A 1967 Shelby 427 S/C Cobra, a 1930 Duesenberg Model SJ Rollston Convertible Victoria, and Parnelli Jones’ 1969 Ford Bronco ‘Big Oly’, the most expensive light truck ever, were the top results at the Mecum Indy 2021 sale in Indianapolis, USA.
A 1967 Shelby 427 S/C Cobra sold for $3.3 million after the auction as the top result at the Mecum Indy 2021 collector car auction in Indianapolis. The highest result achieved during the auction was for a 1930 Duesenberg Model SJ Rollston Convertible Victoria that sold for $2,970,000. It was followed by Parnelli Jones’ 1969 Ford Bronco ‘Big Oly’ that won the Baja 1000 twice and at $1,870,000 became the most expensive truck ever sold at public auction. Three modern Ford GTs sold for over a million dollar, as did a 2014 McLaren P1.
Mecum Indianapolis Sale in May 2021
Mecum scheduled the 34th annual Original Spring Classic auction for May 14-22, 2021, at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis. The format was a live auction with onsite bidding, in addition to telephone and internet bidding.
Mecum’s achieved a total of more than $111 million in overall sales as the second Mecum auction in 2021 to achieve more than $100 million in overall sales. (Mecum earned $141.2 million at Kissimmee in January 2021.) Of the 2,057 cars offered throughout the nine auction days, 1,715 hammered sold for an impressive sell-through rate of 83%, and top sales at the auction were highlighted by a handful of history-making headliners.
Top Ten Results at Mecum Indy 2021 Sale
The top ten results at the Mecum Indy 2021 sale in Indianapolis were:
| Year | Car | Price ($) | |
| 1 | 1967 | Shelby 427 S/C Cobra Roadster | 3,300,000 |
| 2 | 1930 | Duesenberg Model SJ Rollston Convertible Victoria | 2,970,000 |
| 3 | 1969 | Ford Bronco “Big Oly” | 1,870,000 |
| 4 | 2020 | Ford GT Mk II | 1,870,000 |
| 5 | 2014 | McLaren P1 | 1,347,500 |
| 6 | 2019 | Ford GT Lightweight | 1,100,000 |
| 7 | 2019 | Ford GT | 1,045,000 |
| 8 | 2019 | McLaren Senna | 946,000 |
| 9 | 1957 | Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster | 907,500 |
| 10 | 2011 | Ferrari 599 SA Aperta | 880,000 |
Million-Dollar Cars at Mecum Indy 2021
Seven of the cars on offer at Mecum Indy 2021 sale achieved results of over a million dollar each:
The most expensive car sold at the Mecum Indy 2021 collector car auction was the 1967 Shelby 427 S/C Cobra Roadster, CSX3042. Bidding during the auction stopped around $2.8 million but it was later reported sold for $3.3 million — still below the presale estimate of $3.4 zo $4 million. This Shelby was one of only 27 original factory 427 S/C Cobras produced and the seller claims it to be the most original and correct. It has only 10,760 miles on the clock.
The 1930 Duesenberg Model SJ Rollston Convertible Victoria (Lot S135) sold for $2,970,000, as the highest result during the auction and in first published results. This elegant automobile was originally built in Indianapolis, making its sale at the auction an especially memorable and truly historic homecoming occasion. The historically more interesting Duesenberg — the 1936 Duesenberg Model J Rollston Convertible Berline, the manufacturer’s last show car, failed to sell despite a highest bid of $2,800,000.
It was a good week for these noble American classics: a 1929 Duesenberg Model J ‘Disappearing Top’ Torpedo Convertible Coupe sold for $5,725,000 as the top result at the RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2021 sale, while Bonhams sold a 1933 Duesenberg Model J Sweep Panel Dual-Cowl Phaeton for $1,655,000 a few days earlier.
Parnelli Jones’ 1969 Ford Bronco “Big Oly”
Parnelli Jones’ 1969 Ford Bronco “Big Oly” sold for a record $1,870,00 to stake its claim as the world’s most valuable truck. Constructed by Dick Russell and piloted by renowned racers Parnelli Jones and Bill Stroppe in both of its Baja 1000 wins, Big Oly also went on to dominate the Baja 500 and the Mint 400 in 1973, cementing its legacy as the single most significant Bronco-inspired vehicle ever built and the one likely most responsible for the model line’s ultimate commercial sales success.
The 1969 Ford Bronco became the most expensive truck, or SUV in more modern terms ever. Other SUVs that sold for over a million dollar previously include a 2017 Mercedes-Benz G650 Landaulet for $1.4 million at Bonhams De Zoute (Belgium) in 2017 and a 2014 Mercedes-Benz G63 6×6 for $1,210,000 at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2019.
Other Million-Dollar Results at Mecum Indy 2021
© Mecum 
© Mecum
Ford GT prices were weaker at many auctions in the past twelve months and several failed to sell or to breach the million-dollar mark. However, Mecum sold three GTs for strong prices at Indy 2021:
- The 2020 Ford GT MkII boasting just 15 miles and wearing one-off Ken Miles livery — as a track-only vehicle it was not covered by the stipulation that the passenger vehicles are not allowed to be sold on within two years of purchase.
- The 2019 Ford GT Lightweight has only 18 miles on the clock. it is fitted with the $70,000 lightweight package, which didn’t drop either air-conditioning or entertainment equipment.
- The 2019 Ford GT, chassis 109 of the planned run of 1,350 was clearly also kept for resale with only 15 miles on the clock.
A 2014 McLaren P1 sold for $1,347,500 — lower than prices a few years ago but better than at some recent auctions. The 2019 Senna just missed the million-dollar mark but sold better than many others that came to market in recent months.
Private collections were plentiful in Indy, with more than a dozen of them achieving overall sales in excess of seven figures and some of the largest and highest quality assemblages reaching well into the multimillions. The headlining Personal Collection of Parnelli Jones, who was on-site at the Indy auction, brought a total of $3.15 million, and the six top-shelf Select Red/Red Survivor Corvettes from the Dr. Mark Davis Collection achieved a total of $1.05 million. The expansive Charlie Thomas Estate Collection saw 145 of its cars hammer sold for a total of $6.67 million, and the 26-car, no-reserve collection offered by Marshall Goldman achieved a similar $6.59 million. Gene Hetland’s celebrated Deuceheaven Collection reached $2.68 million, and John Lucey’s nine fine rides brought a total of $1.35 million.
In addition to car sales, more than 2,709 Road Art items were offered at the auction as well, with a total of 2,628 hammering sold throughout the duration of the event. Top sales from the Road Art realm included a Miles Ahead Carroll Shelby Statue (Lot Q171) that sold for $41,300, a Ford Double-Sided Porcelain Neon Sign (Lot Q318) that brought $35,400 and the Big Oly Race-Worn Helmet and Goggles (Lot P613) that sold for $25,960, to name just a few.
One especially unique offering available in Indianapolis this year was Mecum Bidder Badge No. 2 (Lot F154.2), which was offered as part of an estate collection with all proceeds to benefit Mecum Auctions’ charity of choice, Curing Kids Cancer. The badge itself brought a total of $236,000 to benefit the honorable CKC mission, while the remaining three cars in the high-quality estate offering achieved an aggregate $662,200.
The next live event on the Mecum calendar is the auction house’s debut in Tulsa, Oklahoma, June 11-12, 2021, which is set to feature 600 classic and collector cars on offer led by the vehicles of the Elkin Brothers Collection.
