Antique car auction company comes to St. Charles

Collectors will have the chance to bid on one of the most coveted muscle cars of all time this week when the Mecum Auction Co. rolls into St. Charles.

Up for grabs at this year's High Performance Auction is a 1965 Pontiac Hurst GTO Tiger -- known as the "GeeTO" -- considered by many enthusiasts to be the Holy Grail of muscle cars.

In addition to seeing the car itself, bidders can meet Jim "The Godfather of the GTO" Wangers, who helped lead a marketing charge for muscle cars in the 1960s.

The auction opens with a private viewing party for pre-registered bidders Thursday at Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St., and continues at 10 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

More than 800 muscle cars, Corvettes and other classics will be up for bid over the weekend.

"This is one of the larger (Mecum) auctions, if not the largest," said Bonnie Berkes of Marengo-based Mecum.

Berkes said the auction typically draws thousands of enthusiasts from across the country. Bids usually average about $40,000, depending on the quality of the car and the buyer's dedication to the investment, she said. Some go for as little as $2,000.

The Tiger-- with its gold Hurst mag wheels, a custom paint job, tri-powered 389 V-8 engine and gold-plated Hurst shifter -- is valued at between $500,000 and $700,000.

But vehicles at the Mecum auction have been known to sell for much more, including one last year that went for $1.7 million, Berkes said.

The Tiger will be auctioned off at 2:30 p.m. Saturday. The auction is expected to draw 12,000 to 15,000 spectators over the weekend.

For more information, go to www.mecumauction.com or call (815) 568-8888.

If you go

What: High Performance Auction in St. Charles

When: Thursday-Saturday

Where: Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St.

Admission: $10

More information: Call (815) 568-8888 or log onto www.mecumauction.com