McCormick’s Palm Springs Classic Car Auction 50th Event Post Auction Results

 Keith McCormick held his 50^th Classic Car Auction on February 25^th, 26^th & 27^th 2011 in Palm Springs, California. This was his 25^th anniversary sale and 50^th event.

The event kicked off Friday afternoon with a champagne hour to celebrate the 25^th anniversary followed by 100 cars crossing the block with a 80% sale rate. The event continued Saturday & Sunday with an additional 387 cars and an impressive 70% sale rate. All previous attendance and sales records were broken. A total of 487 cars crossed the block with 342 finding new homes and a sales total of $5,753,212.50 (including 5% buy fees) 

Notable sales included:

(Photos Below)

 

Lot # 124 1968 Shelby GT500 KR….Sold $131,250

Lot # 120 1967 Chevy Corvette 427….Sold $84,000

Lot # 151 1933 Ford Speedstar….Sold $80,850

Lot # 176 1957 Buick Century Cvt….Sold $76,650

Lot # 168 1959 Chevy ElCamino …. Sold $53,025

Lot # 169 1956 Chevy Corvette Rdstr…. Sold $60,375

Source: McCormick’s Press Release

Palm Springs Collector Car Auction Celebrates 25th Anniversary

With the 50^th McCormick collector car auction coming up Feb. 25-27, Keith McCormick has seen some unusual highs and lows. About 14 years ago, he experienced both on the same day.

            The Palm Springs Collector Car Auction was held in the in the convention center then, and McCormick, dressed in a new tuxedo, showed up at 6:30 a.m. to check the antique and collectible cars to be auctioned starting at 8 that morning.

            When he opened the door to the exhibit hall, the rush of air fanned the flames on the battery under the hood of a 1939 Ford, which was already on fire because the car’s owner had accidentally crossed the wires. Within seconds flames leaped from under the hood and smoke billowed throughout the hall.It looked like the whole center would burn to the ground

            McCormick and a security guard found the fire hose, fought the flames and called the fire department, but McCormick and his tux were covered in soot.  “The Ford was destroyed and several other cars were damaged.  But the fire department got there in eight minutes and began damage control and smoke removal,” McCormick said.

            That was the low point of the day. McCormick went home, changed his clothes and opened the auction on time.  “But it turned out to be one of the best sales after that,” he said.

            Now in its 25^th year, the twice-a-year auction is now held at the Spa Resort Casino in downtown Palm Springs. About 600 cars, trucks, motorcycles pass through the large auction tent, creating a lively and loud carnival atmosphere, with a different vehicle drawing bids every three  minutes before crowds

            To celebrate its 25^th year, a champagne toast is planned from 3 to 4 p.m. in the auction tent on Friday, Feb. 25. After the toast, the auction of the first 100 collector vehicles will begin.

            Singer Trini Lopez, a Palm Springs resident best know for hits such as “Kansas City,” “Lemon Tree” and “If I had a hammer,” will be in attendance  at the toast as he opened McCormick’s first sale in 1986 with his 1972 Cadillac convertible . “He is still recording and appearing live in concerts,” said McCormick.  One of Lopez’s vintage cars will be on sale at the auction ( Lot# 174)..A rare 1966 Rolls Royce Mulliner-Park Ward convertible sold to him by Bill Harrah of Vegas Casino fame in 1966.

            The auction vehicles can be viewed on McCormick’s website, www.classic-carauction.com. The website explains entry fees, rules and other details and has photos of the vehicles to be auctioned.

The auction will stream live via the Internet from their website. People who register in advance may bid for cars by phone, said Keith McCormick. At the previous auction, people tuned in from across the United States, Europe Japan, New Zealand and bid on cars.

           People bidding by telephone will have to register in advance and follow the same procedures as people attending the auction, McCormick noted. 

            Vehicles at this auction will include antique cars and trucks, muscle cars from the 1960’s and 70’s, foreign and U.S. sports cars, trucks and motorcycles. Vehicle prices vary from a few thousand dollars well into six figures.

Calendar

Feb. 25, 26, 27, Palm Springs 50^th Collector Car Auction at the Spa Resort Casino. More than 600 collectible cars, trucks and motorcycles to be auctioned. Auction admission, Friday night free. One day pass $10, two days $15.  For details, www.classic-carauction.com or call 760 320-3290.

 

Photo: 

Singer Trini Lopez with his 1966 Rolls Royce and Keith McCormick

About Trini Lopez

  Lopez was born in Dallas, Texas, on Ashland Street in the “Little Mexico” neighborhood. He began his singing career at the Vegas Club in Dallas, owned by Jack Ruby, (who later was convicted murdering Lee Harvey Oswald, who assassinated of President John F. Kennedy.)

            At one time, performing in England, the Beetles was his opening act.

He scored thirteen chart singles through 1968, including “Lemon Tree” (1965), “I’m Comin’ Home, Cindy” (1966) and “Sally Was a Good Old Girl” (1968). On the adult contemporary chart, he ranked up 15 hits, including the Top 10 singles “Michael” (1964), “Gonna Get Along Without Ya’ Now” (1967) and “The Bramble Bush” (1967). Beyond his success on record, he became one of the country’s top nightclub performers of that era, regularly headlining in Las Vegas, Nevada.

McCormick’s 49th Palm Springs Classic Car Auction Post Event Results

This fall’s event featured a wide array of classic and collectable vehicles from a very desirable 1960 Plymouth Sport Fury Convertible, a gorgeous, one owner 1965 Ford Mustang Fastback all the way to a special construction Munster Koach just like one seen on the hit tv series “The Munsters”.

Also, for the first time in history, 12 month power train warrantys were offered on qualifying vehicles which eased the minds of unsure bidders.

 All in all a total of 464 cars crossed the block with 276 going to new homes and a sales total of $4,127,996

 Noteable sales include:

(photos below)

 Lot 370 1967 Austin Healer BJ8…Sold $52,500

Lot 404 1960 Plymouth Sport Fury Conv…Sold $48,300

Lot 159 1957 Ford T Bird…Sold $39,637

Lot 361 1965 Ford Mustang fastback…Sold $35,700

McCormick’s 48th Palm Springs Auction Results & Photo Gallery

Lot 118 1959 Austin Healey                                     $71,925

For the first time in many years conducting collector car auctions in sunny Palm Springs, California the McCormick family experienced a rainy, stormy Saturday from 6am throughout the evening. The gloomy skies did not dampen the sales or restrict the large crowd on hand.

Total Cars Across The Block                494

 Total Cars Sold                                     279

 Total Receipts                                       $4,817,295

 Some notable sales include:

Lot 127 1970 Plymouth Cuda 440                         $60,375

 

Lot 161 1968 Shelby GT500kr                                 $94,500

 

Lot 172 1976 Batmobile                                           $82,950

 

Lot 264 1971 Mercedes 3.5 Cab                               $105,000

 

Lot 406 1970 Boss 302 Mustang                            $73,500

Click Here for Complete Auction Results

(Source: McCormick Auction Press Release)

McCormick’s Palm Springs Auction Preview………”Bueller, Bueller?”

 

This year McCormick’s 47th Palm Springs Fall Auction will once again take place at the Downtown Palm Springs Spa Resort Casino on November 20th, 21st & 22nd 2009. There will be over 500 Cars crossing the block over the three day event surrounded by the gorgeous San Jacinto mountains and 80 degree sunshine. Among this years entries are a California born & raised 1968 Shelby GT350. The car has just undergone a 3 year rotisserie restoration to concourse standards. The car includes Deluxe Marti Report & build sheet. Another interesting entry is a 1960 Ferrari California Spyder recreation like seen in the movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. McCormick’s Palm Springs Auction is well know for having a wide range of vehicles and prices for everybodys budget. There will also be many cars listed “no reserve” including one collectors 9 car collection Friday Night.

Visit www.classic-carauction.com for information on this great event.