There was plenty to see — and swap — at festive Hershey 2012 By Angelo Van Bogart The Antique Automobile Club of America’s (AACA) annual Eastern Division National Fall Meet…
There was plenty to see — and swap — at festive Hershey 2012
The last 107 years have been very kind to this one-cylinder 1905 Cadillac, which remains an exceptional unrestored example. Owner John Hershey displayed the car in the HPOF class.
By Angelo Van Bogart
The Antique Automobile Club of America’s (AACA) annual Eastern Division National Fall Meet in Hershey, Pa. (a.k.a. Hershey) contains the largest flea market known to man, and one of the most prestigious show fields along the East Coast. Hundreds of thousands of hobbyists flock to the event each fall, and the 2012 event, held Oct. 10-13aof this year, marked the 57th event held in Hershey.
The 9,000 vendor spaces, 1,000-plus cars in the car corral and the 1,300 show cars are what make Hershey so popular year after year. The sheer quantity is also what drives owners to show their rare and unusual cars, and 2012 was no different.
The following photos show many of the rare sights to be found at this year’s Hershey meet.
Just three or four Imperial convertibles are believed to have been built “off the books” in 1956, including this example, the finest restored example remaining.
The original owner was offering his 1940 Packard 110 Station Sedan for $165,000. He purchased it from Zell Motor Co. in Baltimore and said the car was one of less than 80 built.
Looking like a ghost on the empty, early-morning show field, this racy 1918 Mercer looked ready to relive its glory years on a dusty dirt road. Owners Stan and Darlene Smith even included a vintage bicycle in case the ol’ Mercer ran out of fuel.
Sans “for sale” signs, this 1937 Packard sedan delivery parked in the car corral came from the collection of Packard collector Ralph Marano.
The horsecollar grille of this top-of-the-line 1958 Edsel Citation two-door hardtop has seen just 26,000 miles worth of bugs in its lifetime.
An early entry on the field in the HPOF class, this 1949 Oldsmobile 88 fastback was going for a repeat in the Historic Preservation of Original Features class for unrestored originals.
Want to live like Frank Sinatra? Then this 1957 Dual Ghia is the ticket. The example offered at Hershey was the fifth of 117 built and was presented in partially restored condition with a $135,000 price tag.
Only 668 Plymouth rumbleseat convertibles were built in 1939, and this sharp example made for a nifty ride at the $40,000 mark.
Almost any “shovel nose” 1932 Packard 900 Series model is rare, but in coupe form, the Packard is an extremely rare sight.
Deals are rare at an event as large as Hershey, but this 1950 Studebaker five-passenger coupe with the nicknamed “Starlight” wrap-around back window was offered at just $16,500. The car had undergone a “comprehensive restoration” that was undoubtedly far more expensive than the asking price.
Reggie Nash displayed his outstanding Count Alexis de Sakhnoffsky-designed 1940 Nash Special roadster, one of three believed to still exist.
With its hood open for the judges, owner Donald Jenkins’ 1954 Skylark returned to the AACA show field in hopes of getting a preservation award following its First Senior Award.
Ralph Marano brought two Packard show cars to the field for judging: the 1953 Balboa (essentially a Caribbean hardtop) and this car, the 1954 Panther. Of the four Panthers built, just two survive. Clearly, the fin treatment of the Panthers appeared on the production 1955 and ’56 Packards. Marano’s example is the only Panther built with a removable hardtop.
Famous Buick collector Nicola Bulgari of watch-making fame brought this long and lithe 1934 Buick Series 90 coupe.
There are just 411 miles on this 1964 Impala, according to its New Jersey owner. Yes, 411! The original owner was apparently intent on keeping the car pristine for several decades. The price for this time capsule? $39,900.
Looking like a scene out of a salvage yard 50 years ago, this vendor’s portable heap of early Ford iron was largely composed of Model T body parts.
To learn more about the AACA, go to www.aaca.org or call 717-534-1910.
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