AACA Hershey 2026: The RM/Sotheby’s Auction

October 10, 2026 RichardReina Auctions, Events Hershey Auction, RM-Sotheby's

The RM/Sotheby’s “Hershey” auction, held each October at the Hershey Lodge, is now considered an official part of AACA’s Hershey week, although as far as I can tell, RM/Sotheby’s and AACA are separate entities with no financial entanglements. Still, given the consistent high quality of this auction’s offerings, I have no doubt it continues to be a significant draw for those who are at the Main Event over at Hersheypark.

I can’t speak to RM’s offerings at its other global auctions, but at Hershey, most of the cars are a sample of beautifully restored, pre-war and early post-war American classics. As has been the trend across all auctions in recent years, we continue to witness the disposal of private collections as older collectors age out of the hobby. This has the potential to present some “bargain” buying opportunities (“bargain” in this case defined as your personal amount of discretionary funds). But consider that of the 19 lots I have presented below, 16 were offered as No Reserve, which always motivates the waving of the paddles.

Let’s also quickly analyze the auction company’s pre-sale estimates, compared to the hammer results. Of these 19 vehicles, 11 sold BELOW estimate; 5 sold WITHIN estimate; and only 3 sold ABOVE estimate. Bidders may be passionate, but they aren’t dumb. They know all too well that at a No Reserve auction, high bidder gets the car, pre-sale estimate be damned.

I continue to hear chatter about the increasing lack of interest in pre-war cars, yet, 14 of my selections were model years 1941 and older. There continues to be an audience that desires these cars, and frankly, based on their styling, condition, and presence, I found them plenty desirable myself.

Sold prices below were gleaned from RM/Sotheby’s website, where I subtracted the 12% buyer’s premium (up from 10%) in order to show the hammer price. Lots are arranged in HAMMER PRICE order. Twelve of these lots hammered at $50,000 or less, a number I chose as that represents the current average transaction price of a new motor vehicle.

Lot 194, 1955 DeSoto Fireflite two door hardtop, pre-sale estimate $12,000-$18,000, selling at No Reserve

SOLD for $11,000, below estimate.

Lot 369, 1939 Ford two-door coupe, pre-sale estimate $15,000-$20,000, selling at No Reserve

SOLD for $19,000, within estimate.

Lot 340, 1932 Plymouth Roadster, pre-sale estimate $25,000-$35,000, selling at No Reserve

SOLD for $20,000, below estimate.

Lot 338, 1931 Ford Model A, pre-sale estimate $25,000-$35,000, selling at No Reserve

SOLD for $24,000, below estimate.

Lot 341, 1941 Lincoln Continental convertible, pre-sale estimate $35,000-$50,000, selling at No Reserve

SOLD for $24,000, below estimate.

Lot 185, 1943 Fiat Topolino, pre-sale estimate $15,000-$20,000, selling at No Reserve

SOLD for $27,500, above estimate.

Lot 423, 1934 American Austin Roadster, pre-sale estimate $25,000-$35,000, selling at No Reserve

SOLD for $30,000, within estimate.

Lot 406, 1962 Triumph TR-4, pre-sale estimate $40,000-$60,000, selling at No Reserve

SOLD for $32,500, below estimate.

Lot 360, 1934 Reo Flying Cloud Coupe, pre-sale estimate $50,000-$70,000, selling at No Reserve

SOLD for $35,000, below estimate.

Lot 385, 1953 Packard Caribbean convertible, pre-sale estimate $60,000-$80,000, selling with Reserve

SOLD for $42,500. Note that it sold $17,500 below low estimate, even with a reserve.

Lot 219, 1940 Chrysler Highlander convertible, pre-sale estimate $60,000-$80,000, selling at No Reserve

SOLD for $50,000, below estimate.

Lot 419, 1965 Sunbeam Tiger Mark I, pre-sale estimate $80,000-$100,000, selling with Reserve

SOLD for $50,000. Note that it sold $30,000 below low estimate, even with a reserve.

Lot 213, 1934 Ford 3-window coupe, pre-sale estimate $60,000-$80,000, selling at No Reserve

SOLD for $65,000, within estimate.

Lot 353, 1941 Lincoln Zephyr coupe, pre-sale estimate $60,000-$80,000, selling at No Reserve

SOLD for $82,500, above estimate.

Lot 346, 1939 Lincoln Zephyr coupe, pre-sale estimate $80,000-$110,000, selling at No Reserve

SOLD for $100,000, within estimate.

Lot 364, 1927 Rolls-Royce Phantom I convertible, pre-sale estimate $150,000-$190,000, selling at No Reserve

SOLD for $110,000, below estimate.

Lot 401, 1960 Chrysler 300-F convertible, pre-sale estimate $125,000-$175,000, selling at No Reserve

SOLD for $125,000, within estimate.

Lot 188, 1913 Fiat Speedster, pre-sale estimate $250,000-$300,000, selling with Reserve

SOLD for $150,000. Note that it sold $100,000 below low estimate, even with a reserve.

Lot 210, 1939 Packard Twelve Coupe, pre-sale estimate $120,000-$140,000, selling at No Reserve

SOLD for $160,000, above estimate.

AACA Hershey 2026: The Car Corral

October 9, 2026 RichardReina Car shows, Events AACA Hershey, Hershey Car Corral

This is the first of three posts covering this year’s AACA Fall Eastern Nationals, the multi-faceted event better known as “Hershey.” The Car Corral is one of the world’s largest outdoor used car lots, provided that said cars meet the AACA requirements of being at least 25 years old and in stock condition. The number of vehicles entered into the Car Corral has fallen off in recent years, what with all the online competition; still, there was a wide variety of makes, ages, and price ranges.

Speaking of prices, of the 16 cars featured below, 6 of them had asking prices below $15,000; entry level cars continue to be available. I walked the corral for part of Wednesday and again on Thursday, and there were plenty of tire kickers. I saw a few cars with “SOLD” signs on them, so transactions were occurring.

The cars below are the ones that got my attention. I’ve made no attempt to describe their condition or equipment, nor the seller’s temperament for lowball offers. Caveat emptor and all that. Coming next will be posts on the Friday car show and the RM/Sotheby’s auction.

1969 Jaguar E-Type 2+2, 5 speed, asking $52,000

1972 Alfa Romeo Montreal, asking $90,000

1969 Oldsmobile 98 4-door hardtop, asking $8,500

1969 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am, asking $139,500

1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme convertible, asking $9,500

1954 Citroen Traction Avant, asking $9,000

1969 Datsun 2000 roadster, asking $17,500

1959 Triumph T-10 station wagon, LHD, asking $12,000

1995 Alfa Romeo SZ coupe, asking $97,900

Bidding for my 2021 Alfa Romeo on Cars & Bids

October 5, 2026 RichardReina Auctions, Events Alfa Romeo Giulia, Cars & Bids

I had been watching the 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia on Cars & Bids all week. The day before the auction was scheduled to end, I drove to Stamford, CT, to test drive the car. The seller was extremely accommodating, suggesting that I drive the car for as long as I wanted that morning. My Alfa club buddy Bill, who owns a Giulia, accompanied me so that I would have a second set of experienced eyes on the car. Except for the color combo of blue over red, which I was still getting used to, everything about the car seemed right: RWD, limited slip diff, the best-looking 19” wheels, the red sport seats, Harmon Kardon sound system, a complete CarFax service history, and a transferrable extended warranty.

I knew all too well how these online auctions worked. Bring a Trailer had laid the foundation: seven-day auctions, plenty of photos, candid commentary from followers, and perhaps most importantly, the removal of any last-moment “sniping” by resetting the clock at each bid within the final few minutes. Unlike BaT which adds two minutes to the clock once any bids are placed within that final two-minute window, Cars & Bids resets the clock to add one minute, which is still plenty of time.

There were two or three bidders who were actively bidding on the Alfa during its final 30 minutes. By clicking on their user names, I was able to see their entire bidding history. Interestingly, these bidders had followed similar paths: they would bid several times, and would drop out well before the cars reached their final sale price. In other words, they were bottom shoppers who were bidding only on the chance that they could “steal” a car (provided the reserve was met). Discovering this about them boosted my confidence.

In the end, my competition was “aptwo” and “AJ2023.” Aptwo had bid on 28 cars, with zero wins, placing five bids on this Alfa, and bowing out at $17,250. AJ2023 had bid on 88 cars (!) with one win, a 1997 Audi A6. After his final bid of $20,000, he was gone. I bid $20,250 and thought the car was mine at that number. But I was wrong.

A new bidder, “RM512,” appeared seemingly out of nowhere. Quickly looking at his history, he didn’t join Cars & Bids until August of 2026, and this Alfa was the very first car he bid on. We were off to the races. Moving in either $250 or $500 increments, he kept pace with me. I bid $21,500 and told myself that was my limit. But when RM515 bid $21,750, I rationalized, “oh, what’s another $250?” But my $22,000 bid was topped again, and so it went.

Instead of being nervous, I was surprisingly calm, as if I were playing a game, convincing myself to hang in there. (This was helped in part by several buddies who were watching along, and sending me text messages saying, “YOU GOT THIS!”) I bid $22,500, he $23,000; I went to $23,250, he $23,500. When I bid $23,750, I allowed myself a new upper limit of $25,000, as once I was over that, I could find Giulias both newer and with lower miles. Watching the countdown clock descend past 30 seconds, then 15, then 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, there was nothing from RM512. The clock hit zero, and the screen read “SOLD for $23,750.” I won the auction. I was stunned; happily stunned, but stunned nevertheless.

It took a few days to sort through the paperwork (payment, bill of sale, title and tags), but about ten days after the auction ended, I picked up the car (with a big thanks to good friend Mike G who drove me to Stamford). The car was flawless on the drive back, and since then, I have had zero regrets.

This is one of the nicest Giulias I’ve ever seen, and in a very rare spec as well. In retrospect, I am so glad that an offer I made several months ago on a used Giulia at an Alfa Romeo dealer fell through. The car in my garage is so much nicer than that one. Patience paid off!

NJ Alfa Romeo Club Monthly Breakfast, Sep. 2026

September 20, 2026September 20, 2026 RichardReina Drives, Events Bernards Cafe, NJ-AROC

For the first time in many a month, rain dampened the ground, but not the spirit, of those attending the New Jersey Alfa Romeo club’s monthly breakfast. We returned to the Bernard’s Café in lovely downtown Bernardsville, NJ. Ten NJ-AROC members arrived in various vehicles, and while all the classic Alfas stayed warm and dry at home, three modern Giulias survived the soggy sojourn.

We were seated in two groups, six at one table and four at another, and the service staff quickly had coffee and breakfast chow in front of us. As usual, we had plenty to talk about, covering both Alfa and non-Alfa topics, but the rain prevented our customary parking lot chats. A popular topic was the previous day’s car show at at a location not far from where we breakfasted. Chapter members in attendance cleverly caravanned there, allowing them to park together on the show field.

September is quickly zipping by, but we will meet again in October, at a diner TBD.

My Junior Gains a Younger Sibling

September 16, 2026 RichardReina Family cars Alfa Romeo Giulia

More than two years after selling my Mazda Miata in June 2024, and after two years spent pursuing classified ads in search of a “classic car” to replace it, I made a profound decision: I switched gears and bought a late-model Alfa Romeo Giulia sedan. The story behind that switch is for another time, but it still took me four months to find the right car. I test drove four different used cars at various Alfa Romeo dealerships in NJ and PA, then found the right car at the Cars and Bids online auction website (www.carsandbids.com). THAT seven-day auction is also a story for a future blog post. For now, I will start by posting my first photos of the car after driving it back from Stamford, CT, yesterday.

The car is a 2021 model year, in Anodized Blue Metallic with a red leather interior (a color combination popular in Alfa’s home country but rarely seen here). It is well-equipped, with the TI Sport Package (including sport seats and 19” bright wheels), Premium Package (including a Harmon Kardon Audio System), and Carbon Package (featuring interior and exterior carbon fiber trim pieces). Perhaps most unusually for a Northeast car, it is rear wheel drive (RWD), when almost every other Giulia I considered was AWD. It had just under 63,000 miles at my time of purchase, averaging just over 12,000 miles a year. I got it from the second owner, and the entire car is very clean, and came with a CarFax report showing every required service has been performed.

I’m keeping both the 2013 Mazda3 as a daily driver and the ’67 Junior as my AACA-eligible classic. A few years from now, things could change, but this Giulia will be used to attend AROC (Alfa Romeo Owners Club) events which are farther away, and for my own longer leisure drives. I’m so excited to have two Alfa Romeos! Watch this space for more about this car in the coming weeks.

Lime Rock’s Historic Festival 44: The Gathering of the Marques

September 9, 2026 RichardReina Car shows, Events Gathering of the Marques, Historic Festival 44, Lime Rock Park

My third and final blog post about this year’s Historic Festival 44 at Lime Rock Park focuses on the “Gathering of the Marques.” The GOTM, as it’s known, has been a Lime Rock tradition for years. (I entered my Miata in it in 2014.) Since Alfa Romeo was the featured marque this year, there was a great push to get as many of the Milanese macchine to participate, and the Lime Rock staff should be more than pleased with the turnout. AROC members from NY, NJ, PA, and the New England states supported this event. By my count, there were close to 100 Alfas in the GOTM, including cars which should have been in the Concours but were shut out.

In all my years at Lime Rock, I cannot recall seeing vehicles of the same marque parked three deep along the track. And since Alfa Romeos of all years were welcome, there were plenty of Giulias and Stelvios, including Quadrifoglio versions of each. I chatted with a few owners, all of whom were enjoying the day and happy to talk about their cars. The photos below should give you a good flavor for the sheer number of Alfas in attendance.

Saturday at Lime Rock’s Historic Festival 44

September 8, 2026 RichardReina Alfa Romeo GT 1300 Jr., Car shows, Drives, Events Historic Festival 44, Lime Rock Park

As I mentioned in yesterday’s post covering the Sunday Concours show, we arrived in town late on Friday and headed to the track bright and early on Saturday morning. A while back, I had purchased my Saturday tickets: a general admission ticket to watch the racing, and an optional “Car Corral” ticket, providing specially designated Alfa Romeo parking and the chance to drive “parade laps” around Lime Rock’s 1.6 mile track. As an AROC member, I was given a generous 30% discount off the tickets’ face value.

Three of us left our Air B&B by 7:15 a.m., and followed each other to the entrance, where we were through the gates in a matter of minutes. The area known as The Skidpad was set aside for Car Corral parking, and we parked perpendicular to the circle’s edge, facing outward. With folding chairs and bottled water in our hands, we walked to the grassy hill overlooking the S turns just beyond the straightaway. This is one of the more popular spots to take in the action.

Racing started at 9 a.m. sharp and except for an hour lunch break, continued until 5 p.m. Alfa Romeo race cars populated many of the heats. In some cases the Alfas were competing with similar-sized cars (MGs, Datsuns, Fiats, Triumphs, etc.), but there were also races which consisted solely of Alfa Romeos. Historic Trans-Am cars also raced, and it was fun to watch the pony cars of my teenage years on the track. Mustangs, Camaros, Javelins, Cougars, and Challengers did their best to outperform each other. When they were new, the adage “race on Sunday, sell on Monday” was thought to motivate car sales for stock versions of the winning models.

There was a driver’s meeting at 11:30 for the parade laps. Cars were broken into groups based on make and model. All the Alfas went out at the same time, led by an Aston Martin DBX pace car. We were strictly told not to do any passing, and a little to my surprise, everyone behaved. We did three laps, and I, who has never driven on a race track before, managed to keep the shiny side up!

After the parade lap, it was back to race-watching. Around 4:30 p.m. we decided to head to our cars for the ride home, and after brilliant sunshine all day, that’s when a black cloud stalled over the track. A heavy rain shower quickly soaked us, and on top of that, my car windows were open. I got to my car only to see that the windows were up! A young woman came over, practically crying. “I’m so sorry I touched your car, but I saw the windows down and I didn’t want the inside to get wet so I rolled them up. I’m so sorry!” I profusely thanked her and said that I greatly appreciated her concern. Once inside the car, I waited five minutes and of course the rain stopped.

The photos below are broken out by event type.

CAR CORRAL

Some Porsches got mixed in with our Alfas

RACING

PARADE LAPS

Thanks to Paul Mitchell, who snapped these shots from the passenger seat while I drove!

Alfa Romeo Cars and Owners in Abundance at Lime Rock’s Historic Festival 44!

September 7, 2026 RichardReina Alfa Romeo GT 1300 Jr., Car shows, Events, Uncategorized Historic Festival 44, Lime Rock Park, Revs Institute, Sunday in the Park

“Overwhelmed” was the word that came to my mind all weekend as I participated in the 44th annual Labor Day Historic Festival at Lime Rock Park in Salisbury, CT. This year, the featured marque was Alfa Romeo, and the turnout of cars and Alfisti (their enthusiastic owners) was indeed overwhelming.

Some brief background: as a member of the New Jersey chapter of AROC (the Alfa Romeo Owners Club), I was one of many fellow AROC members invited to participate in several Zoom calls with Lime Rock officials. They requested our assistance in promoting this event to our chapter members, and we obliged, to the point where several Concours classes and weekend events were sold out, disappointing a number of AROC members.

Thanks to the resourcefulness of fellow NJ chapter members Denise and Tony Patullo, ten of us shared an Air B&B for three nights. With the minor exception of a steep gravel driveway, this worked out very well for all of us. The house had four bedrooms, a well-equipped kitchen, and was a five-minute drive from Lime Rock Park’s front gate. We arrived late on Friday afternoon, but did not attend any events that day. Saturday was one of the race days, and the weather mostly cooperated, allowing us time to relax and watch the cars, including many Alfas, fly around the track. During the lunch break, several of us drove parade laps around the 1.6 mile track. The “Sunday in the Park” car show included six Alfa-specific Concours classes, special collector displays, and the Gathering of the Marques. By my count, there were 45 Alfas in the Concours classes, 40 racing Alfas, 25 special display Alfas, and close to 100 in the Gathering of the Marques, totaling 210 Alfa Romeo vehicles! The weekend was so overwhelming (there’s that word again) that I will break things out into separate blog entries, starting with Sunday’s Concours.

The six Alfa Romeo classes were Class 2, Spiders (convertibles); Class 7, Modified; Class 8, Fuoriserie (customs or limited production); Class 9, Berline (sedans); Class 10, Sport and Competition; and Class 11, Berlinette (coupes). My 1967 GT 1300 Junior was in Class 11, as was the 1967 Giulia Sprint GT belonging to Vic and Gail Cerami, who were sharing the Air B&B with us. All the display cars were gorgeous, and each had a unique history behind it. Judging started early, and a team of two were at my car before 9 a.m. After inquiring about the history of my car, they performed a brief mechanical evaluation, asking me to start the engine and demonstrate the exterior lighting.

I was relieved that the judging was completed early, as that freed me to wander the track and see the rest of the field. About two hours later, fellow NJ AROC member Bob Cooley saw me and said, “there’s a ribbon on your windshield!” I hurried back to find both a red ribbon and a small box on the driver’s seat. The red ribbon meant that I was one of two cars awarded the “Star of the Rock” trophy, roughly equivalent to Honorable Mention. The box contained a small plexiglass trophy. (A blue ribbon indicates “Best in Class” which I believe went to a Giulietta Sprint.) Frankly I was shocked, because as I told the judges, my car usually does not do well against restored cars; my car is unrestored and the paint shows it, so I was especially pleased that they recognized it nevertheless. Vic and Gail Cerami’s car, parked next to mine, won a more prestigious award: Best Restored Car. It was fun to have two award winners within the NJ-AROC, and we celebrated with drinks and food at a local Mexican restaurant.

I’ve been attending the Sunday in the Park show long enough to know that the various classes are extensive and varied. I did my best to cover much of the Concours field, but one downside to having my own car in the show is that it limited the amount of time I had to take in everything else. I think that next year, I’ll return to being “just” a spectator.

ALFA ROMEO COUPES (BERLINETTE)

Three 1967 Giulia coupes in a row: My green Junior flanked by white and red Giulia Sprints

ALFA ROMEO SEDANS

OTHER ALFA ROMEO CONCOURS CARS

The Alfa Romeo T33 Stradale is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful, if not the most beautiful, Alfa ever produced.

OTHER CONCOURS VEHICLES

There was a special display of Abarth vehicles

This Buick Riviera is the only American car I photographed all weekend

Ferrari 330 GTC, my all-time favorite Ferrari

A SAMPLING OF CARS FROM THE REVS INSTITUTE

Alfa Romeo Club Monthly Breakfast, August 16, 2026

August 29, 2026August 29, 2026 RichardReina Drives, Events AROC NJ Chapter, Town and Country Diner Bordentown NJ

The NJ Chapter of the Alfa Romeo Owners Club (AROC) continued its streak of monthly breakfast meetups when a group of members convened at the Town and Country Diner in Bordentown, NJ, on Sunday August 16, 2026. This was a new restaurant choice for us, and as I pulled into the parking lot, the large number of cars and trucks caused an initial concern about getting a table. My worry was unfounded, though, as the diner itself is huge.

My photos might cause you to think that we only invited red Alfa Romeos for this particular session (my green Junior was home as I drove up from the Jersey shore in modern iron, making Lee’s black 164 the sole exception). Still, we had an interesting variety of red cars: modern Giulias, both 2.0L and V6 Quadrifoglios; late ‘60s Spiders; and a 4C. The photo opportunities were ample.

Once inside, we had a roomy table, and the food and coffee was to our expected standards. Much of the morning conversation centered around the upcoming Lime Rock Park Historic Festival, to be held over Labor Day weekend. This year, the featured marque is Alfa Romeo, and the turnout is expected to be huge, helped in large part by the push provided by the various AROC Chapters.

As is our practice, the conversations continued in the lot post breakfast, until we finally bid a presto to one another by noon. A presto indeed, with Lime Rock just a few short weeks away.

ABOVE: Two Quads and a 2.0L. The Quads are identified by their cloverleaf badging and additional hood and fender scoops.

ABOVE: Paul’s Giulia, which is RWD

A New Hope “Star Car”: The Volvo 142E

August 24, 2026 RichardReina Car shows, Events New Hope Auto Show, Volvo 142E

The third and final “star car” of the 2026 New Hope Auto Show is this 1971 Volvo 142E. I first spotted the car from the rear as I circled the show and headed back to the Alfa Romeo class. A man, presumably the owner, was standing at the Volvo’s open trunk. I approached him and asked, “is this a ’71 142E?” When he replied in the affirmative, my next question was, “would you like to sell it to me?” He quickly countered with a “no,” but my question began a conversation about his ownership. He told me that he bought the car, perhaps ten years ago, after finding it advertised for sale on Long Island. He turned and handed me a copy of the VSA (Volvo Sports America) club magazine, for which he is the President. His name is Tony D’Agostino, and we had a pleasant chat about this car and Volvos in general.

Most people who desire a Volvo sports car gravitate to the 1800, produced as a two-door coupe and three-door hatchback from 1961 through 1973. They are attractive cars, and certainly look the part of “the sporty Swede.” However, the driver’s fit is tight, the steering can feel heavy, and outward visibility is limited. None of these deter the Volvo faithful from collecting them. I speak from some experience as I’ve driven plenty of them through the years. I’ve also driven the 1971 142E, which was a very special car. At that time, in addition to the 1800, Volvo produced the 140 series in three body styles: two-door sedan, four-door sedan, and station wagon. The 140 was Volvo’s bread and butter car, with a four-cylinder carbureted engine, a choice of manual or automatic, cloth seats, and a limited option list. For those who wanted more, the 164 four-door sedan included a six-cylinder engine, along with leather upholstery and metallic paint. By 1971, the 164 and 1800 had switched to fuel injection, while all the 140s stayed with carburetors. Well, almost all. The limited-edition 142E was the first 140 to offer Bosch D-Jetronic fuel injection, along with leather seats and metallic paint. The high-compression engine produced 130 HP, impressive for its time. Compared to the other 140s, the “E” was quicker, and also roomier than the 1800. I consider it to be one of the lost gems among old-school Volvos.

The 142E model rarely comes up for sale. I’ve been casually following the market, and most that do appear are in dire need of some restoration. While Tony didn’t reveal what he paid for the car, I vaguely remember an ad for one on Long Island several years back, with an asking price in the $20,000 range. Sounds expensive for a 140, but compared to what some 1800s fetch, for the right car, that price might be considered fair. The rarity alone. along with its outstanding condition, made Tony’s 1971 142E an easy pick for a star car at this show.