The top 12 results at the Mecum Monterey 2021 auction exceeded a million dollars with the top car a 2014 Ferrari LaFerrari selling for $3,410,000 while an Acura NSX sold for $1,100,000 as a charity lot.
An “as-new” 2014 Ferarri LaFerrari topped the results at the Mecum Monterey 2021 collector car auction where 12 of the over 500 cars crossing the block achieved results above a million dollar. Although Ferraris and Shelbys dominated the top results, a 1929 Duesenberg Model J Murphy Convertible Sedan, two modern Porsches, and a still-to-be-built Acura also sold for over a million. The top (unsuccessful) bid in the auction was $4 million for an elegant 1936 Delahaye Type 135 Competition Court Teardrop Coupe.
Mecum Monterey Collector Car Auction 2021
Mecum Auctions held its annual Daytime Auction in Monterey during the famed Car Week at the Del Monte Golf Course on the grounds of the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa on three days, 12 to 14 August 2021.
The 2021 auction was the most successful of the Monterey auctions Mecum has staged since 2009. A total of 519 vehicles crossed the block with 411 cars hammered sold for an exceptional sell-through rate of 80% and total overall sales of $57.4 million.
Top Results at Mecum Monterey Sale 2021
The twelve highest results in the Mecum Monterey 2021 collection car auction sold for over a million dollar each:
| Year | Car | Price ($) | Estimate | |
| 1 | 2014 | Ferrari LaFerrari | 3,410,000 | 3,000,000 – 3,500,000 |
| 2 | 1967 | Shelby 427 Semi Competition Cobra | 2,860,000 | 2,800,000 – 3,000,000 |
| 3 | 1966 | Ferrari 275 GTB/6C Long Nose | 2,640,000 | 2,550,000 – 2,900,000 |
| 4 | 2004 | Ford Shelby Cobra Concept | 2,640,000 | 1,500,000 – 2,000,000 |
| 5 | 1929 | Duesenberg Model J Murphy Convertible Sedan | 2,365,000 | 2,250,000 – 2,750,000 |
| 6 | 1965 | Ferrari 500 Superfast | 1,875,000 | 2,000,000 – 2,500,000 |
| 7 | 1963 | Ferrari 250 GT Lusso Berlinetta | 1,760,000 | 1,400,000 – 1,600,000 |
| 8 | 2015 | Porsche 918 Spyder Weissach | 1,595,000 | 1,400,000 – 1,600,000 |
| 9 | 1965 | Shelby GT350R Fastback | 1,265,000 | 1,250,000 – 1,500,000 |
| 10 | 2004 | Porsche Carrera GT | 1,210,000 | 900,000 – 1,000,000 |
| 11 | 2022 | Acura NSX Type S VIN001 | 1,100,000 | Charity Lot |
| 12 | 2017 | Ford GT ’66 Heritage Edition | 1,072,500 | 1,150,000 – 1,300,000 |
Note: May include post-hammer deals announced soon after the sale.
Million-Dollar Car Results at Mecum Monterey 2021
Twelve cars sold for over a million dollar each at the Mecum Monterey 2021 collector car auction — a healthy mix of prewar classics, American muscles, European sports cars, and a still unbuilt Japanese supercar.
The top result at the Mecum sale was a 2014 Ferrari LaFerrari (Lot S75) that brought $3.41 million. After several LaFerraris struggled to reach $3 million in 2020 and 2019, LaFerrari prices seem to return to levels seen in 2017. RM Sotheby’s also sold a LaFerrari at Monterey 2021 but for $160,000 less. The LaFerrari at Mecum was sold with only 131 miles on the clock.
Ferraris and Shelbys dominated the million-dollar results at Mecum Monterey 2021, claiming seven seats among the top 10 sales list. CSX3045 (Lot S92), a celebrated Semi Competition Cobra that is one of just 29 built, took the second seat in top sales bringing in $2.86 million, and the Ford Special Project, Codename: Daisy—a 2004 Shelby Cobra Concept car (Lot S105)—came in next selling for $2.64 million.
The three remaining Ferraris to land top 10 seats included a 1966 275 GTB/6C Long Nose (Lot S78) that sold for $2.64 million, a 1965 500 Superfast (Lot S112) that brought $1.88 million and a 1963 250 GT Lusso Berlinetta Scaglietti (Lot S110) that achieved $1.76 million, and the lone remaining Shelby on the list, a 1965 GT350R Fastback (Lot S102), brought $1.27 million.
Other marques to make an appearance in top sales included Duesenberg and Porsche, with a 1929 Duesenberg Model J Murphy Convertible Sedan (Lot F49) achieving a final sale of $2.37 million, a 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder Weissach (Lot S97) selling for $1.6 million and a 2004 Porsche Carrera GT (Lot S69) reaching $1.21 million.
The two Porsche results were interesting in an auction series where many top Porsches, including the 917K at RM Sotheby’s failed to sell. Porsche 918s struggled at many auctions in the past two years but prices seemed to have rebound to 2017 levels — three sold for around $1.6 million at Monterey 2021 auctions.
The Porsche Carerra GT is also a model with which Mecum had much success. Four of the five that have ever sold at auction for over a million dollar achieved the result at a Mecum Monterey sale (2015, 2016, 2017 & 2021) — the latest sale also increased the model record.
Charity Results at Mecum Monterey Sale 2021
Mecum continued a laudable tradition of offering top charity lots at major auctions. The top charity lot at Monterey 2021 was Serial No. 1 of just 350 2022 Acura NSX Type S (Lot S117.1) slated for production. The yet-to-be-built car was offered with all proceeds to benefit charity—including the Center for Science and Industry and an innovative STEAM education program for underserved youth—and it ultimately achieved a final sale price of $1.1 million, far exceeding its base MSRP of $171,495.
Similarly, a 2022 Triumph Scrambler 1200 Steve McQueen Edition motorcycle (Lot S115) crossed the Monterey auction block with proceeds to benefit the Boys Republic non-profit youth-treatment community. The bike and its charitable cause were well-received by the crowds in Monterey, and it achieved a final sale of $55,000, more than three times its $16,400 base price.
Top Cars Not Sold at Mecum Monterey 2021
Some of the top cars not sold at the Mecum Monterey 2021 classic car auction included:
| Year | Car NOT Sold | Highest Bid $ | Estimate $ |
| 1936 | Delahaye Type 135 Competition Court Teardrop Coupe | HB 4,000,000 | 5,000,000 – 6,000,000 |
| 1952 | Ferrari 340 America | HB 3,100,000 | 4,800,000 – 5,300,000 |
| 1972 | Ferrari 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spider | HB 2,300,000 | 2,500,000 – 3,000,000 |
| 2015 | McLaren P1 GTR | HB 2,300,00 | 2,000,000 – 2,500,000 |
| 2017 | Lamborghini Centenario Roadster | HB 1,700,000 | 2,000,000 – 2,500,000 |
The Delahaye with teardrop coupe coachwork by Figoni et Falaschi was one of the most elegant classics offered at any Monterey 2021 sale and attracted the highest bid of any car at the Mecum auction. Perhaps a bit unfairly, but it requires a very confident buyer to bid for such a vehicle if not offered at Bonhams, Gooding, or RM Sotheby’s.
The McLaren was listed a non-sale despite the highest bid being mid-estimate.
Monterey Motoring Week 2021
Most of the traditional Monterey Motoring Week events returned in mid-August 2021 after the cancellations in 2020. Top classic car auctioneers with sales during Monterey Week 2021 included Gooding (Pebble Beach), Bonhams (Quail Lodge), RM Sotheby’s, and Mecum.
Monterey 2021 Auction Results:
- Monterey 2021 All Auctions: Auction Results General Overview, Top Ten Results, List of Million-Dollar Cars
- Bonhams: Quail Lodge Sale Results
- Gooding: Pebble Beach Sale Results, McLaren F1
- RM Sotheby’s: Monterey Sale Results, Andrews Estate Collection Sale
- Mecum: Monterey Sale Results
Monterey 2021 Auction Announcements:
- Bonhams: Mercedes-Benz 26/100/180
- Bonhams: Talbot-Lago T26 Décapotable
- Gooding: Ferrari California Spider Competizione
- Gooding: Mercedes-Benz AMG CLK GTR Strassenversion
- Gooding: Prewar British Cars
- Gooding: Prewar American Cars
- Gooding: Bugatti Type 35B
- Gooding: Ford GT40 Alan Mann Lightweight
- Gooding: Neil Peart’s Silver Surfers Collection
- Gooding: American Racing Cars
- Gooding: Porsche 934 & 935
- Gooding: McLaren F1
- Gooding: Italian Coachbuilt Cars
- RM Sotheby’s: Porsche 917K
- RM Sotheby’s: Le Mans Racing Cars
- RM Sotheby’s: Andrews Estate Collection (Aston Martin DB4GTs)
- RM Sotheby’s: Top Ferraris
Previous Monterey Week Auction Results
