $715,000 (€693,500).

A 1958 Corvette also set a record. That year saw the introduction of the 283/290 engine, offering extra performance. Professionally restored, it broke the previous 2022 record of $330,000, selling for $396,000. For the third Corvette, I expand the focus to all C4 models, which demonstrated rapid price growth. All examples offered exceeded estimates, showing significant potential for a model previously undervalued at below $100,000.

1958 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible sold for $396,000 (€384,000).

Now moving to the 1990s: the Pontiac Fiero had never sold for more than $32,750. Mecum broke that record with a 1988 GT with just 22 miles, which sold for $40,150. Condition was everything in the collection of Japanese cars that also broke records. A 1991 Mazda Miata MkI in British Racing Green with a matching hardtop and just 1,462 miles sold for $26,400, setting a record for a live auction (Bring a Trailer sold one for $40,500, but it had just 38 miles).

1991 Mazda Miata Mk1 sold for $26,400 (€25,500).

A 1989 Toyota MR2 MkI with a rare supercharger and just 2,020 miles shattered the previous record of $51,700, selling for $77,000.

1989 Toyota MR2 Supercharged sold for $77,000 (€74,500).

The next-gen MR2 MkIII from 2005, with just 577 miles, set a new benchmark at $36,300, far exceeding the prior record of $31,000. Even the 2000 Honda Civic Si Coupe exceeded expectations, breaking the previous $51,507 record and closing at $66,000.

2000 Honda Civic Si Coupe sold for $66,000 (€64,000).

My favorite was the 1991 Honda CRX Si. In August, a similar model with 23,000 miles sold for $41,250 on Bring a Trailer. Mecum’s CRX, with just 326 miles, set a guaranteed record, selling for $71,500.

1991 Honda CRX Si sold for $71,500 (€69,500).

Another collector offered the most interesting Nissan Patrol ever auctioned: a Y61 series labeled as 2023, though its rare 4.6 V8 engine was produced only from 2004 to 2010 (likely imported in 2023). With 42,000 km and left-hand drive, it sold for $47,300, double the previous record for a Y61 ($23,400) and $12,000 higher than the record for any Patrol.

2023 Nissan Patrol sold for $47,300 (€45,865).

The car I’d take home? The iconic "Shaguar", the Jaguar E-Type S1.5 Roadster from the Austin Powers trilogy. Its elegant and understated Union Jack livery made it impossible to miss, but its film history was the real value. It sold for $880,000 — 10% car value, 90% movie fame.

1967 Jaguar E-Type Series I Roadster "Shaguar" from "Austin Powers" movie sold for $880,000 (€853,500).