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.
