Mecum Indy 2026 brought another wide-ranging field of collector vehicles to Indianapolis in May, with vehicles crossing the block from May 8 through May 16. The annual Original Spring Classic at the Indiana State Fairgrounds has become one of Mecum’s major collector-car events, bringing together everything from American muscle and Corvettes to vintage trucks, SUVs and extensively modified restomods.
Among the standout four-wheel-drive results, classic Ford Broncos were especially prominent, taking three of the five positions on this list. A professionally restored Chevrolet K5 Blazer led the group, while a rare Stroppe Baja Edition Bronco added genuine off-road history to a field otherwise dominated by sophisticated restomod builds. Together, these Mecum Indianapolis results show the range of approaches collectors can find in vintage 4x4s, from historically significant factory configurations to modernized trucks with contemporary V-8 power.
1. 1972 Chevrolet K5 Blazer – $239,250
The highest-selling 4×4 in this group was a 1972 Chevrolet K5 Blazer that brought $239,250 at Mecum Indy 2026. The Hawaiian Blue and White truck underwent a professional rotisserie restoration spanning more than three years. Its original-era styling was paired with a fuel-injected 6.2-liter Chevrolet LS3 V-8, a 6L80E six-speed automatic transmission and a rebuilt transfer case. Mecum also listed rebuilt front and rear axles, Wilwood four-wheel disc brakes, Fox shocks, 35-inch BFGoodrich all-terrain tires, Vintage Air and custom plaid-and-white seating.
The first-generation K5 Blazer occupies an important place in Chevrolet truck history because it combined pickup-based hardware with an open-top recreational 4×4 format. This example retained recognizable period cues, including its removable white hardtop and original-style grille, while incorporating modern power, braking and comfort. That combination made it markedly different from a stock restoration and positioned it as a modernized interpretation of an early Chevrolet sport-utility vehicle.
2. 1966 Ford Bronco Custom – $166,650
A Gateway Bronco-built 1966 Ford Bronco Custom sold for $166,650. Finished in Brittany Blue with a tan interior, it had 5,058 miles showing since its build. Power came from a Gen 3 5.0-liter Coyote V-8 rated by Ford at 460 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque, connected to a 10R80 10-speed automatic and an Atlas 4.3:1 transfer case. Other upgrades included Wilwood four-wheel disc brakes, Bilstein dampers, an upgraded chassis, 18-inch billet wheels and a six-point family roll bar.
This Bronco represents the restomod side of the first-generation Bronco market. Ford launched the Bronco for 1966, making this truck’s model year especially significant, even though the vehicle has been comprehensively re-engineered. Gateway retained the compact proportions and styling associated with an early Bronco while adding the powertrain, braking, technology and cabin appointments of a much newer vehicle. Its Ferrari leather upholstery, heated seats, Apple CarPlay and rearview camera illustrate how far premium Bronco builds can depart from the utilitarian character of the originals.
3. 1973 Ford Bronco Stroppe Baja Edition – $165,000
Just behind the Gateway build was a very different type of Bronco. This 1973 Ford Bronco Stroppe Baja Edition sold for $165,000 and was listed by Mecum as one of an estimated 500 examples built from 1971 through 1975 to commemorate the success of Bill Stroppe-prepared Broncos in the Baja 500 and Baja 1000. It retained the model’s distinctive Red, White and Blue paint scheme and was listed in the Baja Bronco Registry. Its drivetrain consisted of a 302 CI V-8, C4 three-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive.
The Stroppe modifications are central to this Bronco’s significance. Mecum documented rear fender flares, front fender trim, dual shocks at each wheel, bumper braces, a padded roll bar and special decals, along with an auxiliary fuel tank and extra cooling equipment. Unlike the extensively modernized Broncos elsewhere on this list, the appeal of the Stroppe Baja Edition rests largely in its connection to early Bronco competition history and a distinctive period factory-supported package.
4. 1969 Ford Bronco – $148,500
A professionally restored 1969 Ford Bronco also sold for $148,500. Built by ASC 4×4, the truck showed 1,805 miles since restoration and combined first-generation Bronco styling with a 5.0-liter Coyote V-8 and Ford 6R80 six-speed automatic transmission. It was finished in Ferrari Blu Swaters with a Walnut interior and a Wimbledon White hardtop. The build also included a four-inch suspension kit, Bilstein remote-reservoir shocks, power steps, Vintage Air and a four-point family cage.
This Bronco illustrates another interpretation of the increasingly sophisticated classic 4×4 restomod. Rather than aiming for a factory-original presentation, the build combined modern Ford V-8 performance with upgraded suspension and carefully coordinated exterior and interior finishes. The result preserved the visual identity of a late-1960s Bronco while providing mechanical equipment that did not exist when the model was new.
5. 1970 Ford F-350 Pickup – $148,500
Tied with the 1969 Bronco at $148,500 was a 1970 Ford F-350 pickup. The frame-off restoration centered on Ford’s modern 7.3-liter Godzilla V-8, paired with a 6R140 six-speed automatic transmission. Mecum listed a Dana 44 front axle, Dana 60 rear axle, power front disc brakes, air conditioning, Dakota Digital gauges, updated wiring, new paint and a completely renewed interior. The odometer displayed 171 miles at the time of the auction.
The F-350 brings a different flavor to this group because its roots are in Ford’s heavy-duty pickup line rather than the compact recreational-SUV market. Its modern 7.3-liter powertrain transforms the vintage truck into a restomod while leaving the basic proportions and visual character of a 1970 Ford pickup intact. It also broadens the Mecum Indy 2026 4×4 results beyond Broncos and Blazers, showing that professionally rebuilt vintage work trucks can occupy the same collector-car auction space as classic SUVs.
Mecum Indy 2026 FAQs
Where was Mecum Indy 2026 held?
Mecum Indy is held at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis, Indiana. The venue has hosted Mecum’s Original Spring Classic for many years and serves as one of the company’s major annual collector-car auction locations.
When did Mecum Indy 2026 take place?
The 2026 auction ran in May, with vehicles in the official Mecum listings crossing the block from Friday, May 8 through Saturday, May 16.
What was the most expensive 4×4 among these five Mecum Indy 2026 results?
The 1972 Chevrolet K5 Blazer was the highest-selling vehicle in this five-vehicle group at $239,250. It featured a professional rotisserie restoration, an LS3 V-8 and a six-speed automatic transmission.
Which manufacturer had the most vehicles in this Top 5?
Ford accounted for four of the five vehicles: three Broncos and one F-350 pickup. Chevrolet was represented by the top-selling 1972 K5 Blazer.
What makes the Stroppe Baja Edition Bronco different from a standard early Bronco?
The Stroppe Baja Edition was tied to Ford Bronco off-road competition history. Mecum states that an estimated 500 were built from 1971 through 1975 to commemorate victories by Bill Stroppe-prepared Broncos in the Baja 500 and Baja 1000. The package included distinctive paint and specialized equipment such as dual shocks, fender modifications, bumper braces and a padded roll bar.
