Another year, another Mecum Auction. Mostly, that means another chance for rich, fat, bald Baby Boomers to pick up the Camaro/Challenger/GTO/Cobra replica that they lusted over during the Johnson administration. But some truly cool offerings will come through as well, and few things are cooler than this.
Up for grabs is Frank Sinatra's 1989 Jaguar XJS, described as Old Blue Eyes' "main mode of transportation in Palm Springs." V12 engine, leather seats, wood trim... what could be cooler than this? Most of us like to think of Frank cruising around in some big Rat Pack Cadillac land boat, but I like the idea of him in a classy British GT car. It's just cool all around.
Speaking of Cadillacs, here's one that's nearly as awesome: a 1972 Cadillac Custom Estate Wagon owned by none other than Elvis Presley.
If that's not disco enough for you, they also have a 1969 Chevrolet C/10 Baja Truck previously owned by Steve McQueen. I'd say Mecum is doing alright this year on the "awesome car owned by American badasses" front.
Another oddball "collector car" is the car from the 1994 live action version of The Flintstones, a movie I had completely forgotten about, and for good reason. Any takers on that one?
The Mecum auction will be held in Santa Monica at the end of July.