Day three of the Mecum auction in Dallas and Fort Worth is supposed to be the stretch where the bargains dry up, yet one classic car fan says the prices still look like something regular people can afford. His headline example is a 1971 Pontiac Firebird with just 24,000 miles on the odometer that sold for only $25,000.

The host of the @305classics channel walked the lanes lot by lot, and his pitch is simple. “You can still get a great car in great condition at an amazing price,” he says.

A 24,000 Mile Firebird With Ram Air And All Its Paperwork Brought $25,000

Lot F22 is the one that set the tone. The 1971 Firebird carries a 350 with an automatic transmission, a ram air hood, dual exhaust, power steering and power front disc brakes, along with bucket seats, a console and Rally II wheels.

The host points out that all the documentation comes with the car, and that the engine compartment looks “ready to go.” He says Firebirds in this kind of shape can be found at really good prices, and this one sold for only $25,000.

A 1957 Bel Air And A 1951 Ford Convertible Both Sold For $12,000

The prices on the 1950s cars made him shake his head. A 1951 Ford convertible with a flathead V8, a three-speed manual and only 1,500 miles on the odometer sold for just $12,000, and he calls that “insane.”

A 1957 Chevy Bel Air sedan with a 327, an automatic and 8,800 miles brought the same $12,000. It has a four-barrel carb, an aluminum radiator and dual exhaust with chrome tips, and he says he absolutely loves ’57 Chevys, even if this one is a four-door.

He also liked a 1960 Ford Thunderbird with a 352 and 73,000 miles, which he calls a land yacht. He says Thunderbirds are going for great deals, and that one sold for only $11,500.

The Corvettes And Mustangs Landed In A Range Many Buyers Can Reach

A 1980 Corvette with a matching numbers L48 350, T-tops and 73,400 miles went for $18,000. The oyster cloth interior is one of only 1,808 produced in that year, according to the host.

On the Mustang side, a 1966 coupe with a 289 and a white vinyl top went for $19,500, which he calls very fair. A 1968 Mustang convertible with a 302, the one-year-only J-code engine, and 85,000 miles sold for only $35,000, and it came with a Marti report.

A 1965 Mustang convertible with a 289 and only 5,300 miles on the odometer rounded out the group. He says he owns the same exact car, and that it looks like a fair price at $26,500.

The Prewar Cars Are Practically Being Given Away

This is where he gets passionate. A 1926 Ford Model T Roadster sold for $4,500, and a 1926 Model T Touring sold for only $6,000.

“These cars are being given away, guys,” he says, adding that for some reason this next generation is just not into them. He recalls that Richard Rawlings of Gas Monkey Garage has said this era of car is done and that they will be giving them away because nobody wants to buy them anymore.

A 1939 Ford Deluxe coupe with a flathead V8 and just 109 miles sold for $23,000. A 1930 Model A pickup that has been previously restored sold for $13,500, and a 1942 Ford Super Deluxe Tudor sedan with an all steel body went for $30,000.

Trucks Are Hot, But The Prices Were Not

The host says classic pickups are hot, and several still sold in the low to mid $30,000 range. A 1954 Ford F-100 with a 350, air conditioning, power disc brakes and a new wood bed sold for $31,500, and he says he guarantees the owner put more money into it than it sold for.

A 1957 Chevy pickup with a big block V8 and 19,000 miles sold for $23,000. A 1957 Chevy 3100 with a 350 and a wood slotted bed sold for $33,500.

A 1957 Willys Jeep pickup with a rare 226 Hurricane flathead rated at 115 horsepower and just 532 miles sold for $19,000. And a 1956 Pontiac Chieftain wagon with an LS swap sold for only $33,000, one of 6,099 produced for 1956.

Hours Of Work Went Into A Rat Rod And It Sold For $22,000

The 1952 Chevy Custom Speedster is a rat rod inspired build with a steel patina body, Holley Sniper fuel injection, hand painted pin stripes and just 812 miles on it. He says he is not sure he would buy it, but it looks awesome, and that a lot more money went into it than the $22,000 it sold for.

He makes the same point about a 1941 Chevy coupe street rod and a 1967 Dodge Dart GT convertible with a 273 and 18,254 miles, both of which he describes as ready to go.

A 1976 Cadillac Eldorado convertible with a 500 cubic inch engine and a power top sold for $25,000. He thinks it would make a great cruiser.

What To Know Before You Chase A Bargain Classic

The host sums up the mood with a blunt line. “This is a buyer’s market,” he says, and he encourages his audience to buy now if they want one of these cars.

If you are thinking about heading to an auction yourself, a few common-sense notes apply.

• Look over the car in person, and check the engine compartment, interior and paint before the bidding starts.
• Ask what paperwork comes with the car. The Firebird and the 1968 Mustang each came with documentation.
• Decide on your top price in advance so the excitement does not decide for you.
• Keep in mind that fees and transport can be added on top of the hammer price.
• Pick what you love to drive, since the host says even cars that are not muscle cars are beautiful.

His last piece of advice is to ignore the haters and keep looking, because some of these old beauties are still waiting for someone who will drive them.

More Stories You May Like

• 8 Rare American Muscle Cars Built In Tiny Numbers That Collectors Still Chase, From FBI Special Order Sedans To A Hemi ‘Cuda Convertible That Sold For $3.5 Million
• 8 Maintenance Jobs Many Cars Need Around 100,000 Miles, And The Ones That Can Turn Into Bigger Repairs If Put Off
• Driver Honks Once At A Car That Skids Behind Her In The Rain, Then A Man Follows Her For A Long Time Trying To Run Her Off The Road Until She Calls Triple 0