422: Stories from the Auction Block with Stephen Cox Former Mecum Auctions Announcer
About this episode
Sponsorships and collector-focused ads set the tone before Stephen Cox—former Mecum Auctions announcer—walks through his path from racing and motorsports TV into auction coverage. Cox also shares how he approaches watchmaking: using German fighter aircraft armor plating, repurposing old steel, and avoiding “crash jewelry” sourced from wrecked cars. The conversation widens to auction-show logistics, market cycles, and even Fox-body Mustang culture, ending with where to find Cox online.
What is it really like behind the microphone at some of the biggest collector car auctions in the world?
This week on The Collector Car Podcast, I sit down with Stephen Cox, longtime announcer with Mecum Auctions, to talk about the unforgettable cars, wild moments, celebrity appearances, and behind the scenes stories from years on the auction block.
From muscle cars and American classics to million dollar collector cars crossing the stage, Stephen shares what makes the auction world so exciting and how the energy of a live sale can completely change the fate of a car. We also discuss the evolution of the collector car hobby, memorable sales, and what enthusiasts may not realize happens once the cameras stop rolling.
If you love collector cars, auction drama, automotive storytelling, and insider perspectives from the front lines of the hobby, this episode is for you.
#CollectorCarPodcast #Mecum #MecumAuctions #CollectorCars #ClassicCars #MuscleCars #CarAuctions #AutomotiveHistory #CarCulture #AuctionBlock #VintageCars #CarEnthusiast #AmericanMuscle #CollectorCarMarket #AutomotiveStories
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Contact Greg at [email protected] or [email protected].
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The Collector Car Podcast features expert interviews, great collections, and market insights.
With 25+ years of experience, Greg helps enthusiasts navigate the collector car world with confidence.
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Richard Petty
"I have four rear gear sets from the Chrysler and Mopar stock cars by the king Richard Petty. Talladega and Daytona in the late 60s and early 1970s."
Richard Petty was one of NASCAR’s biggest legends, nicknamed “The King.” In this story, he’s the source of the racing parts the watch design is based on.
Richard Petty is a legendary NASCAR driver, often called “The King,” with a record-setting career in stock-car racing. In this segment, he’s directly tied to the Chrysler/Mopar stock cars and the specific gear sets used as watch design inspiration.
rear gear sets
"I have four rear gear sets from the Chrysler and Mopar stock cars by the king Richard Petty. Talladega and Daytona in the late 60s and early 1970s."
In a car, the rear axle has gears that help decide how the car pulls and how fast it can go. Different gear sets can make the car feel quicker or better for higher speeds.
“Rear gear sets” are the different sets of gears used in the rear axle/differential assembly to change the car’s gearing. Swapping gear sets can alter how quickly the car accelerates versus how fast it can go at top speed.
Mopar stock cars
"I have four rear gear sets from the Chrysler and Mopar stock cars by the king Richard Petty. Talladega and Daytona in the late 60s and early 1970s."
“Mopar” is a nickname for Chrysler’s car brands. “Mopar stock cars” means race cars associated with those brands, especially in NASCAR history.
“Mopar” is the Chrysler brand umbrella (Chrysler, Dodge, Plymouth, and related divisions) and “Mopar stock cars” refers to NASCAR-era race cars built by or for those Chrysler-family brands. The term signals a specific manufacturer lineage rather than just “a race car.”
Talladega
"I have four rear gear sets from the Chrysler and Mopar stock cars by the king Richard Petty. Talladega and Daytona in the late 60s and early 1970s."
Talladega is a famous NASCAR race track in Alabama. Cars run extremely fast there, often close together, which can make races exciting and unpredictable.
Talladega refers to Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama, a NASCAR track known for very high speeds and pack racing. It’s famous for aerodynamic drafting and for producing dramatic finishes.
Daytona
"I have four rear gear sets from the Chrysler and Mopar stock cars by the king Richard Petty. Talladega and Daytona in the late 60s and early 1970s."
Daytona is a major NASCAR race track in Florida. Because cars draft off each other at high speed, strategy and timing matter a lot.
Daytona refers to Daytona International Speedway in Florida, another cornerstone NASCAR venue. Like Talladega, it’s known for high-speed drafting and the way race strategy can swing quickly.
steel
"And it will be a very, very limited edition because we only have so much steel. There are watch companies out there that say, well, we're going to limit this addition to 200"
He’s talking about having only a limited amount of metal available to make the watches. That’s what makes the edition “limited,” not a car-related spec.
Here, “steel” is used as a material constraint for limited-edition production—meaning the watchmaker has only a finite amount of steel available. It’s not an automotive performance term; it’s about manufacturing supply for the collectible.
Messerschmitt BF109s
"Well, we only have so much steel. You know, they're not making any more Messerschmitt BF109s. They're not making any more Richard Petty stock cars from the 1960s."
He’s referencing the Messerschmitt Bf 109, a famous WWII fighter plane. The point is that you can’t just make brand-new copies of that kind of historic aircraft anymore.
“Messerschmitt BF109s” refers to the Messerschmitt Bf 109, a WWII German fighter aircraft. The speaker uses it as a comparison to emphasize that certain historic machines can’t be produced in unlimited quantities anymore.
crash jewelry
"Because like you said, I know like crash jewelry, they source parts from wrecked 911 GT3s or whatever."
“Crash jewelry” means jewelry made from car parts that were damaged in crashes. Instead of throwing those parts away, people reuse them as a collectible item.
“Crash jewelry” is a collector term for jewelry made from parts recovered from wrecked vehicles. In this context, the host mentions sourcing parts from wrecked Porsche 911 GT3 cars to create wearable pieces, turning damaged automotive components into collectible items.
Porsche 911 GT3
"Because like you said, I know like crash jewelry, they source parts from wrecked 911 GT3s or whatever."
The Porsche 911 GT3 is a performance version of the 911 built for track driving. The speaker is saying some companies use parts from crashed GT3s to make other collectible items.
The Porsche 911 GT3 is a track-focused 911 variant known for its high-performance, motorsports-derived setup. In the segment, it’s referenced as a common source for “crash jewelry,” implying that parts from wrecked GT3s are being repurposed into collectible products.
Breitling
"And I feel like Breitling a couple of years ago kind of messed it up. They had their motorsports collection, AC Cobra, Thunderbird Mustang."
Breitling is a luxury watch brand. The host is saying their motorsports-themed collection didn’t connect as well with car enthusiasts as the guest’s history-focused approach.
Breitling is a watch brand that the host criticizes for how it handled a motorsports-themed collection. The segment contrasts Breitling’s approach with the guest’s approach to preserving automotive history through sourced components.
Ac Cobra
"They had their motorsports collection, AC Cobra, Thunderbird Mustang. I have, I had a 65 Mustang at the time."
The AC Cobra is a classic, iconic sports car. Here it’s mentioned because a watch brand used famous car names as part of its marketing.
The AC Cobra is a legendary British sports car built around a lightweight roadster concept and famous for its V8-powered performance. In the segment, it’s mentioned as part of Breitling’s motorsports collection, showing how watch brands borrow iconic car names to market luxury products.
aviation P51 connection
"You know, but I don't know of one Mustang owner that wants to spend $8,500 on a Breitling watch. You know, I just didn't see the correct, obviously there's an aviation P51 connection."
“P51” is shorthand for the P-51 Mustang, a well-known WWII fighter plane. The speaker is saying the watch is trying to connect to that plane’s history.
“P51” refers to the P-51 Mustang, a famous World War II fighter aircraft. The host is pointing out that the watch’s appeal is tied to that aviation history, which may or may not resonate with the average car enthusiast.
Sopwith Watch Company
"We're in the luxury range too. Sopwith Watch Company is in that price range. We're, we're $5,000 to $10,000."
Sopwith Watch Company is a luxury watch brand. The host says their watches cost a lot, but they’re marketed around preserving history instead of just using racing names for style.
Sopwith Watch Company is referenced as a luxury watch brand operating in the $5,000 to $10,000 range. The host contrasts it with Breitling by emphasizing that Sopwith positions its products around preserving history rather than just using motorsports branding.
Toyota Fj
"... not in my normal studio. I'm actually in my 2014 Toyota FJ. And I am remote at Mecom Indianapolis."
The Toyota FJ Cruiser is an SUV that’s meant for rough roads and off-road driving. It has a boxy, retro style and is built to handle trails better than a typical car. The podcast mentions it because the host is using one as their current vehicle.
The Toyota FJ Cruiser is a rugged, off-road-capable SUV built around a retro, trail-oriented design. It’s significant in collector and enthusiast circles because it blends everyday usability with serious capability and a distinctive look. The podcast mentions it because the host is currently driving one while recording remotely.
trends and fads
"And the second thing is you find out that there are trends and fads in the collector car industry, [971.3s] just like there are anyplace else."
A “trend” or “fad” is when lots of people suddenly want the same kind of car. In auctions and collecting, that can push prices up, but the excitement often fades later.
In collector-car markets, “trends and fads” describe how attention and buying interest can shift quickly toward certain models or styles. The host’s point is that these cycles affect prices and availability, so buyers should expect momentum to change over time.
jump on the bandwagon
"And it didn't matter where they came from or what condition they were in. [985.5s] And people would jump on the bandwagon."
This means people buy something mainly because everyone else is buying it. In cars, that can happen even if the cars aren’t all equally good.
“Jump on the bandwagon” is describing herd behavior in the collector-car market—buyers piling in because others are buying. The host uses it to explain why demand can rise even when the cars vary widely in condition.
Mustang Fox Body
"...n it burns itself out. And we're seeing that with Fox Body Mustangs right now. And so it you brace yourself ..."
In this context, “Mustang” refers to the Ford Mustang line, specifically the Fox Body era. The discussion is about how certain cars can “burn themselves out,” and the host points to Fox Body Mustangs as an example of that kind of wear or failure pattern. It’s brought up because it affects how these cars should be evaluated and prepared for ownership.
sunroof
"He's rebuilding the frame to the sunroof because nobody makes sunroofs anymore. Not the old manual ones. You can't find them."
A sunroof is a panel in the roof that lets in light and can open for fresh air. On older cars, the exact parts can be difficult to find, so people may have to repair or rebuild the frame.
A sunroof is a glass or metal panel in the roof that can open for ventilation and light. On older cars, replacement sunroof parts can be hard to source, which is why restorers sometimes rebuild or fabricate missing components.
86 GT
"You know, I really think that the 86 GT, I like the four eyes."
“86 GT” means a 1986 Ford Mustang GT. The GT is the higher-trim, more performance-focused Mustang, and the speaker thinks 1986 is a particularly good year to look for.
The “86 GT” refers to a 1986 Ford Mustang GT, one of the most sought-after Fox-body years. In this conversation, it’s singled out as the speaker’s favorite because it represents the “premium” era of Fox-body Mustangs.
four eyes
"Fox bodies go from 79 to 93 and they were divided into two eras. The 80's, 79 to 86's were called the four eyes and then because they had four headlamps"
“Four eyes” is a nickname for the early Fox-body Mustangs that have four headlights. People use it to tell the difference between earlier and later versions just by looking at the front.
“Four eyes” is an enthusiast term for the 1979–1986 Fox-body Mustang styling that uses four headlights. The name comes from the visual layout, and it’s used to distinguish this early styling era from the later “Aero” cars.
Aero cars
"and then the 87 through 93's were called the Aero cars, A-E-R-O because of the aerodynamic packaging that came on them."
“Aero cars” refers to the later Fox-body Mustangs (late 1980s into the early 1990s). The idea is that they look more aerodynamic, and the speaker is using the term to separate them from the earlier “four eyes” look.
“Aero cars” is an enthusiast term for the 1987–1993 Fox-body Mustangs. The nickname comes from the aerodynamic packaging and styling changes that were meant to improve airflow and reduce drag compared with the earlier “four eyes” cars.
1980 and 81 Cobras
"The 79 Pace cars are fantastic and I love the look of the 1980 and 81 Cobras, but they were terrible performers."
This is talking about the 1980 and 1981 Ford Mustang Cobra. The speaker likes how they look, but they’re saying those specific years weren’t very strong when it came to performance.
The “1980 and 81 Cobras” refers to the Ford Mustang Cobra models from those model years. The speaker praises their look but says they were “terrible performers,” highlighting how some collector favorites can be more about styling than straight-line results.
decals
"There were decals all over the cars. Remember that? Remember that? There were tone on tone decals."
In this context, “decals” are stickers or graphics applied to the car’s body—like stripes and badges. The speaker is saying that era’s Mustangs often used lots of these to create the look.
“Decals” here means applied graphic stickers—like stripes, badges, and themed graphics—used to create a specific visual style on the car. The speaker is describing how late-1970s/1980s Mustang styling often relied on heavy decal packages to look “stylish.”
supercharged convertible
"And it was one of three, I think SSC's, supercharged convertible. That would be the one I'd probably want."
“Supercharged” means the engine has an added device that pushes extra air in for more power. A “convertible” is the open-top version of the car.
A “supercharged” engine uses a belt-driven compressor to force more air into the engine, which can increase power. A “convertible” is the open-top body style, and combining the two (supercharged convertible) is a specific performance/enthusiast configuration the speaker is highlighting.
Chevrolet Corvette
"...John, you know, he's a Pontiac guy. He was a huge Corvette guy. And he could carry that."
The Chevrolet Corvette is a sports car made by Chevrolet. It’s designed for performance and has a big fan base. People often talk about it when discussing cars they love or collect.
The Chevrolet Corvette is a long-running American sports car known for its performance-focused design and strong enthusiast following. It’s often discussed in collector and motorsports conversations because it has a reputation for being capable and collectible across many eras. In the podcast context, it’s mentioned as a car type someone strongly connects with.
drag racing
"and especially drag racing. [1595.9s] Anything to do with drag racing. [1597.4s] He's so passionate about it."
Drag racing is a motorsport where two cars accelerate in a straight line over a short distance, typically from a standing start. It emphasizes launch, traction, and acceleration rather than cornering or endurance.
Ford Torino
"...l other forms of auto racing, as well as the Ford Torino and the Grand Torino series and the Mustang serie..."
The Ford Torino is a Ford car model that was used in racing and performance events. It’s mentioned alongside other Ford models because it helped build Ford’s racing history. The key idea is that it’s part of the performance lineup people associate with motorsports.
The Ford Torino is a full-size Ford model that became important in racing and performance series. The podcast context groups it with other Ford racing-related names, including the Mustang, indicating it’s part of a broader Ford motorsports lineage. It’s discussed because it connects to how Ford competed and built performance reputations through different model platforms.
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