25 star cars of the world’s biggest collector auction

From iconic racers to legendary muscle cars

The 2025 Mecum Kissimmee auction is almost upon us, with an amazing array of 4,500 cars, bikes, and trucks lining up for sale.

This year’s event runs from Tuesday 7 January through to Sunday 19 January, and a near-endless lineup of cars is ready to be auctioned.

Ahead of this year’s epic event, we have managed to pick out 25 vehicles that are particularly special, even by the standards of the Mecum Kissimmee sale.

1969 Porsche 917K – owned by Steve McQueen

Forget the idea of stunt doubles, as this is the same Porsche 917K bought, owned, and driven by Steve McQueen for the 1971 movie, Le Mans.

The hero car in an epic motorsport tale, the Gulf-livered Porsche still has the camera mounting points from when McQueen was behind the wheel. After playing a major role on screen, the 917K went on to be a real racing car, competing throughout Europe.

Purchased by comedian and famed Porsche collector Jerry Seinfeld in 2001, the 917K has undergone a comprehensive restoration. Competed in August 2024, the Porsche now looks exactly as it did on-screen for Le Mans.

Unsurprisingly, there is no auction guide price for this truly iconic piece of motorsport and movie history.

1966 Porsche 910-001

The Porsche 910 isn’t the most famous race car to emerge from Zuffenhausen, but it still proved to be an effective competitor in the right hands.

This was the very first 910 built by Porsche, equipped with a 2.0-liter flat-six engine. It represents one of 12 short-tail 910 models made, and one of only six that is registered for road use.

Most famously, this car was driven by the late triple Formula One World Champion Niki Lauda, who entered the 1969 Österreichring 1000-kilometer race.

Meticulously restored, the 910 comes complete with photographs showing its original build, plus additional photos of Ferry Porsche, Ferdinand Piech and Niki Lauda with the car.

1966 Ford GT40 Mk I Road Car

During 2024, rare street-legal versions of the Ford GT40 were some of the most expensive cars sold at auction. This example will be looking to emulate their success, being one of the 31 Mk I road cars built.

It’s actually the very first GT40 road car completed, delivered to a British owner in March 1966. A later owner raced the car throughout the 1970s, with the mid-engined Ford then moving between Australia and Europe.

Restored to original specification, the GT40 comes with FIA identity papers, making it eligible for historic motorsport, plus a healthy bundle of documents to show its provenance.

Richard Petty’s 1970 Plymouth Superbird 440

The Plymouth Superbird is a true muscle car icon, and one intangibly linked with Richard Petty. Better known as “the King”, Petty won seven NASCAR Cup championships, including the 1970 title in a Superbird.

Petty purchased this particular Alpine White road-going Superbird in 1982, and it became part of the Petty Museum collection until 2013. Restored in 2014 by Petty’s Garage, the trunk and dashboard both wear the signature of the King, plus there is a letter confirming his ownership.

Although Hemi-powered Superbirds are even more desirable, the fact this is a 440 V-8 version with an automatic transmission is likely to matter little to collectors. Instead, the guide price of $900,000 to $1,000,000 will be driven by its royal ownership history.

1965 Shelby 427 SC Competition Cobra

The Kissimmee sale includes a number of Shelby Cobras, but this car is billed as potentially “the winningest” of all time. Nicknamed “Ollie the Dragon” due to the flames that would shoot through its carburettor, this is a truly fearsome Cobra.

First test driven by Ken Miles, CSX3009 would go on to take three SCCA championships, including the 1966 SCCA A Production Championship with Ed Lowther as its driver.

Restored with input from Carroll Shelby, CSX3009 now wears the Essex Wire livery used during 1965. A 1:5-scale replica of the Cobra comes with the full-size car, along with the original helmet, race suit and gloves of Ed Lowther.

This serious snake comes with a pre-auction estimate of $4,500,000 to $6,000,000.

1967 Shelby 427 Street Cobra

Taken from the Apex Collection being sold by Mecum, this is one of the 260 street Shelby Cobras produced. It is also believed to potentially be the most original Cobra in existence.

Having covered just 18,000 miles from new, it remains unrestored and unmodified. That means the same V-8 engine it left the factory with, plus the same body and paintwork. Even the Sunburst wheels are fitted with an original set of Blue Dot Goodyear tires.

Everything is present with the Cobra, such as the factory tool kit, grease gun, and soft top. Expect this time-warp Shelby to attract plenty of bids.

1967 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Trans Am

How about not one, but two chances to own a genuine Penske Racing-prepared Chevrolet Camaro, as used in the Trans Am Championship?

The first car, wearing number 16, was driven by the legendary Mark Donohue on his way to Trans Am glory in 1968. During that season, Donohue achieved 10 wins out of 13 races – a record that stood all the way until 1997.

As the first Penske Camaro to be acid-dipped, this car gained the nickname of “The Lightweight”. It is also said to be the second Camaro Z28 ever to roll off the assembly line.

After its racing career, this Camaro has taken multiple class wins at concours events across the United States, including the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. It also has been used in historic motorsport, and retains a standing invitation to the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

1967 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Trans Am

Although not a title-winning Camaro, this was the first Penske Camaro racer built for the Trans Am series, and was used by Mark Donohue to score the team’s first win in 1967.

After the Trans Am series, the Camaro Z28 travelled to Europe, where it took wins throughout Germany and Austria. This included being driven to victory by Helmut Marko, who is now responsible for managing Red Bull Racing’s Formula One driver development.

Subject to a four-year restoration process, the Camaro now wears the number 16 – and has the same Sunoco livery used to take its first win at Marlboro, Maryland in 1967.

1967 Ford Mustang Holman-Moody Racer

The Holman-Moody outfit is best known for NASCAR and drag racing, plus its association with the Ford GT40 Le Mans program. In 1967, however, two Mustang sports cars were prepared by the North Carolina-based team.

First used by Christobal “Batman” Galjluf in Central and South American road-race competitions, the Mustang returned to Holman-Moody in 1970. It was then transformed into a Trans Am racer, complete with a 302-cubic inch V-8 and a modified Toploader four-speed manual transmission.

Other details include Holman-Moody Talladega Super Speedway front suspension, Trans Am-specification rear suspension, and a Holman-Moody Super Speedway deck lid filler.

1969 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Trans Am

Ford developed the Mustang Boss 302 for Trans Am homologation. It was designed to be an effective rival for the Chevrolet Camaro Z28.

This happens to be the very first Boss 302 to win an SCCA-sanctioned Trans Am series. It also took the inaugural victory for the Bud Moore Engineering race team.

Mexican driver Moises Solana, who ordered the Boss 302, was behind the wheel for its first win in 1969. However, his tragic death just months later saw the car become the property of Freddy Van Beuren, who took more race wins.

A class winner at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, this important race car could sell for between $300,000 and $350,000.

1967 Shelby GT500 Fastback

The Mecum Kissimmee sale features a number of Shelby Mustangs, but this Wimbledon White example is particularly noteworthy. With just 5,243 original miles on the odometer, it is said to have the lowest mileage known for a 1967 Shelby GT500.

The original bodywork has had its distinctive livery of Wimbledon White with blue stripes reapplied. The 427-cubic inch V-8 comes with dual four-barrel carburetors, plus finned aluminum Cobra Le Mans valve covers, and is mated to a four-speed manual transmission.

Listed with the Shelby Registry, expect plenty of bids for this remarkably well-preserved GT500, taken from the first year of production.

1932 Ford Tommy Foster Roadster

Built by noted hot rodder Tommy Foster in 1949, this 1932 Ford was ranked as the “Most Outstanding Car” at the inaugural Detroit Autorama event in 1953.

Other achievements included first place at the New York Auto Show in both 1952 and 1953, and victory at the 1952 Motor World Fair in Miami. Ultimately, the roadster was chosen as one of the “75 most significant ’32 hot rods” by Ford, appearing in a special display at the 2007 Grand National Roadster Show in Pomona, California.

Powered by a 331-cubic inch Cadillac V-8, its features include front fenders fabricated from a Mercury station wagon tire cover, plus an Ice Blue finish with Ivory and Blue tuck-and-roll Naugahyde interior.

The famous ’32 Ford could sell for between $300,000 and $400,000 at auction.

2006 Ford GT Heritage Edition

A staple of any major collector car auction is a Heritage Edition of the first-generation Ford GT supercar. A total of 343 examples of the limited-edition model were made, each wearing a Gulf Oil-inspired blue and orange livery.

This car comes equipped with all the options made available, including forged BBS alloy wheels, gray-painted calipers for the Brembo brakes, and a McIntosh sound system.

With the odometer reading only 1,940 miles, this is a very lightly used GT Heritage Edition. As such, a guide price of $750,000 to $800,000 has been set.

2023 Ford GT Mk IV

The final send-off for the second-generation Ford GT, the Mk IV version was a joint project with the race car builder, Multimatic. Designed solely for track use, it features lengthened bodywork, an upgraded EcoBoost engine with more than 800 hp, and bespoke Adaptive Spool Valve (ASV) Dampers.

Only 67 examples were planned, with his being the very first customer car built. It wears a special one-off livery, paying tribute to the Ford GT ‘J-Cars’ of the 1960s. The seats are trimmed in blue leather.

A total of more than $100,000 was spent on options, bringing the total sales invoice to $1,806,100. With only delivery mileage recorded, this GT Mk IV is like new, and ready for track action.

1964 Chevrolet C2 Corvette Convertible

With more than 4,500 vehicles up for auction, Corvettes are a major part of the 2025 Mecum Kissimmee sale. It makes trying to narrow down a selection of them a tough job, but we start with a car for true ’Vette enthusiasts.

Said to be one of 29 made for 1964 with the J56 “Z06-type” Special Sintered Metallic Brake Package, the car also has Z06-style suspension. Power comes from a fuel-injected L84 engine with 375 hp, which is connected to a four-speed manual and Positraction differential.

Along with Bloomington Gold certification, this Corvette has also achieved a Regional NCRS Top Flight award. For a rare opportunity to own a special C2, budget on requiring between $150,000 and $200,000.

1970 Chevrolet C3 Corvette ZR1 Convertible

Introduced by Chevrolet for the 1970 model year, the ZR1 package has become a key part of Corvette history. As a $1,220 option when new – on top of the cost of a Corvette with an LT1 V-8 engine – numbers of the C3-generation ZR1 were tiny.

Only 25 examples were made for 1970, and just eight as convertibles. This happens to be the very first ZR1 off the line, and retains its original drivetrain, including an air cleaner signed by Zora Arkus-Duntov.

Fully restored, and driven for just 31 miles since, this is a special piece of Corvette history. It could sell for $450,000 to $500,000.

1989 Chevrolet C4 Corvette ZR1 Coupe

Corvette aficionados will, of course, know that Chevrolet did not officially start selling the C4-generation ZR1 until the 1990 model year. So, how is this example a 1989 car? By reason of being an early pilot vehicle, recorded as number 14 in the series.

Along with being an early example of the C4 ZR1, which featured the LT5 V-8 engine, it also played another unique role. Records show this as being the only factory-authorized “Experimental Pearl White” fourth-generation Corvette.

Complete with a red leather interior and multiple build sheets, this prototype model has a guide price of between $250,000 and $275,000.

2021 Chevrolet C8 Corvette 3LT SEMA Show

As if the shock of a mid-engined Chevrolet Corvette was not enough, the 2021 SEMA Show featured this heavily modified Torch Red example on display.

Upgrades include a C8 Competition C8RR carbon fiber widebody kit, custom Strasse wheels, and an Air Lift Performance suspension system. The latter allows the Corvette to be completely slammed to the ground when being shown.

Fitted with the Z51 Performance Package that boosts the 6.2-liter V-8 to 495 hp, the Corvette is guided at $100,000 to $150,000.

1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda

Mopar fans will be spoilt for choice at the Mecum Kissimmee sale, with plenty of Hemi-powered muscle cars up for grabs. Among them is this 1970 Plymouth Cuda, taken from the Nevada Collection of cars.

Equipped with a numbers-matching 426-cubic inch Hemi V-8, the Hi-Impact Lime Light Green paint is the real attention-grabber on this Cuda. Fully restored, the Shaker hood is present and correct, along with Hemi Hockey Stick stripes.

On the inside, the bucket seats are finished in black vinyl, with Rallye instruments fitted as an option, along with power steering. It all makes for a highly collectible piece of Mopar muscle.

1971 Dodge Hemi Challenger RT

For those who prefer their E-Body Mopar cars with a Dodge badge, the Mecum sale features this Hemi-powered 1971 Challenger R/T.

Underneath the hood is a 426 Hemi V-8, connected here to an automatic transmission. The exterior paintwork is color-coded to the wheels, which come wrapped in Goodyear Polyglas GT white-letter tires.

On the inside, black vinyl covers the bucket seats. A center console is fitted, along with plenty of simulated woodgrain trim.

1968 Dodge Hemi Charger RT

For some earlier Mopar Hemi action, how about a Dodge Charger R/T? One of only 475 Hemi R/T hardtops produced for the 1968 model year, this is a rare and special muscle car.

Recently subject to a comprehensive restoration, and finished in B5 Blue, this Charger R/T comes with color-matched wheels and a black vinyl roof. Significantly, its 426-cubic inch Hemi V-8 is combined with a manual transmission, complete with a Hurst shifter knob.

A true icon of the muscle car world, this Hemi Charger comes with a guide price of $150,000 to $175,000.

2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Convertible

For a more modern take on Mopar performance, the Mecum sale is stuffed with the latest Dodge Challengers and Chargers. Amidst the numerous Challenger SRT Hellcats is this Redeye Widebody Jailbreak, complete with a factory-approved convertible conversion.

Along with offering an open-air driving experience, this Hellcat Redeye Jailbreak benefits from Mopar-authorized Stage 2 engine upgrades, taking its 6.2-liter supercharged V-8 to 887 hp.

Finished in Sublime, and with black and gray leather seats, the Challenger also has a Harman Kardon audio system. Just 245 miles have been recorded, helping the guide price of $135,000 to $165,000.

1970 Lamborghini Miura P400 S

For a different take on bright green performance, the Mecum sale features this Lamborghini Miura P400 S in the vibrant Verde Miura hue.

Introduced in 1968, the P400 S version of the Miura lifted output from the 3.9-liter V-12 to 365 hp, with top speed increased to 173 mph. Other changes included the addition of ventilated brake discs, plus a more luxurious interior.

The cabin of this particular Miura is trimmed with plenty of blue leather, providing an intriguing contrast to its exterior paintwork. Restored in 2011, and displayed at the Concorso Italiano the same year, the guide price is a substantial $1,800,000 to $2,200,000.

1967 Jaguar E-Type Series I

Groovy, baby! Not a replica, but the actual Jaguar E-Type “Shaguar” as used in the Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery movie from 1997.

This means the car was driven by Mike Myers in his role as Austin Powers. It also made an appearance in the music video for Madonna’s “Beautiful Stranger” song.

Restored by Jaguar Land Rover during the 2000s, and later used by the marque for promotional duties, the Jaguar comes with plenty of provenance. Oh, and the exterior finish is a proper painted Union Jack, not a wrap.

1996 Honda Accord Wicked Wagon

Our final pick is the unique “Wicked Wagon”, perfect for all those who want the aesthetics of a traditional woodie, but with the dependability and gas mileage of a newer estate.

Built for the SEMA Show, this Honda Accord has a custom exterior with Sea Blue paint and airbrushed woodgrain vinyl detailing. Inside, more Sea Blue is used for the dashboard, contrasting with the beige upholstery.

The trunk has been used to accommodate a sizable audio install, with a custom chromed steering wheel added for good measure. It makes for an intriguing woodie wagon alternative.