Hershey 2025 Part 3: the RM-Sotheby’s Auction

October 14, 2025 RichardReina Auctions, Events RM Sotheby Hershey Auction

Attending collector car auctions is one of my favorite ways to enjoy the hobby. Compared to classified ads or car corrals, where sellers can shoot for as high an asking price as they dare, an auction result is a concrete data point: on that day, a seller was willing to sell a vehicle at a price that a buyer was willing to pay. This year, as I have done so many times in the past, I attended the RM-Sotheby’s auction at the Hershey Lodge, held on October 8 and 9 during Hershey week.

RM-Sotheby’s conducts auctions around the world, but at Hershey, they specialize in pre-war and early post-war American iron. There was a large collection of convertibles from the late ‘40s/early ‘50s, apparently from a single collection (another growing trend as older enthusiasts age out of the hobby). As you read the results below, you can presume that, at least cosmetically, most of these cars were in Number 2 or Number 1 condition, which is to say, they looked great. Mechanically, the best one can do is to observe the RM staff as they start and drive these cars up to and across the auction block.

A word about pre-sale estimates: every vehicle is given a price range, clearly displayed on the windshield placard. Savvy bidders know that this is just an estimate, and that the auction company, in an attempt to encourage bidding, might push the estimates a bit over expectations. I documented the sale of twenty cars, and the spread is interesting: of these twenty, eight sold below the low estimate; seven sold within the estimate range; and five sold over the high estimate. Were there deals? Possibly, provided that there weren’t too many hidden surprises once the new toy arrived home. I still maintain that buying a car at auction, while slightly risky, has the potential to reward the educated buyer who can bid with a level head.

As always on Richard’s Car Blog, results are arranged in sale price order from low to high, a detail that you will not find anywhere else. Sale prices shown are “hammer” prices, and do NOT include the 10% buyer’s premium owed to the auction house.

LOT 123, 1951 Pontiac Chieftain 4-door sedan, estimate range $15-20,000

SOLD for $15,500

Sold for only $500 above the low estimate. A rather ordinary car in drab colors, but in very nice condition. For the Pontiac collector who doesn’t have one.

LOT 124, 1952 Studebaker Commander convertible, estimate range $25-35,000

SOLD for $17,500

The red over red looked dashing. The top color was not noted. This car hammered for $7,500 under its low estimate, and was only $2,000 more than the Pontiac. I know which one of the two I would prefer.

LOT 136, 1930 DeSoto CF Eight roadster, estimate range $25-35,000

SOLD for $25,000

Sold right at low estimate, car looked ready to drive in the next local parade. A nice and somewhat unique alternative to a Model A Ford.

LOT 253, 1931 Dodge Six Series DH Coupe, estimate range $25-35,000

SOLD for $26,000

Sold a grand above low estimate. Car appeared to be in excellent condition, but: I could not get past the FIVE different exterior paint colors (including the wheels). The body was a lighter red over a darker red, the two colors separated by green. The fenders were black, and the red wheels, to my eye, appeared to be a shade of red different than the body. Someone liked it enough to bring it home.

LOT 131, 1950 Frazer Manhattan convertible sedan, estimate range $40-60,000

SOLD for $30,000

I can only guess that Frazers play to a very narrow audience. Still, this was a rare car in a rare body style. Winning bid was a full $10,000 below the low estimate.

LOT 262, 1953 Hudson Hornet Twin-H Club Coupe, estimate range $40-50,000

SOLD for $35,000

One of three Hudsons covered here, and the one which sold for the least, five grand below low estimate. The two-door body style looked sporty, and the yellow fog lights and windshield visor added to that sportiness.

LOT 129, 1950 Hudson Commodore convertible, estimate range $60-70,000

SOLD for $40,000

At a full $20,000 below low estimate, and only $5,000 more than the Hudson hardtop above, someone got a very nice immediate post-war droptop at a fair price.

LOT 301, 1940 Ford Deluxe convertible, estimate range $50-60,000

SOLD for $42,000

I follow these pre-war Ford V8s a little bit, and prices are certainly off their highs of several years ago. I would guess that five or six years ago, this car could have fetched $60,000. Someone took advantage to grab this car at $8,000 below low estimate.

LOT 258, 1939 Ford Deluxe convertible, estimate range $35-45,000

SOLD for $42,500

Just one year older than lot 301 above, and look at the difference in the estimate range. While the ’39s will never be as desirable as the ’40s, this was still a good-looking automobile. and actually sold for $500 more than the ’40.

LOT 151, 1931 Chrysler CD Deluxe Eight coupe, estimate range $40-50,000

SOLD for $45,000

Sold right in the middle of the estimate range, these early Chryslers are handsome and stately cars. This would be a nice ride for a Glidden tour.

LOT 134, 1932 Plymouth Model PB Sport roadster, estimate range $35-45,000

SOLD for $50,000

The first of our cars to have hammered above the high estimate (by $5,000), this droptop was striking in its two-tone blue and white. Even the wire wheels were white, lending a jaunty look to the car. This early Plymouth sold for more than both the ’39 and the ’40 Ford convertibles.

LOT 160, 1960 Ford Thunderbird convertible, estimate range $40-60,000

SOLD for $52,000

The optional Continental kit did nothing to improve the looks of this final-year Squarebird. I follow sales of the ’61 through ’66 T-Birds a bit, and I thought that the pre-sale estimates here were high, making it a surprise to me that this car hammered mid-estimate.

LOT 149, 1941 Packard Super Eighty 180 Touring sedan, estimate range $40-50,000

SOLD for $52,500

Packards of all ages remain very collectible, but values vary wildly based on year, powertrain, and body style. I found this car to have a certain appeal, but I’m not certain if the two-tone green was a factory choice. Interior was especially nice. The car sold for $2,500 above high estimate, which was still a fair price.

LOT 303, 1954 Packard Caribbean convertible, estimate range $60-75,000

SOLD for $55,000

There is usually one Caribbean at every high-end auction, and this one stood out for its rather plain colors (in two-tone rather than the more frequently-seen tri-tone). Values have dropped; that estimate range would have been more accurate several years ago. Sold for $5,000 below low estimate, and interestingly, only $2,500 more than lot 149 above.

LOT 269, 1966 Chrysler 300 convertible, estimate range $30-40,000

SOLD for $57,500

A non-letter 300, but still impressive in every way: size, power, comfort, image. I wasn’t in the room for the bidding, but I can only wonder if there was a bidding war, as this car hammered for an impressive $17,500 above its high estimate.

LOT 130, 1948 Chrysler Town and Country convertible, estimate range $70-80,000

SOLD for $70,000

A lot of Mopars at this auction! These woodie convertibles have always had a following. Like some other cars from this time, values are down. I remember when these were easily six-figure cars. Hammer price just reached low estimate, which looks fair to buyer and seller.

LOT 246, 1952 Hudson Wasp Twin-H two-door Brougham, estimate range $40-60,000

SOLD for $100,000

This was the only car of the several dozen I inspected which showed some serious paint and sheet metal defects (see lead photo), which made the hammer price a head-scratcher, until I read that this car was once owned by Steve McQueen (a fact surprisingly omitted from the windshield placard). In that light, I’m surprised that it didn’t bring more.

LOT 189, 1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 hardtop, estimate range $125-200,000

SOLD for $100,000

I used to turn my nose up at these early Aston Martins, especially compared to the DB4, 5, and 6 cars, but over time my opinion of them has softened. Last October, RM sold a similar car for $160,000, making this one look like the bargain of the day at $100,000, twenty-five grand below low estimate. Let’s see, if I sold my Alfa….

LOT 162, 1965 AMC (Rambler) Ambassador 990 convertible, estimate range $40-60,000

SOLD for $102,500

The shock of the show! Yes, it had factory A/C, and was in excellent condition, and would be impossible to duplicate, but still …. This sale price, $42,500 above high estimate, handily beat most every other American ’50s-’60s convertible in this auction. Wow.

LOT 297, 1937 Cord 812 Supercharged Cabriolet, estimate range $250-300,000

SOLD for $190,000

The 810 and 812 Cords of 1936 and 1937 will always be collectible. This one, in supercharged form, was in a stunning color combination. But here was a case where I think RM went overboard in its pre-sale estimates. Historically, the roadsters and cabriolets have sold between $150,000 and $200,000, making this hammer price market-correct.

This concludes the Hershey reports for 2025. I hope you enjoyed the articles and photographs.

Hershey 2025 Part 2: The AACA Car Show

October 12, 2025 RichardReina Car shows, Events AACA Hershey

We made the discovery by accident. It was the late 1990’s, and my rally brother Steve and I both took the week off from work so that we could attend Hershey. When Saturday rolled around (at that time, the judged car show was on Saturday; it has since been moved to Friday), for reasons which are lost to time, we got up extra early and headed to the show field, arriving around 7:30 a.m. To our amazement, we stumbled upon the sight of the show car owners driving their cars onto the field. We quickly secured a convenient vantage point and stood, transfixed and unmoving, for several hours as we saw and heard these exquisite antique automobiles being driven to their assigned Class parking spots. (As per AACA Judging Guidelines: “All vehicles must be driven on the show field under their own power, except motorcycles and race cars.” Once on the show field, cars are NOT checked or judged for the operational ability of any equipment.)

This Ford is parked adjacent to its Class sign

Since that discovery, whenever I’m at Hershey, I’ve made it a habit to attend this morning parade. This year, I arrived at the show by 7:45, and found a great viewing spot, with the glorious golden sunlight on my back (and good thing, too, as it was 37 degrees F). For an hour and a half, I held my ground as I snapped photos of hundreds of cars motoring up the entrance road. By 9:15, it was time to move, so I headed across the street to take in the rest of the show.

This row of all 1942 model year cars is part of the NB Collection of Nicola Bulgari

What is posted below is a huge photo dump of the morning parade. The morning sun bathed every car in a light the quality of which only comes along at certain times of day. The temps rose to a tolerable low 60s, and I walked the rows until early afternoon, by which time I was ready to head home. Hershey 2025 was a rousing success.

I know the owner, Alex, from the NJ-AACA. This is the only 1944 model year ANYTHING ever entered into an AACA National.

Coming up: Part 3, the RM-Sotheby’s Auction.

Hershey 2025 Part 1: The Car Corral

October 10, 2025October 11, 2025 RichardReina Car shows, Events AACA Hershey, Hershey Car Corral

The AACA Eastern Fall Nationals, known simply as “Hershey” for its location, ran from Tuesday through Friday, October 7 to 10 this year. The first three days’ focus is on the combination flea market/car corral, and since my interest has historically been with the car corral, that is what I am covering below. As per AACA rules, cars in the corral must be twenty-five years old or older, and in essentially stock condition. With that understood, there was the usual wide variety of domestic and import, pre-war, early post-war, and ‘80s and ‘90s metal on display.

Given the general softening of prices which has been observed in the collector car market this year, I was a bit shocked to see some asking prices well above recent documented sales. Nevertheless, if one is open-minded regarding the year, make, and model that one might consider, there were some bargains to be spotted. I’ve provided details for about a dozen and a half cars that caught my interest. Vehicles are arranged in asking price order.

1998 Chevy Blazer 2-door SUV, RWD, V6, automatic. Asking $7500. My wife bought one of these new, and gave it to her son to take to college in New England, which he did for four years. He put over a quarter-million miles on it, and not once did it let him down. He also, to my utter amazement, claimed that he got around in Massachusetts winters “just fine” with the 2-wheel drive. I liked this truck if only because it reminds me of the days when SUVs were reasonably sized.

1999 Porsche Boxster, automatic. Asking $7995. I’m sure there’s a market for the slushbox, but there are plenty of sub-$10k Boxsters on the market with manual gearboxes if one insists on shifting for oneself, as one should.

1973 Ford Maverick, 6-cylinder, auto. Asking $8,900. Yes, Virginia, there was a Maverick before the current entry-level pickup truck in today’s Ford showrooms. This car was clean but did show some rocker corrosion. I think one could do worse things with their 8,900 bucks.

1976 AMC Pacer, 6-cylinder, auto. Asking $10,500. Rambler/AMC had a long history of needing to be different in order to compete with the Big 3. This might be Exhibit A, although, I recall these being somewhat popular when new. Asking price was on the windshield on Wednesday. On Thursday, new writing said “SOLD, $8,500.” It’s always worth it to haggle.

1980 Fiat 124 Spider, 4-cylinder, 5-speed, missing bumpers. Asking $11,500. This was slightly crusty underhood; I was afraid to look underneath. These have softened as of late, based on Bring a Trailer results. There are plenty of better-looking 124s online at any time. Bring a magnet.

1968 AMC Rebel convertible, V8, automatic, sign claims it’s all original. Asking $13,880. This struck me as potentially one of the few deals in the corral. V8 power, top goes down, and you’ll have the only one at any show you enter.

1973 Triumph TR6, 6-cylinder, 4-speed. Asking $17,900. TR6 prices vary a lot based on color and condition. This one looked good from 10 feet, but I admit that I didn’t perform a closer inspection. I think it’s a fair price if it’s solid, but if I were interested I’d start at $12.5k and see where it goes from there.

1948 Packard Eight Deluxe Touring Sedan, straight-8, sign on car claims that it is in mostly all-original condition and has 40,000 original miles. Asking $19,900. When new, the styling was derisively called the “bathtub Packard,” or worse. Up until recently, I never found these to be attractive, but in my old age, my opinion has softened. Seemed like an affordable entry ticket into the Packard Club.

1952 MG TD, 4-cylinder, 4-speed. Asking $19,995. The MG T-Series cars (TC, TD, TF) fired the opening salvo in starting the post-war sports car boom in this country. Of the three, I find the TD the least attractive, but compared to the TC, you get LHD and a more comfortable interior. Compared to recent sales, price seemed fair.

1991 Porsche 928, V8, automatic. Asking $21,500. This second-generation 928 has the 32-valve engine with more oomph than the original 928 which debuted in 1978. Car looked clean, and this is about where they sell on BaT, but I would personally insist on seeing service records first.

1961 Triumph TR3, 4-cylinder, 4-speed. Asking $27,000. This appeared to be a very nice, very fresh restoration. Red might not be my first pick for a TR3, but it worked here. On Thursday, the “27k” was crossed out, replaced with “25k,” which was also crossed out and replaced with “23k.” Offer 15, and when he gets back up after falling down, see if he’ll take a more market-correct $18k.

1973 Volvo 1800ES, 4-cylinder, 4-speed manual with overdrive. Asking $29,900. The last year of the 1800, and only the ES (hatchback) was offered that year. The green over tan was attractive, but value here is largely based on the quality and correctness of the restoration. That said, asking price sounded like a fair jumping off point. Many of these were automatic, so the stick is a plus.

1968 Ford Mustang California Special, 302 V8, automatic. Sign claims complete restoration. Asking $55,000. I’m including this only because I owned one in the same color. Mine had the 390 big block, and was just a “driver,” which I sold at Hershey in 2012 for $20,000. I guess they’ve appreciated since then….

1969 Jaguar E-Type (XKE), 2+2 body style, 6-cylinder, 4-speed. Asking $69,500. This is a Series 2 E-Type, with the open headlights, larger tail lamps below the bumper, and some interior refinements. I watch these on BaT, and given that a ’69 ROADSTER sold on Wednesday of this week for $39,000, I would hazard a guess that the ask on this 2+2 (the least-desirable body style) is not market-correct. I’ll leave it at that….

THE MEASURE YOUR GARAGE FIRST SECTION

All these cars have an ask below 20 grand, and I found something appealing about them, even if they are not what I’m normally attracted to. HOWEVER, it is imperative that one measure one’s storage space first! But on a dollar-per-pound basis, some of these could be considered bargains.

1998 Lincoln Town Car, white over tan. Asking $10,900. Instant eligibility at any AACA show, and you’ll get there and back in speed, comfort, and luxury.

1964 Imperial 4-door hardtop. Asking $13,900. I’ve always been drawn to the 4-door hardtop body style. Here, you can comfortably take 5 or 6 of your buddies to the game, and, have trunk room for food and drink while you tailgate.

1972 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham. Asking $14,500. Enough green to be measured by the mile. Start a limo business, but get a green leisure suit first.

1973 Olds 98 2-door hardtop. Asking $18,000. More green. The two-door body really set this one apart for me. Put a set of sway bars on it and go chasing TR6s.

Coming up: Part 2, the Friday Car Show, and Part 3, the RM-Sotheby’s Auction.

Car Spotting, L.A., Sep. 2025

October 3, 2025 RichardReina Cars on the street California Car Culture, Los Angeles, Waymo

If you read last week’s blog about “Macchinissima” (of course you did), you knew that I was out in Los Angeles for several days last week. We northeast car collectors have long envied the advantages that southwest collectors have, with cars that avoid the ravages of rust (although their hot and sunny climate can wreak havoc on paint and upholstery). My first visit to L.A. was in 1977 as a twenty-three-year-old, and I never got over the sensation of having stepped into a time warp, seeing fifteen-year-old Chevys and Fords still on the road, which was definitely not something I saw on the streets of New York City.

But just because the sheetmetal lasts longer doesn’t mean that Los Angelenos keep their cars forever. We still live in a car-obsessed culture and the desire for the newest, flashiest, fastest vehicle that fits the budget pulls people into showrooms like bait on a hook. California is no exception and most cars and trucks on the road are newer. Still, when an older car makes an appearance, it sticks out, and I managed to snap a few interesting ones on this trip.

This very clean Datsun 280Z drove past us, then the owner parked it on the street like it was an Altima.

Along Venice Beach was this surfboard-laden VW Bus.

This lightly-modded early ’50s Chevy featured interior mood lighting.

Around the corner from the Chevy was this blacked-out Dodge Dart.

A Lincoln Mark III with gansta whitewalls (and maybe a TV in the back?)

A local parking garage yielded this clean Ford Ranchero

Just a few spots from the Ranchero was this ’60s Jaguar Mark II with a “for sale” sign. No asking price listed, though.

An International Scout, still scouting. Pretty soon the EV version will be on the streets.

What’s with all the doodads on this modern Jag? Why, it’s a Waymo! We drove past several of these and there’s no one behind the wheel. It’s fully autonomous, and no, we did not see a single one crash.

Macchinissima: L.A.’s All-Italian Car Show

September 29, 2025 RichardReina Car shows, Events All Italian car show, Macchi, Macchinissima

Several weeks ago, my wife and I planned a quick, four-night visit to the L.A. area to spend time with her brother, who has lived in Southern Cal for the last thirty years. After securing our airline tickets and hotel room, I searched the ‘net to see what else was going on. I stumbled across a car show scheduled for Saturday September 27 in downtown L.A. called Macchinissima. The name is a made-up word that even the locals can’t pronounce, and I discovered that most folks have shortened it to “Macchi.” Works for me. Now in its third year, it is a display of 100% Italian machinery and culture: cars, motorbikes, bicycles, food, drink, and music. I bought my ticket before leaving NJ, and at 9 a.m. Saturday morning, my wife and BIL dropped me off. (And by the way, why does NO ONE believe me when I say that my visit to Los Angeles during Macchinissima was a complete coincidence??)

Rolling Greens was the name of the spot hosting the show

At first, I wondered about my surroundings. I was in an industrial neighborhood with low-rise offices and warehouses, and graffiti plastered on every outside wall. The first show cars I spotted were all 105/115 series Alfa coupes and Spiders from the ‘60s and ‘70s, and I thought that this might be everything. As soon as I made a left turn through an open gate, the rest of the show opened up before me. The outside automotive displays extended as far as I could see, and the two buildings on either side of me were open and filled with more mechanical treasures. Besides the Alfas, within the first ten minutes I spotted Ferraris, Fiats, Lancias, and four Lamborghinis: two Miuras (both orange) and two Espadas. The hip L.A. crowd ranged from Millennials to Boomers of both sexes, absorbing the culture through all five senses. My wife had jokingly asked if she should pick me up in an hour. I realized now that I would be sticking around for most of the day.

The show’s organizers worked hard to make this something other than your typical car show. Vehicles were placed in small groups based on make, or model, or even color. There was no attempt to cram as many cars as possible onto the showfield; in fact, the spaciousness around some cars was refreshing and assisted with my (and others’) photographic efforts. The aforementioned graffiti actually provided a unique background for pictures. Inside one of the buildings, cheekily named the “Redrum,” every car was some shade of red. Instead of monotonous, it worked (helped by the popularity of rosso on Italian cars).

The evening before the show, I took a chance and emailed Elyse Barrett, who is the Managing Editor of the Alfa Romeo Owner’s Club (AROC) national magazine, Alfa Owner. She has published several articles of mine in the past, and we have never met. I was thrilled to hear back from her, informing me that she would be there. We found each other, and she and her husband Jim were very giving of their time with me.

There were almost too many highlights to call all of them out here, but for starters, there was a new Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale supercar; a DeTomaso Vallenuga; a 1935 Fiat Biallia; a Lancia Stratos; and my favorite car of the show, a one-off custom 1974 Alfa Spider with significantly modified sheetmetal, a custom interior, and a three-liter Busso V6 jammed under the hood (more about that car below). Italian cultural highlights included a coffee bar, an adult-drinks bar, pizza, Italian heroes, and gelato. If there was a disappointment, and it would be a minor one, it was the relatively small number of Fiats. There were no 124s of any body style, no 130s, no 850s, and a lone Fiat Dino, a Spider. Not sure if this was by choice or by availability.

At Macchi, pizzas are za’s, sandwiches are sandos, and drinks are bevies. Must be a local thing.

We have many wonderful concours on the East Coast, including Lime Rock, New Hope, and Hershey, all of which have been covered extensively on this blog. However, Macchinissima has no rivals on my home turf. While I wouldn’t make the long trek every year, it might be worth winging my way back every second or third year for the one-day immersion in La Dolce Vita, automotive style.

ALFA ROMEOS

This GTV (above) had a Busso V6 under its hood

Factory reps from Alfa Romeo North America were there with Alfa’s current lineup

(Above) an Alfa Romeo 1900 Zagato coupe

(Above) the 33 Stradale

The 1974 Alfa Spider Custom

I approached this car and could not make sense of what I was seeing. The windshield, door handles, headlights, and instrument panel left no doubt about its Spider origins. Or was I hallucinating? Not a single body panel looked like any Alfa Spider I had ever seen before. The grille was there, but the hood’s center section was raised. The side scallops were obliterated, replaced by smooth sheetmetal that reminded me of a ’50s or ’60s Ferrari Spider. The tail end, with its large round lights, was reminiscent of a Fiat Dino. What was this? Who built it? Was there more than one of these lurking somewhere? Personally, I found the changes to be breathtakingly beautiful, and I am at heart an “all original” kind of guy who eschews customization of almost any kind. All morning long I kept circling back, hoping to run into someone who knew the story. Finally, after lunch, the hood was opened, and yet another surprise: a 3.0L Alfa “Busso” V6 sat there looking like the car was born with it. The owner was present. I gushed. He told me that he is an architect, and he did 100% of the design work. But it was his brother, a “master metal fabricator,” who brought this dream to reality. Wow. If one popped up for sale, I would need to talk to my financial advisor to figure out a way to put in my garage.

LANCIA

FERRARI

(Above) One of the few new cars at the show was this 2025 Ferrari 12Cilindri. These photos do not do justice to the visual impact of this drop-dead gorgeous automobile. Yours for a cool half-million. Oops! Looks like it’s sold out.

FIAT

(Above) 1935 Fiat 508S Balilla

(Above) Fiat Abarth

(Above) Fiat Dino Spider

DE TOMASO VALLELUNGA

LAMBORGHINI

NJ-AROC Visits the Grounds for Sculpture

September 22, 2025September 22, 2025 RichardReina Alfa Romeo GT 1300 Jr., Drives, Events AROC NJ Chapter, Grounds for Sculptre

Sunday, September 21, 2025 was a busy day for participating members of AROC’s New Jersey Chapter as we found ourselves at three different locations throughout central NJ from early morning until mid-afternoon. Our optional start began at 8:30 a.m. at Colonial Park in Franklin Township in Somerset County. There, eight of us converged for a simple and quick breakfast of muffins, donuts, and coffee. Promptly at 9:15, the five Alfas (well, one was a Tonale which the Italian factory mislabeled as a Dodge Hornet), ably led by Bill DiPrima in his 164, caravanned to the Grounds for Sculpture.

There, we met up with many more of our fellow Alfisti (and one amico driving a Fiat 500 Abarth) who arrived at the museum separately. The Grounds for Sculpture staff had granted our request for secure private parking, and once we were all parked and locked, we had three hours to wander through the expansive grounds and buildings. (See the Sidebar for more about the Grounds for Sculpture.)

We reconvened at the cars at 1 p.m., and caravanned from there to Rossi’s Bar and Grill, where they were expecting us. Their extensive menu included pizza (“tomato pie”, actually), burgers, sandwiches, and more. The food and service were both wonderful, and our party split up around 3 p.m. for the rides home.

Besides Bill’s 164 and my Bertone coupe, other classic Alfas included two Spiders. Modern machinery in addition to the Italian Hornet and the Abarth included a Guilia sedan and a 4C. I will again comment how wonderful it is to be part of a club where both older and newer models of the same marque are equally welcome (and all kidding aside, we also open our arms to drivers of anything Italian).

A very big grazie goes to our Event Coordinator Bill DiPrima who oversaw today’s arrangements, and to Paul Mitchell who chose and scheduled our luncheon stop.

Enrico and Bill negotiate security details with guard

Bob shoots ducks (well, Bob shoots photos of ducks)

SIDEBAR: The Grounds for Sculpture

This was my third or fourth visit to this funky, offbeat, and diverse display of artwork. I won’t delve into the details which are better found here at this link anyway. But this most recent stop was the first time I spent most of my time outdoors, and with very cooperative weather overhead, there was lots to take in. The sampling of photos below give you some idea of what to expect. If you are ever in the area, or even if you are not, it’s worth the trip.

Local Church Combines Car Show with Annual Picnic

September 19, 2025 RichardReina Alfa Romeo GT 1300 Jr., Car shows

Our local Catholic Church held its annual picnic on Sunday, September 14, 2025, and for the first time, a parishioner worked to include an informal car show as part of the festivities. I drove my ’67 Alfa Romeo to the event, which was all of two miles away, and was delighted to find an assortment of vehicles on display (even if it was a little heavy on the Corvettes, with four in attendance).

The weather was perfect, and more than one attendee stopped to admire my car and its originality. My wife and I partook of the BBQ food, and after about three hours, the crowds dispersed, and I was back home in a matter of minutes. Nice cars, nice people, and nice weather converged to create a great afternoon!

AACA NJ Region Luncheon, Sep. 9, 2025

September 13, 2025 RichardReina Alfa Romeo GT 1300 Jr., Drives, Events Long Valley Brew Pub, NJ Region AACA

On Tuesday, September 9, 2025, members of the NJ Region of the AACA gathered at the Long Valley (NJ) Brew Pub for lunch and conversation. These mid-week meetings started earlier this year and are chaired by Abe, one of our more active club members. While previous luncheons had started with a brief tour from a common meeting point to the destination, this one omitted the drive, which for me was a disappointment. However, the collection of special-interest automobiles, combined with the group’s camaraderie, made up for that deletion.

As many of you know, I love to drive my Alfa Romeo (15,000 miles and counting during twelve years of ownership), and I did get to enjoy a spirited run up and back on Route 517 between Oldwick and Long Valley. This was a road made for a lightweight sports coupe with a high-revving engine.

With the Alfa in third gear, at 40 to 50 mph the engine was turning between four and five grand. At this speed and in this gear, the motor responded instantly to the slightest touch of the accelerator pedal. Both hands stayed on the wheel with eyes glued forward, and I was “in the zone.” I could have driven back and forth on that winding asphalt all day long.

Where was I? Oh, lunch. We had over a dozen AACA members and significant others, arriving in a variety of mostly American cars of the ‘50s through ‘80s. The only other import besides my Italiana macchina was Doug’s immaculate 1991 Miata, a special-edition model in what Mazda called British Racing Green. Other cars included a ubiquitous ’57 Chevy, a Ford Granada, a downsized but still-large ‘80s Cadillac, a Mustang convertible, and an ‘80s Mercury Cougar.

The restaurant was not crowded, and the service and food were exemplary. I’ve been to this Brew Pub many times before, and have always enjoyed the experience. I know that Abe, the event’s chairperson, has two more luncheons on the calendar for this year. I will do my best to join one or both of them before storing my steed for the winter.

The Lime Rock “Sunday in the Park” Show, 2025 Edition

September 1, 2025September 7, 2025 RichardReina Car shows, Events Lime Rock Historic Festival, Lime Rock Park

We East Coasters caught a real break with the weather, as our climate moved away from the hot and humid conditions of July and August and into cooler and less humid (but still sunny) days to close out the month. This made our annual trip to Lime Rock Park on the Sunday of Labor weekend even more enjoyable. This year, two of my NJ-AROC (NJ Chapter of the Alfa Romeo Owners Club) buddies rode along in the persons of Bob C. and Paul M., both of whom took care of all the driving! All I had to do was sit back and relax.

We arrived at the track at exactly 10 a.m., grabbed some coffee, and proceeded to the show cars. As always, there were special classes designated by the show organizers, as well as the popular “Gathering of the Marques,” populated by local clubs as well as individuals who wanted to show off their rides without preregistering for any particular class. This year, classes included the 50^th Anniversary of the BMW 3-Series, One-owner Cars, “Body Doubles” (essentially replicars), Porsche 356s, Spirit of the Roadster, Designs of Giorgetto Giugiaro, Hemi Evolution, and Classic Ferrari V12 Coupes. In other words, something for (almost) everyone.

As we began our stroll, someone tipped us off that the cars in the “Marques” section might start to leave early, so we decided to beeline to the end of the show, where we would reverse our direction and slowly take in the displays. I’m glad we did because vehicles began departing by 11:45 a.m.! This was the only disappointing aspect of the day, but we still got to see what we came for. One highlight was the larger-than-usual turnout of Alfa Romeos, including two modern 4Cs and three Zagato GT Juniors. Mustangs were out in their usual large numbers, but the BMW headcount looked a bit shrunken, especially lacking in 2002s. The Ferrari V12 coupes were my personal highlight, as it included two 330/365 GTCs, my all-time favorite model from this fabled Italian marque.

The award ceremony began at 1:30 p.m. and concluded soon after, and that’s when the real exodus started. Mental note for next year: try to arrive a little earlier and be aware that many show cars depart sooner than might be expected. We three decided to tour the paddocks, as we were in no rush to hit the road, finally getting underway about 3:30 p.m. Except for some unexpected traffic on the NYS Thruway, the drive up and back was a joy. Lime Rock’s Labor Day Sunday show is a permanent event on my calendar.

ONE OWNER CARS

A more careful reading of some of the placards on cars in the class revealed that several of them are “one-family owned,” slightly different than “one owner.”

I normally don’t spend a huge amount of time around 356s, but this color was particularly attractive

The BMW Z1 was never officially imported into the U.S.

The Z1’s most unique feature is its sliding doors

This one-off Alfa features a handmade body of the owner’s design, sitting on a chassis from a 1930s Alfa.

This class disappointed me, not for its cars, but for its paucity, although I suspect that a few cars in this class may have departed before I got to this display.

1981 VW Scirocco (with my friend Alicia)

CLASSIC FERRARI V12 COUPES

The Ferrari 330 GTC (later renamed 365 GTC when its engine was enlarged) has a shape which has charmed me since I first saw a photograph of one in a magazine as a thirteen-year-old. This year I was honored to find two of these on display, one in classic red and the other in Pino Verde (pine green).

THE GATHERING OF THE MARQUES

ALFA ROMEO

OTHER ITALIAN

Yes, this Chrysler TC by Maserati was parked with the Italians. Who am I to argue?

1980 Ferrari 308 GTB, Euro spec with carbs and small bumpers

LORENZO’S 308 GT4

Fellow NJ-AROC member Lorenzo proudly showed his unrestored Ferrari 308 GT4 in the “Barn Find and Unrestored” class. He performed significant mechanical reconditioning to make it roadworthy, and he’s doing his best to preserve the original lacquer paint.

BRITISH

GERMAN

AMERICAN

PARTING SHOTS

The 2025 New Hope Auto Show

August 25, 2025 RichardReina Car shows, Events New Hope Auto Show

My most recent blog post focused solely on the Alfa Romeos at this year’s New Hope Auto Show. This post will cover the remainder of the Sunday import car show field.

The featured vehicle this year was the VW bus, in its various generations. It looked like there were perhaps fifteen buses on display, making for a colorful lineup. Of course, other Volkswagens were there as well, but I noted a surprising lack of water-cooled VWs, at least compared to what I’ve seen at New Hope previously. Porsches dominated the show field, although Alfa Romeo wasn’t far behind in the count. British cars, mostly MGs and Triumphs, also made a strong showing.

In general, New Hope limits show entries to vehicles twenty-five years old and older, in original and “show-ready” condition. A small number of exceptions are made, primarily for low-volume vehicles which continued to be sold in this market beyond the year 2000. Judging is taken very seriously, and focuses on originality and condition.

The school parking lot limits the show size in a good way. It’s easy to park, wander in, and stroll around the lot, taking in all the show vehicles in just a few hours. The New Hope Auto Show, which began in 1957, shows no sign of slowing down.