One of the nation’s foremost collection of ultra high performance Nickey Chevrolets will hit the auction block during the Mecum Spring Classic Auction, May 17-22, 2011. The event is being held at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, in Indianapolis. The Chicago Chevrolet dealer was amongst a handful that rose to horsepower super stardom during the 1960s for modifying factory cars to levels previously unknown.
The collection belongs to a man named Mike Guarise. He’s recognized as one of the leading experts on these cars, having restored 10 of them. As rare as Nickey cars are in any sense, these are even moreso because they have special optioning and engines that other cars didn’t receive. One in particular is a 1967 Camaro with a 427ci motor called a “Stage III Super Camaro”. This car was certified by Bill Thomas as the only one ever built. Yeah, that’s rare.
Here’s the full release from Mecum:
Mecum Auction is proud to offer renowned muscle
car collector Mike Guarise’s Nickey Collection – featuring seven of the finest
and rarest Nickey cars ever built by the iconic Chicago dealer – during the 24th
Original Spring Classic Auction, May 17-22, 2011, at the Indiana State
Fairgrounds, Indianapolis, Ind.
Collectors
will now have a chance to acquire one of these exceptional vehicles – each of
which has been certified authentic by legendary Nickey Performance Manager Don
Swiatek and listed in the Nickey Registry, Inc. – when they cross the block on
Saturday, May 21.
Guarise is a passionate
collector who has sought out and restored 10 Nickeys over the years. Among
the Nickey cars being auctioned is a 1967 Chevrolet Nickey/Bill Thomas 427 Stage
III Super Camaro, the only 427 conversion car certified by the late Bill Thomas
himself. A Bolero Red coupe with Black bucket interior, this historically
significant Camaro is the pinnacle of the Mike Guarise Collection and has been
featured in three books: “Camaro – Forty Years” by Darwin Holmstrom as well as
“Camaro” and “The Complete Book of Camaro” by David Newhardt.
Mecum will also offer a 2002 Nickey/Bill
Thomas 427 Stage III Camaro as well as a 1968 Chevelle L78, show-stopping 1968
and 1969 Corvette Coupes with the 427/435 HP engine, a 1968 Malibu L79 and a
1970 Camaro Z28 Coupe LT1, all of which were sold at the infamous Nickey
Chevrolet. For complete details, visit www.Mecum.com.
More than 2,000 vehicles, motorcycles and
memorabilia will be featured during the Original Spring Classic Auction, which
has grown into a six-day event and will broadcast nationally on “Mecum Auto
Auction: Muscle Cars & More” on HD Theater.
