Chasing Classic Cars in NYC
I had the good fortune to have lunch recently with some tried and true car enthusiasts in NYC. The guest speaker was Wayne Carini of the popular Velocity show Chasing Classic Cars. Wayne has been a restorer in CT for many years, and long before the show he had already been well known in New England and NY, especially among the vintage crowd. The show, now broadcast in 37 countries, has made him a house-hold name in car circles here and abroad.
For this fun NYC lunch Wayne brought in his 1921 Stutz K Bearcat and parked it in front of Sardi’s Restaurant on 42nd Street.
For the few who didn’t already know the story he explained how he acquired this rare car. Sometime in 2015 a man called him about a Stutz K Bearcat that he spotted in a barn in Georgia while on a hunting trip. Wayne knew enough to be skeptical, but sent the caller back for pics and more info. It turns out the original owner, a surgeon, had purchased the 1921 Stutz K Bearcat in Boston new, drove it, parked it in 1931, went off to war, came back and died soon thereafter. The car and property were left to a caretaker, who then left it to his son. 85 years after the Stutz was parked, Wayne negotiated a deal with the caretaker’s son and had the car hauled back to CT.
At the 2015 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance the Stutz K Bearcat won the special FIVA Postwar Trophy for Preservation Class. Wayne also showed the car at the Greenwich Concours in June. He announced that, as much as he has enjoyed the car; the chase, preserving and showing it, he is ready to pass the car on to the next owner for enjoyment. The car has been consigned to Bonham’s to be auctioned in Monterey, 2016.
Wayne also talked about starting his tenth season of Chasing Classic Cars, its start (following a WSJ article by Donald Osbourne), and his thorough enjoyment of doing what he loves.
Denise on Camera Two
The Stutz K Bearcat is tied down for the ride over to Bonham’s
