1969 Dodge Hemi Daytona NASCAR

The first car to officially top 200 MPH on a closed course circuit. Buddy Baker set an official lap speed of 200.447 MPH on March 24, 1970 at Talladega. Serial No. DC-93. Matching numbers 426/575 HP Hemi EX-144 V-8 engine. 4-speed manual transmission. Holley Dominator carburetor. Blue no. 88 livery. Black interior.

The vehicle started life as a Charger 500 press car, and then was stolen. It was recovered and turned into the experimental race car that made automotive history. Powering the wing car is the 426-cubic-inch Hemi, providing 575 horsepower to the rear wheels through a four-speed transmission. The V8 is fitted with a dry-sump oiling system, which allowed Chrysler engineers to lower the engine in the car for improved aerodynamics. The car high bid to $650k in 2021 on a $1m estimate. There is no reserve. https://www.mecum.com/lots/SC0522-503090/1969-dodge-hemi-daytona-nascar/

Duesenberg Model SSJ

Duesenberg Motors Company was an American manufacturer of race cars and luxury automobiles. It was founded by brothers August and Frederick Duesenberg in 1913 in Saint Paul, Minnesota, where they built engines and race cars. The brothers moved their operations to New Jersey in 1916 to manufacture engines for World War I. In 1919, when their government contracts were cancelled, they moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, home of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and established the Duesenberg Automobile and Motors Company, Inc. (Delaware).

In late 1926, E.L. Cord added Duesenberg to his Auburn Automobile Company. With the market for expensive luxury cars undercut by the Depression, Duesenberg folded in 1937. Duesenberg advertised its Model J -- introduced on December 1,1928, -- as “The World’s Finest Motor Car.” And it probably was, given its 265-bhp straight eight, and the finest custom coachwork. In 1932, the supercharged SJ debuted. With 320 horses on tap even actor Clark Gable couldn’t resist its allure.

In October 1935, the car set a one-hour record of 153.97 mph (247.79 km/h) and a twenty-four-hour record of 135.57 mph (218.18 km/h) at a circuit on the Bonneville Salt Flats. The 24-hour record would be held until 1961. The J-series Duesenbergs were perhaps the greatest American cars ever built, better than nearly every car the Europeans tried to hammer together in the ‘30s.

The 1936 Duesenberg SSJ Speedster was a sight to behold and a car so special that only two were built.

Two 1936 Duesenberg SSJ Speedsters were built: one for Clark Gable, the other for Gary Cooper. The Speedster's engine was a 420-cubic-inch straight eight featuring dual overhead cams and four valves per cylinder.

1933 Duesenberg Model SJ Arlington “Twenty Grand” Sedan

Gary Cooper’s 1935 Duesenberg “SSJ” was the star of the Gooding and Company's Pebble Beach 2018 auction. The Duesenberg realized $22m. This record price makes the car the most valuable American collector car ever sold.

1996 Ferrari F50 - $4.1m

Only 375 examples of the F50 were constructed between 1995 and 1997. When new, the F50 was available for a bargain basement $475k, but only to approved Ferraristi, who had to go through a factory-leasing program. Rear mid-mounted heart is a 4.7-liter, 60-valve V-12 that makes 513 hp at 8,000 rpm and 347 ft lbs of torque at 6,500 rpm. That is delivered to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox.

The F50 has become an almost religious relic among the Ferrari faithful. This iconic status is based on the fact that it is the last 'analog' V-12-powered Ferrari supercar. This example has covered only 1,318 kilometers (817 miles) in 26 years. It topped it's $2.9m to $3.8m estimate and sold for $4.1m.

1968 Porsche 907 - $4.85 million

Artcurial Motorcars Rétromobile 2022 was held on March 18 to 20, 2022. Highlight of the sale is a 1968 Porsche 907. The 907 was introduced at the 1967 24 Hours of Le Mans. With a new longtail body, the 907s reached 302 km/h (190 mph) on the straight, even though it used a 220 hp Porsche 910 2000cc 6-cyl rather than a more powerful 8-cyl. The car on offer is chassis 907-031. It claimed fourth place in one of the most challenging races in the world. Its 2.2-liter engine was able to go up against and almost claimed victory against its 5-liter V8 rivals. Porsche 907-031 was the last built and it left the Zuffenhausen workshop just a month before the race. The final preparations on the car were done in May 1968.

There were a total of 21 units of Porsche 907s built, six in 1967 and fifteen in 1968. This example made $4.85m against an estimated €4m to €6m.

Top lots at Mecum Monterey 2018

1933 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Coupe. $3.8m 2014 Ferrari LaFerrari. 307 miles. $3.1m

2003 Ferrari Enzo. 3,150 miles. $2.8m 1989 Porsche 962. $2.2m

1969 Lamborghini Miura P400S. $1.1m. 1929 Duesenberg Model J. $1.1m.

Death Race 2000 Frankenstein - $25,300

Driven by David Carradine in the 1975 cult classic Death Race 2000. Flat 6 Corvair engine hidden below the visible dummy engine. Volkswagen chassis and Corvette style body.

In a dystopian future, a cross country automobile race requires TV contestants to run down innocent pedestrians to gain points. Five drivers in the race adhere to professional wrestling-style personas and drive themed cars, include Frankenstein, the mysterious champion.

The car made $25k at Mecum Glendale.

2022 Ford F250 Shelby Super Baja Pickup - $181,500

55 miles. 1 of 250 produced. 6.7L Powerstroke turbo diesel V-8 engine. 475 HP and 1,050 lb-ft of torque. 10-speed automatic. Shelby/Fox performance suspension including adjustable upper control arms. BDS lift system. Custom front radius arms. Fox 2.0 dual steering stabilizer.

Base price was around $128k. Estimated $140k - $160k, this bad boy made 181k at Mecum.

1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Fastback - Sin City Shaker - $440k

Known as the Sin City Shaker. Ford 427/616 HP SOHC Cammer V-8 engine. Hemispherical combustion chambers. 4-barrel carburetor. 4-speed manual transmission. Black exterior and interior. Gold and White Mach 1 stripes. Hurst cue ball shifter.

This one of one 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Fastback contains the highly exclusive 427 CI SOHC “Cammer” V-8 engine. The 427 SOHC Cammer was introduced in 1964 as a racing powerplant intended to confront the Chrysler 426 Hemi “Elephant” V-8 engine then dominating NASCAR and fuel drag racing. NASCAR banned the Cammer before it ever raced, but it became a popular weapon among drag racers. The Cammer was good for a monstrous 616 HP at 7,000 RPM and 515 lb-ft of torque at 3,800 RPM.

This example blew past it's $275k to $350k estimate at Mecum.

1990 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 - $41,800

The 1990 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 boasts an all-aluminum, 32-valve, DOHC V-8 producing 375 hp and 370 pound-feet of torque. The engine was developed by Lotus, while Mercury Marine in Stillwater, Oklahoma, handled assembly. The ZR-1 could hit sixty miles per hour in 4.4 seconds on the way to 180 miles per hour. The ZR-1 package nearly doubled the price of the base Corvette coupe, pushing the sticker price over $60,000.

One of 3,032 ZR-1s produced for the 1990 model year, this example is finished in its factory Bright Red exterior hue over a black leather interior. 11,780 miles show on the clock. The car made $41,800 at Mecum Glendale.

The LT5 was a technological marvel of its day. The 375-horsepower DOHC engine was universally praised for its high specific output and refinement.

Mighty Mopars

1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda. Original matching numbers 426/425 HP Hemi V-8 engine. Rotisserie restoration. N96 Shaker hood. Torqueflite automatic transmission. 3.23 Sure Grip rear end. Refinished in original Hi-Impact Tor Red with black vinyl top. $130k high bid.

1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda. Three owners and 2,800 miles since new. Factory 4-speed and Super Track Pak. $150k.

1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda. 426 CI, Automatic. Bench seat. Lemon Twist exterior over black. $93k.

End of the Beetle

Volkswagen ceased global production of its iconic Beetle in 2019. Volkswagen revived the car in the US in 1998 but it attracted mainly female buyers. The company revamped it for the 2012 model year in an effort to make it appeal to men. US sales rose to over 46,000 in 2013 but tailed off after that.

The Volkswagen Beetle, officially the Volkswagen Type 1, is a two-door, four passenger, rear-engine economy car manufactured and marketed by German automaker Volkswagen from 1938 until 2003.

The car was formulated by Adolf Hitler who wanted a cheap, simple car, mass produced for Germany's new road network. He contracted Porsche to design and build it to his standards.

On 26 May 1938, Hitler laid the cornerstone for the Volkswagen factory in Fallersleben. The factory had only produced a handful of cars by the start of the war in 1939; the first volume-produced versions of the car's chassis were military vehicles, the Type 82 Kübelwagen (52,000 built).

The amphibious Type 166 Schwimmwagen (about 14,000 built).

Mass production of civilian VW cars did not start until post-war occupation.

The factory produced another wartime vehicle: the Kommandeurwagen; a Beetle body mounted on a 4WD Kübelwagen chassis. The Kommandeurwagen had widened fenders to accommodate all-terrain tires.

669 Kommandeurwagens were produced up to 1945.

Dr. Ferdinand Porsche

After World War II, the car was officially designated the Volkswagen Type 1, but was known as the Beetle. During the post-war period, the Beetle had superior performance in its category with a top speed of 115 km/h (71 mph) and 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph) in 27.5 seconds with fuel consumption of 6.7 l/100 km (36 mpg) for the standard 25 kW (34 hp) engine. In 1949 the car was exported to the US. On 17 February 1972, when Beetle No. 15,007,034 was produced, Beetle production surpassed the previous record holder, the Ford Model T.

By 1973, total production was over 16 million, and by June 1992, over 21 million had been produced.

The final original VW Beetle (No. 21,529,464) was produced at Puebla, Mexico, 65 years after its original launch.

Production in Brazil ended in 1986, then started again in 1993 and continued until 1996. The last Beetle was produced in Puebla, Mexico, in July 2003. The final batch of 3,000 Beetles were sold as 2004 models and badged as the Última Edición.

VW 1303/Super Beetle (1973)