The annual Mecum Auctions, which boasts one of the world’s largest collector car auctions, bore witness to car enthusiasts stepping up their game to acquire vintage and coveted vehicles. Whether it was a Classic Chevrolet or a Shelby Fastback, all found a place under one roof before being sold off to their new owners. It was a paradise for every automobile fanatic. 

This year’s event witnessed Tony Stewart and Richard Petty’s iconic vehicles being auctioned. However, neither of the two cars was the main attraction of the night. Instead, it was a red-colored Ferrari 250 GT that stole the show. The iconic vehicle was the most expensive sale of the event in 35 years.

An old Ferrari beat two NASCAR legends at the 2024 Mecum Auctions

The 1963 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder, in its iconic red color, was the main attraction of the evening, and it was sold at a staggering price of $16,250,000. The limited edition model was crafted by Carozerria Scaglietti and is equipped with six Weber carburetors. The car also boasts a distinctive fastback coupe design, a V12 engine, and a truncated tail, which enhances the desirability of the car. 

Conceived in the same line as the 250GT Tour de France, short wheelbase Berlinetta, and GTO, the 250GT California Spyder was intended from inception to be lightweight, quick, and responsive, the image of the high-performance market in the U.S. state of California. Inside, each Spyder car had a no-frills interior and a small heater was the only luxury. Behind the seats, a fabric top was installed which was tidy, and well-proportioned when upright, but was made with no inner liner.

American journalist, Danielle Trotta, who covers auto racing for Sirius XM, was present at the venue and was lucky enough to get a close view of this beauty. She posted a video on ‘X’ and captioned it, “Here’s what 16.2 mil looks like on wheels up close 🤑 1963 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder @mecum @motortrend Set a Mecum record for car sale.”

Since NASCAR drivers usually live and breathe cars, fans were hardly shocked to see Tony Stewart be a part of the auction. He was present in the Mecum Booth and was seen interacting with the hosts of the exhibition. Stewart’s car, the 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix, which he first drove during his rookie year in the Cup Series, was also a part of the auction. However, it failed to garner as much attention as the Ferrari.

Another well-known NASCAR enthusiast took to X and mentioned the #20 Home Depot Pontiac car. He captioned the post, “This Tony Stewart 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix sold at Mecum yesterday for $15,400. The chassis was named “Elvira” and was raced by Bobby Labonte in 1997-98. At New Hampshire in July 1999, Stewart led 118 laps in it, but ran out of fuel while leading with two laps to go.”

The Mecum Auction was founded in 1988 by Dana Mecum, an avid car lover. Following in his father’s footsteps, who owned a dealership, Dana successfully made this annual auction festival heaven for every car lover. Keeping up with its age-old tradition, the Mecum Auction in the 2024 bid showcased a plethora of car varieties. However, in the end, it was the Prancing Horse that reigned supreme.

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Another iconic car that made it to the auction was a Convertible Challenger, which had a special Richard ‘The King’ Petty paint scheme.

Richard Petty’s Convertible graces the 2024 Mecum Auctions event

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While the iconic red Ferrari dominated the Mecum Auctions this year, for NASCAR fans, there was a different attraction that awaited them. It was Richard Petty’s 2009 Dodge Challenger, fondly called ‘Legacy by Petty,’ that was put up for sale to celebrate the Petty family’s 75 years in the world of racing. 

The car was tagged at a whopping $165,000 with Petty’s face and #43 decorating the car. Moreover, as a cherry on the cake, the lucky owner of the car was also gifted the iconic cowboy hat of Petty. The Challenger boasts a six-speed manual gearbox, which churns out 640 horsepower.

These cars are nothing less than engineering marvels that have remained timeless through generations and are like Crown Jewels for every motor head. If you had your pick, which out of the three would you choose?

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