WHAT DID THE 2026 COAST 2 COAST/MICHENER-ALLEN CAR AUCTION TEACH US ABOUT MARKET TRENDS?

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An auction is like a snapshot in time to show where a market is at one particular day at one particular auction.

That’s the essence of an auction, but auctions also tell buyers what trending and what’s tanking. 

This year’s edition of the Coast 2 Coast/Michener-Allen Collector Car Auction clearly showed some trends.

Jerry Sutherland

Start with the big seller of the event. It was a 1967 Shelby Mustang GT500 fastback and it sold for 220,000 CDN.

This was restored to factory specs, so it was a mint car. These specialty Mustangs have spiked in value, so this one followed that trend.

The poster car of the event was a 1967 Plymouth Satellite Hemi Convertible Pilot Car. This 1-of-one beauty was built in early 1966 but it was officially a 1967 model—and Chrysler only built one of these.

I saw this car in person many years ago when MyStar did a feature on it and this was a mint car—it sold for 210K (CDN). I truly believe this ’67 Plymouth will resurface at an auction down in the States because it’s just that rare and Mopar guys love 1-of-1 cars.

Every good auction has entry-level cars for buyers, and this auction was no exception because a 1948 Chevy four-door sedan sold for 3600 (CDN).

This was a clean car, but you’ll never see them sell for big dollars. That makes them the perfect car for a guy with a limited budget who wants to learn about old iron. They’re simple and fixable—plus you can learn how to drive a three-on-the-tree manual.

A 1973 Camaro Z-28 sold for 54,000 (CDN). I predicted the rise of these 70s Camaros about ten years ago, and it’s happening—but this one had an advantage.

The Z-28 was built to pro-touring specs, so it had over 600 horsepower and it was engineered to handle on a rail. This car was made for a guy who wanted 70s vibes with 21st Century performance, so the combination is awesome.

The Square-body Chevy and GMC trucks have rocketed in value and there was a 1987 Chevrolet 1500 4×4 on the docket. It sold for 41,000 (CDN).

This was a fully restored truck, and it tells you where these vehicles are headed in the market…especially 4-wheel drive versions.

There was a 2006 Mustang GT Saleen at the Coast 2 Coast/ Michener-Allen Auction, and it sold for 37,000 (CDN).

This is what I call a future collectible, because younger buyers are drawn to these cars like moths to lights. It’s the kind of car that will explode in value over the next 10-15 years.

The last car that showed a trend was a 2008 Challenger SRT8 that sold for 66,000 (CDN). The number seemed big even though this was a rare version of the first-year next-Gen Challey (only 500 First Edition built).

The reason for the big number was clear—this was a 21st Century resto-mod. It had a built 812-horse motor under the hood, and it was engineered for the track and the street.  The SRT8 was a great example of applying resto-mods to a newer car.

This auction was the perfect example because these trends aren’t going away for the hobby. That’s what makes it a good snapshot in time.     

Jerry Sutherland

By: Jerry Sutherland

Jerry Sutherland is a veteran automotive writer with a primary focus on the collector car hobby. His work has been published in many outlets and publications, including the National Post, Calgary Herald, Edmonton Journal, Ottawa Citizen, Montreal Gazette, Saskatoon StarPhoenix, Regina Leader-Post,  Vancouver Sun and The Truth About Cars. He is also a regular contributor to Auto Roundup Publications.

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