Over a year ago, the Obama White House announced that the “recession was officially over.” As premature as Bush’s “Mission Accomplished,” unemployment has done nothing but increase, house ownership has slumped, and consumer loans have flatlined. But, amid all of this, the auto enthusiast market has started an upswing as of late.

Nowhere was this more evident than at Mecum’s 24th Original Spring Classic Auction where over 3,300 items brought in over $50 million. The biggest draws included a ’71 Plymouth HEMI ‘Cuda (fetching $550,000), a couple big block Chevys, a Shelby Cobra 289, a Ferrari, a rare factory supercharged Thunderbird and a Prevost Featherlite Vantare.

But it wasn’t all muscle cars and European sports cars that drew people’s stares. Of the 180 convertibles built by Hudson in 1951, this Commodore (see above) earned $78,000. Additionally, a ’54 Buick Custom Skylark brought in a “reasonable” $55,000, while the owner of a ’59 Oldsmobile 98 convertible (equipped with a 384-inch plant) rejected the highest bid of $71,000.

The same for a ’64 Dodge 330 loaded with an original 426 K-head HEMI refused a $95,000 bid. And it wasn’t all originals, either. A ’34 Ford Pro Street coupe with an Outlaw Pro Street body and chassis (totaling over $270,000 in work) turned down a high bid of $80,000. On the other hand, a ’33 Ford Victoria brought in an accepted $70,000.

Mecum’s 2011 Original Spring Classic Top 10 Vehicle Sales were:
1. ’71 Plymouth HEMI ‘Cuda at $550,000
2. ’06 Prevost Featherlite Vantare H3-45 at $525,000
3. ’63 Shelby Cobra 289 Roadster at $490,000
4. ’67 Chevrolet Nickey/Bill Thomas 427 Stage III Camaro at $400,000
5. ’69 Chevrolet Yenko Super Camaro at $345,000
6. ’69 Chevrolet ZL1 Camaro at $305,000
7. ’73 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona at $265,000
8. ’69 Chevrolet Yenko Chevelle at $260,000
9. ’57 Ford Thunderbird Phase I D/F at $260,000
10. ’70 Plymouth HEMI ‘Cuda at $225,000