“There were many very interesting cars that I did not know, but no information about them.All each car got was a tiny plaque stating year and make lying flat on the grass in front of the car.” Sign of the Times I was rereading Jeff Trepel’s article about The Amelia Concours from the June issue (Event Report, p. 48) and saw something important I had overlooked earlier. He said he wished Hagerty would bring back a feature from the Bill Warner era, “…signs that gave interesting information about entrants. Even just three or four bullet points on each car would be […]
“There were many very interesting cars that I did not know, but no information about them. All each car got was a tiny plaque stating year and make lying flat on the grass in front of the car.”
Sign of the Times
I was rereading Jeff Trepel’s article about The Amelia Concours from the June issue (Event Report, p. 48) and saw something important I had overlooked earlier. He said he wished Hagerty would bring back a feature from the Bill Warner era, “…signs that gave interesting information about entrants. Even just three or four bullet points on each car would be helpful.”
I can’t agree more. I went to The Amelia two years ago and was quite disappointed with it. There were many very interesting cars that I did not know, but no information about them. All each car got was a tiny plaque stating year and make lying flat on the grass in front of the car. Since there was usually a crowd around a car, you could not see it unless you finally got right on top of it. Even then, it had no useful information on it.
I know exhibitors were frustrated too. A couple brought their information placards from the annual Geneva Concours in Geneva, IL. Another, the frustrated owner of a beautiful 1931 Buick, provided information on his car using a lined tear-out page from a loose-leaf notebook attached to the grille with masking tape.
The lack of information on cars, especially when combined with the extraordinarily high price charged for entrance to the crowded concours show field, made me decide never to return. Despite all the revenue they take in, it seems surprisingly cheap of them. A big mistake by Hagerty, in my opinion, which it has continued to this day. — Robert L. Banks, Lake Bluff, IL
Rainy-Day Memories
With regard to your article “Clanks for the Memories” (Shifting Gears, July 2026, p. 24), you wrote that, “Only cool people drove British sports cars, and those who drove them in the rain were the coolest of them all.”
Well, in 1960s Sacramento, my girlfriend (Elaine) and I loved to drive my ’57 MGA with the top down in the rain. Rather than cool, my siblings and friends thought that both of us were a bit tetched! Anyway, thanks for the great memories that your magazine regularly brings forth. — Jack Strong, Long Beach, CA
NMVTIS FTW
Like many of your readers, I all but devour every issue soon after it arrives. I read John Draneas’ column in the July issue (Legal Files, “Salvaging Reputations,” p. 44) and thought your readers might be interested in a couple of other real-world examples. For years I used to actively buy/sell/trade exotic and collector cars as a hobby business, mostly Porsches and Ferraris with others mixed in.
In one instance I traded an F355 coupe for two Canadian-import Mercedes that had clean CARFAX reports, including a nice E55 which I promptly sold to a lawyer, who wisely wouldn’t pay me until DMV processed the paperwork. Together we went to the DMV, where we learned the car had been stolen in Canada. (Remember the Canadian insurance fraud scheme?) The police showed up soon after and confiscated both cars. DMV had run the VIN through NMVTIS.
Later, I sold another F355 to a dealer. The CARFAX was clean when he bought it, but a year or so later he crashed it and his insurer found the CARFAX now recorded a mileage discrepancy and paid him a diminished value. He sent his lawyers after me, but luckily, they soon backed off.
I have other examples, but suffice to say, having an NMVTIS report offers another layer of security, albeit imperfect, as noted in the article. Valuable work here by Mr. Draneas and SCM. Thank you. — Michael Klein, Basalt, CO
Besties
Thank you for the work put in to get SCM to us car nuts each month. One quick note about SCMers at The Amelia (June 2026, p. 49). My 1990 BMW M3 was “Best BMW” last year at Classic Motorsports Amelia Island Kickoff and part of “50 Years of 3 Series” last year and “50 Years of BMW M Cars” this year at The Amelia Concours Cars & Caffeine. Also, this year, my 1969 Olds 442 was “Best GM” at the kickoff car show. — Ken Schuster, via email
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