Mecum auction experience, not a Corvette

[Michael J.]

I just returned from the Mecum auction in Kansas City. First time I had ever gone to an auction live with a loaded checkbook. I bought a very nice car (not a Corvette), took three days to inspect it from stem to stern, tested all the equipment, checked all the numbers, pulled the dipstick, looked in the radiator, etc. Bought it, OK price, great service by Mecum crew. Loaded on transport, temps around zero, snowing. I got it off the Reliable transporter two days later (Tuesday this week). It had a very cold trip all the way, down to -5 overnight. Car had trouble starting off the truck, finally started, fan belts squealing (ice blocks in water pump), warms up and coolant pouring out. Freeze plugs were popped, and now find out something is cracked beyond that. No anti-freeze in the car (seller saved $20 bucks, costs me thousands), just straight H2O. Now, block cracked (most likely in the upper block lifter valley area), need a replacement. Good news, wasn't the original block anyway. So the moral of the story, always take a hydrometer with you when you inspect a car and check the coolant.

[David K.]

Re: Mecum auction experience, not a Corvette

That sucks. Sorry to hear that. Tell us what you bought. Maybe someone here has a block to replace your cracked one.

Dave

[John F.]

Re: Mecum auction experience, not a Corvette

I feel your pain.

[Michael J.]

Re: Mecum auction experience, not a Corvette

Thanks guys, it is amazing how irresponsible and or ignorant some people can be about cars they sell. It is a '69 Cougar XR7, R code (Ram Air) 428 Cobra Jet coupe. Very rare car, I am also a sucker for a Cobra Jet, like a BB Corvette.

[David K.]

Re: Mecum auction experience, not a Corvette

I really feel your pain. You don't find those cars everyday. Do those blocks have a VIN stamp on them? Never mind, just noticed you said it wasn't the original block anyway. Still sucks to have to go to the trouble and expense of finding a block and replacing it with the cracked one because some moron wouldn't go to the trouble to put a little antifreeze in it. Sheesh.

[Michael J.]

[Tom R.]

Re: Mecum auction experience, not a Corvette

Mike, my cousins wife had one similar to yours but without the big 428. Hasn't seen the road for twenty years and my cousin is now thinking of getting it back to life.
I'm so sorry to hear of your loss over something we often overlook because who runs pure water these days? So inefficient and pointless. Is there any recourse to you from the seller or Mecum or strictly buyer beware and you bought it As-Is no stories? A real shame. That's a really beautiful rare car.
Tom

[Michael J.]

Re: Mecum auction experience, not a Corvette

Thanks Tom, I have contacted Mecum about it, but have not heard back from them. I suspect there is nothing that can be done, as is where is. But it just shows you can't make any assumption about any car, something can and will go wrong, Murphy's Law and Caveat Emptor I guess.

[Jim D.]

Re: Mecum auction experience, not a Corvette

There are many regions in the country that anti-freeze is not required OR used. Sorry you had to find this out the hard way. Never take anything for granted.

[Michael J.]

Re: Mecum auction experience, not a Corvette

There are many regions in the country that anti-freeze is not required OR used. Sorry you had to find this out the hard way. Never take anything for granted.

I understand that Jim, I lived in Cali for a while too. But this car spent the last 12 years in Guttenberg, Iowa, not exactly the tropics. But, maybe a garage queen that never saw the real Iowa world after it left Glendale, Calif. in 2002.

[Dan A.]

Re: Mecum auction experience, not a Corvette

Michael,
Was it a black or white car by any chance? I saw those two cross the block on TV and they looked really nice. Sorry to hear of your misfortune.

[Richard M.]

Re: Mecum auction experience, not a Corvette

Since it was in their care when the damage was done, does Reliable have liability insurance?

[Michael J.]

Re: Mecum auction experience, not a Corvette

Michael,
Was it a black or white car by any chance? I saw those two cross the block on TV and they looked really nice. Sorry to hear of your misfortune.

Thanks for the commiseration Dan. It was the black one, the one that had the most original parts, most unmolested, and least antifreeze?

[Michael J.]

Re: Mecum auction experience, not a Corvette

They have it, but it wasn't dropped off the truck, or damaged during transit and delivery due to driver error. They can't help Mother Nature's weather, or the PO's stupidity.

[Dan A.]

Re: Mecum auction experience, not a Corvette

Thanks for the commiseration Dan. It was the black one, the one that had the most original parts, most unmolested, and least antifreeze?

I was hoping that was the one. As I recall it was an XR7 with a 428CJ. That is very unusual and interesting car.