It’s a record — 4,000 cars!

The Mecum Kissimmee 2023 Auction continues climb to a record 4,000 collector cars.

Included in that count are 50 investment-grade vehicles from the Rick Grant III Estate Collection, which is shaping up to be the main attraction for this coming year’s event. The Grant collection is centered upon a theme of European sports and racing with the years of manufacture ranging almost exclusively from the 1930s through the 1980s.

“When my dad (Dana Mecum) left the auction arena (Heritage Park) at the conclusion of Mecum Kissimmee in January, he said ‘4,000 next year,’ and he meant it,” Vice President of Consignments Frank Mecum said. “Despite the demanding auction schedule that remains for this year, our consignment agents have been hustling to achieve Dana’s goal before Mecum Kissimmee 2023 opens.”

Last year’s Mecum Kissimmee auction achieved a record $217 million in sales to become the first-ever live collector car auction to exceed $200 million. Despite the addition of auctions in numerous other cities, including a mid-summer event at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, the Mecum Kissimmee event continues to grow year to year, as the COVID-19 pandemic recedes.

Along with several other private collection offerings, Mecum Kissimmee 2023 will present the most diverse selection available anywhere, encompassing American muscle cars, classics, Corvettes, exotics, trucks, Hot Rods, customs and more. Live coverage of the event will be featured on MotorTrendTV and MotorTrend+, and special coverage on Jan. 14, to be broadcast on the Discovery Channel In addition to the Rick Grant III Estate Collection, other autos of note that should pique the interest of collectors include a 1959 Porsche 718 RSK Center Seat, a 1936 Bugatti Type 57 and a 1965 Shelby 289 Cobra Roadster. An impressive group of other offerings includes a variety of other well-preserved classic sports cars from Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, Austin-Healey, Bentley, BMW, Ferrari, Jaguar, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, MG, and others.

One of the most unusual “vehicles” slated for this year’s auction is a 1950s era private jet owned by none other than Elvis Pressley. The 1962 Lockheed Jetstar was one of the earliest corporate jets produced. The red and silver aircraft is currently stored at the airport in, of all places, Roswell, New Mexico. The Mecum website description of the jet lists a custom interior upholstery featuring red velvet and gold-finish hardware, an onboard Kenmore microwave, television with RCA VCR player and an onboard cassette player.

With a record number of vehicles up for auction, it follows that record attendance may be in the offing. Currently, a block of reserved rooms for the event at the Embassy Suites has sold out, as well as the wet RV hookups at Heritage Park. Special room rates are available at other area hotels.

Consignment positions for Mecum Kissimmee 2023 are still available, and those who wish to participate are encouraged to submit a Request for Position form now to take advantage of pre-auction advertising and promotion.

For more information on Mecum Kissimmee 2013, see https://bit.ly/3HV5Yif.