Since its humble Central Florida beginnings as a Corvette-only auction in a nondescript parking lot, Mecum Kissimmee has grown to become the “Holy Grail event event of the car-collecting universe.”
With 4,500 vehicles consigned for the event, which runs Jan. 6-18, Mecum Auctions welcomes an estimated 100,000 car enthusiasts and bidders to its “gearhead amusement park.” The event will feature its usual array of pristine muscle cars, including 300 Corvettes and a rare 1971 Plymouth Hemi Cuda convertible, but the real stars of the show this year are Ferraris.
The headlining car at this year’s auction is a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO known as The Bianco Speciale, a V12-powered racing beast and the only such example to be finished in white.
“It’s got great providence with only three owners ever. The last owner has had it for 20 years,” said Breeann Poland, Mecum’s director of marketing and communications. “They do not come up for sale often. The last one that sold at auction sold for around $51-$52 million. There’s one that sold privately after that that sold for a reported $73 million.”
While Mecum Kissimmee typically sees some of the most sought-after lots selling for over $1 million, this Ferrari has the potential to break company records.
Of the more than 80 Ferraris up for auction at this year’s event, 46 of them are a part of the Bachman Ferrari Collection, all of which are being sold at no reserve.
“The Bachman Ferraris are known for their low mileage and being the last produced models. It’s one of the biggest known Ferrari collections in the U.S. and maybe the world,” Poland said, highlighting the collection’s two LaFerraris, a 288 GTO, two F40s and an F50.
Other highly desirable lots include a 1966 Ford GT40 MkII factory lightweight and six “ultra-rare” 1969 Chevrolet Yenko Camaros, which were sold at Yenko Chevrolet in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, with big-block conversions producing 425 horsepower.
This year’s Mecum Kissimmee also features a collection of cars owned by Funkmaster Flex, the DJ, radio personality and hip-hop icon. The lineup includes Chevy Chevelles, Camaros and other vintage muscle cars.
Other than the consignments expected to turn heads and fetch top dollar, Mecum Kissimmee aims to be a family-friendly event complete with a kids’ Adventure Zone, food trucks, Dodge thrill rides and live entertainment.
“We want to make it entertaining for the young enthusiasts to the serious collector. I think everyone’s going to be really excited about some of these crazy cars and collections,” Poland said. “I do hope that we smash and break all the records that we would like to have.”
If you go
Mecum Kissimmee 2026 is Jan. 6-18 at 1875 Silver Spur Lane in Kissimmee. Gates open daily at 8 a.m.; auctions start at 8:30 a.m. or 9 a.m. with road art available before vehicles. General admission tickets cost $30 for a single day or $75 for three days. Children ages 12 and younger enter for free. On-site parking is $10 per day. Registering to bid costs $200 for standard credentials or $750 for gold perks, including parking, preferred seating, Gold Lounge access and a $200 food and beverage credit. For more information, visit mecum.com.