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Featured Interview:
David Morton –
Live From Mecum Auctions

In this episode of The MuscleCar Place Podcast, Bernie McPartland head deep into the evolving world of collector car auctions with Mecum Auctions Senior Communications Manager David Morton. Recorded during Mecum Houston and released alongside the opening of Dana Mecum’s 2026 Spring Classic in Indianapolis, this conversation goes far beyond hammer prices and auction listings. Instead, it explores something much larger: why live automotive experiences continue to thrive in a world increasingly dominated by online transactions, short attention spans, and digital marketplaces.

Early in the episode, Rob makes an observation that becomes one of the central themes of the entire discussion—live sports remain one of the last forms of entertainment capable of truly capturing people’s focused attention. In a world where most viewers scroll through their phones while watching TV, pause movies halfway through, or move on after only a few minutes, live events still command engagement. Mecum Auctions, perhaps surprisingly, has become part of that same category. The energy, unpredictability, atmosphere, and spectacle of a live auction have transformed Mecum into something that behaves more like a motorsport than a traditional auction company.

David Morton’s own story perfectly reflects why Mecum has been able to evolve so successfully. Unlike many in the collector car world, David did not come from a traditional automotive background. Instead, his experience was rooted in sports management and event marketing. His entrance into Mecum came after conversations with NBC Sports producers who recognized the growing momentum and entertainment value surrounding the company’s live auction events. That outside perspective helped David see Mecum differently—not simply as a car auction business, but as a large-scale live entertainment experience driven by energy, audience engagement, and storytelling.

As the discussion unfolds, David shares how Mecum’s expansion strategy works behind the scenes. Entering a new market requires far more than simply renting a building and bringing in cars. Venue logistics, regional car culture, legal requirements, demographics, economic growth, and strategic partnerships all play a role. Markets like Nashville represent the next major frontier because of their younger demographics, economic momentum, and growing enthusiast culture. Mecum’s success has come from carefully identifying cities where enthusiasm already exists and then creating an experience significant enough to turn the auction into a destination event.

The conversation also highlights how dramatically the collector car market continues to evolve. While classic muscle cars remain a cornerstone of Mecum’s identity, the audience and the vehicles drawing attention are shifting rapidly. Trucks and SUVs continue exploding in popularity, particularly Broncos, K5 Blazers, vintage Wagoneers, and customized pickups. David explains how many buyers began moving toward trucks once traditional muscle cars became increasingly expensive, creating an entirely new segment of restoration and customization culture. What started as “farm trucks” evolved into some of the hottest vehicles in the hobby thanks to affordability, styling, aftermarket support, and drivability.

At the same time, Mecum is seeing a major rise in interest surrounding 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s vehicles. David explains the generational shift very simply: collectors eventually chase the vehicles they dreamed about when they were younger. Today’s younger buyers aren’t necessarily pursuing Tri-Five Chevys or 1960s muscle cars first—they’re looking for the cars they had posters of on their bedroom walls growing up. Japanese sports cars, Fox-body Mustangs, Broncos, imports, and modern-era performance vehicles are all beginning to take center stage. Mecum has recognized that shift and continues adapting its auction mix to welcome a broader audience into the hobby.

Another major topic throughout the interview is the rise of restomods and low-volume custom manufacturing. The aftermarket industry and companies emerging from the SEMA world are reshaping what collectors expect from classic vehicles. Rather than restoring a car exactly as it left the factory, many buyers now want modern drivability, updated suspensions, improved reliability, fuel injection, advanced interiors, and modern performance hidden beneath classic sheet metal. David discusses how these builds appeal particularly strongly to younger buyers who love vintage styling but want the comfort and reliability of modern engineering. Mecum has embraced this category because it represents the next evolution of collector enthusiasm rather than a replacement for traditional classics.

The interview eventually circles back to one of the biggest truths in the collector car hobby: the emotional connection behind the vehicles themselves. Whether it’s a rare Ferrari, a six-figure restomod, a Bronco restored in someone’s garage, or the family story attached to a long-forgotten Austin Healey discovered in storage, the stories behind the cars continue to matter as much as the vehicles themselves. Mecum’s ability to tell those stories—and create an atmosphere where people can experience them together—is a major reason the company continues growing despite the rise of online-only auction platforms.

Rob and Bernie also spend time discussing the larger collector market and how certain vehicles continue to carry cultural weight decades later. Conversations surrounding Steve McQueen, movie cars, Bullitt Mustangs, and pop culture influence reinforce how deeply nostalgia and storytelling remain connected to the automotive hobby. While generations may shift and tastes may evolve, the emotional pull of iconic vehicles and memorable automotive moments continues bringing new enthusiasts into the fold.

In this episode of The MuscleCar Place Podcast, guest host Bernie McPartland takes the mic and brings listeners straight to the auction floor at Mecum Houston for an inside look at one of the most exciting segments of the collector car world. Broadcasting from Mecum Auctions in Houston (with a little “radio magic” transporting us to Indianapolis), Bernie sits down with Mecum’s Senior Communications Manager, David Morton, to explore how Mecum has grown into a powerhouse in the live auction space, what it takes to enter new markets, and how trends in collector cars are rapidly shifting across generations.

Connect with Mecum Auctions

To learn more, register to bid, or explore upcoming auctions, visit Mecum online at Mecum.com or if you want to see exciting videos check them out on YouTube.com/@MecumAuctions. If you want to see the latest pictures from the events you can follow at Instagram.com/mecum_auctions and at Facebook.com/MecumAuction. If you want to experience the auction LIVE like it should be, flip to Mecum Auction on Roku.

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Dallas Kibbe Racing Update

This week’s Dallas Kibbe Racing Update presented by Lexani Tires, Lionhart Tires, and Rolling Big Power Tires — available through SimpleTire — focuses on the increasingly serious transition Dallas is making from local racing toward national-level competition. Rob shares the reality that succeeding in motorsports requires far more than simply being talented behind the wheel. This season is focused on competing against the toughest possible fields rather than chasing easier wins at smaller tracks. The strategy is clear: race against the best drivers available and continue building experience through difficult competition.

Upcoming races include the Showdown Series in North Carolina, preparation for the Charlotte Summer Shootout, and Dallas’s first Late Model race in the Carolina Pro Series. Rob also previews his upcoming trip to the High Performance Expo (HPX) in Charlotte this June, where The MuscleCar Place will have a podcast presence while connecting with manufacturers, racing companies, and industry leaders from across the performance aftermarket world. The event represents exactly what Rob discusses throughout the episode — the value of live, in-person automotive experiences and the relationships built face-to-face within the industry.

Rob also reflects on the balance between racing life and regular family life while sharing a story about getting Dallas’s Porsche 944 repaired and ready for prom season after discovering brake issues coming out of winter storage. It’s the kind of story that perfectly captures what The MuscleCar Place has always represented—cars as part of real life, family memories, challenges, and experiences that go far beyond racing alone.

SIMPLE TIRE & LEXAINI TIRES
And when it’s time to put power to the pavement, check out SimpleTire for Lexani Tires—delivering the grip and performance your muscle car deserves.

Follow Dallas Kibbe Racing for race results, stats, and behind-the-scenes racing action:

https://www.facebook.com/DallasKibbeRacing
https://www.instagram.com/dallaskibbe_13/
https://www.tiktok.com/@dallaskibbe_13
https://www.myracepass.com/drivers/178661

 

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This interview sponsored by our pals at National Parts Depot –
your premier source for muscle car restoration parts!