Over 600 classic and specialty vehicles are set to find new homes at this year’s Vicari Auction in Biloxi, Mississippi. The auction will be held in conjunction with “Cruisin’ the Coast,” a multi-day event across 12 cities, complete with live bands, swap meets, and cruise-ins. Sounds like our kind of party!
Vicari Auction Company has been around in the collector car marketplace for over 25 years and was founded by Pete Vicari (who himself has owned over 500 collector cars). Among the special vehicles being auctioned are three sequential preproduction 1963 Corvette Sting Ray convertibles from Pete’s personal collection, all finished in Riverside Red. It took Pete 20 years to assemble the trio, which are numbered with VIN 15, 16, and 17 for the year.
Another headlining vehicle this year is a white 1953 Buick Skylark convertible (1 of only 1,690 that were produced for the year) that has been meticulously restored, complete with a pleated leather interior and a 322cid Nailhead V8 motor. The car went through a complete ground-up restoration and comes with factory power steering, power brakes, power windows, and a working power top. “Simply the best of the best,” Vicari calls it.
Pete is excited for the momentum leading up to the event: “Everyone who attends our Biloxi auction for the first time says they’ve been missing out all these years,” he said. The docket offers a wide variety of cars, trucks, and everything in between – even including a 1956 Chevrolet school bus. Many of the vehicles will be auctioned at no reserve, which adds an element of thrill to the bidding experience. A few vehicles stood out to me from the Vicari website where vehicles are being added daily leading up to the event:
- 1997 Jaguar XK8 roadster: For being 25 years old, this classic Coventry, England-build roadster still looks modern. The Vicari listing says it has only accrued about 2,000 miles per year which puts it around 50,000 miles. The light blue metallic is an attractive complement to the navy cloth power-retractable top. This is one of Jaguar’s finest grand-touring cars, combing V8 power with open-air driving experience. The tires, struts, and battery have been replaced, so it’s ready to go. This car sells as lot T142 on Thursday.
- 1955 Chevrolet Nomad wagon: This two-door is powered by a 265cid V8 mated to a Powerglide two-speed automatic transmission. It comes highly optioned with factory air conditioning, an “Autronic Eye” for dimming headlights, a Wonderbar radio, and power convenience options. A set of wide whitewall tires complete the look for this nice-looking tri-five Chevy, which will be shown as lot F905 on Friday.
- 1966 Ford Mustang convertible: The original pony car, drawing power from a desirable A-code 289cid V8 engine and a four-speed manual transmission. The listing says that the tires are new, and options include a power-retractable top, styled steel wheels, a dual exhaust system, and power steering. The first-generation Mustang is a fan favorite for good reasons, and this car would make a great addition to any Ford enthusiast’s collection. It will be shown on Saturday as lot S583.
Perhaps something from the Vicari Auction docket will catch your eye. Mark your calendar for October 4-7 to go check out the eye candy. General admission tickets are $20 and bidder registration is $150. Gates will open each day at 8:30 a.m. at the Mississippi Coliseum & Convention Center at 2350 Beach Boulevard, Biloxi, 39531.
As always, stay tuned to the ClassicCars.com Journal for auction news!
