David Mercer
Expertise
Market Values Auctions Investment Trends Valuations Collector Car Data
📍 Scottsdale, Arizona

David Mercer

Classic car market analyst with two decades of experience tracking collector car valuations, auction results, and investment trends.

David Mercer has spent the better part of twenty years following the collector car market closely — attending the major auction events in Scottsdale, Kissimmee, Monterey, and Indianapolis, tracking hammer prices, and building a detailed picture of how values move across different segments of the hobby. He approaches the market the way a financial analyst approaches any asset class: with data, historical context, and a healthy skepticism toward short-term hype.

His focus is on what the numbers actually mean for private buyers and sellers, not just for the headline cars that dominate auction coverage. He writes about valuation trends, the gap between auction results and private-sale reality, and the segments of the classic car market that are quietly appreciating while everyone is watching something else. Based in Scottsdale, he is well-positioned to follow the January auction week that effectively sets the tone for the collector car market each year.

Magazine Articles by David Mercer

Burgundy 1971 Buick Riviera boat tail coupe outside a mid century showroom at dusk
Car Features

Why the Boat-Tail Riviera Is a Collector Favorite Now

David Mercer · · 7 min
Restored red 1968 Chevrolet El Camino SS under spotlights at a classic car auction
Car Features

How the El Camino SS Became a Blue-Chip Collectible

David Mercer · · 7 min
White 1963 Ford Galaxie 500 XL with bucket seats parked at a scenic overlook at sunset
Car Features

The 1963 Galaxie 500 XL: Bucket-Seat Big-Block Glamour

David Mercer · · 6 min
Gold 1969 Plymouth Barracuda fastback on display at a classic car show
Car Features

Collecting the Second-Generation Barracuda

David Mercer · · 8 min
Red 1971 Hemi Cuda convertible with black stripes under dramatic auction stage lights
Car Features

Why Hemi Cuda Values Exploded

David Mercer · · 7 min
White 1958 Chevrolet Impala with Tri Power 348 badge at a bright collector car auction
Car Features

The 1958 Impala as a Collector Car

David Mercer · · 7 min
Restored 1957-1960 Ford F-100 pickup truck at a classic car show, three-quarter front view
Car Features

Collecting the 1957-60 F-100

David Mercer · · 7 min
Restored 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Seville hardtop at a classic car auction house
Car Features

What a 1959 Eldorado Is Worth Today

David Mercer · · 7 min
Restored 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air hardtop coupe, three-quarter front view
Car Features

Collecting the 1957 Bel Air Today: A Practical Value Guide

David Mercer · · 7 min
1957-1960 Ford F-100 Styleside and Flareside pickup trucks side by side
Car Features

Styleside vs Flareside Values Today

David Mercer · · 7 min
Concours-restored 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz convertible, front three-quarter view
Car Features

Why the 1959 Is the Most Collectible Eldorado

David Mercer · · 7 min
Pristine restored 1966 Plymouth Barracuda Formula S fastback, three-quarter front view
Car Features

Why Early Barracudas Are Quietly Collectible

David Mercer · · 7 min
Late 1940s showroom — Studebaker and Kaiser sedans side by side
Car Features

How Post-War Independents Challenged the Big Three

David Mercer · · 6 min
Hemi Dodge Challenger and Hemi Plymouth Barracuda at auction
Car Features

Hemi Challenger vs Hemi Cuda at Auction

David Mercer · · 7 min
Pristine restored 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Coupe, three-quarter front view
Car Features

The 1957 Bel Air as an Investment: What Actually Drives Value

David Mercer · · 7 min
Well-preserved 1962 Ford Thunderbird Bullet Bird hardtop, three-quarter front view
Car Features

Collecting the Bullet Bird Today

David Mercer · · 7 min
Restored 1970 Plymouth Superbird at a classic car collector show
Car Features

Collecting the Superbird Today

David Mercer · · 7 min
1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz convertible top down, front three-quarter view
Car Features

The 1959 Eldorado Biarritz Convertible

David Mercer · · 6 min
Two nearly identical 1970 Plymouth Superbirds parked side by side
Car Features

Real Superbird vs Clone

David Mercer · · 8 min
Mechanic comparing replacement and original engine in workshop
Car Features

Modified Components and Their Impact on Value

David Mercer · · 6 min
Silver Porsche 911 GT1 Strassenversion displayed under gallery lighting at an auction preview
Car Features

The 911 GT1 Strassenversion: Race Car for the Road

David Mercer · · 7 min
1960s Cadillac dealership showroom with new cars behind plate glass
History & Heritage

Cadillac vs Lincoln Sales Figures: Who Actually Won

David Mercer · · 6 min
1969 Chevrolet Chevelle SS396 L78 — rear three-quarter dusk shot
Market & Values

The L78 396 Solid-Lifter SS: A Rare Factory Option

David Mercer · · 6 min
Pristine restored 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible, three-quarter front view
Car Features

Collecting the 1956 Bel Air: A Value Breakdown

David Mercer · · 6 min

Comparisons by David Mercer

Q&A by David Mercer