Fiat Otto Vu s/n 000051 was one of two similar Vignale bodied V-8 Fiats and was seen at the Quail. Photo by Hugues Vanhoolandt.
By Wallace Wyss
Photos by Author unless otherwise noted
Dear Editor,
Automobilia was the first event I rolled into, which starts Tuesday morning of “car week” and is held in the Embassy Suites hotel in Seaside. This event has at least 30 vendors and they all bring their specialties. Some bring out of print books (I was shocked when the vendor next to my booth told me he sold three books for over $1400 each!). Some bring older posters both pre-war and post-war; there was a vendor from England with original photographs that he was proud to say “weren’t digital.” A few sell car bits, like the fellow next to me selling Rolls Royce radiator ornaments.
And then some were selling clothes that were either copying old pre-war racing clothing or in the spirit of sports car clothing. I had my own booth vending the brand spanking new Incredible Barn Finds and was pleased when, on the second day of the event, I met people who’d bought one the first day and were enthusiastic to finish it.
Go ahead, make my day. Wyss gets the nod from Leno.