Fast Auto Exit vs. Mecum Auctions

Mecum is the highest-volume collector car auction company in the United States. The Kissimmee, Indianapolis, and Monterey events together cross 30,000 cars and over a billion dollars in sales annually. For some cars, especially American muscle, mid-century classics, and high-volume modern exotics, Mecum is the right channel. For others, the volume-driven format works against the seller.

What Mecum is

Mecum runs 12 to 15 major auctions per year, including Kissimmee (January, 3,500+ cars), Indianapolis (May), Monterey (August), and Las Vegas (November). Seller's commission is 8 to 10 percent (negotiable on premium consignments), buyer's premium is 10 percent (minimum 700, varies by event). Consignment fee on accepted cars is typically 0 to several hundred dollars depending on lot size and event.

The format strengths are large televised audiences (NBC Sports, Motor Trend), strong activity in American collector segments, and a high-energy live event format. The format weaknesses for high-end exotic sellers: cars cross the block in 90-second time slots, audience is heavily American-domestic-focused, and the volume of cars compresses individual price discovery.

Side-by-side economics

	Mecum	Fast Auto Exit
Format	Live televised auction, 90-second block time	Private NDA introduction
Audience	Large televised audience, American-domestic-leaning	Curated buyer network matched to your car
Seller's commission	8 to 10 percent	Disclosed match-making commission, both sides
Buyer's premium	10 percent (minimum 700)	Buyer pays match-making commission separately
Consignment fee	Typically 100 to 500 depending on lot size	None
Reserve risk	Significant; many cars no-sale	None
Pre-sale prep	Transport to event (seller's cost), event-week storage	Submission and photos
Timing	4 to 8 weeks consignment-to-payment	2 to 4 weeks submission-to-wire
Privacy	Hammer price televised, public record	No public price record

When Mecum wins

• American muscle and mid-century classics (Hemi Cudas, COPO Camaros, GT350R, Boss 429 Mustangs) where the Mecum audience is concentrated
• Cars with broad American collector demand (Corvette Z06s, Shelby GT500s, Ford Bronco DR)
• Mid-range price-point cars (75K to 250K) where the 8 to 10 percent commission is structurally similar to RM and Gooding but the audience is bigger
• Sellers who want public price discovery and can absorb auction-day risk

When Fast Auto Exit wins

• European exotic cars (Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren, Porsche GT) where the American auction audience under-bids vs. international private buyers
• Cars priced above 500K where the 90-second block time format compresses price discovery and the room audience for this segment is thinner
• Privacy-sensitive sales: estate, divorce, business succession
• Cars in poor cosmetic condition that benefit from a buyer who looks past cosmetic flaws (a dealer or exporter), where the live audience would punish the presentation

Worked example: 2018 Ferrari 488 GTB

A 2018 Ferrari 488 GTB Coupe, 11,000 miles, complete service records. Retail comparable: 240,000 dollars.

Path A: Mecum Kissimmee consignment

• Hammer price (expected range): 215,000 to 245,000
• Median outcome: 228,000
• Seller's commission (8 percent): minus 18,240
• Consignment fee, transport to Kissimmee, event-week hotel/storage: minus 2,500
• Net to seller: 207,260
• Timeline: 5 to 7 weeks consignment-to-wire

Path B: Fast Auto Exit match

• Negotiated direct price (expected range): 215,000 to 235,000
• Median outcome: 224,000
• Match-making commission (seller side, disclosed pre-introduction): per disclosure
• Transport: 0 (buyer arranges and pays)
• Net to seller: 224,000 minus disclosed commission
• Timeline: 2 to 4 weeks submission-to-wire

What we tell sellers honestly

If your car is a 1971 Hemi Cuda Convertible or a 1969 COPO Camaro, list with Mecum. The audience and the format will deliver. The American muscle market is concentrated at Mecum's live events and the price discovery is genuine.

If your car is a modern European exotic, the private match typically clears at comparable net with less timing risk. Mecum's audience for a 488 GTB is real but thinner than the audience for a Hemi Cuda, and the 90-second block timing creates the risk of a soft no-reserve number on a car that deserves better treatment.