Enormous collection to cross the block in Dallas

| 26 Oct 2016

One of the world’s largest car collections is set to be thinned out next month, when 130 cars from the 278-strong collection of El Paso real estate developer Ron MacWhorter go under the hammer at Mecum’s 2-5 November Dallas auction. 

The 79 year old boasts one of the largest private collections in the United States – larger than that of Jay Leno and Nick Mason combined – but has decided to sell a number of classics in order to reduce storage bills and free up space. 

All but 10 of the cars will be sold at no reserve, with Corvette fans in for the biggest treat: no fewer than 14 examples will be sold, ranging from the model’s beginnings in 1954 through to a trio of modern classics from the early 2000s. 

The collector’s interest in muscle cars extends beyond the limits of Corvettes, with fine examples of Camaros, Mustangs, Trans Ams also going up for auction, as well as a handful of Chevelles, a Cuda, a 442 and a Le Mans convertible among the offerings. 

Here are a few of our favourites from the sale.

1954 Chevrolet Corvette – $80,000-100,000


Just 4640 Corvettes were built in 1954, and this example is surely one of the best. It rolled off the production line fairly late in the run – number 4375 – and is in very original condition. It’s fitted with a correct pre-V8 Blue Flame straight six with triple Carter carburtettors mated to a Powerglide automatic transmission. The black paintwork and beige hood combination isn’t just striking, it’s quite rare. 

1928 Ford Model A Sedan – $12,000-15,000

One of the earliest cars in the sale, the Model A is also our tip as a potential bargain, wearing a lower estimate of just $12,000. For that, you get an honest example of Ford’s four-pot flathead workhorse, fitted with a three-speed manual transmission, a chromed flying quail mascot and a rear-mounted spare tyre. There isn’t much to it – but isn’t that its appeal?

1957 Chevrolet Corvette convertible – $90,000-110,000

Being a Corvette fanatic, there are some great examples from the MacWhorter Collection. Making a case for the pick of the bunch is this iconic example from one of the model’s best years – 1957. Buyers had five choices of power plant that year, with the Rochester fuel-injected 283cu in V8 top of the tree. This Venetian Red Corvette is as impressive and striking today as it was in the 1950s. 

1972 Chevrolet C10 pickup – $18,000-20,000 

Often overlooked for their earlier stepside forbears, Chevrolet pickups of a slightly later vintage have much to recommend them, namely price and simplicity of design. This long-bed example is finished in two tone copper and brown, with a 350cu in V8 under the bonnet and a four-barrel carburettor to help it breathe. It’s got air conditioning, a Pioneer stereo and power steering, too, making this truck not only affordable, but a very practical proposition. 

1989 Bentley Turbo R – $18,000-22,000

A 1989 Bentley Turbo R looks slightly incongruous sitting on gold-stripe whitewall tyres, but it wouldn’t take much to return the car to its original factory specification. Being somewhat of an outsider in the 1000-strong US sale, it could go for a song. 

1970 Plymouth Cuda – $80,000-100,000

This Plymouth Cuda might not be original, having had its factory slant six ‘leaning tower of power’ swapped for a fire-breathing Hemi V8, but we can think of 425 (bhp!) reasons most potential buyers won’t be phased. A host of matching Hemi parts ranging from a branded air intake, road lights and rear window slats to body-colour side-view sport mirrors ensure it looks the part. 

Click here for a full list of lots