The show features many interesting cars and facts about the American automotive history, presented by collectors and the professionals at Mecums, but this constitutes only about 50 % of the show. The other half is biddings, which frankly aren't that interesting. I find shows focusing on building or salvaging cars more substantial, although these also end up focusing too much on the price.
The producers tries to add tension to the repetitive biddings with overly dramatic music, and by making us believe that the car isn't going to be sold. Then, in a hallelujah moment of relief, the staff usually convince the seller to drop the reserve, and the car is sold and everybody's happy.
They producers could have crammed a lot more cars into the hour-long show. The Mecums do sell thousands of cars a year or so. Or they could have portrayed the biddings in a less caricatured way. After all this is not a chaotic cattle auction (even though the auctioneer chant makes it sound like it). The cars are icons and they deserve to be sold in a more educated manner.
The producers tries to add tension to the repetitive biddings with overly dramatic music, and by making us believe that the car isn't going to be sold. Then, in a hallelujah moment of relief, the staff usually convince the seller to drop the reserve, and the car is sold and everybody's happy.
They producers could have crammed a lot more cars into the hour-long show. The Mecums do sell thousands of cars a year or so. Or they could have portrayed the biddings in a less caricatured way. After all this is not a chaotic cattle auction (even though the auctioneer chant makes it sound like it). The cars are icons and they deserve to be sold in a more educated manner.