NJ AACA Holds Car Show at Somerset Patriots Ballpark

July 10, 2016 RichardReina Alfa Romeo GT 1300 Jr., Car shows, Events Collector Car Appreciation Day, NJ Region AACA, SEMA, Somerset Patriots, Street Dreams Car Club, TD Bank Ballpark

**Display cars in the parking lot, with TD Bank Ballpark in the backgroud**

Friday, July 8, 2016 was Collector Car Appreciation Day in the U.S., the seventh year in a row that such a date was recognized. The date was designated as per a U.S. Senate resolution which was passed with the support of various auto hobby lobbying groups, most notably SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association).

As part of this celebration, the New Jersey Region of the AACA (Antique Automobile Club of America) co-sponsored a car show held in the parking lot of the TD Bank Ballpark, the home stadium in Bridgewater NJ for the Somerset Patriots baseball team. This show was held on Sunday, July 10, 2016.

**Another view of the cars on display.**

Turnout among NJ AACA members was impressive, with 20 cars from the club on display. The Street Dreams Car Club had also been invited to participate. Their cars and trucks leaned toward newer and /or modified, but not exclusively so. In total, there were close to 50 vehicles in the show. Ballpark employees roped and coned off a section of the lot, allowing us to park together, and game spectators meandered the aisles, enjoying the vehicular variety.

**The Street Dreams club cars were mostly at the other end of the lot.**

The parking lot show started at 3pm, and the ball game was scheduled to begin at 5pm. Around 4 o’clock, word went out that we all should start our cars and get into a queue near the back of the lot. A large gate swung open, and every show car was allowed to drive one parade lap completely around the field’s warning track. This Alfa Romeo owner had his wife, step-son, and two granddaughters in the car (FIVE occupants, a world record), and we thoroughly enjoyed the chance to see the ballpark from the vantage point of a vintage automobile.

**A true family affair. Yes, we all fit into the little Italian job.**

At the conclusion of the parade lap, we all returned to the parking lot, and most of us entered the stadium to enjoy a little baseball. This was the first time that the NJ AACA helped conduct such an event, and I understand that the club has already decided to make this an annual occurrence.

A ’64 T-Bird, one of the last of the so-called collectible Birds.

This ’66 Mustang is a 1st generation car.

But by ’73, it was yet another size larger.

Older FoMoCo cars included this ’50 Ford

The styling similarity between the '50 Merc and the '52 Hornet is obvious from the rear. — **The styling similarity between the ’50 Mercury and ’52 Hornet is obvious from the rear.**

This 53 Cadillac is huge from any angle.

It looks especially wide from the front.

In length, it takes up more than a modern parking spot.

The owner of this '56 DeSoto has a sense of humor (but it really does have a Hemi). — **The owner of this ’56 DeSoto has a sense of humor (but it really does have a Hemi).**

The author's 1967 Alfa Romeo was the only non-American car in the show. — **The author’s 1967 Alfa Romeo was the only non-American car in the show.**

**Ballplayer enjoys his view of the show.**

Water boy waits for 'Bird. — **Water boy waits for ‘Bird.**

The 2016 NJ AACA Car Show

May 2, 2016 RichardReina Car shows, Events AACA, car shows, Mennen Arena, Morristown NJ, NJ Region AACA

The New Jersey Region of the Antique Automobile Club of America (NJ AACA) held its annual car show at the Mennen Arena in Morristown NJ on Sunday, May 1, 2016. Compared to previous events, this year’s affair was unique in several ways: this was the first time that this location was utilized, as the venue which had been used for the previous 40+ years in Florham Park NJ was unavailable; and the turnout this year was the smallest your author has ever observed.

Yes, this was the NJ Region's 65th show — **Yes, this was the NJ Region’s 65th show**

The reason why 30 vehicles instead of the expected 200+ vehicles were in attendance had nothing to do with the location, and everything to do with the weather. The NJ AACA maintains a strict “rain or shine” show policy, but a steady series of showers combined with temperatures parked in the mid-40s kept entrants and spectators away in droves.

This '30 Model A was one of the very few pre-war cars out to brave the elements — **This ’30 Model A was one of the very few pre-war cars out to brave the elements**

Nevertheless, vehicles did arrive, even if for the most part they were owned by club members. An advantage for those whose cars were to be judged is that no class had more than 4 vehicles in it (some had 2), and with 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd place prizes to be awarded, your chance of winning went up exponentially.

A trio immediate post-war iron: 2 Mercs and a Hudson — **A trio of immediate post-war iron: 2 Mercurys and a Hudson**

Below is a sample of the fine machinery, both domestic and imported, which graced the show field. A trend which has been noticed on the National level was also found at this event: as AACA’s “25-year” rule continues in effect, the inclusion of unrestored and/or original-owner cars is growing, reinforced by vehicles which were considered collectible when new and were salted away (think Eldorado, Fiero, Beetle convertible, and anything first-year, last-year, or commemorative edition).

General Motors

A rarely-seen 1957 Chevy 150; note different side trim

**This Fiero was displayed in unrestored condition by its original owner**

This Eldorado in its period green had matching dash & steering wheel

Bill Mitchell’s last hurrah: a bustle-back Cadillac Seville

FoMoCo

A 1938 Ford convertible sedan, a soon-to-be-extinct bodystyle

Eighteen years later you could get this 2-tone ’56

The 1957 T-Bird was the last of the two-seaters

Twelve years later, muscle cars like this ’69 Mach I were the rage

This first-year ’67 Cougar was original except for one quarter panel repaint

By the late 1980s, the Cougar nameplate was on a larger platform shared with the T-Bird

Jeep

Italian

The Montreal has a V8 engine, and was never officially imported into the U.S.

This unrestored car has no B-pillar and rear-hinged back doors

The 2016 NY Auto Show

April 3, 2016April 3, 2016 RichardReina Car shows, Events Acura NSX, Alfa Romeo 4C, Alfa Romeo Giulia, Buick Avista, Fiat 124 Spider, Ford GT, Jacob Javits Center, Mazda MX-5 RF concept, New York Car Show, Trans Am, Volvo 1800, Volvo S90, VW Budd-e concept

The 2016 edition of the New York International Auto Show was held in the Jacob Javits Center on Manhattan’s west side, where it has been since 1987. As has been the custom, the show is run during Easter week, to give those who might be free for spring break a chance to see the show. Your author attended on Sunday, April 3, 2016, the final day the show was open to the public.

This was a car show, not an airplane show (but that's an impressive wing) — **This was a car show, not an airplane show (but that’s an impressive wing)**

If you’re expecting coverage of all the world- and North American premieres, look online. If you’re hoping to read about the new luxo-barge SUVs which were at the show (Maserati Levante, Bentley Bentayga, and Jaguar F-Pace), read the Robb Report. The only rhyme or reason to the vehicles I’ve written about below is that something attracted me to them. In some cases, I own or have owned similar cars. As an enthusiast, I tend to want to write about vehicles I’d like to drive. I also found myself drawn to vehicles which looked so much better in person compared to the photos I had seen (Alfa, Fiat, Buick, Ford, Volvo).

**This was a car show, not a music show (but it was a clever way to display color choices)**

Whether or not you were able to attend this year’s show, here’s hoping that you enjoy the report. As always, comments are welcome!

FIAT

The star on the Fiat stand was the new 124 Spider, due to go on sale later this year. Most know that the 124 shares its platform and interior with the new, 4^th generation Mazda MX-5 Miata. The Fiat has unique sheetmetal, and uses an FCA 1.4L turbo engine. There were only two on display: an “Azzurro” first edition car, and a red/black Abarth. The Spider looks much better in person, and seeing it up close brought home the realization that it looks nothing like its Mazda sibling, other than the fact that they are both 2-door convertibles.

Interior, but for Fiat emblem, is identical to the MX-5

Tail lamps evoke original; trunk badge oddly placed

Trunk badge looks no better here, detracts from otherwise sharp looks

TRANS-AM

Someone has cleverly taken the current Chevrolet Camaro and tacked on Pontiac front and rear fascia, creating a new “Trans-Am”. Wait a minute – isn’t this what GM did in ’67? Based on the large number of young men with cellphone cameras swarming all other these things, this concept may prove to be a success.

FORD GT

Perhaps it’s the color, as the first photos I saw of the new Ford GT were of a blue car, a color which has never appealed to me as an automotive shade. The NY car was in screaming chrome yellow; high impact is an understatement. As the cliché goes, if you need to ask the price, then you can’t afford it. Cost doesn’t matter – if you must have one and have the bucks, then there is nothing else on the road like it. No current Ferrari, Lambo, Bentley, etc., makes the visual statement that the new GT does.

Overheard: “I don’t like yellow, but I could look at this all day”

VW BUDD-e

This microbus of the future is what, Volkswagen’s 4^th concept along these lines? The Budd-e (how do you pronounce it, “buddy”?) is an all-electric concept that looks quite cool in person. No details were captured regarding its powertrain. You weren’t expecting a diesel, were you?

Front end looks like it could meet crash standards, unlike earlier concepts

Lots of room, helped by electric powertrain

BUICK AVISTA

If you told me 20 years ago that Buick would have one of the most significant and gorgeous concepts at the auto show, I might have said, “oh sure, what are you going to tell me next, that they’re going to axe Pontiac?” But the Avista is that stunning. Like a number of cars seen at the show today, photos just don’t do justice to its flowing lines and perfect proportions. It’s a two-door, pillarless hardtop, rear-drive sport-luxury car for the 21^st century.

Photos don’t capture the stunning proportions

MAZDA MX-5 “RF” CONCEPT

Another vehicle that did not impress in photos, but looks better in person, the “RF” (retractable fastback) is not a true convertible. Once you understand that, the concept makes more sense. The roof panel above the occupants electrically folds up and down, while the flying buttress pillars temporarily raise themselves to allow access for the panel. Once everything stops, those pillars are always in place (I had thought that they retracted). If you’re willing to give up the full convertible treatment for lots of style, then this is for you. If Mazda decides to build it.

Top in process of being lowered; buttresses lift

VOLVO

My former employer surprised me by having the new S90 sedan at the show. The rear end treatment, polarizing in pictures, looked softer and more integrated in person. Volvo cleverly displayed not one but two 1800 coupes, one white and one blue, high above the ground. And what other automaker would think to display an elk at an auto show?

Tail lamp treatment looks better in person

Side marker lights make this a ’68 or newer

You'd call it a moose; the Swedes call it an elk — **You’d call it a moose; the Swedes call it an elk**

ALFA ROMEO

My current crush, if only because a ’67 Alfa GT Junior happily resides in my garage, Alfa is making a long, drawn-out comeback to the U.S. market. There was but one 4C on display, next to a former race car (Tipo 33? I saw no info about it).

The “stars” on the Alfa stand were the Giulia sedans, with absolutely no information about the cars out for show-goers to gather. (The one handout was a list of dealers in the metro NY/NJ area. I saw numerous attendees pick it up, glance at it, and put it back down. Sergio, are you listening?) I asked one woman working the display about timing and pricing, and she curtly answered: “later this year, $40 thousand range”. Gee, thanks.

In the metal, the Giulia 4-door has a more purposeful, athletic look. The car is “tight”, with short overhangs, and looks smaller in person (in a good way) than in photos. Seen up close, it does not resemble a BMW sedan, which was the initial reaction.

**The back end of the new Alfa Romeo Giulia sedan**

To Alfa’s credit, there was a plethora of historical information there, from a racing timeline, to displays of components from cars of the 1950s and ‘60s. The question is whether all this talk about the past will cause people to open their wallets in the showroom.

ACURA NSX

If the Ford GT hadn’t been there, the new Acura might be the supercar of the show. But compared to its Dearborn rival, the 2^nd generation NSX was, well, just OK. Perhaps it’s the front end, which doesn’t look that different than most other new Acuras….

ODDS AND ENDS

There was a small display of cars from a classic car museum. Was there a better-looking pre-war front end than the one on a 1940 Ford?

Everyone wants a distinctive front end. A grille that stands out is one way to do it. Used to be, the grille also had to be good-looking. Seems like now it only needs to be “unique”. (I cannot bring myself to photograph the grilles on any current Lexus models.)

What we’ve been getting used to (from Audi)

This M-B grille reminds me of a ’58 Buick (not a compliment)

The NY Police Department had a large historical display of police cars, stretching back to a 1958 Ford. It was well done, and interest in “professional cars” as part of the old car hobby continues to grow.

**What you did not want to see in your rear view mirror in 1966**

GOOD HUMOR

Just plain fun – a collector vehicle AND a part-time job!

G. Potter King Atlantic City Car Show Report, 2016

February 28, 2016 RichardReina Auctions, Car shows, Events Atlantic City car show, automotive swap meet, car corral, classic car auctions, G. Potter King

The pushers move a VW Beetle off the block an past the TV screen. — **The pushers move a VW Beetle off the block. This one was a no-sale at $4,250.**

G. Potter King (GPK) again hosted its winter edition car show in the Atlantic City Convention Center during the last weekend of February. The event features an auction, a car corral, and a swap meet, all of which comfortably fit inside the cavernous hall. One of the main attractions of this show is that it is mostly impervious to the weather, and so gives us hobbyists a chance to relieve our cabin fever.

**The swap meet had the usual mix of old and new stuff to tempt us all.**

This year, similar to what we observed in 2015, the number of consignments seemed to continue to be on the decrease. The car corral in particular had enough empty space for an additional 20 or 25 cars. The auction side of the building was a bit more occupied, yet still could have held a few more cars.

**The car corral again included plenty of dealers showing new and classic iron.**

For the third time in the last 5 years, GPK rearranged the auction stage and seating. This time, the flow of cars on and off the block seemed better integrated, and seating for non-bidders (like me) was more readily available. One downside to the new set-up was the lack of airflow. Non-catalyzed vehicles emitting exhaust fumes in an enclosed space eventually gets to you. There needs to be a way to move more fresh air through the grandstands.

**The view of the auction block from the grandstand.**

Having attended auctions hosted by Mecum, RM, Bonhams, Auctions America, and Carlisle, it’s frustrating to see that GPK still could improve their auction block screen shots. This year, they took a step in the right direction by superimposing the lot number, vehicle year and make, and current bid onto the TV image. But the wording was not always easy to read, and often, the bidding on screen far lagged the real-time bidding. Mr. King, a suggestion: watch Mecum to see how it’s done.

**If old cars bore you, gaze upon this row of new C7 Corvettes.**

The show was helped by a decent weekend of dry and sunny weather in southern New Jersey. There were 100 or more early birds who were waiting for the doors to open at 9 a.m. Foot traffic was plenty strong, and the bidders area directly in front of the auction stand was almost filled to capacity. Nevertheless, the sell-through rate, or, the percentage of cars actually meeting reserve and moving to new owners, appeared to hover around 50-60%. This is due to some combination of unrealistic reserves, poor quality offerings, or not the right bidders in the room.

Car show food is overpriced and doesn't taste great. We walk 5 minutes to the AC train station in the same building for great food at Esquire's. — **Car show food is overpriced and doesn’t taste great. We walked 5 minutes to the AC train station in the same building for great food at Esquire’s.**

It says a lot about an auction company which can attract quality consignments, get sellers to agree to reasonable reserves, and then draw hungry bidders into the process. It may look easy from the outside, but it’s not. The Arizona auctions in January indicated some slight softening of the market, which didn’t help here. But we did see some cars change hands. Below are details on a random sampling of cars which caught our interest from both the auction and the car corral. (“CPI” values are from the author’s copy of the Jan.-Feb. 2016 edition of the classic car price guide Cars of Particular Interest.)

AUCTION CARS

Lot #1542, 1995 Jaguar XJS convertible, champagne, brown cloth top, glass rear window, tan interior, 86,900 miles. Car looks very nice from the outside. Some driver’s seat bolster wear, otherwise clean interior. 6 cylinder, automatic, nice alloy wheels, paint looks great except for repainted passenger door (but it’s hardly noticeable). Sign on the dash said “not sold on Friday, but for sale at asking price of $9,500”. Online, the car was reported sold for $8,000. CPI values the car between $10,250 (#3) and $17,425 (#2). We would rate is at 3+ and call it very well bought.

Lot #1712, 1986 Corvette coupe, silver/dark grey, red interior, automatic. Mileage is 109,073. Looks just OK on outside, red interior is very worn. Car offered at no reserve, hammer price was $3,400. We rate it a #4 car, and CPI rates a #4 car at $4,475. If it runs, passes state emissions, and doesn’t leak copious amounts of fluid, someone who just wants to have fun may have gotten a very good deal. As one buddy put it, “drive it for 10 years, then throw it away”.

Lot #1782, 1974 Jaguar E-type convertible, Series III with V12 engine, manual transmission, A/C, dark red with biscuit top and interior. Last year for the E-type. Owner claims 16,000 original miles, and also claims it was thoroughly restored. We didn’t see this one up close, but it did appear to be near a #2 condition car. CPI values a #2 car at $87,750, and this hammered sold at $85,000, so someone was willing to pay full boat for it.

At $85,000, the highest sale we saw on Saturday. — **At $85,000, this E-Type was the highest sale we saw on Saturday.**

Lot #1716, 1990 Suzuki “Every” mini-mini van. Right hand drive, 3-cylinder, 5-speed, factory air, 2,800 original miles. Sliding doors, 2 rows of seats, roomy looking interior. Tall, narrow box on 4 wheels. Everyone was all over this little thing, but it was declared no-sale at a reported high bid of $8,250. We hope it sells just so you can claim to be the only person in your state with one.

Lot #1783, 1965 Austin-Healey Mark III, inline 6, light blue over white paint, with dark blue leather interior. Chrome wire wheels, blackwall tires. Odometer reads 77,000. Car looks very clean overall, no blemishes outside or inside, but appears that restoration may have been done a few years ago. CPI rates a #3 car at $52,500 and a #2 car at $100,000, so that’s a huge spread, mostly defined by condition as there were few options. This one sold for $58,000 which was fair to buyer and seller.

Lot #1784, 1939 Packard, 4 door convertible sedan, black, off-white convertible top, dark red interior. Odometer reads 50,166. Whitewall tires, Packard hub caps, everything looks stock. The car gives off the vibe of a vehicle that was restored 20-30 years ago. It’s all there, and may run out well, but everything has the look and feel of a 20-year-old used car. Rare and unusual body style not seen much, where the B-pillar is removable for a full-open look when the top is down. Car hammered sold for $38,000, which may seem rich, but A) it’s a Packard, and B) try to find another convertible sedan in that price range. Join AACA and go on a tour.

Inside shot of B-pillar shows latches — **Inside shot of Packard B-pillar shows latches**

Lot #1755, 1956 BMW Isetta, bubble-window coupe, red/white, white sunroof, white vinyl interior. Restored to an acceptable cosmetic standard. Like most Isettas, interior not done to original style. Car has original ISO-designed side windows, as well as coveted “Z-molding” on the side. Every auction seems to have at least one Isetta. This one had shiny paint but little else to rave about. In the opinion of this former Isetta owner, if you plan to drive the thing, get the sliding-window model, as airflow through these tiny pivoting triangular windows is next to non-existent. CPI rates a #3 Isetta (which this one barely was) as worth $30,000. The car was sold for $33,500, so someone paid a slight premium for 13-horsepower worth of cute.

CAR CORRAL ENTRIES

1986 Corvette coupe, red, tan interior, automatic, claimed to have 23,000 original miles. Asking $13,900. Car was fairly clean yet obviously used. Rear panel has been resprayed, and that red does not match rest of car. Lots of swirl marks in paint. Car is in CPI between $8,000 (#3) and $14,700 (#2), and this car just didn’t look like a 23,000 mile car. $10,000 would be all the money, however, there are lots of C4 Corvettes for sale all the time, many of them under $10k .

1958 Edsel Pacer convertible, unusual off-white/pale yellow exterior, black interior. Sign claims 35,000 miles, yet car looks restored, not preserved. Very straight overall, interior very nice, engine compartment especially well-done. The entire car does pop, but so does the asking price of $100,000. That is not a typo. CPI values a #2 car (which this is) at $66,000. Even if you pay a premium for the low miles, what do you do with it? Every mile you drive it will depreciate it.

1963 Mercedes Benz 190 SL, dark silver, black convertible top, red interior, narrow whitewall tires, MB hub caps in red, cosmetically very pretty car. No asking price displayed. (Why would you put a car in the car corral and not show a price?) All 190s have 4-cylinder engines and manual gearboxes. Having never driven one, I’ve read that the driving experience is nothing special. Up until about 2 years ago, these languished in the $30k-40k range. Suddenly, as 300SL Gullwings and Roadsters regularly broke through a million, the baby brother 190 came along for the ride. Prices broke $100,000 and seemed headed to $200,000. Now that there’s been a slight cooling, more level-headed thinking has pushed these values back into the high-fives. Whatever he’s asking, I wish him luck.

1980 MGB convertible, odometer reads 45,822 miles, odometer may have turned over once. White with black interior, stick shift with overdrive switch in shift knob, MG-style mag wheels, trunk-mounted luggage rack. Engine compartment a bit of a mess. Last year for the MGB in this market. This car might be unrestored, as it’s all there but nothing is tidy. We would rate this car as a #3- or even a #4. CPI puts a #4 car at $4,150 and a #3 car at $8,000. The ask here is $8,995. Offer $6,000 if a rubber-bumper MGB is on your bucket list and you’re feeling generous.

Simeone Museum Presents: “Preserving Shelby Cobra Daytona CSX2287”

December 13, 2015 RichardReina Car shows, Events, Repair sessions Carroll Shelby, CSX2287, Dr. Fred Simeone, Shelby American, Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe, Simeone Automotive Foundation Museum

On Saturday, December 12, 2015, the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum in Philadelphia PA hosted a special “Preservation Workshop”, featuring the Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe (serial number CSX2287) owned by the Foundation. The gist of the presentation was that, after this vehicle spent some 30-odd years languishing in hidden storage, it was acquired by the Foundation and brought back to running, driving condition. The work to accomplish that goal was considered “preservation” and “conservation”, not “restoration”, in an attempt to keep the car as original as possible.

**The star of the show awaits its start**

This particular vehicle is one of only 6 Cobra Daytona Coupes built, and on that basis alone, it is an historically important vehicle. However, CSX2287 is also the first Daytona Coupe built, and the only one constructed entirely in the U.S. Most infamously, it has a long and convoluted ownership history (including, for a short time, serving as daily driver for the music producer Phil Spector). No attempt will be made here to delve into this history, about which much has been written elsewhere. Instead, this blog entry will summarize the workshop presentation, which was fascinating both for its detail as well as some of its controversial “conservation” decisions. For those interested, the Foundation’s website has this information on the car: http://www.simeonemuseum.org/the-collection/bonneville-salt-flats/1964-shelby-cobra-daytona-coupe

The event started promptly at its scheduled time of 12 noon, with about 150-175 people in attendance. After the briefest of introductions, the mic was handed to Dr. Fred Simeone, who spoke while clicking through Power Point slides on a large screen at the front of the room. The Belle of the Ball, the car itself, sat on the floor, roped off from groping hands.

The good doctor proved himself to be knowledgeable, well-spoken, interesting, and occasionally amusing. One got the sense while listening to him that he was actively involved in the car’s refurbishment. He may not have literally had his hands on components (indeed, he informed us that the work was performed by a restoration shop in Georgia), but he likely was helping to make key decisions.

Original tire, dry-rotted but OK for demo runs

The slide presentation began with the history of CSX 2287: its creation and racing exploits. Again, there is no need to cover that here. The Foundation purchased the car in the early 2000s, and since one of their goals is to maintain all vehicles in running condition, work started to make it a driver again. A rotisserie was constructed, with mechanical systems (fuel, suspension, brakes, etc.) disassembled and carefully documented and photographed. Various methods were employed to remove dirt, scale, and rust, while preserving whatever original finishes might be found. In this way, the original black paint on the tube frame was saved; so were factory markings on the engine, cooling system, even the hardware. Rubber fuel lines, obviously corroded to nothingness after such a long time, were replaced as a necessary safety matter. However, the metal ends were reused, a painstaking and more expensive approach, but one which preserved what could be saved. Almost every piece of hardware was cleaned and reused. In cases where worn parts were replaced (wheel bearings), the originals were kept and stored away.

As Yogi might have said: "Carroll must have signed it while he was still alive" — **As Yogi might have said: “Carroll must have signed it while he was still alive”**

The engine, not original to the car (Shelby American installed a “spare” Hi-Po 289 into it when they sold it to a private individual in the late ‘60s), was determined to have relatively few miles on it. One controversial decision was to NOT rebuild the engine, for as far as anyone knew, there was nothing wrong with it! In fact, Dr. Fred stated that the ONLY reason the engine was removed from the frame was to replace a seeping freeze plug, a job which could not be done with the engine in situ.

Left side of Hi-Po 289- note steering shaft through header

The photos below reveal that the body and paint on this Shelby were decidedly not restored. This of course, was also controversial, for several reasons. The first and most obvious is that in this hobby, “refurbished” cars are not just mechanically corrected; they are cosmetically returned to their most glamorous state. The controversy is further fueled by Pete Brock, this vehicle’s original designer. He has made it publicly known that in his opinion, the only correct “restoration” of CSX2287 is to remove its hood scoops and rear spoiler (which were added while the vehicle was competing in real races), and to repaint it in the original (lighter) shade of blue which it wore in 1964. Dr. Simeone was not shy in stressing that while he respects Pete, he disagrees with him.

As mentioned earlier, Dr. Fred was far from boring during the hour+ he held the mic. Some of his memorable quotes from the day include:
• “A car that doesn’t run isn’t a car. It’s a statue.”
• “Restoring a car for Pebble Beach does nothing for its conservation. All it does is make you eligible to win a plastic trophy.”
• (Quoting Carroll Shelby, who was trying to negotiate the repurchase of the Daytona coupe from the woman who hid it away for 30 years): “The bitch would only talk to me through the screen door”.
• “Watch out if you disagree with Pete Brock. First he’ll argue his case with you, and when he’s done, he’ll sic his wife on you”.

**Floor poster sums up an incredible history**

This concept of keeping original cars original is not new to CSX2287. Those in the old car hobby began to notice a hard right turn in that direction within the last decade or so. Recent auction results around the globe have shocked onlookers by repeatedly proving that “barn finds” in some cases fetch more money than 100-point restorations. The Simeone Automotive Foundation, in 2012, published a book “The Stewardship of Historically Important Automobiles” which draws parallels between art and furniture collections (which pieces would never be stripped of their finishes) and automobile collections.

Hood up so the battery could be connected

The book does make the distinction (as Dr. Fred did today) that the concept of preserving what is original is not intended for every “Model A and Mustang out there”. Some astute writers have noted that compared to an oil portrait or a desk, a functioning automobile has moving parts which are designed to become worn, deteriorated, and consumed. Eventually, the entire vehicle is discarded. Therefore, for many vehicles selected for the restoration process, there is no choice but to completely renew all their components.

After an hour of the slide presentation and audience Q & A, the Daytona Coupe was started and allowed to idle for a minute. Slow to crank, it fired up on the second try. Expecting a cacophonous roar, the vehicle sounded docile at idle. While never to turn a wheel in anger again, this simple demonstration helped prove that the preservation efforts accomplished their intended goal.

The first automobile granted historic status

A final note about this particular car and the maturing of the old car hobby concerns the National Historic Vehicle Register, overseen by the U.S. Department of the Interior. The National Historic Register has been awarding “historic status” to buildings and other architecture in this country for decades. Recently, it was proposed to extend such recognition to automobiles. This Shelby Cobra Daytona CSX2287 is the first such vehicle recognized, a massive accomplishment, and one that signifies that not only is the old car hobby alive and well, it is growing in important ways.

Comments concerning “restoration” versus “preservation“ are invited.

Hershey Report, 2015

October 11, 2015October 11, 2015 RichardReina Car shows, Events AACA, car corral, car show, Hershey

The annual car show formally called the “Antique Automobile Club of America Eastern Division National Fall Meet”, but known the world over simply as “Hershey,” was held for the 60th time on October 7-10, 2015. The event takes over most of the 121-acre grounds which are Hersheypark, plus some adjoining property. The town of Hershey PA, which not coincidentally is also home to national AACA headquarters, gives itself completely to “Hershey Week”. If you want a nearby hotel room next year, book it 4-6 months in advance.

For those who have never been to Hershey, describing it as the biggest car show on the East Coast and one of the biggest car shows in the world does not do it justice. Most of Hersheypark’s paved lots are blanketed with flea market vendors. Hundreds of antique and classic cars are offered for sale in the Car Corral. Saturday is the show’s raison d’être, as the finest restored cars and trucks in the country compete at a judged car show. Hershey attracts participants and spectators from around the world, many of whom have been making the annual trek for decades.

These die-hards renew old acquaintances, seek out valuable parts needed for their restorations, and buy and/or sell cars with regularity. Your scribe first attended Hershey in the late 1970s, and has not missed a meet since the late 1990s. If your interest is in stock (meaning unmodified) cars that are 25 years old and older, as required by AACA guidelines, this is the place to be. Newer and heavily modified vehicles (and parts for them) need not apply.

Hershey is endemic of, but not responsible for, many of the changes we’ve witnessed as the hobby has grown, changed, and matured. In years past, an automotive flea market consisted of vendors with rusty old junkyard parts, or obsolete dealer parts stock. Either way, the parts were in milk crates, scattered on folding tables, or spread out on tarps on the ground. You had better well know your needs, because you were going to spend hours looking through those piles to find that gem in the rough.

At many flea markets today, you can seek out a vendor who specializes in your make and model vehicle. Once you inform the vendor of your vehicle particulars, the part, remanufactured as an aftermarket component, probably “offshore” (a nice euphemism which allows you to avoid saying “China”), is handed over, neatly packaged in hard plastic. This is if you even bother to attend the flea market. Much of this stuff is available online with a few clicks of the mouse button.

Given two facts, one, that AACA is strict about its 25-year-old-and-older rule, and two, that many of the Hershey veterans still have a huge interest in pre-war (WWII) cars, the flea market has fewer of the reproduction vendors that you would likely see at Carlisle, for instance. The thrill of the hunt still applies. The photos below affirm that Hershey still does the flea market the old-fashioned (some would say the more fun) way:

THE CAR CORRAL, SUB-$10,000 EDITION

The Hershey Car Corral always has a nice variety of cars for sale. This year, the variety of domestic and imported vehicles seemed greater than usual. That is not to say that every car in the corral is an instant classic. There are those run-what-you-brung cars that look like they were someone’s daily driver as recently as last week. Part of my reaction to these cars is because I was of driving age when they were new. Heck, I saw cars for sale that were new at the car dealerships where I worked in the 1980s.

The good news is that many of these types of cars have low asking prices, and can serve as excellent starter vehicles for someone new to the hobby. (My friends and I enjoy pointing these out to those who say the hobby has become too expensive to enter.) Here are some random choices for those with limited means who still want an AACA-eligible car.

One of the few car corral vehicles from the newest-allowable model year, the sign on this 1990 Firebird claimed it to be a one-owner car with 52,000 miles. The asking price was $6,000, likely held back because of the V6 under the hood. But moving down the road, who would know?

With an asking price of $4,800, this 1965 Jeep J-10 pickup truck is rare. Many were used as work trucks and long ago met their fate at the crusher. Four-wheel-drive and V8 power meant that little was going to stop your forward motivation. The Colorado license plate helped assure that there was little to no body rust (none that could be seen with a cursory look). Buy this and you’re practically guaranteed to have the only one at the next Cars & Coffee.

Squeaking in under the wire of our self-imposed $10,000 limit with an ask of $9,900, this 1981 Honda Civic had many scratching their heads. Sure, by year and unmodified condition, it’s eligible. My personal reaction is that I remember doing new-car prep at the dealership on them, and my then-best friend bought one of these new. They CAN’T be allowed here, can they?

By my account, the least expensive operational vehicle in the car corral, this Triumph appeared to have arrived under its own power. The sign on it said “new transmission, new clutch, new interior, runs great, fun car!” Asking price? $2,800. Make ‘em an offer.

This car’s cleanliness belied its reported 123,000 miles. The paint and interior were unblemished. It was a stick to boot. Thursday’s price was $7,400, Friday’s was $6,500. Don’t know if he sold it, but this was a later “Z” that wouldn’t require the gold chains to be worn (by you, not the car).

My Caddy friends assure me that these first-generation Sevilles are future collectibles. We’ll see. However, if you wanted a sharp driver in a very appealing black over red, this car could do it. The windshield write-up claimed it to be a one-owner, 80k car. Another one going through a fire sale, Friday’s price was $5,600, down from an earlier $5,900.

First generation Mazda RX-7s are another model which pundits claim will double in value “soon”. Hasn’t happened yet. In the meantime, good clean cars sell for credit card money, and someone is having fun. This 1980 rotary rocket with 82,000 miles could be yours for $7,850. Handwritten next to the price was “let’s talk $”.

Sure, SS 396 Camaros and Shelby Mustangs are never going to make mention in a chapter called “sub-$10,000 cars”. But that’s not to say that good ol’ American performance can’t be had at that number. How about a Corvette? Seriously. The C4 Corvettes (1984-1996) are quite affordable right now. Here’s proof, in the form of a 1987 coupe. Yes, it’s a 350/auto with incorrect wheels, but at $7,750, it’s something you could drive every day and display at cruise nights.
THE CAR CORRAL, VOLVO EDITION

Two Volvos in particular stood out for me. A 122 wagon, in white over red, stick shift of course, was fresh from the Pacific Northwest, and looked it, as there were no signs of visible rust in the body. The ask of $14,500 may have seemed high, but try to find another one this solid on the East Coast. (Recent Bring A Trailer sales of 122s have approached $20,000.)

By contrast, this 1979 242DL, with automatic and (dealer installed) a/c, was super clean, and in that requisite 1970s brown. But $12,500? See sub-$10,000 cars above. This Volvo was for someone who HAS to have this particular configuration.
THE CAR CORRAL, NOT IN THE CORRAL EDITION

Not every car for sale at Hershey is in the designated car corral. There were some interesting finds in the flea market area. There are also cars for sale in the parking lot, possibly as a way to avoid paying the AACA car corral fee.

This Studebaker Avanti from the first year of production is distinguishable by its round headlight bezels. This car also has the desirable 4-speed with factory air. At $26,995, the asking price fell in between CPI’s “good” $14,000 and “excellent” $29,000 values.

Porsche 911s of all years, body styles, and performance levels are hot right now. The joke is that 911 pricing is like the fish at your favorite seafood restaurant: “market pricing”, which is X today and will likely change upward tomorrow. But the 912, the 4-cylinder variant, remains relatively affordable. This car was in the parking lot across the street. The sign said its engine had been swapped out for a 1969 version. The owner was asking $29,000. Going down the road, no one will know you’re not packing a flat-6. (By way of reference, nice 1967 911s are approaching six figures.)

This 1954 Ford convertible was hanging out in the flea market. The asking price, if it had been displayed, was now gone, and the car was marked “sold”. Given its overall dreadful condition, I took it as a healthy sign for the hobby that someone out there was willing to take it on. No word whether the Fire Chief pedal car was included (might be worth more than the Ford).
SATURDAY’S CAR SHOW

My great friend and fellow rally driver Steve H and I have made the trip to Hershey together numerous times. It was one trip in the 1990s when we discovered that if we arrived early enough on Saturday morning, we could have the pleasure of watching the parade of cars as they entered the show field (AACA rules require that show cars be driven onto the field under their own power).

As has become my custom, I was on the grounds before 8 a.m., and found a good viewing spot. It is endlessly entertaining to see the cars. If you’re close enough, you can also capture the drivers’ faces, almost every one of them grinning as they proudly pilot their machines. Below is an assortment of vehicles moving under their own power before finding their designated show field spots (click on these, or any photos in the post, to enlarge them).

Two GM “alternative powertrain cars”: Corvair and Fiero

FINAL COMMENTS

Sometimes, the “business” of the hobby causes us to forget that this IS a hobby, which means we’re doing this for fun. And looking around at the sights and sounds, plenty of people at Hershey are having fun. We’ll leave you with a few photos as reminders.

Chocolate World at Hersheypark, open for business

DPC, AACA’s way to include more fun cars

Only one car could have this dash plaque

Alfa Romeos at the 2015 New Hope Auto Show

August 12, 2015 RichardReina Alfa Romeo GT 1300 Jr., Car shows, Events Alfa Romeo, car show, New Hope, New Hope Auto Show

View of the show field from a participant's chair — **View of the show field from a participant’s chair**

The storied Italian car maker Alfa Romeo was heavily featured at this year’s New Hope Auto Show, held on the grounds of this Pennsylvania town’s high school. The Alfas, assigned their own class, were all parked next to each other, although there was no particular order to their arrangement. The casual observer would be forgiven if s/he thought that Alfa only made convertibles. Of the 15 cars present, 10 were soft tops (“spiders” in Alfa-speak). Of those 10, 9 were of the same basic body style, a design which debuted as the Duetto in 1966 and concluded its run as the Spider Veloce in 1994. That is a very long time in car-years.

Alfas proudly on display — **Alfas in a row**

The only Giulia coupe at this year's show, and a step-nose to boot — **The only Giulia coupe at this year’s show, and a step-nose to boot**

Your author’s car, a 1967 GT 1300 Junior, was proudly on display, and was one of the few tin-tops in attendance. The field was rounded out with an early ‘60s 2000 Spider (the so-called Large Alfa), an Alfetta GT, a GTV-6, and a 164 sedan (the only front-wheel-drive Alfa present among all the rear-wheel-drive vehicles).

It was a rare treat for me to see so many Alfa Romeos in one place at the same time. But the real treat was provided by the gang which brought in these beautiful cars. Alfa owners are a passionate lot; they like to drive their cars; they like to show off and talk about their cars; and they like to meet and chat with fellow Alfa owners and wanna-be owners. Most of the day was consumed by conversation about our Milanese machines.

The first couple I met had arrived in their 1979 Alfetta GT 2-door coupe. “Quinn” and I happily traded stories about each other’s cars. One story I shared occurred last week. While driving to work, I spotted a car just like theirs on the road with me. It had been ages since I had seen an Alfetta moving under its own power. This particular one was mostly in grey primer, with its passenger door still red (and still wearing a large “ALFA ROMEO” decal). It was bumperless, and obviously a work-in-progress. But by the sounds it was making, I knew the driver was having a blast.

**An Alfetta GT reflected in the mirror of a Bentley Continental GT**

What made our roadway rendezvous rather unique that morning is that I was piloting my boss’ 2012 Bentley Continental GT Coupe, all W-12 twin-turbo 500+ horsepower of it. I’m always a bit self-conscious driving that car, and tend to stay to the right, moving at the speed limit, in order to avoid undue attention. As the Alfetta drew closer, I wanted to drop my window and give the driver a big thumbs-up. Dismissing any concern about what he might think of me, I did just that. His ear-to-ear grin told me all I needed to know.

The owner of the ’79 Alfetta GT told me that he has owned his car in excess of 20 years, and although he has done scores of maintenance and repair work on it, he considers it a mostly original car. Looking the car over, I agreed with him, as much of the black lacquer as well as the beige cloth upholstery remained as it was in 1979. These early Alfettas had a controversial dash design: the tachometer was centered in front of the driver, with all the other gauges in the center. I’ve driven these cars, and it takes some time to get used to the arrangement.

**Not all Alfas are red; just most of them**

Immediately to one side of me was a Spider owner who is also a very active member of his Alfa Romeo Owners Club local chapter. He, among many other owners, encouraged me to join the club in order to become more involved in their driving events. “Bill” is a marque expert who delighted in telling me about the nuances among the display cars, including which cars were factory-correct and which were not. The truth is that he was a tremendous knowledge source about all things Alfa.

On the other side of me was another spider. “Jim” had bought this car just a few months ago (sight unseen off eBay!). It was a Texas car, in very nice shape. This was his 4th Alfa, and he told me that the drive to the show that morning was the longest he had driven the car since obtaining it earlier this year.

An hour or so after arriving, the couple with the ’79 Alfetta returned to my car to make an announcement: they had shared my story about “The Alfetta and the Bentley” with the folks in the car next to theirs, and he was the driver of that primered Alfa! “Tom” and I met and screamed over and over at each other “I can’t believe it!” After I told him that I had arrived at work and shared my photo with several fellow enthusiasts, he told me that he got to work and called his wife to tell her “hey honey, some guy in a BENTLEY gave me a thumbs-up”. (His wife chimed in that he never called her from work, and she had at first assumed that something was wrong). Of course, I clarified for him that my daily-driver Jetta was home while I put some miles on the boss’ car. He told me that I had made his day, which made me feel wonderful about the entire encounter.

The number of spiders at the show gave me the chance to document something which I knew about, but for which I was lacking empirical data: the evolutionary design changes of the spider’s back end through 4 generations, known among the faithful as S1, S2, S3, and S4. (The front end also evolved, but to a lesser degree.) Photographing each version and displaying them side-to-side clarifies the differences. It also makes it plain to this set of eyes which of these wins the beauty contest. Your opinion may vary.

Kudos to the organizers of the New Hope show. With close to 250 cars on display, the difficult logistics of successfully running such an event become clear once you spend most of the day observing it. As the cars paraded off the field, my Alfa eventually became the sole representative of the marque. Lovely cars were seen, photographed, dissected, and discussed. Most importantly, new friendships were begun, with the promise of future automotive adventures to come.

**The last Alfa standing waits to go home**

NEW HOPE AUTO SHOW, AUGUST 2015

August 9, 2015August 10, 2015 RichardReina Alfa Romeo GT 1300 Jr., Car shows, Events car show, car shows, European collector cars, New Hope, New Hope Auto Show

Entrance queue at the start of Sunday's New Hope Auto Show — **Entrance queue at the start of Sunday’s New Hope Auto Show**

The New Hope (PA) Automobile Show was held on the grounds of the New Hope-Solebury High School on Saturday August 8 and Sunday August 9, 2015. This event, which held its first show in 1957, celebrated its 58th anniversary this year. Vehicles are displayed according to predetermined classes, which are different on each day. In general, domestic vehicles are shown on Saturday, while European imports are featured on Sunday. These divisions are not completely strict, as we shall see. Your faithful scribe registered and showed his 1967 Alfa Romeo GT 1300 Junior on Sunday, so this report will focus only on that day’s cars.

Arriving at 8:15 a.m. and assigned to park with several Alfas already in attendance, I was pleasantly surprised to see our row quickly fill up. In all, 15 Alfas eventually arrived and parked together. While spiders (convertibles in Alfa-speak) were the dominant body style, there was enough variety to keep the Alfisti happy. And Alfas were far from the only well-represented marque. Car classes included Austin-Healey, BMW, Jaguar, Lotus, Mercedes-Benz, MG, Porsche, Rolls-Royce/Bentley, and Triumph. Some of these classes had total entries in the dozens. All the usual suspects were present, yet the Sunday show distinguished itself by drawing out some truly unusual and rarely-seen exotics.

The Alfa segment of our program will be covered in a separate blog entry. For now, let’s take a tour of some of the other beautiful, sporty, exotic, and downright eye-opening cars on the field. (Photos can be enlarged for viewing by simply clicking on them.)

BRITISH

Any classic car show which bills itself as featuring “MGs and Triumphs” will cause you to expect to find MGBs and TR6s. We had MGBs and TR6s in New Hope. We also had Triumph Italias. The Italia had Triumph TR3 mechanicals under a Michelotti-designed body, built by Vignale in Italy. According to Wikipedia, only 329 were made. To say that they are rare is an understatement. To see one at a car show is completely unexpected. There were two on display today (the earlier use of the plural “Italias” was not a typo).

Not as rare as an Italia, but still infrequently spotted, were several MGCs. To those unaware of its existence, the “C” externally appears no different than an MGB. Careful scrutiny will reveal a hood bulge, necessary to accommodate the inline-six cylinder engine shoe-horned into the front. While contemporaneous road tests derided the extra weight over the front wheels and the accompanying poor handling, a kinder and gentler revisiting of the model has critics responding favorably to the extra oomph brought on by two extra cylinders.

This MGC roadster was pristine in British Racing Green

This yellow MGC was parked next to an even rarer Messerschmitt and DeLorean

The Jaguar E-Type (more commonly known as the XKE on this side of the pond) is arguably one of the most beautiful cars ever designed, and among the Series I, II, and III cars, the Series I is considered the purest version of the form. It was our luck to have four Series I E-Types at the show. With three of them parked adjacent to each other, the photo ops were aplenty.

Jaguar E-Types bow their hoods in unison

Series I OTS (open two seaters) have gorgeous behinds

The Rolls-Royce and Bentley contingent was huge, no doubt sparked into action through the nudging of the local RR-Bentley club to get its members out and onto the field. We know from past experience that said owners are not afraid to drive these British beauties, so seeing 25-30 of them was not a surprise. The distinctive front-end styling is a photographer’s delight.

Rounding out our review of British iron were these more commonly seen models, still enjoyable to admire.

An Austin-Healey Bug-Eye Sprite’s front end opens wide for easy access

This 1957 A-H 100/6 was in the car corral; ask was $44,500 OBO

Next to the Healey was this ’62 TR-3, for sale at $21,500 OBO

PORSCHE
What’s a car show without Porsches? In this case, it would be a car show with many fewer vehicles on the show field. While no count was taken, it’s safe to presume that Porsche was the single best-represented marque at the event. Whether this was due to club participation or a wide and adoring audience for these sports cars, it was fun to see the variety extending from the 356, through the air-cooled 911s, to the water-cooled 924/944/928 series. If you were so inclined, new Panameras and Cayennes were also on display courtesy of a local Porsche dealer.

**Throughout the generations, a Porsche front end is instantly recognizable**

This 911 Targa stood out as much for its Safety Yellow color as it did for its condition

914s, long considered uninteresting to collectors, are gaining momentum

928s are a personal favorite. This is an early car with the original front end treatment

A “2nd gen” 928 has a reshaped nose (and a hideous rear spoiler)

The rarest Porsche spotted today was this 959. According to my sources, a total of 200 were made. Originally not legal for sale in the U.S., these cars from the late 1980s are now old enough that they can legally be imported and driven. At the time of its release, it was considered the most far-flung supercar of its day. Its specifications may seem the stuff of normalcy now, however, it did lay the foundation for what would be expected among the world’s highest-performing machines.

A Porsche 959

DOMESITC

The New Hope Auto Show’s website states that Sunday’s car show includes classes for production GM, FoMoCo, and Chrysler Corp cars through 1990. The American cars on site were not a large group, but several MoPar models were standouts, and are worth highlighting for their styling and engineering features.

The sign on this ’65 Plymouth Belvedere claimed it was an all-original 65,000 mile car

The once-ubiquitous Slant-6 engine in the Plymouth is still known for its durability

More than other Detroit cars, Chrysler went out of its way with unique styling cues, like these free-standing head lamps

So-called “gun sight” taillamps on this Imperial

This ’56 Imperial is long. Really, really, long

When I was 7 years old, I wanted nothing more than an in-car record player (this is in the Imperial)

ITALIAN
Two different model Fiats were in attendance, sharing a unique attribute: neither car was badged “Fiat”.

After Fiat left the U.S. market in 1982, production of two of its popular sports cars, the X1/9 and the Spider 2000, was continued by Bertone and Pininfarina respectively, and these firms imported and sold the cars in the States under their own brands. (Malcolm Bricklin was somehow involved, but that’s too dark a story to include here.)

This 1987 Bertone X1/9 was an all-original car in pristine condition. Its current owner stated to me that he has owned the car for over 20 years, and drives it year-round (making sure that his winter driving is on dry roads).

1987 Bertone X1/9. Note the ‘b’ badge on nose. Umbrella was dealer-supplied accessory

1987 Fiat X1/9. Rear spoiler aids aerodynamics at speeds above 130mph

This 1985 Pininfarina Spider looked brand new. While the owner was not available to answer questions, the condition of the car (flawless) spoke for him.

Batista Farina’s nickname was Pinin. He legally changed his company’s name to “Pininfarina” (one word), but the ‘f’ for Farina is still the logo

The 2015 Ramapo Concours d’Elegance

June 7, 2015 RichardReina Alfa Romeo GT 1300 Jr., Car shows, Events Alfa Romeo, car shows, Ramapo Concours

The first annual Ramapo Concours d’Elegance was held on the grounds of Ramapo College in Mahwah, NJ, on Saturday June 6, 2015. The Concours was an outgrowth of a regular Cars & Coffee event held at the campus (and locally referred to as a “Caffeine & Carburetors” gathering).

Show cars were arrayed on the grass (thankfully not asphalt) in front of the bandshell. — **Show cars were arrayed on the grass (thankfully not asphalt) in front of the band shell.**

Our Driving Club regulars started the day extra-early by meeting at Mary Ann’s deli for breakfast. As my Alfa was entered in the show (alas, the only car in our group so selected), I needed to leave breakfast early, not only to arrive on the show field on time, but also to detail my car after driving an hour in the rain that morning! Once there, detailing was not helped by an intermittent sprinkle which lingered until after 9 a.m., by which time the first of the spectators had arrived. By 9:30, the sun was out, and it turned into a beautiful, warm spring day.

**The view of the show field from the folding chair.**

The college enlisted co-sponsorship from the Prestige Dealership Group of northern New Jersey, and Hackensack Medical University Hospital. While all who worked the event made their best efforts to be helpful and accommodating, it was obvious that this was the first time any of them had put on a car show. It is not worth dwelling on “things gone wrong” that day, as frankly, most of them were minor and easily fixed with an increased focus on logistics, which should be expected from them now that they’ve done it once.

We will however, review the show cars (and the vast majority of these automobiles were outstanding) by “class”. If there was an overriding point of discussion during the day, it concerned the vehicle classes. While some classes were well-defined and well-populated, other classes were very small and/or left us wondering how they were decided upon.

**Microcars on display included this rare Messerschmitt cabrio.**

At the end of the show, I heard one of the dealer principals comment that he was amazed at the large turnout of microcars. He need not have been. These puppy-dog cars have been steadily gaining in popularity, especially in the last decade. We had the “usual” Isettas and Messerschmitts, plus some less-frequently seen tiny cars.

This Euro-spec Isetta bubble-window cabrio is ultra-rare. It is estimated that something between 15-99 (out of 161,000) were made of this body style. — **This Isetta bubble-window cabrio is ultra-rare. It is estimated that between 15-99 (out of 161,000) of this body style were made.**

**This restoration was close to 100% original. As a former Isetta owner, I know.**

**A 1955 Messerschmitt with its canopy top open.**

The Isetta's big brother, the BMW 600. It had TWO cylinders, for 26 horsepower! — **The Isetta’s big brother, the BMW 600. It had TWO cylinders, for 26 horsepower!**

**At noon, A Zimmer (of all things) invited itself in, and proceeded to park next to this Mini Clubman.**

**This 1967 Mini looked large next to its microcar brethren.**

Two extremes of air-cooled VWs: a '70s bus next to a WW2 military VW. — **Two extremes of air-cooled VWs: a ’70s bus next to a WW2 military VW.**

Another well-populated class, these cars were not even considered collectible until rather recently. Now, Beetles, Karmann-Ghias, and especially buses have soared in popularity (AND price). Get yours while they’re affordable.

Possibly the oldest bug I’ve ever seen: a 1950 model.

The rear of the ’50. Note complete lack of chrome.

This ’51 is almost as old, yet wears a modicum of chrome.

Not a 23-window, but gaining in popularity nonetheless.

The class definition excluded 924s, 944s, 928s, and any 911 built after 1998. Nevertheless, old-school 911s and 356s turned out in force. Everyone loves these cars, as they are so recognizable, even if many of us have been priced out of the market.

A nice comparison of a 356 convertible (left) and 356 Speedster (right). Note side curtains on Speedster.

MERCEDES SL PRE-71

While no 300SLs graced us with their presence, this 3rd class of German cars still impressed us with a nice selection of 190SLs, and various “Pagoda” cars (230/250/280 SL).

It's June, so Pagoda tops are home in favor of soft tops. — **It’s June, so Pagoda tops are home in favor of soft tops.**

A Continental Mark II (don't call it a Lincoln!) on display. — **A Continental Mark II (don’t call it a Lincoln!) on display.**

One of only 3 domestic classes, this was also the class with the fewest number of vehicles in it. In fact, there were a total of 3 cars, and since 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place trophies were being awarded, everyone in this class took something home!

A not-often seen ’53 Lincoln Capri was impressive in its sleekness.

You can have your show T-Bird any way you like (as long as it's a 2-seater). — **You can have your show T-Bird any way you like (as long as it’s a 2-seater).**

The above is the total class description. Ford made T-Birds every year from 1955 through 1997, then the Retro-Bird from 2002-2006. Yet of the 10 or so cars on the show field, every one of them was either a ’56 or ’57 (all 2-seaters, obviously, or perhaps not obviously if you are unaware). However that happened, it was nice to see the colorful collection on display. The original T-Bird still has a charm all its own.

An XK-120 obviously in the correct class. — **An XK-120 in the correct class.**

The class definition assured us that we would see only “classic Jags”, the newest of which would Series 1 E-types. We were rewarded with some of the nicest machinery on the entire field. Several of the XKs were truly #1 cars, with gorgeous cosmetics, and paint better than ever applied at the factory.

**An XK-120 stunning us all in its blue perfection.**

An XK-120 MC. Note the "wind visors" in place of a proper windscreen. — **An XK-120 MC. Note the “wind visors” in place of a proper windscreen.**

**A Series 1 E-type OTS (open two seater).**

**Post-war cars with cycle fenders and stand-alone headlights? Must be British.**

Jaguars had their own class, so this class grouped some common and not-so-common British machines. This likely was the most eclectic grouping on the grounds that day, with a pre-war Triumph, a pre-war Aston Martin, and a Sunbeam Harrington battling it out for “most unique British car”.

**A Sunbeam Harrington from the rear, showing its unique roofline.**

A 1930 Aston Martin. Looked like a Bentley from afar, looked better than that up close.

A 1935 Triumph Southern Cross. Bet you never heard of it.

**Yes, there were cars other than Ferraris in the Italian class.**

Of course, this was the class into which my Alfa was entered. By definition, we might have seen everything from a Fiat 850 spyder, to a Lancia Fulvia, Maserati Mistral, Lamborghini Miura, and Ferrari 275 GTB. None of them showed. The class turned out to be one of the lesser-populated: 4 Ferraris and 3 Alfas were the total turnout. All the Ferraris were ‘70s era and newer, and all 3 Alfas were Giulia coupes!

This was the only class for which I recorded the class winners (noted in below photos).

Third place: a former barn find '79 Ferrari 308 GTB. — **Third place: a former barn find ’79 Ferrari 308 GTB.**

Second place: '67 Alfa GT 1300 Jr (that hat looks familiar). — **Second place: ’67 Alfa GT 1300 Jr (that hat looks familiar).**

A discussion that I became part of at the end of the show assured me that the wheels are already in motion to make next year’s event better. One of the show principals and one of the judges were engaged in dialogue to improve the class definitions. The important point is, whatever they decide, the 2016 Ramapo Concours should be that much more well-organized and well-run.

NJ Region AACA Meet, May 3, 2015

May 3, 2015 RichardReina Car shows, Events AACA, car show, NJ Region

The New Jersey Region of the AACA (Antique Automobile Club of America) held its 64th annual Spring Meet on Sunday, May 3, 2015, in Florham Park NJ. The location was the immense parking lot of the Automatic Switch Company, the same spot it’s been for the past 50 years. We had tremendous spring weather for a car show: temps in the low 80s, with lots of sunshine and low humidity.

Vehicle registration into the show is not limited to club members; the general public is invited, and they do turn out in force. While adherence to AACA rules (25-years-old and older vehicles in “stock” condition) is encouraged, there is a special custom class, and no one turns away vehicles that have mild modifications. This approach helps bring in the traffic, both vehicular and pedestrian.

**Flea market vendors lined the perimeter of the show field.**

In addition to the judged field, the NJ Region has a car corral, flea market, and food vendors on site. While small compared to Hershey (what am I saying? We could fill this lot with vendors and it would be small compared to Hershey), it provides some variety and encourages show-goers to mingle for the day.

**The food truck was run by Mary, Queen of Pork. Her chicken was good too.**

This blog entry will focus on the photos, and you’ll see the very broad range of cars on display: pre-war and post-war, domestic and import, trailer queens and daily drivers. Remember that clicking on the photos will enlarge them.

The meet committee members were efficient as usual; judging was completed shortly after lunch, trophy award presentations commenced before 2pm, and we were packed up and outta there by 3pm. Car show season has officially begun!