Photos: Mecum Auctions

Wall-to-wall vehicles, motorcycles, neon signs, gas pumps and more filled every building at the Indiana State Fairgrounds as Mecum Auctions offered a massive selection of collector cars and memorabilia at its 24th Annual Original Spring Classic Auction, May 17-22, in Indianapolis. When all the dealing was done, the top selling vehicle of the event was a 1971 Plymouth HEMI ‘Cuda, draining the new owner’s piggy bank by a tidy $550,000.

The True Blue Metallic HEMI ‘Cuda is known to be the last one built. Complete with its original 426cui, 425hp HEMI engine, 4-speed manual transmission, Dana 60 rear end with sure grip differential, the car also sports an A34 Super Track Pak, Rallye dashboard and black interior.

With just 23,746 actual miles on the odometer, the Original shaker hood car is itself a milestone in Plymouth history.

While this example fetched a good market price, HEMI ‘Cuda convertibles demand an enormous premium compared to the coupe. There were only eleven convertibles built as 1971 models, so seven figure price tags are not uncommon…indeed, expected these days.

According to the Robb Report, the owner of the last 1971 convertible built has turned down an offer of $4.1 million.

Other high flyers from the six-day Indy auction included:

$525,000 – ’06 Prevost Featherlite Vantare H3-45
$490,000 – ’63 Shelby Cobra 289 Roadster
$400,000 – ’67 Chevrolet Nickey/Bill Thomas 427 Stage III Camaro
$345,000 – ’69 Chevrolet Yenko Super Camaro
$305,000 – ’69 Chevrolet ZL1 Camaro
$265,000 – ’73 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona
$260,000 – ’69 Chevrolet Yenko Chevelle
$260,000 – ’57 Ford Thunderbird Phase I D/F
$225,000 – ’70 Plymouth HEMI ‘Cuda