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Incredible Mecum auction breaks records.

Incredible Mecum auction breaks records.

CarCast Jan 22, 2026 61 min
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About this episode

Record-breaking sales at the Mecum auction have car enthusiasts buzzing, with total sales reaching an astonishing $441 million. The episode dives into the standout cars, including a 1969 Yanko Nova that fetched $852,000 and a 1971 Hemi Kuda convertible that sold for $3.3 million. The hosts discuss the implications of such high prices and the potential influence of economic factors on buyer behavior. They also touch on a controversial AI-generated car listing on Bring a Trailer, highlighting the challenges of authenticity in the digital age. Insights into upcoming auctions and market trends make this episode a must for anyone tracking the collector car landscape.

Technical Too Afraid to Ask
Concept

muscle cars

"I mean, they went bonkers, but the muscle cars also. Yeah, except the BB-512, it's still way undervalued."

Muscle cars are fast cars that were popular in America, especially in the 1960s. They usually have big engines and are known for their speed and power, making them exciting to drive.

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Ferrari BB 512
Pelicanactor (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Ferrari BB 512

"Yeah, except the BB-512, it's still way undervalued. And so, oh yeah, that 512 I saw that made me think of Mikey's..."

The Ferrari BB 512 is a famous sports car from the 1980s. It has a unique engine design and is known for being fast and stylish, making it a collector's item today.

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Toyota Prius
TTTNIS (CC0)
Car

Toyota Prius

"I'm going to go buy a slightly used Prius."

The Toyota Prius is a car that uses both gasoline and electricity to run, which helps save fuel and reduce pollution. It's popular among people who want to be more environmentally friendly.

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Term

tax write off

"...that much money this so far this year that they need a tax write off?"

A tax write off is when you can subtract certain expenses from your income to pay less in taxes. It's a way to save money on what you owe to the government.

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Ford Expedition
OWS Photography (CC BY 4.0)
Car

Ford Expedition

"...I need to come in right away and get a new Ford Expedition. You got one for like around 80 grand cash."

The Ford Expedition is a large SUV that can carry many passengers and their gear. It's popular for families and trips where you need a lot of space.

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Cadillac DeVille
Alexander Migl (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Cadillac DeVille

"...I want to talk about a 1999 Cadillac Deville. Now it's got it. It's got a North Star motor in it."

The Cadillac Deville is a large luxury car made by Cadillac, known for being comfortable and stylish. The 1999 version is one of the last models produced before the Deville name was discontinued.

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Term

North Star motor

"...It's got a North Star motor in it. You know, so I don't know if you guys saw this or not, but it was a pretty big thing."

The North Star motor is a type of engine made by Cadillac that is known for being powerful and smooth. It was used in several Cadillac models and is recognized for its performance.

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Company

Bring a Trailer

"I don't blame bring a trailer for this because you're right. I think someone was legit selling a car."

Bring a Trailer is a website where people can buy and sell cars through auctions. It's popular for classic and unique vehicles.

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Term

VIN number

"The trailer process is you submit your car, VIN number, you pay your, your $99 fee. And when you upload the photos, you have to upload the title with your name on it."

A VIN number is a special code that identifies a specific car. It's like a serial number that tells you details about the car, such as who made it and when.

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Term

title

"And when you upload the photos, you have to upload the title with your name on it. That doesn't go on the public listing, but that's part of the authentication process."

A title is a document that shows who owns a car. You need it to sell the car or prove that it's yours.

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Porsche 911
David Villarreal Fernández (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Car

Porsche 911

"The number one brand was Porsche and the number one car was 911."

The Porsche 911 is a famous sports car that has been around for many years. It's known for being fast and having a unique shape that many people recognize.

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Part

coilovers

"bit larger turbos, intercooler, coil overs, just a, just a couple of tasteful mods and it just runs strong."

Coilovers are parts of the car's suspension that help it handle better on the road. They can be adjusted to change how high or low the car sits.

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Part

turbo

"bit larger turbos, intercooler, coil overs, just a, just a couple of tasteful mods and it just runs strong."

A turbo is a part that helps the engine get more air, which makes it more powerful. It helps the car go faster.

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Part

intercooler

"bit larger turbos, intercooler, coil overs, just a, just a couple of tasteful mods and it just runs strong."

An intercooler is a part that cools down the air that comes from the turbo before it goes into the engine. Cooler air helps the engine work better.

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Car

Alfa Gtvs

"... Jaguar, you know, XK120s, I was looking at Alpha GTVs. Like I'm going, maybe I can get, you know, 45 t..."
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Porsche 356
Berthold Werner (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Car

Porsche 356

"...in patina, you know, older 9-11s, maybe a little 356 coupe, some Jaguar, you know, XK120s, I was looki..."
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Jaguar XK120
Sfoskett (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Car

Jaguar XK120

"maybe a little 356 coupe, some Jaguar, you know, XK120s..."

The Jaguar XK120 is an older sports car that many people find beautiful and exciting. It was one of the first cars that made Jaguar famous.

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Ferrari 250 GTO
Unknown photographer (Public domain)
Car

Ferrari 250 GTO

"...about some of these prices or the 250 GTO Ferrari, the white one. But let's start out with some of the muscle cars."

The Ferrari 250 GTO is a famous sports car that was made in the 1960s. It's very rare and valuable, often selling for a lot of money at auctions.

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Concept

Mecum auction

"...let me just run through because I got it in front of me. OK, the the the meekum auction total sales for that week or however many days..."

Mecum Auctions is a company that sells special cars at big events. People can buy and sell rare and valuable cars there, often for a lot of money.

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Yanko Nova
Oleg Yunakov (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Yanko Nova

"...one of the muscle cars that was pretty, pretty crazy. It was a Yanko Nova, a Yanko Nova. That car was beautiful."

The Yanko Nova is a special version of the Chevrolet Nova that was made to be faster and more powerful. It's popular among car collectors because of its unique features and performance.

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Term

Hemi engine

"the Hemi Kuda convertible, the white and black one."

A Hemi engine is a special kind of engine that has a unique shape, which helps it run better and faster. It's often found in powerful cars like muscle cars.

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Chevrolet Camaro
Ermell (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Chevrolet Camaro

"I'll have you know. Sixty nine motion Camaro. Yeah. Yeah."

The Chevrolet Camaro is a sporty car that many people love for its speed and cool looks. The 1969 version is especially famous and is often talked about because it's considered one of the best muscle cars ever made.

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Term

COPO

"That's still that's that's more than a copo, which is the factory lightweight 427 car or a ZL one."

COPO is a special way Chevrolet made some of their cars, like the Camaro, to be faster for racing. These cars are rare and valuable now.

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Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Ermell (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

"...or a ZL one."

The Camaro ZL1 is a super-fast version of the Chevrolet Camaro. It's built to be really powerful and can be used for racing or just driving on the street.

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Shelby Cobra
Spurzem - Lothar Spurzem (CC BY-SA 2.0 de)
Car

Shelby Cobra

"... I've got to buy something. I still think Shelby Cobras and four GTS undervalued cars, four GT or GT 40s...."

The Shelby Cobra is a fast and powerful sports car that was made a long time ago and is very popular among car lovers. It's famous for its speed and has a cool, classic look that many people admire.

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Car

Chrysler Cordoba

"...my dad said 7,500 for his Chrysler Cordova. You know, I that's when, like before color, though, right?"

The Chrysler Cordova is a luxury car that was made in the late 1970s and early 1980s. It was designed to be stylish and comfortable for drivers and passengers.

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Pontiac GTO
W. Bulach (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Pontiac GTO

"...or bought one of those crappy GTOs? You know, I mean, it was old race cars."

The Pontiac GTO is a classic car that is known for being one of the first muscle cars. It was popular in the 1960s for its speed and powerful engine.

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Shelby Daytona
Coolsteve11 (CC0)
Car

Shelby Daytona

"...n when Pete Brock and Shelby were racing for our Shelby Daytona coups of Le Mans. And they were too expensive to..."

The Shelby Daytona Coupe is a special race car from the 1960s that was built to be really fast on the track. It's famous for its shape that helps it go faster and is loved by collectors.

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Ferrari LaFerrari
Alexander-93 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Ferrari LaFerrari

"...know we all talked about it. What did your dad's LaFerrari go for at Bear Jackson? Just it's just under fiv..."

The Ferrari LaFerrari is a super-fast car that uses both gas and electricity to go really quickly. It's one of the newest and most advanced cars from Ferrari, and people love it for its speed and cool features.

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Term

record sale

"And it was the previous record at five point two."

A record sale means that something was sold for the most money ever at an auction. For cars, it shows how valuable that particular car is.

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Concept

RM Sotheby's

"I think the test will be what happens at RM or at Bonham's or at Gooding, things like that, where people are used to buying those older Ferraris."

RM Sotheby's is a company that sells expensive cars at auctions. They often have events where collectors can buy and sell rare cars, including older Ferraris.

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Term

engine swap

"So they're going, well, you know, it's been painted. It's an engine swap. Doesn't have the race history."

An engine swap is when you take out the engine that came with a car and put in a different one. People do this to make the car faster or to fix a broken engine.

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Aston Martin Vanquish
Alexander-93 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Aston Martin Vanquish

"...m back on a few things. The latest thing was his vanquish. He was like, I want this. I was thinking maybe ..."

The Aston Martin Vanquish is a really nice and fast car that looks very elegant. It's known for being powerful and is often seen in movies, especially those with James Bond.

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Mini Coopers
Lothar Spurzem (CC BY-SA 2.0 de)
Car

Mini Coopers

"I'm my Mini Cooper. I'm keeping my Mini Cooper's keeper. But the Morgan, too hard to find parts for."

The Mini Cooper is a small, cute car that's known for being fun to drive and easy to park. It's popular because it has a unique style and is great for city driving.

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Ferrari Testarosa
Calreyn88 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Ferrari Testarosa

"... which is an interesting car for me. It's it's a Ferrari Testarosa and it's a 1987 Testarosa. But it's a Strayman."

The Ferrari Testarossa is a famous sports car from the 1980s that many people recognize because of its unique design. It's known for being very fast and is a favorite among car enthusiasts.

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Mercedes-Benz Mercedesbenz 300
Photography by Semnoz in November 2005 (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Car

Mercedes-Benz Mercedesbenz 300

"Right next to that is the, excuse me. Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster 1.8 to 2.2, which just pains me because at Vision, we bought one and it was a lightweight car and we paid $85,000 for it and it got sold."

The Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster is a fancy sports car from the 1950s that many people think is really beautiful. It has special doors that open up like wings, and it's known for being very well-made and luxurious.

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Ac Cobra
Spurzem - Lothar Spurzem (CC BY-SA 2.0 de)
Car

Ac Cobra

"...e of those Dreamcars. An F40, a 930 Turbo, a 427 AC Cobra, something like that. So why don't you guys go t..."

The AC Cobra MkIII is a special version of the Cobra sports car that is known for being really fast and stylish. It's a favorite among collectors because of its history in racing and its cool design.

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Ferrari F40
Alexander Migl (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Ferrari F40

"...m on a mission to buy one of those Dreamcars. An F40, a 930 Turbo, a 427 AC Cobra, something like that..."
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20 cars featured

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