Corvette Auction Preview – Mecum Houston 2023

Houston, we have a problem. We can’t decide which Corvette crossing the auction block in Houston this week is our favorite!

Mecum Auctions is rolling into Houston, Texas this week for their annual sale inside the NRG Center. The event runs Thursday, April 13th through Saturday, April 15th. Vehicle sales begin right around 10am each day. Of the 1,000 expected vehicles, there are currently 91 Corvettes already consigned as we assemble this prose and we’re sure a few more will be added leading up to the event.

Looking at that Corvette docket, we find all eight generations represented. Nearly 2/3 of the docket consists of 1st through 3rd generation cars. Here’s how all the numbers breakdown:

• 17 C1’s
• 22 C2’s
• 29 C3’s
• 8 C4’s
• 5 C5’s
• 6 C6’s
• 2 C7’s
• 2 C8’s

In typical Mecum form, we see multiple collections being offered. In Houston, the largest of those is the Horton Classic Car Museum Collection consisting of over 100 no reserve vehicles. The diverse collection contains 39 Corvettes, 4 of which you need to keep your eye on when they cross the Mecum red carpet next weekend.

Lot F191 – 1953 Corvette Roadster


This first year Corvette shows 93,000 miles and was used a reference for the Danbury Mint model. It was a NCRS Top Flight winner in 1998. Copies of the Flight certificate and judging sheets are included in the sale. Just like all 300 1953 Corvettes, this one wears Polo White paint, a red interior, and a black soft top. Power comes from the 150hp Blue Flame 6-cylinder engine that’s mated to an automatic transmission. Other features include a pushbutton radio, courtesy lights, and wide whitewall tires mounted to red wheels.

Lot F203 – 1962 Big Brake Fuelie


They don’t get any meaner than a triple black big brake, fuel injected C1 Corvette. Lot F203 is ready for the racetrack. It’s powered by the famous 360hp fuel injected engine that’s backed by a 4-speed manual transmission. It features the track-ready RPO 687 heavy duty brake and special steering package. A 4.56:1 rear end routes power out to the rear wheels. The non-racing crowd will like the heater, defroster, and AM radio. The sale of this sinister Corvette includes the original 1962 Texas black license plate and Owner’s Guide.

Lot F205 – 1963 Corvette Z06


When you want the ultimate Split Window Coupe, you grab a Z06. This first year C2 is 1 of just 199 Z06s produced in 1963 and is listed in the Z06 survey. Both the interior and exterior are finished in Saddle Tan. It’s powered by the matching numbers fuel-injected 327/360hp engine that’s backed by a 4-speed manual transmission. The top dog Z06 package also included sintered metallic power brakes with a dual circuit master cylinder and finned brake drums. All that rode on a special heavy duty suspension. Other amenities include knock-off wheels, AM/FM radio, and tinted glass.

Lot F209 – 1965 396 Convertible


There’s really nothing like a rumbling big block convertible Corvette and Lot F209 checks all the boxes. For starters it finished in desirable Rally Red with a black interior and black soft top. Knock off wheels, white stripe tires, side exhaust, and a power antenna complete the timeless look of this C2. Power is supplied courtesy of the 1-year only L78 396/425hp engine. The rat motor breathes through a 4 barrel carb and is attached to a 4-speed manual transmission while 4-wheel disc brakes attempt to bring this beast to a stop. Inside the tidy interior you’ll note a Delco AM/FM radio and the classic 3 spoke steering wheel. The car is documented with its NCRS Shipping Data Report.

We should also point out that Mecum transparently includes the following disclaimer on each car from the Horton Museum Collection “All cars being offered from the Horton Classic Car Museum Collection have been set up for long term museum display. Please note that any car purchased from this collection will likely require essential basic service prior to driving on the road including but not limited to fuel systems and carburetors, batteries, brakes etc. All cars are being offered at no reserve and will be sold as is/where is.”

While we’d love to tell you about every Corvette in the Horton Museum collection, we just don’t have the real estate here to do so. Mecum has a great video below with John Kraman and Stephen Cox exploring this outstanding collection of cars. For more information on the Horton Classic Car Museum Collection or any of the other cars crossing the block in Houston head on over to Mecum.com.


Mecum’s Houston 2023 Auction takes place next week, April 13th, 14th, and 15th at the spacious NRG center in Houston, Texas. Vehicle sales begin daily just about 10am and you can always catch all the action via Mecum’s livestream. Additionally, MotorTrend will have live coverage from 1pm – 7pm ET both Friday and Saturday.

Source:
Mecum Auctions