10 Must-Have Classic Muscle Cars Up For Bid At Mecum Dallas/Fort Worth 2026
In the age of the internet, picking up a hot classic is as easy as a mouse click, and online auction sites like Bring a Trailer have literal tons of killer muscle cars and collectibles. That being said, there’s nothing like the visceral experience of a live auction, and when it comes to Golden Age muscle collectibles, Mecum is the place to be. Mecum Dallas/Fort Worth 2026, taking place October 21–24, has some of the most amazing rides that enthusiasts will undoubtedly battle furiously for. We took a look at the roster and identified some of the most impressive rides offered that could set some new records. These are classic era muscle cars that will ignite bidding wars among collectors, desperate to corral a rare unicorn.
10
1969 Pontiac GTO Judge Ram Air III
Estimated Value: $81,333
For the 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge, the Ram Air IVs are the money cars because they were made in much smaller numbers than the Ram Air IIIs, but the reality is they were almost identical. A Ram Air IV was rated at 370 horsepower, while the Ram Air III was just four ponies less. That being said, that ’69 GTO Judge Ram Air III pictured above is up for auction and it’s pretty spectacular with an expert restoration and documentation. Hagerty says a ’69 Ram Air IV in excellent condition is worth $205,000 while a Ram Air III is valued at just $81,333, but this is a car poised to overachieve. The highest sale we could find for a Ram Air III was $85,800 in 2024, so this is already a model that is outpacing the value. The only thing that could hold this one back is that it isn’t an original paint job, but they went from Mayfield Maize to Carousel Red, which actually seems like a smart move to us.
9
1970 Plymouth Road Runner 383 Convertible
Estimated Value: $89,000
This 1970 Plymouth Road Runner convertible equipped with a numbers-matching 383 Magnum V8 is another undervalued ride that could possibly explode at Mecum Dallas/Fort Worth 2026. There were a total of 824 drop-top Road Runners in ’70, with only 767 equipped with the 383, making it a Mopar unicorn. The car was restored in 2021 and claims to be the only ’70 Road Runner with a Moulin Rouge paint code known to exist. The car’s excellent condition value is under $90,000, but 383 classic Mopars have been coming on strong lately with some selling in the multiple six-figure range. Given that rare Dodge and Plymouth convertibles with any engine are top sellers, there is reason to believe that this particular convertible could impress on auction day. The most a ’70 Road Runner 383 convertible has sold for at a Mecum auction thus far is $88,000 in 2026, but there’s something extra-special about this one, and we feel it will break the $100k barrier.
8
1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302
Estimated Value: $107,667
The 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302 was rated at 290 horsepower and ran a quarter-mile in the high 14s, which was laughable in the Golden Age, but it is one of the most collectible cars of the era. The Boss 302 was built to compete in the SCCA’s Trans-Am racing series, where it dominated the competition, and to homologate it, Ford built just 7,013 cars. Mustang fans are rabid, and such a rare and cool-looking pony car is a hot ticket. That one pictured above is 1 of 866 in Calypso Coral and, by all accounts, in perfect condition. The only reason why this car may fall short is that nothing in the listing specifically identifies it as an all-original numbers-matching car. It may well be, but generally, when this information isn’t conveyed, that means it’s not. Also, there’s no documentation or even a Marti report. If it is indeed the real deal, it could go for as much as $250,000, which is what top ’70 Boss 302 can fetch at auction.
7
1970 Oldsmobile 442 W-30
Estimated Value: $116,333
The Oldsmobile 4-4-2, which later became the 442, is the forgotten GM muscle car that never got as much attention as the Pontiac GTO, Chevy Chevelle, or even the Buick GS. With similar A-body styling and some serious power under the hood, the 1970 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 and its 370-horsepower 455 big-block V8 was a formidable foe on the streets that year. This year, a comprehensively restored numbers-matching black beauty is up for bid, which could bring some much-needed recognition to this overlooked gem. An almost identical car in Concours condition sold for $247,500 at Mecum Kissimmee 2022, so this seller probably has some high hopes for Dallas-Fort Worth. Comparing the two vehicles, we can’t spot any differences, and there’s certainly no flaws or red flags with the current auction lot, so this really might be a huge pay day.
6
1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28
Estimated Value: $128,000
Like the Mustang Boss 302, the Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 was built for the SCCA’s Trans-Am racing series, and also featured an un-muscle car 290-horsepower 302 V8. The Z/28 would go on to be the Camaro’s top performance trim, but from 1967 to 1969, it was all about homologating for competition in Euro-style endurance racing. Chevy moved a boatload of first-gen Camaros, so while the ’69 Z/28’s 20,302-unit production run seems huge, comparatively, it’s a rare set of wheels. It’s also a fan favorite with some cars selling in excess of $200,000. That one pictured above has lofty aspirations with a perfect restoration, all original equipment, and documentation, including invoices and Protect-O-Plate. Is this a car that will outperform its $128,000 excellent condition value? We think so, and we expect it to perform strongly on the auction block.
5
1966 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 Convertible
Estimated Value: $152,000
The Chevrolet Chevelle was introduced in 1964, but didn’t become fully badass until 1966 when the 396 V8 became a regular production engine option. The Chevelle is another model that Chevy sold in large numbers, so the 5,393 convertibles produced in 1966 don’t seem rare, but they are. That immaculate black ’66 Chevelle SS 396 drop-top pictured above is indeed a matching-numbers car that has a lot of potential, but this is kind of a weird collector car. Hagerty sets the excellent condition value at $152,000, but the most one has ever sold for on Mecum is $104,400 in 2023, with most coming in around $80,000. Also, not all 396s are created equal, with 325, 360, and 375 hp versions available. This auction car has the L35 325 hp 396, which is obviously less desirable. Still, it’s a looker and in near-perfect shape, so it could maybe make some waves in Dallas/Fort Worth.
4
1969 Dodge Super Bee A12
Estimated Value: $124,667
Plymouth had so much success with their stripped-down speedster, the Road Runner, that Dodge demanded their own version of it, which became the Super Bee. Introduced mid-model year 1968, the Coronet-based Super Bee had tons of power and not much else. In 1969, Chrysler unleashed the 440 Six Pack V8, featuring a 3×2 carb setup that delivered Hemi-like performance for half the price. Nowadays, a ’69 Super Bee A12 is anything but affordable, as these Six Pack cars are six-figure rides. That Hemi Orange brute pictured above is up for auction, and it could turn some heads just as it did on the streets. As a survivor car with less than 50,000 original miles and a 1 of 826 440 Six-Pack four-speed, there will be considerable interest when the auction goes live. The top seller for a ’69 Super Bee A12 is $264,000 in 2024, but this car has a lot more going for it and could easily beat that sale price.
3
1969 Dodge Daytona 440
Estimated Value: $293,000
After years of frustration with the Charger’s lift and drag issues, Dodge took a bold step and put a nose cone and flying wing on the muscle car, creating the ultimate NASCAR racer. This unconventional machine was the first car to break the 200 MPH barrier and was so dominant that it was banned from competition. To qualify it for NASCAR, Dodge had to sell 500 of these aerocars to the public and ultimately built either 503 or 505 of them. Needless to say, this is an exceptionally rare Mopar, with just 70 or fewer 426 Hemi cars and approximately 430 440 Magnum V8 examples. There is a 440 Daytona up for auction at Mecum Dallas/Fort Worth 2026 that is sure to bring in the bids. It’s a numbers-matching, highly-documented Daytona with the only flaw being it isn’t the same color as the fender tag. At some point during a restoration, it went from Green Daytona to Bright Red. This may appeal to some buyers, but Mopar enthusiasts are sticklers for originality. ’69 Daytona 440s have an excellent condition value of nearly $300k, but there have been at least a dozen that have exceeded that with a top sale of $440,000, so it will be interesting to see where this auction car lands.
2
1966 Shelby GT350
Estimated Value: $338,000
The one knock against the completely awesome and iconic Ford Mustang in the early days was that there really wasn’t a performance version of it. Carroll Shelby, the architect behind Ford’s dominant victory over Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, set out to rectify that issue by building faster Mustangs sold under his name. In 1966, there were about 1,373 Shelby GT350s built, making them among the rarest Mustangs out there. The one offered up at Mecum’s October auction has been restored, but kept original with the rare Ivy Green paint code. It has the original 305-horsepower 289 Hi-Po V8 and only 47,501 miles on the odometer. The listing doesn’t mention any documentation, which would certainly push the price up, but it’s still a rare classic in amazing condition and should do well on the block. Excellent condition ’66 Shelby GT350s are worth $338,000 according to Hagerty, with the highest sale we’ve seen being $605,000 for a hardtop and $1.1 million for a convertible.
1
1970 Plymouth Superbird Six Barrel
Estimated Value: $353,333
With a similar nose cone and rear wing, the 1970 Superbird was Plymouth’s answer to the Dodge Daytona, and it too dominated the NASCAR circuit before being unceremoniously banned. Unlike the Daytona, which sold out before they even shipped, the homologation versions of the Superbird were not particularly popular and many of the 1,935 built sat on dealer lots for years gathering dust. Things are different now, with Mopar enthusiasts fiercely competing for them, and one lucky bidder is going to acquire a real gem at Mecum Dallas/Fort Worth 2026. The Superbird being offered is a 1-of-716 V-Code 440 Six-Barrel car with matching numbers all around, and 100% originality. It also comes with tons of documentation like a broadcast sheet, window sticker, and dealer invoice. There’s no word on the mileage, but clearly this car has been expertly restored and is in immaculate condition. A V-Code ’70 Superbird sold for almost a half-million dollars in 2026, and this auction car is equally impressive, so strong bidding activity is expected when it crosses the block.
Sources: Hagerty, Mecum
Related posts
Latest Post
No Comments