A Woman’s Guide to Mecum Car Auctions. OK, Guys Too
My husband and I just attended the Mecum Car Auctions’ biggest event of the year in Kissimmee, Florida. I had originally surprised him with a trip to see the Barrett-Jackson Auction in Scottsdale, but we decided to give Mecum’s Classic Cars a try instead. It was a great experience. They auctioned 3,000 cars in 8 days! I was happy to let my ‘old man’ enjoy it and as I mentioned in a prior post.. I’m also hoping he remembers this generosity of spirit and what a good sport I was, when I bring up going to Iceland to see the northern lights again!
What to Expect At the Mecum Car Auctions
The auction was set up on the grounds of the Osceola Heritage Park. There were cars everywhere, as far as the eye could see. Most were nestled side by side under big tents awaiting their moment of fame on the auction block. There was a constant progression of vehicles, moving into advanced positions, as they get closer to their allotted time. I can’t even begin to imagine the hours and employees it takes to get this event set up. Walking the grounds to view the cars was enough exercise to be able to skip the gym for the day (not that I go, but if I did).
How Much Can You Check Out?
Registered bidders are able to look over the cars before they are auctioned. You can check under the hood, the body and the interior. If you’re like Brian, you can also feel free to crawl underneath them. Mecum’s site, www.mecum.com, gives an overview on the cars and the days they’ll be auctioned so you can be there for the cars you’re most interested in. This amount of cars was challenging. You can’t possibly look over (or crawl under) all the cars you may be interested in, so if you suddenly ‘become’ interested because the bids are low, you may have to take a chance on buying a car without checking it out first.
The How To..
We found the best pricing early in the morning and mid-week, as there were less bidders at the event. Be careful when it’s very busy. You have to stay on top of the bidding, as the auctioneers really push the pricing. I know it’s their job, but… there were several times they got caught calling a price more than the last bid.
Something else to be aware of is that when the ‘reserve’ for a car is not met, the car is put into another area and labeled for ‘The Bid Goes On’. These cars are marked with the last highest bid before they were taken off the auction block. You can walk this lot anytime to view these cars and make an offer if you wish.
Register Ahead of Time!
Take note that it is best to register as a bidder ahead of time if you plan to spend a few days and are considering bidding… It cost $100 to register as a bidder in advance. We received a bidder pass and guest pass that allowed us into the event all 10 days. This price doubles if you purchase your passes within 2 weeks of the event. The general admission price was $30 per person, per day. This is for the observation area only, you are not able to go onto the bidding floor.
If you’re into Classic Cars, you’ll love it. If it’s your significant other that’s into Classic Cars, there’s a good chance you’ll enjoy it too. The frenzy and pace of the auction was exciting. It was fun to be a part of it. We bid on several cars, but quit when the price went over what we had decided to spend. Better luck next time!!
All in all, it was a good time. They sell beer and hot pretzels, how bad could it be? I got extra points for being the best wife and it wasn’t that hard to do! In addition, my bonus perk was being able to play with the grandkids at DisneyWorld and SeaWorld in between auction times.
For More Information on the Orlando/Kissimmee area for adults, visit my blog post at http://www.4startraveler.com/adults-in-orlando/
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