Dallas Mecum Auction

[Wayne M.]

Re: Dallas Mecum Auction

.... If I can find the old Special Collection brochure that it was listed in from mid '80's the VIN would be shown. .... I would be interested in knowing what became of it. .... the orange orphan is still unaccounted for.

1988 Bloomington Special Collection (Earthquake '88) brochure shows Monaco Orange VIN 22210. Owned by Nancy VerHagen of Elwood KS, at at that time.

[Tim G.]

Re: Dallas Mecum Auction

I believe that it is the only "black" Survivor L88, or that's what I heard. The owner of the orange L88 was at that auction.

[Dick W.]

Re: Dallas Mecum Auction

I believe that it is the only "black" Survivor L88, or that's what I heard. The owner of the orange L88 was at that auction.

If it is the black car I am thinking of, it has had all four quarters painted, the engine has been out of the car, and maybe all four quarters replaced, I cannot remember for sure. I have the VIN of the car I am thinking about, but will have to wait a while to see the auction results including the VIN

[Gene M.]

Re: Dallas Mecum Auction

"The thing that annoys me is the constant babble by the commentators that is loaded with innacuracies and ad libs."

Norris,

Normally, the "talent" as they're referred to will show up at 59:40, in other words 20 seconds before air time and start talking. Research if any, is done by the "Producer" and read by the "talent" from written notes. Otherwise it's "babble and ad libs".

Gary
....

I mute the TV and turn on 50's music. I just want to see the cars anyway..........

[Clark K.]

Re: Dallas Mecum Auction

I entered my '67 L71 and my '68 Shelby GT500KR into a very fancy car show near my house called the Santa Fe Concorso. I was in the "American Iron" category, muscle cars. I drove my 'Vette on the mountain road tours, rallies, etc. the whole weekend, then parked it on the field for the show and judging.

I was interested in your experiences at the Santa Fe Concorso. Early this year, I entered a car in my collection, a two-time national concours champion ('85 & 2010), multiple car show winner and 2011 Carlisle GM Nationals Invitational Display car, but was not chosen to participate this year. Glad to hear you made it into the Santa Fe Concorso. I was very disappointed that my rare '75-1/2 Chevy Cosworth was denied a spot.

[Clark K.]

Re: Dallas Mecum Auction

Not sure if this is the case in Dallas but most City Fire codes require a locking gas gap or it to be taped closed at indoor shows

That is correct.

I have shown collector cars all over the country for 30 years. Nowhere but Dallas has such stringent rules about cars. It is the Fire Marshal that imposes these dreadful rules at events held in City of Dallas facilities. The Dallas Convention Center, where the Mecum Auction was held, is a City of Dallas facility.

I cannot understand how blue masking tape, or any kind of tape for that matter, will prevent a fire or prevent someone from tampering with the gas cap/tank. Also, all gas caps had to be taped, regardless of what type cap, locking or not. Also, I am under the belief that a full gas tank is less likely to explode than an almost empty one. That is due to no explosive fumes in a full tank. I can only surmise that they want to minimize gas spillage. It is the Dallas Fire Marshal that enforces this.

The absolute worst thing was that due to the layout of the Dallas Convention Center, the cars were not in another building where they could be started and warmed up, then driven into the building where the auction stage was set up. This would have solved a lot of the "no start" problems with cold engines, etc.

We only got to start the engine as it sat on the auction block, in order to drive it to the center of the stage to start the bidding. Then after it was pushed to the far end of the stage, the driver was allowed to start the car again and drive it back to its display spot from hence it came. Ten of the 21 cars I "drove" during those three days could not be started. Another one, a '72 Chevy p/u, sprang a power steering leak when started. So, it had to be pushed all the way across the stage. It sold for $15,000!

I got in one car, a "C5 chassis Corvette" with a widened "tribute" '62 body that had a dead battery because whomever parked it did not leave it in reverse gear. This runs the battery down, apparently, on a manual transmission C5 Corvette. When the car was started by jumping, we then had a hard time getting the steering wheel to unlock. For a while, there, we thought the car could not be towed to the staging lanes and certainly not pushed across the stage. But, the owner showed up and got the steering wheel unlocked.
-Clark

[Clark K.]

Re: Dallas Mecum Auction

Many had a yellow tow rope attached to the front frame.

All vehicles, cars and trucks, had a loop tied onto their undercarriage at the Dallas Mecum. This was to facilitate the ten golf carts that were assigned to pull every vehicle to the staging lanes. Once pulled to the staging lanes (the driver just steered and braked), a Mecum crewman then connected the batteries. On some vehicles, not all, the driver was asked to fire up the engine but then told to immediately kill it so the Fire Marshall would not blow a fuse.

I am wondering whether there was any under-front-bumper damage (spoilers, etc.) done by using this method. But, I never heard of, nor saw any. -Clark

[Clark K.]

Re: Dallas Mecum Auction

I was not the only NCRS Texas Chapter member that was a volunteer driver last weekend at the inaugural Dallas Mecum Auction. Fellow Lone Star Sports Car/NCRS TX Chapter members Phil and Karen Pitalo were either car drivers or golf cart drivers. If there were others, I just don't remember. -Clark

[Clark K.]

Re: Dallas Mecum Auction

I bought the 1990 ZR1

Then, you may want to know the story about why Bill Stephens was standing by your car with a cameraman in tow for so long. I have it on DVR if you are interested. I spoke to Mr. Stephens right before he spoke about your car on TV.

BTW, Erv, I believe that the LT5 should have been the basis for all future Corvette engines. Just think "what if" our new Corvettes had four cams, 32 valves, and pent-roof combustion chambers, how much more hp our new Corvettes would have (I bet much more than my GS' 436 hp). Congratulations on your recent acquisition! -Clark

[Clark K.]

Re: Dallas Mecum Auction

what did the 90 ZR1 go for, have a friend with a white with white interior who talks of selling it now and ten .

Of course condition makes a big difference, things such as low miles, rare options/colors, etc. With that written, you may be disappointed that the one sold at the Dallas Mecum only went for $22,500. Here is a link to the car: http://www.mecum.com/auctions/lot_de...ow=311&lottype=
-Clark

[Norris W.]

Re: Dallas Mecum Auction

Then, you may want to know the story about why Bill Stephens was standing by your car with a cameraman in tow for so long. I have it on DVR if you are interested. I spoke to Mr. Stephens right before he spoke about your car on TV.

BTW, Erv, I believe that the LT5 should have been the basis for all future Corvette engines. Just think "what if" our new Corvettes had four cams, 32 valves, and pent-roof combustion chambers, how much more hp our new Corvettes would have (I bet much more than my GS' 436 hp). Congratulations on your recent acquisition! -Clark

The problem with the ZR1 was the hotshot college boy, bean counters & advertising people at GM who aren't car guys and can't see past their shadows killed it long before the package reached it's potential. The second year of production (1991) they made the regular Corvette look virtually identical by putting the square tail light rear on. (really dumb move) To the average guy, the difference in rear body width and rear wheels wasn't noticeable enough to distinguish the car. I bought a ZR new in '90, #426 and by '91 it was just another car unless the hood was up. I also had a '90 Callaway, and in the several years that I showed the 2 as a pair the Callaway would draw a crowd and the ZR would be virtually ignored. The package was also grossly overpriced from the beginning as is the current ZR1 (which will never reach it's potential for the same reason). Both Detroit and import options are full of multi valve overhead cam engines that don't double the price of a car. But then again, the "live for today and don't think ahead" mentality seems to be a way of life with corporate America, not just GM.

[Terry M.]

Re: Dallas Mecum Auction

Clark, You obviously have not come to a indoor car show in Chicago. We know very well the reasons for what you regard as intrusive rules.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McCormick_Place

http://911research.wtc7.net/wtc/analysis/compare/mccormick.html

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/bitstream/handle/2142/91/McCormick%20Place%20Fire,%201967.pdf?sequence=2

[Steve B.]

Re: Dallas Mecum Auction

1988 Bloomington Special Collection (Earthquake '88) brochure shows Monaco Orange VIN 22210. Owned by Nancy VerHagen of Elwood KS, at at that time.

That's the same car that I was referring to.

[Dick W.]

Re: Dallas Mecum Auction

Clark, You obviously have not come to a indoor car show in Chicago. We know very well the reasons for what you regard as intrusive rules.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McCormick_Place

http://911research.wtc7.net/wtc/analysis/compare/mccormick.html

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/bits...pdf?sequence=2

The rules are pretty much the same for any indoor convention facility. National Fire Code spells out the fuel issue, and most states/municipalities have adopted that provision out of the code.

[Michael J.]

Re: Dallas Mecum Auction

The package was also grossly overpriced from the beginning as is the current ZR1 (which will never reach it's potential for the same reason). Both Detroit and import options are full of multi valve overhead cam engines that don't double the price of a car.

I just took NCM delivery of a new ZR1, (shown below with her grandmother who was in my garage), and I can tell you it is the best, most incredible performance car on the planet for any amount of money. I have had Porsche Turbo S, Ferrari, etc., and nothing can touch this car for the relatively low price. And that engine is fantastic and simple, I know I drive it and I built it too. GM and Chevy have a big winner in the ZR1.