Mecum Auctions

#267, The Voice: John Kraman talks Mecum Auctions, Monterey

John Kraman knows the car auction business as well as a broadcaster. He’s the senior member of the Mecum Auctions team and the only announcer who’s been on all 16 years of the country’s largest automobile auctions broadcast. He’s our guest this week on The Weekly Driver Podcast. With broadcast colleagues and varied responsibility crew, co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss with Kraman the auction’s participation Aug. 17-19 in Monterey Auto Week. Mecum is the only daytime auction during what is now nearly a two-week celebration on the Monterey Peninsula of all things automotive. The Monterey stop on the Mecum Auctions nearly yearlong circuit is the company’s smallest in volume. About 600 vehicles are sold in three days. But

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#188, Broadcaster John Kraman talks Mecum Auctions

John Kraman spends his work career immersed in automotive auctions. He’s the lead TV commentator and analyst for NBCSN during Mecum Auction broadcasts. He can barely curb his enthusiasm. There’s no doubt the broadcaster is ready for the return of the three-day Mecum Auction during Classic Car Week beginning Aug. 12. Kraman is my guest on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-host Bruce Aldrich is on vacation, so Kraman and I discuss the upcoming Mecum Auction during Monterey Auto Week. “This pandemic really hasn’t slowed us down,” said Kraman. “We have been on the go. Our foot has been on the gas pedal, making adjustments to scheduling and having some safety issues we’ve had to deal with at

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Toyota Tacoma legacy: No. 1 million set for Mecum Auctions

Well into its mid-20s, it’s time for a Toyota Tacoma celebration. One truck fan may get the biggest gift — the one-millionth unit of the iconic small pickup truck. It was assembled Oct. 4, 2019, in San Antonio, Texas, and has been driven only 158 miles. The truck, which may reach a value of $100,000, will be for sale during Mecum Auctions‘ three-day presence at Monterey Auto Week, Aug. 12-14. A 1995 Toyota Tacoma cost between $17,000 and $19,000 new. Carrying lot #R285, the Army Green TRD Pro model will come with a letter from Toyota verifying its production number. That should help to solidify its value, as will the fact that this thing is nearly factory fresh. Toyota Tacoma:

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#95, Mecum Auctions defines fun during Monterey Auto Week

Somewhere on the spectrum between the Concours d’LeMons and Concours d’Elegance, the three-day Mecum Auctions during Monterey Auto Week is perfectly positioned. Attainable daily drivers to rarities, it’s an automotive whirlwind of buying and selling. The country’s largest automotive auction, Mecum annually progresses to 13 stops around the country, January through December and Kissimmee, Fla. to Louisville, Ky., to Monterey. Its offerings include seven-figure works of art on wheels, family heirlooms, celebrity-owned cars, oddities and cars of infamous pedigree. “I call it a car show with a pulse,” said John Kraman, Mecum’s long-time director of consignments and a television commentator’s during the auction’s extensive television broadcasts on NBCSN. “I think that’s accurate.” Kraman is our guest on episode #95 of

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Mecum Auctions: Everyman’s show in Classic Car Week

Ask John Kraman a question about automobile auctions, vintage cars, industry trends or automotive history and answers come fast and furious. He’s as enthusiastic as anyone, and his knowledge flows as fast as verbal clarity allows. As Director of Company Relations and Lead TV Commentator/Analyst for Mecum Auctions, Kraman will be part of the large staff again working the world’s largest car auction during Classic Car Week. The rapid-fire affair, among several auctions held throughout the gathering of all things automotive, will be held Aug. 23-25 at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa and Del Monte Golf Course. About 600 cars — exotics, muscle cars, sports cars, vintage vans and pick-up trucks, tractors and memorabilia — will all be

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Episode 45, Fast, furious Mecum Auctions returns to Monterey

Ask John Kraman a question about automobile auctions, vintage cars, industry trends or automotive history and the answers come fast and furious from the Mecum Auctions expert. He’s as enthusiastic as anyone and his knowledge flows as fast as verbal clarity allows. As the Director of Company Relations and Lead TV Commentator/Analyst Mecum Auctions, Kraman will be part of the vast staff again present at the world’s largest car collectors auction during Monterey Auto Week in August. The rapid-fire auction will present about 600 cars during Mecum’s three-day presence during the gathering of all things automotive held on the Monterey Peninsula. Kaman is our guest on episode No. 45 of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia

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Mecum Auctions rolls into Las Vegas for 1,000-car debut

Mecum Auctions, the world’s largest collector-car auction company, will produce its inaugural Las Vegas collector-car auction Nov. 16-18 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. An estimated 1,000 American muscle cars, classics, Corvettes, Hot Rods and Resto Mods will be on the auction block. Among the “Main Attractions” consigned to date for Mecum Las Vegas 2017 is a well-documented 1965 Shelby 289 Cobra Roadster (Lot S105.1). It retains its original aluminum body, red seat covers, 6-inch chrome wire wheels and remains one of the most original automatic-equipped Cobras in existence. Listen to The Weekly Driver Podcast about the Mecum Auctions debut in Las Vegas below: Another headliner is a 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster (Lot S108). It’s documented with a copy of

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Mecum Auctions Las Vegas debut live on Facebook

Mecum Auctions, the world’s largest collector-car auction company, will produce its inaugural Las Vegas collector-car auction, featuring an estimated 1,000 American muscle cars, classics, Corvettes, Hot Rods and Resto Mods, November 16-18 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Vehicles from approximately 20 states and and Canada, including a well-documented 1965 Shelby 289 Cobra Roadster (Lot 105.1) that retains its original aluminum body, red seat covers, 6-inch chrome wire wheels and is most original automatic-equipped Cobras in existence, will be among the main attractions. A 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster (Lot S108) documented with a copy of the original build sheet confirming its matching-numbers chassis, body, engine, four-speed transmission and differential, is also also among the expected most coveted vehicles. The consignments

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Mecum Auctions offers best bargain at Monterey Auto Week

John Kraman, a broadcaster for Mecum Auctions, has been enamored by automobiles for as long as he can remember. His father was a Pontiac and Oldsmobile salesman in the 1960s in Southern California, and his employment locations were Kraman’s after school playgrounds. As family legend details, Kraman began to identify cars at age 2. Nearly 60 years later, vast auto industry knowledge has served him well. With three broadcast colleagues, more than a half-dozen auctioneers, 40 television crew members and 200-300 auxiliary staff, Mecum Auctions was back this year at Classic Car Week on the Monterey Peninsula with its four-day auction at Del Monte Golf Course. While Classic Car Week has several auctions and shows with overtly priced tickets, Mecum

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Dick Clark: rock & roll icon, purveyor of 1957 classic car museum

Dick Clark was synonymous with rock & roll. But like many celebrities, the host of American Bandstand who died April 17 of a heart attack at age 82, was an avid automobile collector. Of course, 1957 was an iconic year for the music, the man and the cars, most notably the ’57 Chevy. Clark had many cars in his collection, including the iconic ’57 Chevy Larkspur Blue drop top with a dual-barrel 283 V8 with a Continental kit. Clark’s collection was located in a museum called the 57 Heaven Museum in Branson, Missouri. It was part of one of Clark’s many businesses, the American Bandstand restaurant chain. The 57 Heaven Museum closed in 2009, and the cars were sold by

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