I’ve been traveling lately, including to the May auction-fest in Indiana, which is why I haven’t gone digital with this interesting report so far. Among the big sales that Mecum Auctions rang up three weeks ago at the Indiana State Fairgrounds was this 1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4, which cracked the top 10 lots in dollar terms. But wait, there’s more.
First, this was a completely unrestored car, very much looking the part, with a claimed 26,393 actual miles. It was very obviously completely original except for one admitted partial repaint in Rosso Barchetta. The biggest thing, however, was that it was consigned at absolutely no reserve. That’s right, a Ferrari Daytona at one of the highest-profile auctions in the country, offered at no reserve. We were looking this over with a young guy who obviously knew his V-12 Ferraris, going over it with a Mini Maglite, pointing out the somewhat sloppy engine compartment with crackle finish missing from the right-bank camshaft cover. Then he grinned and said, “Hey, it’s a no-reserve Daytona. Who’s complaining?” Nobody, it turned out, because Mecum banged the gavel at $265,000 even. We’ll have full Mecum (plus the same week’s other big sale, RM’s Auctions America go in Auburn) in Hemmings Motor News, Hemmings Muscle Machines and Hemmings Sports & Exotic Car.