With just three weeks to go, the 35th Annual Dana Mecum Original Spring Classic auction catalog is already full to bursting. An eye-popping array of main attractions and noted collections number among the estimated 3,000 vehicles plus road art and memorabilia items ready for the auction block May 13-21 in Mecum’s flagship event at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis.

Headlining this year’s Spring Classic will be The Ray Evernham Collection of 32 race cars (plus one engine) from the NASCAR Hall of Fame crew chief and team owner’s Big Iron Garage, all of which will be offered at no reserve. The definitive leader of the group is the 1965 Brawner Hawk Ford Dean Van Lines Special Indy Car that was driven by Mario Andretti to Indy Car Championships in 1965 and 1966; to a third place finish which earned him rookie-of-the-year honors in the 1965 Indianapolis 500; and also to the pole position for the ’66 500.

Photo: Mecum Auctions

The 1969 Eagle Weslake Ford “Santa Ana” IndyCar driven by Dan Gurney to a second place finish in the ’69 Indy 500 and also to IndyCar wins at Indianapolis Raceway Park, Brainerd and Sonoma in 1969-1970, is another especially noteworthy offering from Evernham’s impressive race car collection.

Photo: Mecum Auctions

Other Evernham offerings include a 1969 Dodge Hemi Daytona NASCAR that became the first car to officially top 200ph on a closed course circuit via Buddy Baker’s 200.447mph lap at Talladega on March 24, 1970; a 1984 March 84C Cosworth Gilmore/Foyt Indy Car originally slated to be driven by four-time Indianapolis 500-winner A.J. Foyt but was piloted by George Snider to an 11th place 500 finish in ’84; the ’68 Ford Torino Holman-Moody stock car raced by David Pearson to victory in the ’68 Rebel 400; the 1956 Snowberger Offenhauser Federal Engineering Detroit Special driven by two-time Indy Car Champion Tony Bettenhausen; the 2001 Dodge Intrepid that was Bill Elliott’s pole winner at the 2001 Daytona 500; and the 1958 Lesovsky Offenhauser Bowes Seal Fast Special formerly owned by legendary chief mechanic George Bignotti and driven by Jud Larson to victory at Phoenix in 1958.

The Dr. J. Christian and Jennifer McCarter Collection is another remarkable selection of vehicles consigned for Indy 2022, and it comprises 20 mostly competition roadsters, muscle cars and late-model supercars, all but one from Ford and all to be offered at no reserve. Headlining the collection are a 1965 Shelby 289 Cobra Roadster that, according to the Shelby Registry, is one of fewer than 20 small-block Cobras built with the C4 automatic transmission; and a 1965 Shelby 427 Competition Cobra Roadster that is one of 23 factory Competition Cobras and was its class winner at the 1966 12 Hours of Sebring.

Photo: Mecum Auctions

Others from the McCarter collection include a 1965 Shelby GT350R Fastback that is one of 36 competition models and one of five cars exported to Peru; plus two modern-day exotics—a 2019 Ford GT Carbon Series showing just 1,280 miles, powered by a 3.5L/647 HP twin-turbocharged DOHC Ecoboost V-6 engine and sporting the $70,000 Carbon Series option, and a 2020 Ford GT Mk II that is No. 12 of 45 examples built and shows just 322 miles on the odometer.

The Asi and Lisa Sheikh Collection represents an eclectic, wide-ranging selection of 34 meticulously maintained, low-mileage and well-documented Corvettes, Shelbys, Mercedes-Benzes, Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Porsches, all at no reserve, while The Gary Thomas Collection will showcase 26 of the well-known collector’s pristine, mostly Blue Oval gems that include six classics and a variety of Shelby GT500s and Boss Mustangs, as well as 65 lots of Road Art items.

Another Blue Oval-themed group comes from The Waterford Collection with 16 vehicles encompassing several of the unrestored variety, including a 1965 Ford Mustang Fastback with original Code X Vintage Burgundy paint.

The Al Berman Collection of nine vehicles, all offered at no reserve, includes seven Corvettes ranging from a 1962 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible with a 327/250 HP engine and 3-speed manual transmission to a one-owner 2007 Chevrolet Corvette Pace Car Edition.

Bidder registration for this year’s Spring Classic is available in advance online and on-site at the auction for $200, and it includes admission for two to all nine auction days. For those unable to attend in person, enhanced remote bidding options are also available, with options for both online and telephone bidding.

Doors open each day at 8:00 a.m. with the vehicle auction beginning at 10:00 a.m. daily, Friday, May 13 through Thursday, May 19, and at 9:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, May 20-21.

Road Art will be offered daily May 13-21 beginning approximately 30 minutes prior to the vehicles. A separate auction stage will operate on Monday, May 16 through Wednesday, May 18 for the offering of Road Art and memorabilia items. General admission tickets are available in advance online for $20 per person, per day, and for $30 at the door and online after May 12; children 12 and younger receive complimentary admission. Presiding health and safety protocols will remain in place for all those in attendance.

For more information on the Mecum Spring Classic and all other scheduled 2022 auctions, click HERE.