402 Collector Cars Change Hands At The Two-Day Auction

Mecum Auctions continued its potent 2016 pace in Denver last weekend featuring a total of 611 vehicles across the auction block with 402 classic and collector cars hammering sold. Auction sale totals reached more than $11 million with top sales led by a superb R-Code 427-engined 1963 Ford Galaxie 500XL, which gaveled for $155,000. To review the full list of sales results, visit Mecum.com.

Top 10 sales at the Mecum Denver 2016 auction include (all individual sales reflect hammer prices):

1. 1963 Ford Galaxie 500XL (Lot S37) at $155,000
2. 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Split Window (Lot S128) at $140,000
3. 1957 Chevrolet Corvette Resto Mod (Lot S98) at $135,000
4. 1967 Chevrolet Corvette 427/400 HP Convertible (Lot S110) at $125,000
5. 1970 Buick GSX Stage 1 (Lot S36) at $115,000
6. 1966 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe (Lot S102) at $115,000
7. 1967 Shelby GT500 Fastback (Lot S173) at $80,000
8. 1986 Porsche 930 Turbo (Lot S170.1) at $80,000
9. 1965 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible (Lot S184) at $72,000
10. 1970 Pontiac GTO Judge (Lot S160) at $67,000

Mecum’s next collector car auction will be the company’s annual Harrisburg event at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex, July 21-23. The following month will bring the return of Mecum Monterey 2016. “The Daytime Auction,” August 18-20 is slated to feature one of the finest selections Mecum Auctions has ever offered in Monterey, including exotic supercars, sports cars, classics, muscle cars and Corvettes.

For more information on an upcoming auction or to register as a bidder, visit Mecum.com or call (262) 275-5050.

1963 FORD GALAXIE 500XL

R-Code 427 CI, 4-Speed

HIGHLIGHTS

• R-code 427/425 V-8 engine
• Block casting C3AE-015AB, heads C3AE-H, rods C3AE-C, camshaft C4AE 6250 B, exhaust manifolds C3AE-9481-D and C2AE-9430-B, distributor C3AF-12127-AE, balancer C4AE
• Transmission upgraded to 1964 cast iron, same as factory race cars
• R-code spinner hubcaps
• 4.10 rear axle
• Letter from Lee Holman of Holman & Moody, Inc.
• Frame-off restoration
• Frame tag #C3AA5011-AA
• All fiberglass parts correct for car
• Some aftermarket parts added during restoration
• Rare right-hand-drive export dash
• Two sets of wheels and tires
• Built to race in Australia but never raced there
• For Colorado residents of counties requiring emissions, this vehicle must be registered as a collector car

By 1963, Ford was just warming up to its racing efforts with the introduction of 427-cubic-inch V-8 engines. The trickledown effect from the race cars to the street cars was remarkable and put Ford in the public eye. Being able to buy a “race car” right from the showroom played into the classic ‘race on Sunday, sell on Monday’ formula, and it worked very well for the Blue Oval. With competition from Chevrolet and Plymouth omnipresent and unyielding, Ford had to keep pace, and the Galaxie 500XL was one of those cars that carried the torch. This R-Code 1963 Galaxie 500XL features the 427/425 HP engine with the upgraded 1964 cast-iron transmission and 4.10:1 rear axle like the factory race cars. Built to race in Australia, it never competed, but features the unique and super-rare right-hand-drive export dashboard. Being sold with two sets of wheels and tires, the frame-off restored car comes rounded out with a letter from Lee Holman of Holman & Moody, Inc., hugely responsible for many race-winning Ford race cars of the era.