Mecum Las Vegas Auto Preview

February 11, 2015

Mecum Las Vegas

The Vegas edition of the Mecum auto auction is coming in hot on Feb 27/28. The pickings are a bit slim in the resto department. In this article we check in on the Jim Rogers collection and show a couple gems from that bunch then cherry pick through the auction list to find you some potential cars good for some restomod action. If you make it out there, try and find us for a free t-shirt and a high-five.

Rogers’ Classic Car Museum 2015, Feb 27 -28

Media mogul, former chancellor and lover of all things automotive, Jim Rogers was one of this era’s most passionate activists and most generous philanthropists – and in addition, he was a prolific collector of classic automobiles. His $130-million gift to his alma mater, the University of Arizona College of Law, stands as the largest single donation ever made to an American law school, and he was named by Time Magazine as one of the top 12 philanthropists in the nation after his donations to institutions of higher education reached $275 million.

Rogers passed away in June at age 75, but his passions did not die with him, and he left behind a legacy larger than life, as well as his 230-plus-car collection. Rogers committed himself fully to everything he did and believed in, and his collection of classic cars grew just as quickly as his generous contributions to education and the arts.

Rogers truly represented the quintessential classic car enthusiast. He was more than just a collector; he had extensive knowledge about the cars and the details of their existence. “He didn’t just buy the cars – he knew every little detail about their production,” says his widow Beverly. “He knew how many Oldsmobiles, Buicks, and Cadillacs that had been made from the end of World War II through the ’70s, and he could rattle off the particulars of each model.”

After Rogers’ passing last year, it was decided that the collection should be used to pay it forward, the way Rogers had always lived his own life. That is why it was decided to offer the entire collection at auction with all proceeds to benefit The Rogers Foundation – dedicated to transforming the lives of K-12 students and artists in Southern Nevada through arts and education grants and scholarships. The auction will be held right from the collection’s museum display space in Las Vegas this February 27-28.

“When you buy a car from Jim Rogers’ collection, you’re not just buying a well-made or refurbished automobile,” Beverly says, “you’re buying a piece of American history. Take it to heart – enjoy it – and my heartfelt request is that someday you pass it on, and let the next generation understand and appreciate the place of the automobile in American history. That, my friends, will do Jim proud.”

–Mecum

1953 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible

Est. $125,000 – $150,000

1 of 532 produced

Engine: 331/220

Trans: Auto

Color: Red

Interior: Red

Highlights

The 1953 Eldorado was part of GM’s futuristic 1953 Motorama display
1 of 532 produced
Aztec Red with matching interior
331/210 HP V-8 engine
Automatic transmission
Large chrome grille with horizontal bar
Chrome bumpers with bumper guards
Dual chromed mirrors
Fender skirts
Aztec Red convertible top boot
Continental spare tire kit
Chromed wire wheels
Wide Whitewall tires
Fender mounted antenna
Wraparound windshield
Eldorado insignia on dashboard
Signal seeking push button radio
Power windows
Power steering
Heater/defroster
Passenger side dash mounted clock
Clean engine compartment

1956 Dual-Ghia Convertible

Est- $250,000-$300,000

Engine: 331/230

Trans: Auto

Color: Red

Interior: Cream

Highlights

Only 117 of these cars were ever built
Red with Cream interior and Beige carpets
315/230 HP OHV V-8 engine
Automatic transmission
Chromed honeycomb grille with large opening
Chrome bumpers
Italian coachbuilder Ghia emblems on the hips
Wraparound windshield
Fender mounted antenna
Rear view mirror
Chrome wire wheels
Push button radio
Glove box
Chrome instrument trim
Edelbrock carburetors
Many were purchased by celebrities, including Frank Sinatra, Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan

1962 Rolls-Royce Mulliner Drophead Coupe

Est. $250,000-$350,000

Engine: 380/2oo

Trans: Auto

Color: Beige

Interior: Tan

Highlights

Beige with Tan interior and Black piping
One of 75 Dropheads produced in 1962
Mulliner was a custom coachwork company that had long been contracted by Rolls-Royce
Mulliner was purchased by Rolls-Royce in 1959 and most coachwork was now in house
380/200 HP V-8 engine
Automatic transmission
Chrome bumpers with bumper guards
Chromed hubcaps
Whitewall tires
Brown convertible top boot
Power windows
Wood dashboard and door sill inserts
Glovebox
Heater
Flying Lady hood ornament
Classic Rolls-Royce grille
Center mounted instrument panel