It may not have even gotten real bids. Remember Mecum reserves the right to have their own people bid on the cars ( up to the reserve) in an attempt to get real bidders bidding. 
Very true. That is something you have to look out for when you see cars bid high but not hit reserve. Was that bidding what they call "real money" or just shill bidding?
When you are selling a car at the auction and the actual real buyer bidding is getting to a certain level but still short of reserve, they will really twist your arm on stage trying to get you to drop the reserve. On the other hand, I knew someone selling a car at the Mecum auction in my area last year who was up on stage when his car was up for bidding, his reserve was something like 37K and the bidding got up to 35K. He was thinking, you know, I think I will let it go for that, but they wouldn't let him drop the reserve. It wasn't "real money" at 35K.
The whole auction business is a bit shady and I am wary of ever selling a car at one, and even though I bought my '71 at an auction and did well, I'm inclined to quit while I'm ahead and likely won't buy at auction again (though never say never).
