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McLaren W1 First Drive: Ferocious Hypercar Transcends the Track

You know things are getting serious when McLaren rolls-out the ‘1’ suffix. The origin story is, of course, the very first road car McLaren ever built, the F1. Designed by visionary Formula 1 aerodynamicist and engineer Gordon Murray, it arrived in 1992 and rendered all other supercars obsolete. The tiny, lightweight F1 embraced carbon-fibre material technology, adopted a radical centre seat driving position with two passengers set back and either side and was powered by a 6.1-litre V12 engine from BMW that might as well have been passed down directly from the Gods. Game-changer? That doesn’t even come close to describing its impact, even if at the time sales didn’t come easy… The P1 was very different. Rather than a unique side project from the Formula 1 team, it was instead a statement piece for McLaren Automotive, a new road car division still in its infancy. It arrived in 2013 and was a wild-eyed showstopper. It traded the long-legged gait and supple suspension of the F1 for a weaponized hybrid system capable of delivering 903bhp and huge blue flames from its drainpipe exhaust. In Race mode, it lowered by 2-inches and its massive concave rear wing extended into the sky. The P1 was all about aerodynamic downforce, crazed acceleration and a snorting, angry soundtrack that mixed venomous twin-turbocharged V8 with the manic whirr of electric motors. Not so much a car as a force of nature. And now there’s this: The W1. It’s a true successor to the P1 with a similar brief and, on the face of it, it evolves rather than radically reinvents McLaren’s vision for the ultimate hypercar. This is not a criticism. How could it be when the result is this dramatic and has such staggering, other-worldly potential? The W1 has 1258bhp delivered to the rear wheels. It’s capable of 0-124 mph in 5.8-seconds, the quarter mile in 9.6-seconds at 167 mph and produces 2205lbs of downforce at 174 mph. The active aerodynamics – particularly a rear wing that extends way out beyond the rear of the car – are pure performance art and deliver massive aerodynamic efficiency. The result, aside from looking extremely cool, is that the W1 is McLaren’s fastest road car around a racetrack. Ever. Their benchmark circuit is the breath-taking Handling Track at the Nardo proving ground in southern Italy, where the W1 beats their previous benchmark, the flyweight McLaren Senna, by three seconds per lap. Or “a lifetime” as they call it in racing. Maybe two lifetimes! Core to the W1’s performance is the new ‘Aerocell’ carbon fibre tub. With integrated seats and a raised footwell to allow for inboard pushrod-operated front suspension – which in turn gives air a clean path to the huge underbody diffuser – it’s light, stiff, space efficient and has been instrumental in McLaren realising a full ground-effect concept. Just like last year’s F1 cars, which were the fastest ever made. There is also an active front wing and the aforementioned complex rear wing dubbed ‘Active Long Tail’. All of which is very admirable. But the ‘anhedral’ or gullwing doors and the fantastically shirnked-wrapped feel to the minimalist, highly-focussed interior are a pretty good side effect. The W1 feels special. Those fixed seats are perhaps a shade more upright than expected, and the driving position is less obviously racecar than, for example, the Aston Martin Valhalla or Ferrari F80. However, once you’ve adjusted the pedals (they move on a slider) and the delicate, slim-rimmed and alcantara-trimmed steering wheel, there’s an overwhelming sense of purpose. The cabin is so tightly tailored and imparts a sense of lightness and agility before you so much as start the all-new 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine, which makes 916bhp all on its own and revs to 9200rpm. Reach up to a roof-mounted control panel to find the starter button. Maybe this fighter plane trope is a little corny, but somehow you feel thrilled rather than manipulated. The W1 has a sense of humour as well as all that motorsport-derived sophistication. There’s a short delay, but when the engine does fire it’s instant – as the high-powered hybrid system negates the need for an old-school starter motor. A sharp flare of revs tells you that this engine is hyper-responsive and angry. On some deep level your brain and body have been sent all the signals required to prepare for something new and intense. Ahead of us, an empty Mugello racetrack, so press and hold the blue button next to the red starter to select Race mode. The centre display graphic shows the W1’s transformation in real time as it lowers by 37mm at the front and 17mm at the rear whilst simultaneously undocking all that active aero goodness. Race mode is not road legal and is geo-locked. You can show your friends and neighbours the aero dance, but it won’t allow you to select a gear to actually drive unless you’re at a circuit. Incidentally, the rocker switches either side of the display binnacle allow further options now: Toggle up the Handling control on the left for Race+ (for F1-spec super smooth tracks) or stick to Race for gnarlier ones. On the right toggle select ‘GP’ for sustained performance over a stint or ‘Sprint’ to unleash all 1258bhp for a time attack. There’s also a DRS and Boost function on the steering wheel. But I guarantee you won’t have the mental capacity to use them… Exit the pitlane, pin the throttle and W1 takes maybe a millisecond or two to gather its might (the gearing stretches to around 60mph in first, nearly 100mph in second, primarily to aid traction), but then lunges at the first turn with incredible ferocity. It instantly feels light, almost like inertia is no longer a thing. McLaren really does prize lightweight engineering, and at 3084lbs (dry) the W1 has a 278lbs advantage over the Ferrari F80. Plus, Ferrari uses figures for cars fitted with every single carbon fibre option. In reality, the gap is probably wider still. The impression of agility and stunning control continues as the track is unravelled at startling pace. The electric motor mounted to the side of the new 8-speed dual-clutch transmission is good for 342bhp and 324lb ft and it boosts any low rev lethargy the new flat-plane crank V8 might have (spoiler alert: It doesn’t appear to have any), so the W1 just feels massively, almost impossibly powerful at any revs. Even so, there’s real reward for wringing it out to 9200rpm and the power curve feels superheated but organic, too. In Race mode the steering – still hydraulically powered – has less assistance and it is noticeably heavier than other McLarens. However, that resistance is welcome as it gives you something to push against and imparts so much information about the front grip level. New Pirelli Trofeo RS tyres with a bigger front footprint than P1 or Senna really help. The front-end feels incredibly secure and the rear-axle follows with perfectly-aligned precision. The whole car feels super-stiff, completely locked into the surface and inspires confidence, but there’s an inherent agility and adjustability that means you’re quickly confident to push at its limits and really impose yourself on the chassis. It’s such a complex car but the driving experience is intuitive, and the driver feels a key contributor rather than just amazed (or terrified) observer, holding on for dear life. Every dynamic ingredient really is shockingly effective and yet has a subtlety and lightness of touch. From that delicious steering to the incredible brakes, the W1 just feels so mission-focussed, so hooked-up. Only the new 8-speed gearbox is a slightly disappointment. It’s fast and punchy, but after the scintillating energy of the Ferrari F80 ’box it feels competent rather than inspired. Other quibbles – it’s okay to quibble when the starting price is $2.1-million before tax and destination charge. Well, that new twin-turbocharged V8 sounds tightly wound and aggressive but if you have a P1 tucked in the garage you’ll miss the snorting, Darth Vader-style soundscape and all the drama that goes with it. Ferrari does this better, too. The F80 sounds deathly dull from the outside but is a riot of turbochargers, electric motors and all sorts of mechanical fury within the cockpit. Even so, the W1 is wildly entertaining on track, and the rear-drive configuration makes it more of a challenge and more satisfying than the F80 when chasing lap times or just sliding around for fun. In the Ferrari, you must second-guess what the front e-axle might do, whereas in the W1 it’s all on you. There are plenty of tools to help, including the ingenious Variable Drift Control, but somehow the W1 is more heroic. Or at least fools you into feeling more heroic – which is surely the point! On the road? Nimble, loaded with feel and sublime response. The ride is noticeably tougher than, say, a 750S but the control is ramped-up too, and with a bit more speed the whole car finds a delicious rhythm. Sport mode for the drivetrain brings some nice turbo whooshes and chirps, but the noise remains high-quality rather than extreme excitement. It is perhaps the one area the W1 feels just a little too tame. Of course, there’s nothing tame about the raw performance… which is genuinely shocking and literally hurts your neck muscles after a few hours. How McLaren has given the W1 such immense traction through just two driven wheels is beyond me. So, is it worthy of that ‘1’? I think so. Perhaps we won’t be talking about $25-million auction results for the W1 in 30 years from now, as we are for the F1. Perhaps it doesn’t quite have the amazing presence and jaw-dropping star quality of the simply gorgeous P1. But it is such an intense experience and the way it marries stunning track performance with delicate poise and entertainment on normal roads is something akin to magic. Maybe not ‘the one’ but definitely a searing, outrageous addition to McLaren’s fiercest family line. Just 399 W1’s will be built and they’re all sold. I’m not surprised at all. View All McLarens For Sale Images: McLaren Automotive

By Edward Jones – December 18, 2020

Mecum Kissimmee 2021: 1965 Shelby GT350R Fastback - 1 of 34

Presented by Mecum Auctions - One of only 34 examples of Carroll Shelby’s all-conquering GT350R SCCA B Production racers, Serial No. 5R106 was raced in Midwest SCCA National events by its first owner, Richard Jordan of Downers Grove, Illinois. A veteran Corvette racer and graduate of the Carroll Shelby School of High Performance Driving at Riverside, California, Jordan ordered the car through Jack Loftus Ford Inc. in Hinsdale, Illinois. Prepared at Ford’s San Jose assembly plant to specifications established by GT350 Project Manager Chuck Cantwell, the stripped Mustang 2+2 Fastback arrived at Shelby American’s LAX headquarters on December 21, 1964; exactly six months later, on June 21, 1965, it rolled out of the Shelby workshop as an original full-competition R-Model, complete with a Shelby-modified 289 HiPo small-block V-8 tuned to 325 HP on the Shelby dynamometer. 5R106 was then shipped via TWA to O’Hare International Airport, and then to Loftus Ford, where it arrived with an additional rear axle assembly carrying 4.11:1 gearing. While not fully documented, the car’s race record begins with an entry in the B Production class at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, on September 4, 1965—just 10 days after Jordan took delivery of his fresh new racer. Its subsequent history included races at Clermont, Indiana, Lynndale Farms, Wisconsin, and Wilmot Raceway, also in Wisconsin. Jordan began winding down his racing career by the early 1970s, when he placed 5R106 into long-term storage, where it remained for years under wraps and preserved in virtually as-original condition. Its second owner, Paul Zimmons of Potomac, Maryland, restored 5R106 after purchasing it in 1987, winning the Gold Award in the Competition Class at SAAC-18 at Watkins Glen in 1993. In 2000, the car earned Second Place Popular Vote at SAAC-25 at Lime Rock Park. Subsequent owners, including such prominent collectors as Dave Christenholz and noted Shelby expert and author Colin Comer, have carefully maintained this extraordinary R-Model as it first raced at Road America in 1965 (including the scratch in the door handle from when Jordan once went off-track at Road America and barely scraped the outside wall), employing only its original factory components and NOS parts as required. With fewer than 4,900 original miles on the original engine and drivetrain, 5R106 remains in astonishingly original condition, retaining such important features as the original Plexiglas and R-Model magnesium racing wheels. Fully race-ready and offered with unusually extensive documentation that includes the original Shelby American and Jack Loftus Ford paperwork, 5R106 presents as exceedingly original, authentically restored and factory correct in every detail, making it a marvelous example of a perennial American racing classic. This vehicle will be auctioned off at Mecum Auctions’ Kissimmee 2021 event (January 7-16, 2021). View Listing

By Edward Jones – December 17, 2020

Mecum Kissimmee 2021: 2019 Ferrari 488 Pista w/ 975 Miles

Presented by Mecum Auctions - Pista: properly spoken with the flair that is seemingly exclusive to the Italian tongue, it’s a fitting name for one of the hottest road-going Ferraris ever built, which is really saying something when it comes to the birthplace of the Prancing Horse. Translated to English, it means “racetrack,” which is exactly the intended field of endeavour for the track-purposed version of the Ferrari 488. In announcing the 488 Pista, Ferrari’s representative noted that the name signified not just the new car’s capacity for track-worthy performance but also the racing-derived technology that makes it all possible. From the dramatic downforce-generating ravine in the front hood to the elegant “dolphin” rear spoiler that seems to float above the voluminous rear diffuser drafted from the 488E endurance racer, the Pista’s aerodynamic accoutrements refined its ability to breeze through the air while holding it to the road with more efficiency than ever before. To fully appreciate the Pista’s soulful powerplant, one need only consider Ferrari’s own description: “An extreme evolution of the turbo engine selected overall International Engine of the Year in both 2016 and 2017, this is the most powerful V8 in Ferrari history.” The raw facts tell the rest of the story: an all-aluminum 3.9L twin-turbocharged DOHC 90-degree V-8 engine essentially built to Challenge specifications with a lighter crank and flywheel and gorgeous Inconel exhaust headers, improved intake and exhaust dynamics and direct injection. It all works in concert to produce a wailing symphony that swells to 710 HP and 568 lb-ft of torque through a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Capable of a top speed of 211 MPH, this 2019 Ferrari 488 Pista in red with twin black stripes rides on Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires on delicate-looking dark aluminum wheels that reveal the red-painted calipers and carbon-ceramic disc brakes within. The doors open to a black interior with red stitching and accents that leaves no doubt as to its functionality while still exuding refinement. Fine leather and polished carbon-fiber surfaces abound, sharing space with deep bucket seats, red seat belts and a large yellow tach centered behind the multi-function steering wheel. This vehicle will be auctioned off at Mecum Auctions’ Kissimmee 2021 event (January 7-16, 2021). View Listing

By Edward Jones – December 16, 2020

Mecum Auctioning Off Optioned-Out Speed Yellow 2005 Ford GT

Presented by Mecum Auctions - Designed and built to help celebrate Ford Motor Company’s landmark 2003 centennial, the Ford GT also commemorated Ford’s historic 1-2-3 podium sweep in the Ford vs. Ferrari wars at the 1966 running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Rooted in the GT90 and GT40 concept cars shown at Detroit in 1995 and 2002 respectively, the Ford GT program was far more than a throwback to a glorious past. While echoing the basic layout and iconic design cues of the GT40, the new Ford GT utilized modern, state-of-the-art engineering, materials and construction to deliver even greater performance than its legendary forebear. Design was penned by Camilo Pardo under J. Mays at Ford’s Living Legends studio, with engineering and assembly performed by Ford’s Special Vehicle Team (SVT) and direct development work completed by none other than Carroll Shelby and his team. According to published sources, 4,033 GTs were built in total for the 2005 and 2006 model years, with this example being No. 320 of the 2,022 produced for 2005. This GT features all four factory-available options, including the audiophile-quality McIntosh stereo system and lightweight forged aluminum BBS wheels, and it is one of just 19 Speed Yellow cars produced for 2005 with full Le Mans stripes and gray-painted brake calipers. Following production, it was delivered to Lee Sapp Ford-Mercury in Ashland, Nebraska, for eventual sale. Race-bred engineering includes an aluminum 5.4L V-8 engine belting out a factory-rated 550 HP with electronic multi-port fuel injection, a Lysholm screw-type supercharger, intercooler and stainless dual exhaust. Other competition-derived engineering features include a Ricardo 6-speed rear transaxle, extruded aluminum space frame, precision-cast aluminum double-wishbone “SLA” suspension with coilovers, dry-sump engine lubrication and big 4-wheel Brembo ventilated disc brakes with 4-piston calipers. While capable of astounding performance in every discipline, including 205 MPH top-speed capability, this 2005 Ford GT is a proper road car with a wide array of comfort and convenience features including air conditioning, heat insulation, tilt and telescopic steering and Ebony leather-trimmed seats with carbon fiber structure. Accompanied at auction by the original window sticker, this rare and highly equipped “four option” 2005 Ford GT has only been lightly used since new with just 7,100 miles, and it stands as one of the most collectible examples of the brilliant 2005-06 Ford GT currently available. View Listing

By Edward Jones – December 16, 2020

Mecum Kissimmee 2021: 2018 Ford GT '67 Heritage Edition

Presented by Mecum Auctions - Ford followed up on the wildly successful introduction of its second-generation GT in 2005 by returning to the historical well for special Heritage Edition liveries recalling the 1966 Le Mans-winning MkII’s pairing of black paint with silver stripes and the orange-on-blue Gulf-sponsored GT40 that scored back-to-back wins at the Sarthe in 1968-69. In 2018, Ford issued the ’67 Heritage Edition, designed to commemorate the 1967 Le Mans win captured by Dan Gurney and A.J. Foyt in the Shelby-American Ford GT40 MkIV, the first all-American team to take the overall win at Le Mans. Chassis No. 174, this 2018 Ford GT ’67 Heritage Edition showcases the third-generation GT’s incredible technology and engineering. Based on a carbon-fiber monocoque with an integrated steel roll cage and aluminum substructure, its carbon-fiber passenger cell is enclosed in a wind-sculpted outer shell incorporating active aerodynamics in the form of a deployable rear wing that also acts as an air brake. Its mid-mounted 3.5L DOHC 24-valve EcoBoost engine features twin turbochargers and intercoolers, as well as Akrapovic exhaust, blasting 647 HP through a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and propelling the GT to 60 MPH in 2.8 seconds, topping out at an honest 218 MPH. The ’67 Heritage Edition livery features a glossy Race Red exterior finish with painted white stripes and Frozen White No. 1 hood and door graphics inspired by the Gurney-Foyt original and the exposed gloss carbon-fiber trim option. One-piece 20-inch forged aluminum wheels in Satin Silver/Carbon clear coat with black lug nuts, red calipers and silver rearview mirror caps complete the exterior treatment. The exclusive interior features Ebony Alcantara headliner and pillar coverings, red six-point seatbelts and ebony leather-wrapped carbon fiber seats with red accent stitched inserts inspired by the winning car of 1967. Satin Dark stainless appliques appear on the instrument panel, door register bezels and seat X-brace. The fully adjustable, multi-function F1-styled steering wheel is wrapped in ebony leather with red accent stitching, a leather-wrapped horn pad with embossed GT logo and silver shift paddles. A 10.1-inch digital instrument cluster, 6.5-inch touch screen with navigation, Bluetooth and Sync 3 infotainment system round out the interior appointments in this extraordinary, museum-quality 2018 Ford GT ’67 Heritage Edition. This vehicle will be auctioned at Mecum Auctions’ Kissimmee 2021 event (January 7-16, 2021). View Listing

By Edward Jones – December 15, 2020

Mecum Auctioning Rare Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG 6x6

Presented by Mecum Auctions - Mecum Auctions is prepared to auction off a very rare SUV that's most likely going to have the most wheels at their Kissimmee 2020 event. This 2017 Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG 6x6 is one of about 110 produced worldwide, making it a rare gem of a Mercedes SUV. With just 5,100 miles on its odometer, it' also in incredible condition. This six-wheeled luxury SUV comes finished in Designo Mystic White with an equally stunning Design Porcelain interior. If you've ever wanted an SUV that would stand above the rest, this is for you. It was custom built in Graz, Austria with OEM parts. Other features include its central tire inflation system, moonroof, a navigation system, and an auxiliary fuel tank. What's more, this SUV can handle off-roading like nothing else. For more information, be sure to click the button below. This vehicle will be auctioned at Mecum Auctions' Kissimmee 2021 event (January 7-16, 2021). View Listing

By Edward Jones – December 14, 2020

The Only Viper GTS CS Prototype is Being Auctioned by Mec...

Presented by Mecum Auctions - Mecum Auctions is presented this 1997 Dodge Shelby Viper GTS CS Prototype at their upcoming Kissimmee 2021 event (January 7-16, 2021). This is, in fact, the only Viper GTS CS Prototype ever created. Carroll Shelby and his friend Dan Fitzgerald of Fitzgerald Motorsports planned on creating 50 examples of this car, 25 coupes and 25 roadsters. Unfortunately, only one was created due to Shelby's illness and hospitalization. That single creation is this specific Viper. There area lot of modifications that make this such a special car. This includes the modified intake and exhaust, Cobra-style visual cues, tuned ECU, 18-inch lightweight wheels, new body components, Shelby badging, racing harnesses, and more. The current owner is also the original owner making this the very first time it's being offered for sale. Coming with the car is a signed letter of authenticity that proves its prestige. If you are a fan of the Dodge Viper, Carroll Shelby or American automobiles, this Viper GTS CS Prototype is a truly historic vehicle that would act as a perfect star in any collection. For more information, be sure to click the button below. This vehicle will be auction at Mecum Auctions' Kissimmee 2021 event (January 7-16, 2021). View Listing

By Edward Jones – December 11, 2020

Mecum Auctioning 1965 Shelby GT350 Fastback "Advanced Pro...

Presented by Mecum Auctions - Just as Carroll Shelby’s original Ford-powered Cobra roadster set a new standard for high performance in a sports car, the 1964 announcement of the new Ford Mustang reset the American public’s expectations for affordable performance in a mass-production automobile. The most inspired and brilliantly targeted product in automotive history, the Mustang’s meteoric rise to fame was unprecedented, appealing to the broadest cross-section of consumers ever encountered in Ford’s decades of market research. It was therefore inevitable that Ford would approach Carroll Shelby—already leading the charge in the company’s Total Performance campaign—to instill the Mustang with the performance needed to dominate SCCA B Production competition. Shelby’s answer to Ford’s command, the 1965 Shelby GT350, is firmly entrenched as a genuine American automotive treasure; a single encounter with one of these feral beasts can be a life-altering experience that has opened more than a few eyes to the magic of the times and people responsible for its creation. Shelby American designer Peter Brock, one of the pivotal figures in the GT350 saga, has pointed out, “finding a GT350 Mustang in almost pristine condition is more than a minor miracle; it’s headline news.” Offered after 30 years of museum-quality storage, Shelby GT350 No. SFM5013 is the very car to which Brock was referring, and it is quite likely the most well preserved original GT350 in existence. Significantly, it has been in the careful stewardship of a small cadre of prominent collectors, beginning with its first owner, Sports Car Graphic Magazine Editor John Christy. The story of 5013 begins with its arrival at Shelby American’s Venice, California, shop on December 20, 1964 as a special-order, partially completed Mustang 2+2 from the San Jose assembly plant, as orchestrated by GT350 Project Manager Chuck Cantwell. Work began on the car, which Shelby designated an “Advanced Prototype,” on January 5, 1965 and was completed on January 25. Upon its completion, it served as a PR vehicle and appeared in an early Shelby American promotional poster. On May 20, 1965, SFM5013 was picked up by Hi-Performance Motors in Los Angeles, who sold the car to Christy. A close friend of Carroll Shelby, Christy had been in on the action swirling around Shelby American right from the start. He was one of the first to drive the fabled CSX2000, and he closely covered the Cobra’s development in the pages of Sports Car Graphic. He also completed a course at Shelby's School of High Performance Driving and was active in SCCA racing. Invited by Shelby to test drive a new GT350 (5007), Christy famously conducted a 10,000-mile road test in the same car, from Los Angeles to Sebring, Florida, to New York City and back to Los Angeles, chronicling his experiences in the June and July 1965 issues of Sports Car Graphic. Christy was so enamored of the GT350’s performance and handling that, immediately upon completing that now-famous road trip, he committed to the purchase of 5013 on May 24, 1965. As is clearly shown by the GT350’s present odometer reading of just 6,950 miles, Christy drove the car very sparingly. He also fastidiously preserved it in as-new condition, as did all its subsequent owners. According to the Shelby Registry, Steve J. Karlock of Camarillo, California, purchased 5013 in 1976. It changed ownership several times in the late 1980s, passing between several noted California collectors and vintage racers until landing with its present owner (also a highly regarded California collector and racer) in 1989. Recognizing the car’s uniquely original condition, its current owner chose not to so much as move it, except to have it serviced and to maintain its mechanical and cosmetic fitness; otherwise, it remained undercover and well protected. As a result, Shelby GT350 No. SFM5013 is, as the legendary Peter Brock describes it, “probably the only example extant today that remains virtually untouched.” A more ringing endorsement would be hard to imagine, especially coming from a man of Brock’s vast experience and historic contributions to all things Shelby. This vehicle will be auction at Mecum Auctions' Kissimmee 2021 event (January 7-16, 2021). View Listing

By Edward Jones – December 10, 2020

Honda S2000 With 34 Original Miles Heading to Mecum Kissi...

Presented by Mecum Auctions - Honda has long held a reputation for continual development, particularly when it comes to small-displacement engine performance. The S2000 was a major jewel in the company’s crown when it debuted for the 2000 model year sporting a 2.0L DOHC VTEC inline 4-cylinder engine that delivered a whopping 240 HP at a mind-blowing 8,300 RPM with room to rev to 8,900 before the limiter kicked in. Extensive R&D led to 50/50 weight distribution, absolutely neutral chassis dynamics and much more, ensuring the S2000 was not just a drop top with a screamin’ engine—it was a true engineering masterpiece. Finding a low-mile, unabused, original is a rare thing, but here it is—with just 34 miles from new. Presented in Silverstone with a power-operated black convertible top and black leather interior, this 2000 Honda S2000 has the wonderfully elastic DOHC 240 HP 2.0L inline 4-cylinder engine with a 6-speed manual transmission, torque-sensing limited-slip differential and pushbutton start—keep in mind, this was a year 2000 vehicle, and most cars still required drivers to twist a key back then. This S2000 still has the original AM/FM stereo with CD player, power windows, power locks, air conditioning, cruise control, rear defroster, HID headlights, dual-outlet exhaust system and remote-control lock-unlock-trunk release, to name a few items. It’s even got a 12-volt power outlet to charge the cell phone. A molded convertible top cover maintains a clean look, integrated rollbars lend a degree of safety, and a wind deflector keeps the hair mostly in place while cruising the highway. Driving is a simple affair, thanks to electrically-assisted steering and 4-wheel disc brakes, while the high X-Bone frame and independent in-wheel double-wishbone suspension with iron arms ensures as much grip as possible, keeping the car planted on the asphalt. The 16-inch 5-spoke lightweight alloy wheels are wrapped in Bridgestone Potenza S-02 tires. While total production is actually unknown, both Honda and experts agree it to be nearly 67,000 with just more than 9,000 produced in 2000. Of those, about 2,800 were Silverstone on black. To be sold with the keys, books, original window sticker, original documents and unopened Honda Car Care Products box, this S2000 is one of those rare opportunities to acquire a legendary new classic that’s still coming into its own—and in this case, with just 34 original miles. This vehicle will be auction at Mecum Auctions' Kissimmee 2021 event (January 7-16, 2021). View Listing

By Edward Jones – December 09, 2020

Mecum to Auction 1964 Shelby Cobra at Kissimmee 2021 Auction

Presented by Mecum Auctions - Almost 60 years after its inception, the Shelby Cobra remains a touchstone of American automotive history, one that literally redefined performance. This 1964 Shelby Cobra 289, CSX2498, has recently emerged from an extensive nut-and-bolt restoration to like-original condition that was completed in 2020. As chronicled in the Shelby Cobra Registry, the car was billed to Shelby American on July 3, 1964, shipped to Los Angeles aboard the “SS Loch Avon” and invoiced to Hellertown Motors in Hellertown, Pennsylvania, on March 29, 1965. Ordered in white with a black interior and the Class A accessory package including WSW tires, a landau hardtop, side curtains and a luggage rack (uninstalled), it was shipped to Pennsylvania via TWA air freight and delivered by Hellertown Motors to its first owner, Dennis Richmond of Allentown, on April 16, 1965. Richmond enjoyed driving his new Cobra, travelling some 38,000 miles before selling it to its second owner, Cass Ludyard of Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania in 1967. Two years later, by which time it was repainted in silver and fitted with a Boss 302 engine, the Cobra was purchased by Karl McKeever of Collegeville, in whose care it remained for the next 50 years. During that time, CSX2498 was refinished in Guardsman Blue and an NOS 289 HiPo engine was installed along with new upholstery and other new parts as needed. Its recent restoration included refinishing the car in its original white with the black-painted wire wheels and chromed spinner centers seen earlier in its history. A rack-and-pinion car with full-length undercar exhaust, it is authentically finished and beautifully detailed throughout, including such important details as the correct Shelby aluminum intake, hollow-letter Cobra valve covers and Tri-Y exhaust headers, and it is also well documented with an entry in the Shelby Registry and an album of restoration photos. This vehicle will be auction at Mecum Auctions' Kissimmee 2021 event (January 7-16, 2021). View Listing

By Edward Jones – November 20, 2020

Mecum Las Vegas 2020 Reaches $13 Million In Sales

Mecum Auctions has wrapped up their Las Vegas 2020 event and the results are fantastic. With 431 vehicles crossing the auction block, bidders were taking part in the action on-site and online. In total, 316 vehicles were sold for a sell-through rate of 73 percent and $13 million in overall sales. Holding the top spot of the most expensive car was a 1967 Shelby GT500 Fastback that sold for $253,000. You can see the top ten sales from the Mecum Las Vegas 2020 auction right down below. 1967 Shelby GT500 Fastback (Lot F105) at $253,000 2006 Ford GT (Lot F165) at $253,000 1967 Ferrari P4 Replica (Lot F162) at $225,500 1968 Ford Mustang GT500CR Fastback (Lot S88) at $225,500 2012 Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 (Lot S119) at $192,500 1966 Shelby GT350H Fastback (Lot F139) at $176,000 1968 Shelby GT500 Convertible (Lot S126) at $165,000 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Resto Mod (Lot S159) at $165,000 2015 Nissan GTR Nismo (Lot S87) at $156,750 1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Convertible Sedan (Lot F129) at $154,000 Mecum's next auction is the Kansas City 2020 event, which is taking place November 20-21. In total, 600 vehicles will cross that auction block. For more information, be sure to visit Mecum.com. Visit Mecum.com

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