Mecum Returns to Indy for the 36th Original Spring Classic May 12th-20th

It’s always great to be back home again in Indiana, especially during the month of May. And while many are thinking about that famous race which also happens every year in May, car collectors are most certainly thinking about Dana Mecum and Mecum Auctions return to the great city of Indianapolis for the 36th Annual Original Spring Classic that kicks off on May 12th and runs through May 20th at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.

Over 3,000 classic, vintage and collector cars have been consigned, making it one of Mecum’s largest sales of the year. America’s Favorite Sports Car will also be well represented with 241 Corvettes at last count and still rising ahead of the sale. The docket is one of the best we’ve seen with all eight generations represented. Here is how they breakdown:

C1: 26
C2: 68
C3: 64
C4: 32
C5: 12
C6: 18
C7: 11
C8: 10

In addition to individual sellers, there are quite a few collections being offered at Indy as well. The Hustle With the Muscle, Apex Collection, and the Keith Busse Collection offer great examples of classic and modern day Corvettes. The Mark Galos Maine Collection offers a couple Indy 500 Pace Cars, and the Serial #35 Collection brings together a 1953 roadster, a 2003 50th Anniversary model, and 1953 pedal car all wearing serial number 35.

We also note the availability of three 2023 Corvette Z06s which is one of the hottest cars on the market. Lot K126.4 is being offered at No-Reserve while Lot S233 features the carbon aero package.

The three big nights for Corvettes are Thursday, May 18 thru Saturday, May 20th and that’s when the Star Cars and Main Attractions are scheduled. Mecum has assembled a fantastic number of consignments including vintage racers with Le Mans in their bio, low production models, and the most sought-after collector-grade Corvettes offered for sale. Here are 10 featured Corvettes to follow:

1. LOT F127 – 1969 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Coupe

Original drivetrain! 1 of only 116 Corvette L88s produced for 1969. Matching numbers 427/430 HP V-8 engine. Original block, heads, intake and carburetor with all correct casting numbers. Matching numbers M22 4-speed manual transmission. Can Am White with Black vinyl interior. Copy of original purchase order. Sold new at Ellis Brooks Chevrolet in San Francisco, California.



2. LOT S152 – 1969 Chevrolet Corvette L88/ZL1 Greenwood Race Car

The No. 49 Greenwood Racing/BF Goodrich “Stars and Stripes” Corvette Race Car. Factory 1969 Corvette L88 Coupe and 1 of 3 team cars built by John Greenwood and sponsored by BF Goodrich during the 1971-1973 seasons to showcase the new line of T/A radials. Driven by top road course drivers of the time including John Greenwood, Bob Johnson, Dick Smothers and Don Yenko. First place in GT Class at the 1972 Watkins Glen Six Hour race, driven by Greenwood and Smothers. Campaigned at the 12 Hours of Sebring, Daytona 24 Hours and 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1973 where it set the GT speed record of 215 MPH on the Mulsanne straight.



3. LOT S151 – 1964 Chevrolet Corvette Tanker Coupe

Matching numbers fuel-injected 327/375 HP V-8, 1 of 38 Big Tank Cars Produced For 1964, NCRS Top Flight in 2013 awarded 97.5 out of 100. Ermine White with Black interior, 4-speed transmission, 4.11 Positraction rear end. Documented with original owner’s manual packet, ownership history back to 1977, NRCS certificate and judging sheets, show boards and NCRS shipping data report.



4. LOT S214 – 1960 Chevrolet Corvette Le Mans Racer

2nd Place in the GT Class at Both Le Mans and Sebring! American airline pilot Lloyd “Lucky” Casner owned the Casner Motor Racing Division, also known as Camoradi. Camoradi campaigned a Corvette with a factory prepared special racing powerplant designed to Zora Arkus-Duntov specifications. Fred Gamble and Lee Lilley finished 2nd in the GT Class at both the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1960, Fred Gamble and Lloyd Casner won the 1960 Swedish Grand Prix GT race in this car and Jim Jeffords also won both the 1960 Havana GT and 1960 Cuba GT races in this car.



5. LOT S116 – 1971 Chevrolet Corvette Export ZR2 Coupe

1 of 12 ZR2s Produced and it’s the last known ZR2 car ever built. Brands Hatch Green with Dark Green vinyl interior. High Performance 454/425 HP V-8 engine with solid lifters, M22 Rock Crusher close ratio 4-speed manual transmission. Bloomington Gold Certified and Documented with the original warranty book, GM of Canada build sheet, and NCRS/GM shipping data report. Previously from the Ed Foss Collection. Body-off restoration completed by Corvette Repair, Inc. in Valley Stream, New York.



6. LOT S105 – 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible

1 of 4 Black and Blue 1967 Corvettes Produced and the only Black and Blue 1967 Corvette equipped with the 427/400 HP engine. 4-speed manual transmission, factory A/C, Power steering, power windows, power brakes, telescopic steering wheel, Blue team soft top and auxiliary hard top. Bloomington Gold Special Collection, NCRS Top Flight. Chevy Vettefest Gold Spinner Concours. First Place at Meadowbrook Concours d’Elegance. Documented with original tank sticker, Protect-O-Plate, and owner’s manual.



7. LOT F193 – 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible

Original and unrestored, Matching numbers 327/350 HP engine coupled to M21 4-speed manual transmission. Original Lynndale Blue paint, 42,071 actual miles per Ohio title. Bloomington Gold Benchmark Certified, Multiple-time NCRS Top Flight winner, Chevy Vette Fest Gold spinner award, Triple Crown recipient. Documented with the original tank sticker, Protect-O-Plate, invoice, window sticker, ownership history, show history, old titles, photo album, certificates and awards, judging sheets, ribbons and no less than five 3-ring binders.



8. LOT F144 – 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible

Sunfire Yellow with Black leather interior, Original matching numbers 427/435 HP V-8 engine with M21 4-speed transmission. Previously owned by Brad Whitford of Aerosmith. Bloomington Gold certified, NCRS Top Flight award winner, Chevy Vette Fest Gold Spinner, Triple Crown recipient. Documented with the tank sticker, CCAS engine block, stamp pad and engine stamp affirmation, ownership history, owner’s manual packet, judging awards, judging sheets and 3-ring binder.



9. LOT F199 – 1960 Chevrolet Corvette Big Brake Fuelie

Triple Black with Tuxedo Black paint, Black interior and Black convertible top. Powered by fuel-injected 283/290 HP V-8 engine with T10 4-speed manual transmission. 1 of only 119 produced with RPO 687 which featured heavy duty brakes, special front and rear suspension, front and rear brake air scoops, metallic brake facings, finned brake drums with cooling fans and a quick turn steering adapter and was the predecessor to the 1963 Corvette Z06. Body-off restoration, odometer reads 109 miles since completion. Documented with binder of restoration receipts dating 2011-2022.



10. LOT S191.1 – 1971 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe

Bridgehampton Blue, code 979, with matching Blue interior. Matching numbers 350/270 HP V-8 engine (suffix code CKJ) and connected to a 400 Turbo automatic transmission CK code (Date 462). Highly original condition with the odometer reading 7,353 miles. Documentation includes build sheet and tank sticker, previous owner history, Protect-O-Plate, judging history and awards. Awards include Bloomington Gold Certified as well as Survivor and Benchmark Certified, NCRS Top Flight and Performance Verification, Zora Arkus Duntov Mark of Excellence, NCRS 5 Star Bowtie award.



Dana Mecum’s 36th Annual Original Spring Classic kicks off on Friday, May 12th and runs through Saturday, May 20th at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis. The gates open at 8:00 AM and the Collector Car Auction starts daily at 10 AM. You can catch all the action on Mecum’s livestream or watch it via MotorTrend-TV and MotorTrend+. The final day of the sale (5/20) will also be available on Discovery.

Register to bid via In-Person, Internet or Telephone at www.mecum.com.

Source:
Mecum