Pennsylvania’s Annual 4-Day Gathering Celebrating the Cars and Parts of the Collector-Car Hobby
By Richard Lentinello
Some call it ground-zero, others call it Mecca, but regardless what you refer to it as, there’s no question that Hershey is still the world’s greatest and biggest collector-car event. There is no substitute.
This year’s event started on Tuesday, October 8 and concluded with a car show on Friday, October 11. Every year it takes place on the grounds adjacent to the Hersheypark amusement park, just East of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Hosted by the Hershey Region of the Antique Automobile Club of America, this was its 69th year.
Officially known as the AACA Eastern National Fall Meet, it features over 7,000 vendors selling all sorts of pre-war and post-war parts and automobilia, 1,000-plus collector cars for sale in the car corral, and just about 1,000 authentic show cars, trucks and motorcycles take part during Friday’s massive car show. This is one of those events that really must be experienced in order to absorb its enormity. Best of all, it’s FREE! That’s right, there’s no admission fee.
This extravaganza of everything automotive relating to the old car hobby is an absolute must if you own, restore, collect or simply admire old vehicles. I started going to Hershey back in 1983, and plan on attending this October parts fest for many more years. Come the second week of October, there’s no place I would rather be than walking through the endless aisles of this enormous and always fascinating swap meet. You just never know what you’ll find.
If you have old car and truck parts to sell, Hershey is the place. But you must be a member of the club. To join, please go to www.aaca.org. You’ll be glad you did.
Here is just a small sampling of the nearly 1,000 authentic old cars that took part during Friday’s incredible car show. And there’s no admission to attend – It’s totally FREE!!
