COKER CORNER WADE KAWASAKI Wade is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Legendary Companies (formerly known as Coker Group). In his executive role, Wade oversees the 12 brands and six operating companies under the Legendary Companies umbrella. He is based out of Legendary Companies’ corporate headquarters in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and also has an office in City of Industry, California. In addition to his role at Legendary Companies, Wade is the SEMA Immediate Past Chairman of the Board, where he continues to lead the Board of Directors in making important decisions to benefit the $41 billion automotive aftermarket. HIGH ROLLERS FROM KISSIMMEE I love when January rolls around each year, because that means I get to make the trip to the Sunshine state for the Mecum Auctions event in Kissimmee, Florida. I’ve been going to the auction for years, and it seems to get bigger and better each year. For 2021, we went into the event with a new social media strategy for my Facebook page (Facebook.com/carguyadventures), and this new plan allowed me to get out and see even more cars than I usually see during the event. This year was better than ever, because my son, Timothy, came with me and shot videos of our adventures. As we walked the aisles, we loosely came up with a list of favorites, which I would feature on the page. Timothy and I had a blast, and we shot some great stuff—some that was broadcast live, and some that was recorded for later distribution. Our list of favorites was quite long, so let’s cover five high rollers from the 2021 Mecum Auctions kick-off event in Kissimmee, Florida. 1966 Ferrari 275 GTS One of only 200 built in a two-year span, this car is an icon of 1960s sports cars. The body style is beautiful, and you’ll find 260 HP under the hood, thanks to a 3.3L Columbo V-12 engine, backed by a 5-speed manual gearbox. The car was restored in 2020, and it’s incredible. Of course, it’s rolling on Borrani wire wheels and authentic Michelin radial tires. I’ll use this opportunity to remind you that Coker Tire is the North American exclusive distributor for Michelin Classic tires, so give our guys a call if you need authentic tires for a classic sports car. The car ended up bringing $1.35 million. 1947 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith Inskip This one was wild! Photos simply didn’t do this car justice; the color and the body design offered the ultimate elegant combination. This is one of only a few Inskip-bodied cars built after World War II. J.S. Inskip had a really interesting partnership with Rolls-Royce. He was the head of the New York office of Rolls-Royce of America in the 1920s and 1930s, and he later bought out the Brewster car company and began utilizing Brewster’s coach building staff and machinery. His coach building company wasn’t exclusive to Rolls-Royce, but during the same time, Inskip was the only Rolls-Royce and Bentley dealer in the United States. The car at Kissimmee was one of only three or four postwar examples that featured an Inskip body. It was featured at the 1949 New York International Motor Show, and it received many awards after its restoration. The car did not meet its reserve, but I loved getting to take a deep dive into the history of such a beautiful car. 112 • MONTHLY
