1968 Toyota 2000GT - $850k

Produced between 1967 and 1970, there were 351 Toyota 2000GTs created (337 regular models and 14 special editions) 62 were left-hand drives for the U.S.A. market.

These are among the rarest and the most expensive when they rarely go under the hammer. Only nine cars have changed hands in the last five years. Considered the first supercar and first truly collectible car from Japan, the Toyota 2000GT two-seat sports coupe is a beauty to behold. One of the 109 export models was sold in California on Bring a Trailer in 2022. The winning bid was $850k USD.

The most expensive car ever sold was a 1967 Shelby-tuned 2000GT, which brought $2.5m - the most expensive Japanese car ever sold at auction.

A 2.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine is longitudinally mounted with hemispherical combustion chambers and a cast iron block. That is topped by a Yamaha-designed aluminum cylinder head.

It boasts 148 hp through a five-speed manual transmission. In America, the 2000GT sold for an expensive $6,800, much more than contemporary Porsches and Jaguars. A handful reached North America and the others were thinly spread worldwide. Most 2000GTs were painted either Solar Red or Pegasus White.

1971 Chevrolet Corvette ZR2 Convertible - $962k

The 1971 ZR2 Corvette exceeds the legendary L88 in rarity. Virtually none knew they existed and only a dozen were produced for those that did. Comforts were sacrificed – no power steering, automatic transmission, radio, or air conditioning were available.

1 of 12 ZR2 Special Purpose engine packages produced and only 2 convertible ZR2s. Unrestored with 8,702 miles, lowest mileage ZR2 known to exist. Documented with tank sticker, Protect-O-Plate and dealer shipping order. LS6 454/425 HP engine. M22 4-speed close ratio heavy duty manual transmission. Brands Hatch Green exterior. Black leather interior. J56 special heavy duty brakes. F41 special front and rear suspension. Auxiliary hardtop.

The option was $1,221, on top of the coupe's $5,496 base price.

The LS6 engine RPO was offered only for one model year - 1971. With 454 cubic inches, a cast-iron block and aluminum heads, the LS6 was second only to the L88 racing engine. The original LS6 produced 425 bhp and was the most powerful engine offered in 1971. Only 188 cars were produced with this powerplant, less than 1% of Corvette's 21,801 production run.

Did they give this hugely collectible 1 of 2 corvette ZR2 away? Nope. The other ZR2 convertible made $440k in 2010. This example appeared at Mecum in 2022 and made $962k.

Al Capone's bulletproof 1928 Cadillac

The 1928 Cadillac Town Sedan has only 1,111 miles on the odometer and a host of hardware. It features one-inch-thick bulletproof glass windows all around, and the side windows can even be cranked up to allow a two-inch gap at the bottom for gunmen to shoot a Thompson submachine gun. The back window opens as well to allow rear-firing. The car was outfitted with a police siren, flashing police lights, and a police radio hidden in the glove box. The car sold for $341,000 in 2014.

The green and black paint was similar to Chicago’s police cars. The infamous Caddy has lived a quiet, little used life, occupying museums.

The U.S. Treasury Department impounded Capone’s Caddy after he was arrested in 1931. When FDR went to Congress to ask for a declaration of a state of war on December 8, 1941, he rode in this Cadillac.

1970 Chevrolet Chevelle LS6 - $187k

Original matching numbers drivetrain validated on January 18, 2025. Listed in the LS6 Chevelle Registry, Certificate no. LS6-194. Rotisserie restoration completed in 2014. Original CRV code 454/450 HP LS6 engine. Original Muncie M22 4-speed transmission. Original 12 bolt, 3.31 ratio Positraction rear end. Rebuilt drivetrain and F41 suspension. SS wheels with Firestone F70-14 tires. Refinished in the original Cranberry Red over black. Highly detailed engine bay and undercarriage. Sitting atop the muscle car food chain in 1970 was Chevrolet’s SS Chevelle designated RPO Z15. Checking off this option delivered a 450 hp, 454 cubic inch solid lifter behemoth that cranked out 500 lbs.-ft. of torque and bludgeoned all challengers.

The 450 horsepower LS6 was the most powerful engine offered in 1970. The Cowl Induction system fed outside air to a 780 cfm Holley carburetor. The LS6 featured a beefy bottom end with four-bolt mains, forged steel crankshaft and connecting rods with forged aluminum, and 11.25:1 compression pistons.

Because of the LS6’s high (6500) redline, deep groove accessory drive pulleys were necessary. Thanks to new Federal emission standards, the LS6 was hobbled with the primitive Air Injection Reactor (A.I.R.) pump. That was the first to go when owners took delivery. Either the Muncie M22 “Rock Crusher” close ratio four-speed manual transmission or the three-speed M40 Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic were available with rear gear choices up to 4.33:1 rear gears and limited slip differential. Buying an LS6 Chevelle required the customer to purchase mandatory options, and it wasn’t cheap. The RPO Z15 SS 454 package was $503.45. The LS6 added $263.30 and either a M22 ($221.80) or M40 ($290.40) was required. The biggest bad dog meant an additional $988.55 to a base price of just over $2,800.

It’s agreed that Chevrolet produced 4,475 LS6 Chevelles, however there is no break down as to coupe, convertible and El Caminos in that total. A rotisserie, no expense spared nut and bolt restoration was completed in 2014. Virtually all major components were rebuilt. This top end example carried a too high estimate of $250k to $300k at Mecum.

1969 Mercury Cougar XR-7 Convertible - $88k

3,074 miles. Rotisserie restoration. 428/335 HP Cobra Jet V-8 engine. Automatic transmission. Power steering. Power front disc brakes. AM/FM stereo. Tilt steering column. Tachometer. Bucket seats and console. Power windows. Power convertible top. Hideaway headlights.

This bad boy made $88k against a $75k to $85k estimate at Mecum. Here.

Base engine for the Cougar was the 250 hp, 351 cid V-8, with an optional four-barrel carburetor and dual exhausts providing 40 hp more. A 320 hp, four-barrel 390 was also available. Top pussy cat was the Eliminator which could be had with a 335 hp, 428 CJ V8. With optional Super Cobra Jet ram-air intake it was good for about 400 bhp. The SCJ featured forged connecting rods and an oil cooler.

Bad Ferraris

Broadly speaking, no other car holds its value as well as a Ferrari. The Prancing Horse is revered. While most sports cars depreciate the moment they leave the lot, Ferraris tend to either hold their value or appreciate with time. These are the exceptions.

The Ferrari 348 is a mid-engined, rear-wheel-drive V8-powered 2-seat sports car produced from 1989 through 1995. The 348 was Ferrari's low point. The supercar was all bad. The 348 had all the standard Ferrari problems without anything praiseworthy. Extremely expensive maintenance, poor reliability and bad ergonomics, the 348 has it all.

The Ferrari 400I is an embarrassing faux pas swept under the rug. Everyone seems to forget the 400I existed, and for many good reasons. Produced between 1972 and 1979, the Ferrari 400I is boring to look at and slow. Perhaps worst of all, its dull.

The Ferrari Mondial is a mid-engined, V8-powered grand tourer produced between 1980 and 1993, with more than 6,000 built. Some Ferraris depreciate spectacularly. But the Mondial goes above and beyond all others. Overweight and under-powered, the Mondial gets outrun by virtually anything with wheels. It is the poor man's entry into Ferrari world and can be had for $25,000 in some cases.

1967 Lincoln Limousine - Elvis - $165k

The Elvis Presley family car. Documented with copy of the original title application in Elvis Presley's name. Presented to Elvis Presley as a wedding gift by his manager Colonel Tom Parker. Elvis Presley owned this car when he got married and his daughter was born. The whereabouts of the car had been unknown for decades. Part of the Petrozzini collection since the 1980s.

When Elvis Presley married Priscilla Beaulieu in May 1967, his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, gave the newlyweds this 1967 Lincoln Continental Executive Limousine by Lehmann-Peterson as a wedding gift.

Unlike most of Elvis' cars, this 1967 Lincoln Continental Limousine was largely forgotten over time. It was equipped with air conditioning, power steering, power brakes, power windows, a power antenna, a power front bench seat, an in-dash clock and a host of other luxurious amenities. A 462 CI V-8 with an automatic transmission powered the limousine.

The car made $165k in 2019 at Mecum.