Cars For Sale at the 2026 Auto e Moto d’Epoca

November 1, 2026 RichardReina Car shows, Events Auto e Moto d'Epoca

As was observed during my 2024 and 2025 visits to the Auto e Moto d’Epoca, about 75% of the 2026 show’s floor space was dedicated to cars for sale, and it was no surprise that Italian makes dominated the brands. Below is a small sampling of cars which were of interest to me. This year, the exchange rate was slightly more favorable for us Americans; figure on taking the Euro amount and adding about 10%. Note that these are asking prices, and not transaction prices. Bringing one of these treasures back to our shores would likely involve another $3,000 – $5,000 for logistics and shipping, and I have no idea what impact the current tariff situation would have on one’s final out-of-pocket expense. But hey, it’s fun to dream…..

1996 Alfa Romeo Spider, Twin-cam 4 cyl, Euro 14,900

1967 Abarth 1300 SS Scorpione, Euro 75,000

1967 Lancia Flavia Sport Zagato, Euro 64,000

1972 Alfa Romeo Junior Zagato, Euro 39,900

1957 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint, Euro 60,000

1963 Alfa Romeo 2600 Spider, Euro 164,900

1960 Lancia Appia Sport GTE Zagato, Euro 135,000

1963 Alfa Romeo Giulia Spider, Euro 79,000

1975 Fiat 124 Abarth Spider, Euro 107,000

1969 Alfa Romeo Duetto Junior, Euro 57,000

The 2026 Auto e Moto d’Epoca in Bologna, Italy

October 31, 2026 RichardReina Car shows, Events Auto e Moto d'Epoca

With some advance planning (and a little luck), travel from the U.S. to a European country like Italy can be surprisingly straightforward. For this year’s third consecutive visit to the Auto e Moto d’Epoca in Bologna, I purchased my flight tickets and secured my hotel reservations months in advance. We live only a forty-five-minute car ride from Newark airport, so my wife dropped me off around 2:30 p.m. on Monday October 19, sparing me the hassle of driving and parking. Clearing the security checkpoint took about fifteen minutes, and it took longer than expected to find the gate for my United flight, but I was seated at the gate in plenty of time for a 6:30 p.m. departure.

In each building, the cars are parked bumper to bumper

While I waited, I bought a sandwich and a drink as I was not intending to eat during the flight. I paid United an extra $169 for a seat in an emergency exit row, planning to use the extra legroom to stretch out and sleep. Before we began taxiing, I befriended my stewardess and told her not to wake me up for any meals! I donned blindfolds and managed to get perhaps four hours of shuteye. The nonstop flight to Milano arrived as scheduled at 7:30 a.m. local time. A ten-euro bus ticket brought me to Milano’s train station in about an hour. My hotel said they would gladly store my suitcase until the 2 p.m. check-in time. I sat in the lobby and waited for my high school classmate and good friend John Rasiej, who lives in Torino. He took the train and met me at the hotel around 10 a.m.

A Ferrari Daytona was featured in a hall dedicated to race cars

I told John that he could help keep me awake! We walked around Milano a bit, grabbed lunch, stopped for coffee, and as always, found plenty to chat about. John generously gave me his entire day, which I greatly appreciated. He headed back to Torino later in the afternoon, at which time I checked in, had dinner, and hit the hay. My plan was to spend one night in Milano to adjust to the six-hour time difference, then board the train to Bologna the following morning.

The show features mostly, but not exclusively, Italian machinery

The hotel was an easy ten-minute walk to Milano’s Central Train Station. I bought a one-way ticket for the high-speed train to Bologna, and arrived at the AC Marriott hotel at 2 p.m., just in time to check in. I’ve stayed at this Marriott during all three visits, and I’ve gotten to know the area well. After dinner, it was another early-to-bed evening, as I planned to arrive at the BolognaFiere exhibition hall the next morning close to their 9 a.m. opening time.

Thursday was opening day, and the crowd seemed lighter to me than it had in the previous two years. Still, there were plenty of spectators, and the show organizers were ready for us. Thirteen separate buildings housed over 5,000 cars and motorcycles. Most of them were for sale, and most of those were brought in by vendors. A small number were offered by private individuals. Several buildings featured cars brought to the show by car clubs, organizations, and vehicle manufacturers. One large building was dedicated to the sale of parts, accessories, and automotive memorabilia.

You need to be able to hoof it if you want to see the entire show. My pedometer app shows that I walked between 14,000 and 16,000 steps each day from Thursday through Saturday. It was more crowded on Friday, and was so jammed on Saturday that at times it was difficult to move around. Saturday is also “car club day,” and several hundred privately owned cars arrived and arranged themselves outside on the paved walkways between buildings. The sunny and temperate climate helped make that part of the event especially enjoyable. Even though I had prepaid for a four-day ticket, I was able to take it all in over three full days. My third annual visit to the Auto e Moto d’Epoca was another wonderful immersion in Italian classic car culture. After this, though, I told myself I’m taking a break. Let’s see if I’m true to my word when the 2027 event rolls around!

What’s a car show without car show ladies?

Upcoming blog posts will focus on cars for sale, car clubs, and a very special and unexpected conversation with two Alfa Romeo executives.

NJ Alfa Romeo Club Fall Tour, Oct. 18, 2026

October 19, 2026 RichardReina Drives, Events NJ-AROC

It was a beautiful autumn day yesterday, Sunday October 18, 2026, which helped explain the tremendous turnout that the NJ Chapter of the Alfa Romeo Owners Club enjoyed for its annual fall tour. Twenty-three attendees in fourteen cars joined the drive, which originated in Bedminster, NJ, stopped at High Point State Park (NJ’s highest point) and concluded with lunch at The Outpost restaurant in Pond Eddy, NY.

As is typical at an Alfa event, there was a wide range of vehicles including Spiders from generations 1, 2, and 4; two Mliano sedans; and modern Alfas including several Giulias, a Stelvio, a Tonale, and a 4C. It was also especially nice that we were joined by a few newcomers to the club, who are always welcome.

The big thanks goes to Bill D, our Chapter’s event coordinator, ably assisted by Gene and Tony, who planned the route. This time of year in NJ is perfect for viewing the fall foliage, and we got to see plenty of it!

AACA Hershey 2026: The Car Show

October 11, 2026 RichardReina Car shows, Events AACA Hershey

You’ve now read about the Car Corral and the RM/Sotheby’s auction, both huge elements of AACA’s Fall Hershey meet (and that’s not to mention the Flea Market, which I did not tour this year). But the event’s raison d’être is the judged car show, only eligible to vehicles meeting AACA’s class categories (twenty-five years old and older, and in stock, unmodified condition). It has always been held on the show’s final day, which for decades was Saturday, until Hersheypark requested its move to Friday.

This spectacular nineteen-aught-something Ford greeted you at the show field’s entrance.

And while it’s a rain-or-shine event, wet weather keeps the cars and the spectators home. Thankfully, the last several years have been rewarded with glorious sunny and mild days. Social media reports estimate that there were over 1,000 show vehicles on the ground, and after walking the field, I have no reason to doubt that.

Fire extinguishers are required, even for fire trucks!

I’m always drawn to the rare, unique, and unusual cars at Hershey, and my photos below reflect that. What’s nice about AACA’s classes is that the cars are organized by class, so if you want to see Mustangs, they’re grouped together, as are Volkswagens, Ford Model Ts, brass-era cars, and high-performance vehicles. The field is relatively flat, making it less of an effort to hike its large expanse. I arrived at 9 a.m. this year and covered what I wanted to see in about three hours. It was a most pleasant way to end my annual visit to Hershey.

SIDEBAR: Dave and his 1955 Thunderbird (again)

Way back in 2021, at the Saratoga Springs, NY AACA Nationals, I met Dave Berkey who was there with his 1955 Thunderbird, and featured him in this blog post. A short while later, Dave found out about it, contacted me, and we have been friends ever since.

Dave and his beautiful ‘bird were again at an AACA show, this time, Hershey 2026. He delighted in bringing me up to speed with stories about his car at shows like Greenbrier and the Audrain Museum (where just a few weeks ago his car was awarded “Best American Car 1945-1960”).

To my eye, his ’55 looks at good as it did when I first saw it five years ago, a testament to the care he’s lavished on it. Among a sea of Baby Birds, which are plentiful at any AACA show, Dave’s car continues to stand out!

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.