Fall Hershey Show & Swap Meet
Written by Keith Fudge

It’s officially known as the Eastern Division AACA Fall Meet, but classic car aficionados simply refer to it as “Hershey.”  Last fall, Dennis Gage and the crew had the chance to attend the show that everyone in the business considers to be the “granddaddy of them all.”  This year marked the 50th anniversary of the show, and the crowd was bigger than ever.  There were 10,000 swap spaces and more than 1,300 cars for sale in the car corral!  Dennis spoke with Robert “Mac” MacAdam who told him that this was the place to be if you were looking for vintage cars or parts.  Mac also said that the event was volunteer run and that 734 volunteers were giving their time to make sure that this year’s event was running smoothly.  Dennis also spoke with Steve Moskowitz, AACA Executive Director, who told him that if you can’t find the part you need at this event, then you can find someone to tell you where to get it.  In fact, it may need to be said that if you can’t find it here, you really don’t need it at all!  In fact, we found out firsthand just how far people are willing to go to find the parts that they need when we ran into one man from Australia who was looking for parts for his 1947 Cadillac!  With all these parts to peruse and a high-quality selection of cars for sale, Dennis was soon ready to walk the grounds to see what he could find.

First, Dennis found Jack Miller and his convertible 1959 Mercedes 250S.  This car is one of a few that were “bench built,” or in other words were built to exact owner specs.  These cars could be ordered with any materials and with any colors, and they cost more than $9,000 in 1959.  That was more than three times the price of a standard Mercedes of that time.  No two of these cars were alike.  That is something else that made them truly special.  When looking at the amenities of this one, it is easy to see why!  This car is painted in a two-toned paint scheme of red and black.  On the inside, the finest leather was used on the seats, and the interior is finished in polished walnut root wood.  The car features running boards, and the convertible top consists of four layers or padding to ensure a quiet ride when traveling.  On the technical side, under the hood is a six-cylinder, overhead cam engine equipped with dual carburetors, power brakes, and a four-speed transmission.  Dual climate controls are nothing new because this car had them in 1959!  No doubt about it, this is one custom car from one of the most respected auto makers in the world!  Next, Dennis found a man in the car corral who had just made a purchase within the last ten minutes!  Meet Ed Eldridge from North Carolina, the proud new owner of a sweet 1956 Chrysler Windsor.  Ed said that the looks of the car truly caught his eye.  When the previous owner started it and he heard the roar of the Hemi beneath the hood, he decided that he had to have it.  The Hemi was the original 331 but had been bored out to a 354.  The engine also sported dual four-barrel carburetors and a solid lifter cam.  Soon, Dennis ran into another North Carolina native, George Cooper the owner of a sweet 1958 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser.  George said that he has owned as many as 28 of these cars at one time and that he has sold parts to nearly everyone in the country for them!  This car is simply exceptional and features such Mercury trademarks as the power back glass that allows the patented “Flow-through Ventilation.”  On the inside, the car features a black and white two-toned interior and a factory tachometer.  No wonder it looked so good!  It only has 29,000 actual miles on it!  Under the hood is the factory original Lincoln 368 cubic-inch engine!  What an awesome cruiser!  Finally, Dennis ran into Mark Ayman and his ultra-rare 1952 Lancia Aurelia.  This Euro-beauty is one off show car that was built as a prototype for the 1952 auto show circuit.  Its art deco styling features some unusual amenities such as a designer key to wind the clock and an embossed vinyl interior.  Power is furnished through an all-aluminum V-6 engine, and another unique feature is a thermostat controlled louver for the radiator.  Low and lean, this cool car has been shown at Pebble Beach.  We are sure that it will continue to turn heads where ever it is!

Dennis and the crew had a great time in the town known for “The Mother of all Car Shows.”  It is also a place known to produce a pretty good chocolate bar!  If you go to Hershey, we will just bet that you will find what you are looking for as well.  That’s it from Hershey, Pennsylvania.  So until our next trip, “Honor the timeless classics.  Happy Motoring!”