A 2012 Mercedes-Benz S600 took top sales honors at the Mecum Spring Kansas City Auction while high horsepower Corvettes, Camaros and Restomods saw heavy bidding action subsequently dominating top ten sales at the Kansas City Convention Center in Bartle Hall. Total gross sales for the 3-day auction achieved more than $8.9 million and saw an impressive number of spectators taking in all the action. Consignment Director, Frank Mecum commented, “The level of quality consignments continues rise at our regional spring sale in Downtown KC, and with a 30% increase over last year it’s certainly starting to show.”

Mecum offered a variety of Corvettes, muscle cars, classics, and exotics and achieved an impressive 68% sell-through rate. The Kansas City Spring 2012 Top 10 Sales (all sales reflect hammer prices) were:

1. 2012 Mercedes-Benz S600 (T235) at $133,000

2. 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible 427/435 HP (S98) at $120,000

3. 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible 427/435 HP (S131) at $100,000

4. 1969 Chevrolet Camaro 427 Restomod (S170) at $89,000

5. 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible 427/390 HP (S66) at $77,500

6. 1969 Chevrolet Camaro RS Z28 (S118) at $65,000

7. 1947 Dodge WDX Pickup (S147) at $65,000

8. 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Pro Touring (S85) at $60,000

9. 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe 427/400 HP (S86) at $60,000

10. 2007 Chevrolet Kodiak Custom (S207) at $60,000









Complete auction results are available to Mecum InfoNet members which is free to join at www.mecum.com. Logged in members can see car-by-car sales information by visiting the results page. The next auction will be held in Houston, Texas April 13-14 at The Reliant Center followed by Mecum’s flagship event, Dana Mecum’s 25th Original Spring Classic where more than 2,000 vehicles with cross the auction block May 15-20, 2012, in Indianapolis, Ind. Both auctions will be broadcast live on Discovery’s Velocity Network. To consign or pre-register to bid for an upcoming Mecum Auction, visit www.mecum.com or call 262.275.5050.

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Callaway Cars in collaboration with Chevrolet will celebrate the 25th-anniversary of the B2K Callaway Corvette by producing 25 uniquely prepared Corvette Grand Sports for 2012. For this occasion, Chevrolet has reinstated the Regular Production Option (RPO) B2K (nothing to do with the R&B group), which was originally offered between 1987–1991.

The B2K is notable because it features Callaway’s twin-turbo kit, which became a factory option on the ‘87 corvette. The twin-turbo system that was made for the 87–91 B2K Corvette is one of the main reasons Callaway has become a well-known Corvette tuner. The original B2K-optioned Corvette produced 345 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque, enabling it to reach a top speed of 178 mph but requiring more than $50,000 to purchase. Fortunately, during its time, the $50,000 Corvette’s performance was in the same category as Ferrari and Lamborghini vehicles costing nearly triple the price.

The 2012 25th-anniversary limited-edition Callaway Corvette RPO B2K will be built at Chevrolet’s Bowling Green, Kentucky, assembly plant in April of this year. After that, they will be shipped to one of Callaway’s facilities, where each vehicle will be equipped with a Callaway supercharger, exhaust system, suspension components, carbon-fiber body kit, Callaway wheels and tires, specific badges, and more.

The 2012 25th-anniversary limited-edition Callaway Corvette will be unveiled at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green on April 23, 2012.

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Street Legal Performance (SLP) will introduce a new generation of what is one of the rarest Camaros ever, the Panther, for 2012. Only 100 of these supercharged Panthers will be produced, coming in ZL560, ZL585, and ZL600 performance trims and available in coupe or convertible forms and with manual or automatic transmissions. SLP will limit the LS7-based 700-hp version, which could be the future arch nemesis of the 650-hp 2013 Ford Mustang GT500, to only 45 units. If the new 700-hp SLP Panther can destroy the 2013 GT500, it will live up to its predecessor’s reputation as a “Mustang killer.”

All of these supercharged V-8 Panthers will use a TVS 2300 supercharger and come equipped with a stainless-steel axle-back exhaust system and sportier suspension package. Each vehicle will share exterior features such as Panther badges, carbon-fiber graphics, a functional rear lip spoiler, and grille inserts. The ZL600 features an optional SLP front splitter and a new hood.

The 2012 SLP Panther will only be offered in black, like the infamous ‘67 Black Panther, and will provide the performance and head-turning styling true to its nameplate. It will be available through Chevrolet dealerships nationwide with a full powertrain warranty.

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Chevy Happy Grad Super Bowl ad was created by young filmmaker named Zach Borst from Long Island, New York. The manufacturer picked this 26-year-old filmmaker’s short ad out of nearly 200 entries that entered the company’s Chevrolet Route 66 contest. Zach reportedly received $25,000 for his commercial, which only took a couple hours to make. A small price to pay because the Chevy Happy Grad is one hilarious ad.

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General Motors has confirmed that there is a delay in when police departments are receiving their Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicles (PPVs). This delay could affect the ordering process for many departments’ fleets, suspending any additional purchases to the next fiscal year until the PPV can be properly tested by each. We spoke to more than five departments in our local Tampa Bay area. Of those, only two had received PPVs for testing while another three were still waiting for delivery of their cars. The two that had received their PPVs, the Clearwater Police Department and Largo Police Department, only ordered a couple vehicles to test against competitors from Dodge and Ford before making the decision whether to purchase more. The time it is taking to acquire test vehicles is pushing back any changes to these departments’ fleets. The Largo Police Department, for instance, ordered more Ford Crown Victorias for 2012 to satisfy its need for new cruisers until the PPV could be properly tested.



The delay appears to stem from two key areas: shipping from Australia and at the dealerships.

“We did order these vehicles as soon as we received pricing,” said Deputy Chief Jeff Undestad of the Largo Police Department. But, it took GM more than eight months to deliver its cars, and another five months at the dealer level to equip them for police duty. As Undestad explained, last minute changes made by GM kept affecting vendors’ fabrication processes, resulting in many vendors waiting until the last minute to design the necessary gear. This has caused interruptions at the dealerships responsible for equipping much of the police hardware.

Undestad isn’t the only that has noticed the delays. Rick Carnley, assistant director of solid waste and general services for the Clearwater Police Department, who helps oversee the fleet purchases, said it took GM 10 months to deliver its two test vehicles, and he has real concerns about GM’s ability to deliver any future purchases in a timely manner. He compared his wait negatively to Chrysler’s usual delivery time of 60–90 days.



Pamela Flores, customer care and aftersales for GM’s Fleet and Commercial Operations, confirmed the shipping holdups, but estimated it is postponing deliveries by only five months.

“There is additional shipping time because the vehicle is coming from Australia thru California where it has to go thru the import process,” Flores said. “The GM police vehicle content is added and then shipped to the dealer, generally on rail a long distance…We are making every effort to get our orders completed as quickly as possible.”

She also mentioned that GM now has a pool of inventory at the port, which should help reduce the time it takes departments to acquire their vehicles.

Read more about our look at the local Largo Police Department's Chevrolet Caprice PPV.

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More than 2,000 vehicles were auctioned off over a six-day span at the 2012 Scottsdale Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction, which ran from January 16–22, 2012, and amounted to a total of $182 million in sales. The Barrett-Jackson Company was the leading seller at the auction with a total of $90.6 million in sales, selling off all but three of its lots. Its top-selling vehicle was a 1948 Tucker Torpedo, one of only 51 produced, which sold for $2,915,000. Another rare find was the one-of-a-kind 1954 Desoto Adventurer II coupe, which sold for $1,430,000. Not every vehicle did as well, though. The original General Lee, also known as Lee 1, sold for only $110,000, much lower than the seller had hoped.

Gooding & Company sold 97 percent of its lots (116 of 118) for a total amount of $39.8 million. Its top-selling vehicle was a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL alloy Gullwing, which sold for $4,620,000. Russo and Steele sold 63 percent of its lots (401 of 641). Its top-vehicle sold was a 1968 Chevrolet Corvette L88, which sold for $687,500. The Silver Auctions company had a total of $2.95 million in sales, selling 66 percent of its lots (175 of 267). Its top-selling car was a 1960 Facel Vega HK500 2dr Hardtop, which sold for $93,960. RM Auctions had a total of $24.7 million in total sales, selling 120 of 140 lots, which is about 86 percent. Its top-selling vehicle was a 1957 Ferrari 410 Superamerica coupe, which sold for $1,815,000. Last but not least, Bonhams had a cumulative total of $5.7 million in sales, selling about 60 percent of its lots, with its top-selling vehicle being a 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Cabriolet C, which sold for $667,000.

The total amount in sales for all the auction companies combined has risen from 2011 to around $157 million. As we can see, the classics did well this year but the rarer cars were the winners this season. Could this be a sign that the economy is finally turning around?

[via Hagerty]

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Sareni United, a new division of Lamborghini-racing-specialists Reiter Engineering, was created to field a new Chevrolet Camaro to FIA GT3 racing. Sareni will be bringing its Chevrolet Camaro GT to FIA GT3 racing later on this year, adding some much needed American muscle in the usual European mix. A team of 12 developed this car in one-year’s time. This Camaro has been upgraded with a Katech 7.9-liter V-8 that produces up to 650 hp and a little more than 620 lb-ft of torque.

Katech is a U.S.-based company that is works in advanced racing and high-performance engine development. It provides services such as boring, honing, fabrication, and welding and also develops prototype parts. Katech products have earned respect from racing customers all over the world.

The Chevy Camaro GT’s gearbox control system will have the new 2012 Holinger speed shift system. - According to Sareni, “the Holinger speed shift system with paddle shift on the steering wheel is extremely light, weighing only 82 pounds, shifts gears very fast and is designed for high torque.”

As a result of its stripped-down interior, the Camaro GT has shed approximately 1,000 pounds compared to its stock counterpart for a new curb weight of 2,850 pounds. It also receives a Reiter-designed racing suspension and Teves Racing anti-lock brakes.

The first track tests went very well and leading developer for Sareni United, Franz Russegger, was satisfied with the results, stating, “The Camaro is fast and the lap times are similar to the Lamborghini Gallardo. We had hoped for this result but there is still a lot of work to do.”

The company has been working very hard to make sure this car secure, adding mandatory roll cages and a newly designed fuel system; all raise the bar with regard to security. The company already has its first customer, Yaco Racing Team from Germany. The team has already ordered two Camaros that will be used in the ADAC GT Masters races in Germany 2012. Hans Reiter, founder of Sareni United, says, “This racing car is an option for a lot of teams because it provides an interesting cost structure”. How much you ask? Well expect to pay about €195,000-plus or apprxomately $253,000, which in all rights, is a bargain compared to its competitors like the Porsche 911 GT3 R (304,500 Euros or approximately $390,000).

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The very best collectible automobiles are sometimes tucked away and off-limits to prying eyes. In the upcoming months, we will be gaining access to some of these amazing collections and bringing you never-before-seen photographs as well as insight into the cars and the people that collect them.



This fabulous collection is stored in a nondescript warehouse on the outskirts of Nashville, Tennessee. It holds some of the most-sought-after, best-performing models of the 1960s as well as some distinctive older classics. All of the examples reflect the individual character of the collector, and each one comes with its own story. We met with the owner, Cliff Ernst, who gave us a guided tour and educated us on drag racing, big blocks, and choosing the perfect car. His passion for performance is rooted in drag racing; he cut his teeth on the drag strips and stoplights of Ohio during the 1960s.



Walking around his immaculate white-tile showroom, we were shocked to see everything from Super Duty Pontiacs, Shelby Mustangs, factory-supercharged Thunderbirds, Corvettes and more! His awe-inspiring collection seems to culminate with two of the rarest and most desirable Camaros ever made: a gold 1969 Yenko Camaro and a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. The former was the product of Chevy-dealer-turned-aftermarket-tuner Don Yenko. The latter was Chevrolet’s answer for the serious drag racer who could append an extra $4,500 for an all-aluminum 427-cubic-inch engine option. Both are as powerful as they are rare.

Ernst sat down with us to answer a few questions and tell us more about his passion.



What was the first car in your collection?

In the mid-‘70s, I bought a 1930 Model A Ford. I always wanted one in high school, but I needed to save $150 for college.



At what point did this evolve from a garage at your home into a dedicated facility?

In the 1980s, I allocated space at my business to keep the growing collection safely stored. In 1991, we built a dedicated warehouse for the collection. It was around thirty cars at the time. We now have around 45 cars.



Tell us a little bit about the gold Yenko.

The gold car was the prototype for the ‘69 Yenko. Certain features of this car did not make it into the 1969 Yenko production models. I am the second owner, and I have professionally restored it twice. It was featured in the July 1969 issue of Super Stock and Drag Illustrated magazine. Ed Professional driver Ed Hedrick was able to run an 11.94 (quarter-mile time) in stock form.



Do you think the previous owner regrets parting with it?

I sent him photos I had taken after the restoration, but I never heard back from him, so I like to think they got lost in the mail!



What feature of the Yenko cars do you like most?

The performance. When the Yenko cars first hit the streets, I was drag racing a ‘65 Corvette. They consistently posted faster times (than the Corvette). They made winning look easy!



Besides the gold Yenko, what is your favorite car?

The ‘32 Packard V12 or the supercharged ‘57 T-bird.



Performance does seem to be the theme here. Was it a goal of yours to have the ultimate production versions of these cars or is it a coincidence?

I prefer to have the highest-performance model available. The ‘57 Chevy is fuel injected and the T-birds are supercharged. You get the idea!



With the quality of the restorations you have here, have you ever considered restoring and building cars as a business?

No, my employees are so meticulous that this could not be a profitable business!



Did you foresee that the ’69 Camaro would be the iconic collector car that it is today?

No, I just thought they had great styling and a multitude of performance options.



I know your cars are well documented, but what do you think about clones and recreation cars?

Let’s just say they are not for me.



Owning one of the original ZL1 Camaros is a real honor; do you see the 2012 ZL1 as a worthy successor?

It is a good continuation of the name and a nice move by Chevy.



Do you have anything special in your home garage?

I have my first ‘69 Yenko that I purchased in 1987. It is kept at the house for weekend cruises.

My daily driver is a 2008 black (Dodge) Challenger SRT8.



Are you done collecting, or is there always room for one more?

Certain cars will continue to be possible additions, but, more realistically, I need to be thinking about thinning the herd.



Thanks, Cliff, and happy motoring!

Follow the link to the full Facebook photo album.

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We could understand why some people would want the Transformers Special Edition Camaro (it turns into a robot, right?), but the appeal of the 45th Anniversary package for the 2012 Camaro evaded us. After all, the Camaro has only been available for 38 years if you take into account the long hiatus between the years of 2002 and 2010. But that all changed when we noticed the red and blue stitching running down the center of the transmission shift lever of our 2012 Chevrolet Camaro SS 45th Anniversary Edition test car. Sitting in a car that embodies the American spirit in its heritage and trim package resonated within. The fact that it is produced in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, did not dissuade us.

For $1,375, the 45th Anniversary package comprises an exclusive Carbon Flash Metallic paint; red and charcoal hood stripe; 20-inch silver-painted aluminum wheels; jet-black interior with large white inserts for the doors and dash unit; red, white, and blue accent stitching for the leather; and 45th logos for both the exterior and interior.

Beyond these modifications, it is the same Camaro that we spoke have spoken highly of in the past. The only difference between this test car and other Camaro test cars was the automatic transmission, so we focused on getting to know it a little better to see how it compares to the manual.

Follow the jump to read more about the Chevrolet Camaro SS 45th Anniversary Edition.

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The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show is up and running strong on its second day, and we already have the winners of the show’s hottest awards. The winners were not picked by a committee but were a simple tally of the number of vehicles accessorized at this year’s show (i.e., these cars represent the rides most often featured in the vendor booths). This year’s winners are no different from last year, except for the addition of one more award— Hottest Sport Compact Car—into the fray. This is the second year that SEMA has handed out awards.

The hottest car, period, goes to the Chevrolet Camaro. One such Camaro that attracted our eyes is the Hot Wheels Concept. Its bright green-over-chrome paint was inspired by the metallic paint finishes of the original toy cars, which many of us can kindly remember from our younger years.



The Hottest 4x4 SUV went to the Jeep Wrangler. One standout Wrangler comes from American Expedition Vehicles (AEV), which brought a new four-door Brute Double Cab to this year's show. The original AEV Brute was unveiled at SEMA in 2002 as a Jeep/pickup conversion. Just a year short of ten years later, AEV has introduced its Brute Double Cab. It starts with a four-door Wrangler and stretches the chassis 23 inches. Overall length grows 30 inches for a total length of 216 inches, or three inches shy of a Rolls-Royce Ghost Extended Wheelbase.

Other winners include the Ford F-Series for the Hottest Truck and the Fiat 500 for the Hottest Sport Compact Car. SEMA says its awards identify the most accessory-friendly new models from more than 2,000 exhibitors, and the ability to accessorize a vehicle influences the purchasing decision of many people.

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