422: Stories from the Auction Block with Stephen Cox Former Mecum Auctions Announcer
The Collector Car Podcast
The Collector Car Podcast Jun 4, 2026
422: Stories from the Auction Block with Stephen Cox Former Mecum Auctions Announcer

422: Stories from the Auction Block with Stephen Cox Former Mecum Auctions Announcer

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29:09
422: Stories from the Auction Block with Stephen Cox Former Mecum Auctions Announcer
Person

Richard Petty

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.

Term

rear gear sets

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.

Term

Mopar stock cars

“Mopar” is a nickname for Chrysler’s car brands. “Mopar stock cars” means race cars associated with those brands, especially in NASCAR history.

Place

Talladega

Talladega is a famous NASCAR race track in Alabama. Cars run extremely fast there, often close together, which can make races exciting and unpredictable.

Place

Daytona

Daytona is a major NASCAR race track in Florida. Because cars draft off each other at high speed, strategy and timing matter a lot.

Term

steel

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.

Term

Messerschmitt BF109s

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.

Term

crash jewelry

“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.

Porsche 911 GT3
Car

Porsche 911 GT3

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.

Brand

Breitling

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.

Ac Cobra
Car

Ac Cobra

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.

Term

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.

Brand

Sopwith Watch Company

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.

Toyota Fj
Car

Toyota Fj

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.

Concept

trends and fads

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.

Concept

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.

Mustang Fox Body
Car

Mustang Fox Body

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.

Term

sunroof

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.

86 GT
Car

86 GT

“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.

Term

four eyes

“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.

Term

Aero cars

“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.

1980 and 81 Cobras
Car

1980 and 81 Cobras

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.

Term

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.

Term

supercharged convertible

“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.

Chevrolet Corvette
Car

Chevrolet Corvette

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.

Term

drag racing

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
Car

Ford Torino

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.

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