If you’re wondering what the cheapest vehicle to cross the auction block and actually sell, it was this 1998 GMC Suburban.
While high-dollar auctions like a 1933 Duesenberg Model J Convertible selling for $3.8 Million, or this wrecked Porsche 959 managing to sell for $.5 Million stole headlines there was a pokey 1998 GMC Suburban that took home top honors as the cheapest item on four wheels to cross the auction block. According to Mecum after this SUV rolled past the auctioneer earlier this week (Aug. 23,2018) a final bid for $1,750 was all it took for someone to roll home with a new tow vehicle. Plus a few fees, the final price landed at $1,925. Check out the “bidding war” that went down thanks to Mecum’s live stream below.
If the auction doesn’t start at the time stamp, fast forward to 6:15:27 to see the hilarity unfold.
God bless this auctioneer for calling for such a high starting bid. First, he starts at $20,000 with no luck. He then rattles through 15,000, 10,000, 5,000, 3,000, 2,000 and finally 1,000 until someone bites. As is the regular procedure, they still pop the hood revealing an engine bay that wasn’t particularly detailed. It’s as if someone drove from the parking lot straight onto the auction stage.
According to the auction listing, this Suburban was your run of the mill SUV. To be honest, it is pretty clean-looking and is most likely 100 percent original Plus, there are no visible dings and dents, and the mileage isn’t all that crazy hovering around 154,928 when you zoom in on the mileage cluster.
This GMC Suburban has your run of the mill 5.7L Vortec V8 that puts out 255 HP and 330 lb-ft. As the listing confirms, this one does have a tow package, so there’s some use for the new owner there. And if you scroll through the photos, the tires look brand spankin’ new.
I reckon someone had this SUV hanging around Monterey and just wanted to get rid of it. An auction’s an auction and Mecum isn’t particular on what kind of vehicles they get, as long as they get their cut.
