Today i went to mecum las vegas (Visiting from germany)

[Michael_]

Some might remember my thread from a couple months ago where i was inquring about mecum auctions.
Well guess what. I hopped on a 12h flight from munich to los angeles followed by a 5h drive to las vegas and finally attended the auction today.

Here are some pictures that i took today:

Album — Postimages

postimg.cc

Already seen quite a few nice cars but the auction was not as expected.
I showed up slightly after 3pm when the auction was already over and most people were already leaving...

I mean i didn't want to bid today (probably not at all) so no big deal but i expected these auctions to run longer because of the stories of people getting drunk and then involved into bidding wars etc... This auction is more like going to a huge consignment dealer with all the cars lined up next to each other and not much more.
Finally at 5.30pm they kicked me out because i was basically the last person left in the building except for the staff.
Need to go somewhat earlier tomorrow i guess...

By the way from all the cars that sold today this one is my favorite:

1970 Oldsmobile 442 for Sale at Auction - Mecum Auctions

View the 1970 Oldsmobile 442 for sale at Las Vegas 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada as T201.

www.mecum.com

38,500$ (I think/hope this includes the buyers premium?) almost seems like a fair price (No bargain but ok) to me.
I didn't look under the car because it was already sold when i showed up though...
The car had some paint cracks in the driver side quarter and 2 rips in the driver side front seat.

By the way:
Are you allowed to open the hood, doors or sit inside the cars without asking the staff/owner?

 

[XS22J8R]

I thought those auctions typically ran to about 5:00 and people were allowed to be there well afterwards but things must be different for that event.
You can lift up hoods and sitting in cars is ok except for high end cars, which are typically locked or even displayed on stands or barricaded to keep people from getting too close.
You can’t start cars up though.

 

[junior340]

That is a nice 442

 

[Michael_]

So today i had the experience that i originally expected.
Seen the Auction and a ton of nice cars. Made a lot more pictures which i will upload when i have time or next week when i'm back home in germany.

By the way from all the cars that sold today this one is my favorite:

1970 Oldsmobile 442 for Sale at Auction - Mecum Auctions

View the 1970 Oldsmobile 442 for sale at Las Vegas 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada as T201.

www.mecum.com

38,500$ (I think/hope this includes the buyers premium?) almost seems like a fair price (No bargain but ok) to me.
I didn't look under the car because it was already sold when i showed up though...
The car had some paint cracks in the driver side quarter and 2 rips in the driver side front seat.

Today i could not resist and held a magnet card on to the cracked paint area on the driver side rear quarter. It fell right off.
I also checked a couple other spots where it sticked just fine.

So maybe the reason it sat covered in a garage for 45 years was an accident in the driver side rear quarter?
But then the paint work doesn't look new especially given it's already cracking.

Well otherwise the car still looks very nice with some patina but nothing major but i dunno about 38500$ with that driver side quarter...

The 69 camaro z28 looked pretty nice to me. Also looked in the wheel well and underneath. Paint is really high quality too.

The 71 cuda 340 looks amazing at first glance. No undercoating too. But the driver side door doesn't shut correctly to the extent that the paint has already chipped of somewhat on the driver side door.
The hood also didn't like to close after i opened it. Well i decided to leave it open and not trying to force it...

Overall this was a great experience. Seen a lot of cars that i have never seen in germany. Even had the opportunity to sit inside a couple of them to make sure i fit BUT i really dont like the idea of buying a car in that price point without having the possibility to try everything out, put it on a lift and obviously test driving it.
I have not seen a single person except me looking UNDER one of the cars, using a magnet etc.

I would only buy there if i am willing to take a huge risk with high chances of getting a turd.

That being said my favorites still are the 70 hemi cuda, 71 cuda 340 and the 69 camaro z/28 which will all be sold tomorrow.
The hemi roadrunner did not sell today and the bid goes on at 100k.
The car looks nice but little details like the battery hold down clamp is missing and the car does have undercoating. Not to thick you can still recognize the sheet metal structure/patterns though.

 

[Dennis H]

In Vegas, check out the Neon Museum. Also, Valley of Fire State Park about 15 miles north of Vegas is worth the trip. Enjoy. Caveat Emptor of you get serious about buying.

 

[hemi71x]

Sounds like you having a good time over here in the USA.
Enjoy the rest of your stay before going back to Deutschland.
Was Air Force in your country back in 1974-76 at the Zweibrucken Air Base.

 

[kiwigtx]

Was Air Force in your country back in 1974-76 at the Zweibrucken Air Base.

Go easy on those slots Michael, err, I mean the pokey machines.....ummm....the Casinos. Yeah, that's it the Casinos.

 

[Michael_]

Go easy on those slots Michael, err, I mean the pokey machines.....ummm....the Casinos. Yeah, that's it the Casinos.

I'm not very interested in gambling but since i'm already here (which was a huge undertaking) of course i'm also gambling a little bit here and there. (Craps and Slots with high Jackpots)
Unfortunately the only casino i have won so far is the Main Street Station on Fremont Street, anywhere else i only lost so far...

Main Street Station is a great property by the way, my favorite on the Fremont Street.
Anyone ever stayed there? I assume it's the quietest Hotel on Fremont Street but there is still a train going by right next to the Hotel. The El Cortez on the other hand is right next to Night Clubs and Planes flying over it. At this point i'm pretty sure you can't have a quiet room on Fremont Street. I'm staying at the Treasure Island on the Strip and i'm VERY happy with the room.

Also make sure to go to the "Top of Binions" Steakhouse if you're there. Had a VERY good Filet Mignon there.
"THE Steakhouse" at Circus Circus is also great. Had a VERY good Rib Eye Steak there.

 

[SlingLow]

I'm not very interested in gambling but since i'm already here (which was a huge undertaking) of course i'm also gambling a little bit here and there. (Craps and Slots with high Jackpots)
Unfortunately the only casino i have won so far is the Main Street Station on Fremont Street, anywhere else i only lost so far...

Main Street Station is a great property by the way, my favorite on the Fremont Street.
Anyone ever stayed there? I assume it's the quietest Hotel on Fremont Street but there is still a train going by right next to the Hotel. The El Cortez on the other hand is right next to Night Clubs and Planes flying over it. At this point i'm pretty sure you can't have a quiet room on Fremont Street. I'm staying at the Treasure Island on the Strip and i'm VERY happy with the room.

Also make sure to go to the "Top of Binions" Steakhouse if you're there. Had a VERY good Filet Mignon there.
"THE Steakhouse" at Circus Circus is also great. Had a VERY good Rib Eye Steak there.

If you go into the restroom nearest the table games at Main Street Station, there are sections of the Berlin wall mounted behind the urinals. So, you could come all the way from Germany to pee on the Berlin wall! We like Main Street and used to play blackjack there with Jerry Maren, the last living actor to play a munchkin on Wizard of Oz before he passed.

 

[Michael_]

Meanwhile (since friday) I'm back in germany and by now i almost recovered from the jetlag.

Here are more Pictures that i took at Mecum: Album — Postimages

The last day in los angeles really sucked. I had a reservation at the ritz carlton marina del rey and when i arrived they said
"sorry we have some technical problems (i forgot what exactly the guy said) so you have to go to the marina del rey marriott instead and we pay for it".
I didn't like that and tried to argue but finally accepted giving the room would be free.

Unfortunately that Marina del Rey Marriott is a nightmare. It's on a busy road, you can hear the cars (i did ask for a quiet room and even gave the clerk 50$ cash FOR A QUIET ROOM. Needless to say i got back to this clerk for her to respond this is already one of their quietest rooms, yeah...)
You can also hear the people in the other rooms, them opening doors etc. There is a fire sensor with a light bulb exactly over the bed....
After this i got very mad and went back to the ritz carlton but again they didn't do anything except giving me a free steak dinner...
At 9am in the morning the staff made an announcement through a speaker in my room... Really EVERYTHING to prevent you from sleeping except a live DJ in my room basically...
So because of this i only got 4 hours of sleep and then had to stay awake for 24h.

I did use Marriott Points that i collected by staying at a Marriott in Miami last year.
My guess is they didn't want to give me a suit at the Ritz Carlton for half the price. But i could be wrong.
Be warned. DO NOT STAY at the Marina Del Rey Marriott and ideally avoid the Ritz Carlton Marina Del Rey aswell. If you absolutely have to use the Ritz Carlton i would avoid redeeming your Marriott Points at this Hotel.

On a positive note, the Treasure Island Casino/Hotel (Had a Tower Suite) in Las Vegas was GREAT!
The Room was from the 90s you can tell but i don't mind (actually like) that since it was clean and everything.

If you go into the restroom nearest the table games at Main Street Station, there are sections of the Berlin wall mounted behind the urinals. So, you could come all the way from Germany to pee on the Berlin wall!

Yeah i've seen that. But i already knew/remembered that from my last stay in las vegas in 2018.

"THE Steakhouse" at Circus Circus is also great. Had a VERY good Rib Eye Steak there.

Because i liked it so much i went back and ordered the exact same steak a second time. This time a got a completely different steak.
Not very tender and not much flavor. Seems like this Steakhouse is a gamble aswell unfortunately. ^^

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But overall i really like las vegas and i really didn't want to leave.
The strip/fremont street with all the walking, tourists, noise is getting old after a week or so but i could totally see myself in the Summerlin/Spring Valley area (and heading to the strip on the weekends) for a very long time... Which (Red Rock Casino) i seriously consider doing on my next vegas vacation. (Because 2 Weeks Strip is to "intense" but 1 week would be to short given it's a 12h flight and then 5 hour drive.)