CLASSIC CAR AUCTION soon to be in ‘full gear’ at Indiana State Fairgrounds
Raised in auto-obsessed Los Angeles, John Kraman spent his youth hanging around the dealerships where his dad sold cars. This experience bred a lifelong interest in both cars and the business of selling them.
Today, Kraman serves as the Director of Company Relations for Mecum Auctions. He is the spokesperson for Mecum Auctions at car shows and other public events sharing his in-depth knowledge of collector cars and to promote the Mecum Auctions brand. And on today’s Indy Style, he tells us all about Dana Mecum’s 34th Original Spring Classic to take place this Thursday, May 14 through Saturday, May 22 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds and Events Center.
Here’s more:
Race cars of multiple genres and generations, American muscle and classics representing all badges, supercars, exotics and more all headline the consignments to date slated for Dana Mecum’s 34th Original Spring Classic. The 2021 iteration of Mecum Auctions’ annual flagship event will take place this May 14-22 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center in Indianapolis with an anticipated 2,500 classic and collector cars expected to cross the auction block in total over the nine auction days.
“Big Oly,” considered by many to be the most recognizable Ford Bronco in the world and the first supercar of off-road racing, was piloted and is still owned by Parnelli Jones, one of the most diverse and successful drivers in motorsports history. Big Oly is best known for conquering the Baja 1000 course twice in back-to-back victories (1971 and ’72) in the race held annually on the Baja California Peninsula in Mexico, cementing its legacy as the single most significant Bronco-inspired vehicle ever built. Several other significant offerings from Jones’ private collection will join Big Oly in Indy, including a Formula One Race Car, two Saleen Mustangs (Lots F134 and F135), Road Art items and more.
To date, a total of 27 private collections have been consigned to this year’s Spring Classic auction, which together include a total of 500 lots and nearly 425 to be offered at no reserve. The headlining Class of ’71 collection includes four top-shelf Mopars: a 1971 Plymouth Hemi Cuda Convertible (Lot F166) that is one of 12 produced in 1971 and one of only three equipped with the factory A833 4-speed manual transmission; a 1971 Plymouth Cuda Convertible (Lot F167) that is one of only five V-Code Cuda convertibles produced in 1971 with a factory 4-speed and one of just three V-Code 4-speed Cuda Convertibles with the factory shaker hood; a 4-speed 1971 Plymouth Hemi Cuda (Lot F168) with just 25,500 miles; and an unrestored 1971 Dodge Hemi Challenger R/T (Lot F169).
Other noted collection offerings include the six stunning red-on-red award-winning and highly original Chevrolet Corvettes from the Dr. Mark Davis Collection (Lots F191 to F196), several of which boast Bloomington Gold Benchmark certification. The earliest model in the collection, a 1958 convertible (Lot F191), is one of just three 1958 Corvettes to have secured the NCRS Bowtie award, while the 1966 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible (Lot F194) stands as the lowest-mile 427 Corvette from that year known to exist with just 11,400 miles on its clock.
Gene Hetland’s Deuceheaven Collection includes 20 variations of the revered 1932 Ford as well as hundreds of spare parts, memorabilia and Road Art items with a heavy Ford theme. Featured among the cars is a 1932 Ford Hi-Boy Street Rod “Triple Nickle” (Lot S112) that was displayed at the Grand National Roadster Show following a 35-year custom production.
Other main attraction offerings in Indy include a 1930 Duesenberg Model SJ Rollston Convertible Victoria (Lot S135), a 1931 Cadillac Series 452A V-16 Coach Sill Convertible Coupe (Lot S210), a 2020 Ford GT MkII (Lot S209.1) wearing one-off Ken Miles livery and sporting just 15 miles, a 1964 Cooper Monaco Type 61 Sport Racer (Lot S134) and a Cobra Caravan 1965 Shelby GT350R Fastback (Lot F151), to name just a select few.
Among the most unique offerings slated to be offered at the Spring Classic auction is the exclusive Mecum Bidder Badge No. 2 (Lot F154.2) from the Paul Jones Estate Collection; all of the proceeds from the sale of the badge will be donated to Mecum’s charity of choice: Curing Kids Cancer.
Dana Mecum’s 34th Original Spring Classic auction is open to buyers, sellers and spectators. Bidder registration is available online in advance and on-site for $200 and includes admission for two to each auction day. Those unable to attend and bid in-person are encouraged to register for telephone and internet bidding. Doors open each day at 8 a.m. with the vehicle auction beginning daily at 10 a.m. More than 30 hours of the auction will be broadcast on NBC Sports Network.
Mecum’s website is updated daily with the latest consignments including detailed descriptions and photographs of the vehicles. To view the list, to consign a vehicle or to register as a bidder for this and all Mecum auctions, visit Mecum.com, or call (262) 275-5050 for more information.
Auction Schedule
Dana Mecum’s 34th Original Spring Classic
May 14-22, 2021
Indiana State Fairgrounds
1202 E 38th Street
Indianapolis, IN 46205
Bidder Registration: $200 in advance online and at the door; includes admission for two to each auction day
Preview: Gates open daily at 8 a.m.
Auction: Vehicles begin at 10 a.m. Friday through Thursday, May 14-20, and at 9 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, May 21-22
TV Schedule: To be announced