The 2026 Philadelphia Auto Show

February 4, 2026February 4, 2026 RichardReina Car shows, Events Philadelphia Auto Show

I made my way to Center City Philadelphia this week to attend the annual new car show, held as always in the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Fortunately, it’s only an hour’s drive (if traffic is behaving), and there are plenty of parking lots and garages in the immediate vicinity. The Philly show is on a much smaller scale than the NY show (which will be in April this year), and tends to be less crowded and more laid back than NY, and therefore more enjoyable. It’s been at least five or six years since I made my way to Philly for this one, and I’m glad I went. (I wrote a blog post about my 2012 visit to this show, which you can read here.)

There was a surprisingly good array of both domestic and import brands represented, but that observation deserves an asterisk. As I came to realize during my stroll, more than a few of these brands were supported not by the manufacturer, but by a local dealer. I cannot tell you with a high degree of certainly which were which, but if the size of the display were an indicator, I would conclude that Chevrolet, Ford, Toyota, Hyundai, Kia, Honda, and maybe Stellantis (Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/Ram/Fiat/Alfa Romeo) were manufacturer-sponsored, and Subaru, Nissan, Volkswagen, Cadillac, Tesla, and maybe Lincoln were dealer-sponsored. The two brands which I am 100% certain were dealer-sponsored, both because of the signage and my engagement with a salesperson, were Volvo and Polestar, with vehicles on site courtesy of Volvo/Polestar of Princeton, owned by the Long family.

Despite the turmoil in the news about electric vehicles and the loss of government incentives, consumer reluctance, and factory pullbacks, every brand at the show included EVs, some more prominently than others. First, you had pure EV makes like Polestar, Tesla, Fiat, and Lucid. Cadillac shocked me (no pun intended) when I learned that except for the CT5 sedan, every other vehicle they had on display was a pure EV (NOT hybrid). Obviously, the EV push is not going away.

Just as NY has done for the past several years, the main floor in the Convention Center included an EV test track, and show-goers could ride in the EV of their choice. While I didn’t take advantage of the opportunity, whenever someone mentions to me that they would “never” own an EV, my first question in response is, “but have you driven one?” Almost always, the answer is “no,” and it becomes difficult to reconcile the “never” answer when one hasn’t at least tried it. Shows like NY and Philly give you a free, no pressure chance to have the experience.

General and specific observations continue below, accompanied by photographs.

For a Tuesday afternoon, the show was well-attended, but not so crowded as to impede access to the cars.

The main aisle was cleverly carpeted with this highway-like stripe.

This was my first time seeing a pillar-to-pillar screen. It was so wide that I had to sit in the back seat to photograph it.

If a sea of silver, grey, and black bore you, McLaren offers these eye-searing shades.

SUBARU

The new Forester has grown to the size of the previous Outback

No one was near the RWD BRZ sports coupe which looks tiny next to its siblings

INEOS GRENADIER

These high-end SUVs and trucks have been advertised on TV, but aside from that, I know very little about them. This show was the first opportunity I’ve had to see them in person, and while I’m not a “truck guy” by any means, I could relate to their attractiveness for a certain clientele. Looking at the manufacturer’s website, the starting prices are lower than I expected, $62,995, which is competitive with many similar vehicles.

CADILLAC

The Optiq is the smallest of Cadillac’s EV SUV lineup (followed by the Lyriq, Vistiq, and Escalade IQ), and I found the exterior to be quite attractive. I especially liked the low height, giving it more of a station wagon profile. The AWD model starts at $56,195.

The Escalade IQ, by comparison, is grotesquely obscene. Photos do not adequately portray the gargantuan, gluttonous proportions of its hideousness. The only purpose this vehicle has in the marketplace is to call attention to itself and its ostentatious owner about its ability to cast its dark shadow onto every other vehicle on the road.

BUICK

With an MSRP starting under $25,000, the appeal of this good-looking Envista is easily understood. It looks to me like a well-designed cross between a car and a crossover. Take a look at that Monroney label as well: the engine and transmission are sourced from Mexico, 73% of its foreign parts come from Korea and China, and its final assembly point is in Korea, which help hold down the price.

THE Y-JOB

What an incredible surprise to see Harley Earl’s Y-Job in the metal. He unveiled it in 1938, and the public must have thought they were looking at a space ship. It still looks revolutionary today. Yet, it was mostly ignored by the show attendees.

ALFA ROMEO

Situated among its Stellantis cousins was a Tonale SUV, the only Alfa at the show. (Alfa showrooms also include the Giulia sedan and the larger SUV, the Stelvio.) The black paint did it no favors, as I find black cars at indoor car shows to mute the styling (as well as being a challenge to photograph). Still, at least Alfa was here.

FORD

The Bronco and Bronco Sport were the big story, highlighting some different color choices too.

POLESTAR

As mentioned above, it was the local dealer which populated the Polestar display, and it included the cleverly-named Polestar 1, 2, 3, and 4 models. All kidding aside, the 1 and 2 are out of production, and the cars on the floor were used cars for sale. (I thought the 2024 Polestar 2 with an asking price of $36,888 to be a bit of a bargain. I had one for a weekend, which you can read about here.) The new Polestars were the 3 and the 4. The 3 is the large SUV, but again, the black paint did nothing to accentuate its rather nice lines. The 4 is the controversial one, as it has no rear window, and the inside rear view mirror is a camera. From what I’ve read, drivers who wear glasses might struggle with a poorly defined depth of field. I must also ask: what happens when (sad to say, not “if,” but “when”) the mirror/camera goes on the blink and you no longer have any vision of what’s directly behind you?

Did AI write this? “Passenger doors rear left: Conventional left rear passenger door.”

Pre-owned 2024 Polestar 2 with 10,000 miles

This Polestar 4 has no ‘backlight’ (rear window)

The inside rear view mirror is really a camera. Here’s what you see.

THE AACA EXHIBIT

If tradition is any guide, I was expecting a display of classic cars at the Philly show, because they have been there during my previous visits. This year, with the AACA sponsoring what was billed as “Classic Blvd.,” it took over an entire hall separate from the new cars. I will guess that there were 40 to 50 classics on display, and about a third of those were Triumphs, sponsored by the Delaware Valley Triumph Club.

This Alfa Romeo Montreal was a special surprise:

The Triumphs:

Alfa’s National Magazine Again Publishes My Bologna Car Show Article

January 26, 2026 RichardReina Car shows, Ephemera, Events Alfa Owner magazine, AROC, Auto e Moto d'Epoca

The esteemed editors of the monthly Alfa Owner magazine, the official publication of the Alfa Romeo Owners Club (AROC), selected my article submission for publication in the magazine’s February 2026 edition. Similar to my article from 2025, the story summarized my visit from October of last year at the Auto e Moto d’Epoca, the annual classic car show in Bologna, Italy.

Although my numerous blog posts from the show (found here, here, and here) covered all Italian makes, my AROC story included only the Alfas, understandably so. Thirteen of my photos were included, and I am again honored by this decision. A special thanks must go to Elyse Barrett, managing editor, who worked so closely with me and provided wonderful editorial guidance, as she has for my previous articles.

The four pages from the article are scanned below.

Auto Mania: The Allentown, PA Flea Market, Jan. 16, 2026

January 18, 2026 RichardReina Car shows, Events Auto Mania

According to their website, Allentown, PA’s “Auto Mania” has been held since 1990. My earliest recollection of attending was in 1997, and I’ve gone back sporadically since then. As classic auto flea markets go, this may be the smallest one out there. (It is worth noting that a few years ago, Carlisle Events purchased Auto Mania, although to my eye, the only thing it changed was adding the Carlisle name to the signage.) Its primary function has been to serve as an excuse to get to a show during the winter. And that was the rationale for three of my besties and me to head there on Friday, January 16.

Thankfully, Larry noticed that the doors didn’t unlock until noon on Friday, so we met for a mid-morning breakfast, filled our bellies, and arrived at the Agri-Plex Expo Center around 12:15. We should not have been shocked at the sight, but we were: the line to get into the place snaked up and down in front of the building, so much so that we stood in the windy and chilly air for thirty minutes before setting foot inside. The place was packed with both vendors and spectators, and so our wandering along the aisles began.

This was only a small part of the entrance queue

This is billed as an indoor-only, all weather event, and 99% of the vendors are selling parts, not cars. Anticipating that I would find the typical piles of stuff that would not interest me, I was pleasantly surprised at the variety. Old books and maps, two of my weaknesses, were easily found. Although I didn’t make any purchases in these categories, it wasn’t for lack of trying. A map vendor had some very interesting NYC maps dating back to the 1940s, and I spent more than a few minutes poring over the choices, ultimately deciding that there weren’t any maps I desperately needed. My favorite vendor was the one who had many tables meticulously arranged with various tools, supplies, and hardware, and he ended his day $15 richer thanks to me.

This vendor, from whom I bought a few things, was busy all day

My three compatriots wandered the building on their own, while I took to strolling solo. I ran into five fellow AACA members, all doing the same thing I was: getting out of the house for a chance to enjoy the hobby inside a heated building. My travel companions and I reconvened around 3 p.m., and headed next door to the Allentown Farmer’s Market, where we found an open counter at a country-style luncheonette, and enjoyed a late afternoon meal. Having driven my own car there, we bid our farewells, and I was home before dark.

The show was mainly populated by older white men with gray hair

It’s nice to know that there is a January car show within an hour’s drive. Would I go every year? Not necessarily. A lot would depend on the weather, and my own level of desire to make the effort. But I enjoyed the day, and now I am even more anxious for April to arrive, so that I can welcome the unofficial start of the car show season.

One of the few cars there was this Datsun 280ZX being raffled off

This vendor had a make or model nameplate for almost every domestic vehicle made

Typical car show food was available, but we waited for better choices at the farmer’s market

AROC-NJ Monthly Breakfast meeting, Jan. 11, 2026

January 12, 2026 RichardReina Drives, Events AROC-NJ, Bernards Cafe

The cold January air did nothing to dissuade twelve Alfisti from meeting up at The Bernards Café in Bernardsville, NJ, for the New Jersey Alfa Club’s monthly breakfast meeting, held on Sunday, January 11, 2026. It was especially nice to see three spouses join the ranks, so a hearty Ciao to Denise, Margaretanne, and Suzanne. You are always welcome to join us!

I’ve always enjoyed this particular eatery, and the food and drink did not disappoint. In addition to the typical breakfast fare, there are interesting specials on the menu, and several of us took advantage of those choices. Because of the Café’s table arrangements, we were seated in two groups of six, and while we chitchatted about our favorite marque, my table also had an interesting and enlightening conversation about our numerous Italian ancestors.

We had four Alfa Romeos parked outside, and all four were modern Giulias, each one in a different color. To my eye, the car’s styling which debuted in this market in 2017 has remained fresh. (I write this while we anxiously await the next generation Giulia, due perhaps as soon as later this year.) We parted company around 11 a.m., already looking forward to next month’s breakfast meet.

The NJ Region AACA Annual Banquet, Jan. 4, 2026

January 6, 2026 RichardReina Events AACA NJ Region

Why do I belong to a car club? (I actually belong to five at the moment.) It has its disadvantages. There are dues to pay. Meetings to attend. Activities for which one is “volunteered.” Internal squabbles to irritate one’s nerves. I admit that there are times when some of these rear their ugly heads and make me think twice about my commitment. However, like many relationships, the pros can, and do, outweigh the cons. There are the events spent with like-minded people. The camaraderie. The availability of technical help. The feelings of accomplishment. The NJ Region of the AACA (Antique Automobile Club of America) had been a regular part of my life for over fifteen years, and overall, it’s been a great ride.

In addition to its monthly meetings, the Region has an annual banquet, held every January. Two major business items are on the agenda: the swearing in of our new officers (President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Membership Secretary), and the awarding of various trophies, certificates, and similar awards. Our 2026 banquet was held this past Sunday, January 4, at The Chandelier at Flanders Valley, a restaurant/catering hall that has been hosting us on a regular basis. A crowd of perhaps 70-80 members and guests enjoyed cocktails, appetizers, dinner, and dessert for a reduced price (the Region covered a percentage of the cost). Awards were handed out based on a member’s level of participation. For example, attending an activity results in earning points, and the top twelve earners are given a brass plaque.

Our 2026 officers (seated) are sworn in by our President Emeritus

Other awards are up to the discretion of a Board member or committee chairperson. Dick Bettle, who is editor-in-chief of The Road Map, our Region’s monthly newsletter, selects a person each year that he feels has made the largest contribution to the newsletter. I’m proud to say that for 2025, Dick chose me, because of my monthly column, “Rich’s Ramblings,” which I’ve been submitting to him for the past five plus years. I was given a trophy, and I was truly honored.

More importantly: the conclusion of awards meant that we could enjoy dessert and coffee! Seriously, I do enjoy my time with this bunch, even if I am one of the only members without an American car. (My Alfa has won its share of AACA trophies as well.) I wasn’t sure how to end this post, so, for the first time, and maybe the last time, I asked AI to write me a summary, and here it is:

Joining a classic car club can significantly enhance your enjoyment and understanding of vintage automobiles, while providing access to a vibrant community and valuable resources. However, it’s important to weigh the associated costs, commitments, and potential drawbacks to ensure the club aligns with your interests and lifestyle.

NJ-AROC monthly breakfast meet, Dec. 21, 2025

December 22, 2025 RichardReina Drives, Events

For the first time in my memory, a monthly breakfast gathering of the NJ Chapter of our Alfa Romeo Club was postponed due to weather. Sunday December 14 saw all of us awaken to the sight of around a half-dozen inches of snow, and the club wisely decided it prudent to wait a week. But the wait was worth it when ten NJ-AROC members made it to the B2Bistro Bar & Grill in Bordentown, NJ for our December meet and eat.

The Bistro doesn’t open until 9 a.m., and its menu is more of a brunch than a traditional diner type breakfast, but everyone found something satisfactory to order (the four-egg omelet was a popular choice). We had a nice mix of folks we see quite regularly combined with those who make the journey only occasionally, which is why we rotate the breakfast location.

My ’67 is in hibernation, as are some other members’ cars, so the only three Alfas in the parking lot were modern ones, but what a lovely lineup they made! Three Giulia sedans, each in a different color, were parked side-by-side. I may not be objective, but for a vehicle which debuted in 2017 and has not seen any significant design changes since, the Giulia shape has aged very well indeed. To my eye, Alfa got it correct right out of the box.

With Christmas and New Years on their way, the Alfa women and men bid arrivederci to 2025, as we anxiously await for the 2026 car show season to begin.

Yes, there are eight here, the final twosome showed up later….

The National Automobile Museum in Torino, Italy

November 24, 2025 RichardReina Events, museums Museo Nazionale Dell'Automobile, Torino Italy

When we were in Italy last month for the Auto e Moto d’Epoca, Bologna was not the only city we visited. We started our trip in Torino (Turin to you Americans), specifically because my brother-in-law and I have an old mutual friend, John, who has lived full-time in Torino for the past nine years or so. It was great having a local to show us the sights, and one of those sights was the Museo Nazionale Dell’Automobile (The National Automobile Museum). Before venturing over, John made a point of stating that the museum had enough history in it that he expected my wife and brother-in-law would still enjoy it, even though they are not exactly fanatical about automobiles, and I believe that they did.

When purchasing our tickets, a museum employee informed us that some sections of the place were temporarily closed for a changeover of exhibits. We agreed to enter anyway, and it was worth it. There was still plenty to see, and I was particularly taken with the effort made to display vehicles from a variety of countries, not just Italy. Signage was in Italian and English, which helped keep our interest.

Below are photos of some of the highlights of this museum. My belated thanks to John for directing us here, because I had never heard of this place before he suggested it!

1936 Fiat 500, better known as the Topolino

The Alfa Romeo with my all-time favorite model name, “Disco Volante” (flying saucer)

1948 Cisitalia, which was on display at the Museum of Modern Art in NY

The heft of this Buick wagon stood out against the European machines

This 1910 Renault was labeled “one of Paris’s most popular taxis”

I loved the sportiness of this 1908 REO Gentleman’s Roadster

1965 Alfa Romeo 2600 Spider, with a Duetto behind it

The BMW Isetta. Sharp-eyed readers will notice this is the European version, with different bumpers

Near the end of our visit, John delighted in showing me a large room where the entire floor was a map of the city of Torino. On the map were signs pinpointing the location of every automotive business concern that once was located in this city. You will undoubtedly recognize some of these famous firms, as I did, but I also admitted to John that there were many I had not heard of as well.

NJ Alfa Club Breakfast Meet, Oct. 12, 2025

November 17, 2025 RichardReina Alfa Romeo GT 1300 Jr., Drives, Events NJ-AROC, Spinning Wheel Diner

Last month, between my trip to Hershey in early October and jetting off to Italy in mid October, there was an Alfa Romeo Club breakfast that fell through the cracks! However, better late than never, so here is the post about the NJ-AROC monthly breakfast from Sunday, October 12, 2025.

We met at one of our regular haunts, the Spinning Wheel Diner on Route 22 in Lebanon, NJ. I didn’t even get a table shot, which always helps me obtain an accurate head count, but from the photos I have, it looks like we had seven Alfisti plus one guest, my friend Doug from the NJ-AACA. He had been expressing interest in Alfa Spiders to me, so I invited him to join us for the morning, which he gladly did.

After breakfast, we did our usual hanging around in the parking lot. Jeff’s Spider was the only one there, so with Doug, that’s the car that got our attention. I sat in it and marveled at the seats, much more supportive with their more aggressive side bolsters than in an earlier car like mine. This group of Jersey guys are always great to spend time with, which makes me doubly glad that as a club, we have been able to keep to our monthly breakfast meets.

Jeff’s Spider got all the love that morning:

And Bill kept pointing his finger at people:

NJ Alfa Club Breakfast Meet, Nov. 9, 2025

November 10, 2025 RichardReina Drives, Events Americana Diner, NJ-AROC

Members of the New Jersey Chapter of the Alfa Romeo Owners Club got together on Sunday November 9^th, 2025, for our monthly breakfast meetup. The Americana Diner in Shrewsbury, NJ again played host for the thirteen intrepid Alfisti who braved changeable skies and the ever-present threat of rain. But the promise of fresh griddle cakes, hot coffee, and conversation about Italian cars will get us up and out of the house, no matter the time or temperature.

We had a particularly nice variety of Milanese macchine this time around, with Lee’s GTV6 (a model we seem to rarely see), Dave’s new-to-him ’71 GTV, Alex’s always-impressive Duetto (on which he bravely kept the top down through breakfast) and several moderns, including three Stelvios and a Guilia Quadrifoglio. The thirteen of us were crammed around a table for ten, but we made it work. Our waitress did an exemplary job keeping us plied with food and drink, and as is the custom, after breakfast we spilled out into the parking lot where we continued the conversations.

Yes, there’s 12 here; Frank stepped away.

We finally bid ciao around 11 a.m. and headed home. Our Chapter has, in my humble opinion, done an outstanding job keeping the monthly breakfast tradition alive, and rotating the location among several diners throughout the state also helps bring out members who might not otherwise be able to make a longer drive. With the holiday season approaching, I’m certain that we’ll still find the time (and the room in our bellies) for a December breakfast.

Lee’s GTV6:

Dave’s GTV:

And the rest:

Vendors and Car Clubs at the 2025 Auto e Moto d’Epoca

November 7, 2025November 7, 2025 RichardReina Car shows, Events 30, Auto e Moto d'Epoca, BolognaFiere

THE VENDORS

Spare parts vendors were a big part of this year’s Auto e Moto d’Epoca, taking up approximately 20% of the available floor space at the BolognaFiere. When I write “spare parts vendors,” I am including businesses selling everything from original-equipment replacement items to performance components, clothing, books, magazines, scale models, and lots of automobilia (collectibles like signs, oil cans, gas cans, advertising material, toys, etc.). The photographs below highlight some of the more interesting vendors I visited during my romp through Building #30.

Alfa parts vendors were aplenty, which was no surprise given our location:

Note the orange-and-black NOS Alfa parts boxes

MyAlfaGroup was a vendor I utilized for some small items last year, and again this year:

If you needed new keys cut, this vendor stocked plenty of key blanks:

Several upholstery vendors were on hand. While my car does not need upholstery work, I thought it would be a good idea to gather some intelligence for future reference. Looking at the upholstery job in this Maserati, I was impressed. The company name was Commerciale MediciStyle, and I gave my contact info to the young woman behind the counter, who followed up with an email to me. BTW, her name was Giulia!

Here was another upholstery vendor who looked like they had interesting things:

Are you out of room for the full-size items? Scale models take up much less space:

If you want to relive your boyhood and purchase a kit for assembly, this vendor had one for a 1955 Alfa Giulietta Spider. And it was only $265!

This body shop was demonstrating its glass-out approach to a complete paint job:

I must give a joyous shout-out to D’Angelo Motors. I remember this vendor well from last year. They make performance parts for the classic Fiat 500, offering everything from bolt-on suspension components to major engine overhauls to outrageous resto-mods. This year, they also hosted my new artist friend Ada Gambino, who was the subject of a recent previous post.

Me and my new friend Marco (and dig the ‘stache)

This 500 had a complete air suspension, allowing it to be raised or lowered by several inches:

THE CAR CLUBS

Car clubs (along with organizations, teams, and museums) occupied four of the sixteen buildings, so their presence was significant. Unlike in the U.S. , where we mostly have car clubs devoted to one manufacturer (with exceptions, of course, like the Mustang Club), in Italy, it is quite typical to see car clubs devoted to a single model. For example, for Fiat, there were clubs solely for the 124 Spider, the Barchetta, the X1/9, the 127, and the Ritmo. For Alfa Romeo, I spotted car clubs for the Duetto and the 916. Lancia had a club just for cars with boxer engines! The photos below illustrate these examples.