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The Annual Meeting is scheduled for February 7-9, 2013 in Philadelphia, PA. An information request card was sent out on the carrier sheet in the November/December issue of Antique Automobile. Check back on the website soon for more details and registration information.
For Judges, we want to make a big effort towards making materials about Judging more
 accessible. In the December Judges Newsletter you can read more about these new tools we have available like this YouTube video on recruiting AACA Judges. Visit our website for information and updates on National meets and tours, judging info, our events calendar, and more!
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Holiday Savings! Be sure to visit the AACA merchandise site and browse our selection of gift items and more. Some of our hot deals include:
- 75th Anniversary Book - Now $30.00 plus $7.95 shipping
- Christmas Ornaments (Mustangs and Corvettes) - Now $2.00 each plus shipping
- AACA Pocket Knife $8.00 plus shipping
- New "Classical Gas" T-shirts
- Limited Edition Byer's Choice Figurines Made exclusively for the AACA $69.95 each plus shipping
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AACA Scholarships Available!
AACA offers several types of scholarship to deserving students. Applications and information can be found at aaca.org/scholarships.html. The deadline has been extended for applications, please send by December 15, 2012.
Send to Myron Smith, 1505 SW 112th Street, Lincoln, NE 68532, myronsmith@windstream.net
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Longterm Automobile Ownership
By Member Russ Baer
The photo of Arlo Gilbert polishing his 1914 Willys Overland - bought new by his grandfather - (Antique Automobile Nov-Dec 2011) made me think: how many cars have been in one family for almost 100 years? At present I think it unlikely that any other car has been - 110 years? - highly improbable - 115? - how 'bout impossible? Of course, as the years roll by, the odds increase. So the question is - Does the AACA have any idea of the number of long term single owner or single family owner cars within its membership base?* Is there an easy way to find out? Is there any way to find out?
I think this is an interesting issue (obviously or I wouldn't be writing). OK, I am speaking as a relatively long term owner - 50 years in 'ought twelve. But what is a long term owner? Ten years ago I hosted a 40th anniversary party for 'Sunshine' my 1962 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider. Lots of people and thirty of her I.C. engined friends showed up. Everyone thought forty years was amazingly long - but maybe it wasn't. Fifty, though, seems like a nice round number to define 'long term'.
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5 Things That Are Costing You Money & Destroying Your Vehicle
Preface: Fuel Systems and Ethanol Fuel
Older vehicles made before 2004 do not have fuel system components that can stand up to the highly corrosive effects of ethanol-blended gasoline. As ethanol has infiltrated the nation's fuel supply, more and more people are witnessing firsthand how ethanol dissolves rubber and plastic parts over time and draws water into the fuel. Beyond this, ethanol reduces gas mileage (it has less energy than gasoline does). Depending on what state you're in, it may actually be illegal to buy ethanol-free gas at the filling station.
Here are the 5 facts you need to know to protect your vehicles and your wallet.
Fact 1: Ethanol is an alcohol added to gasoline by federal law, which is costing Americans more of their money this year than ever before. A recent study performed by the US Automakers warn drivers that additional Ethanol added to our fuel could cost them $4,000 in repairs on each vehicle they drive.
Fact 2: You get lower mileage on ethanol-blended gasoline than regular gasoline because ethanol has less energy in it. E10 users already see a 3 - 5% drop in fuel economy. With E15 being pushed out nationwide within a year, you can expect an even larger drop in fuel economy from this blend.
Fact 3: Ethanol attracts moisture from the air, which destroys the quality of the gasoline and strips away a good amount of the octane rating of that fuel due to phase separation. You end up with a layer of poor quality gasoline and a layer of water and ethanol in the bottom of your fuel tank that can damage your engine if it's sucked up into the combustion chamber by your fuel line.
Fact 4: Ethanol is corrosive to rubber, plastic and even some metals like aluminum. Over time, this process can destroy seals, gaskets, fuel lines and other key components of your engine costing you breakdowns and extra repair costs.
Fact 5: You can protect yourself from the damaging effects of ethanol with Ethanol Defense by Bell Performance. Bell has supplied AACA with the above information and they can be contacted at www.EthanolDefense.com. AACA does not endorse this product nor have we done any testing. We offer this info purely as educational and you can make your own decision on the value of the product. We all surely know that ethanol is an enemy of many of our collector cars.
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| Library & Research Center |
 Festive Cars Do you have any favorite Thanksgiving family traditions? Since 1924, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade has become an integral part of many an American's holiday experience. However, the infamous New York City department store's display remains far from an isolated event, as there are more than 50,000 parades held annually in the U.S. alone! In these processions, elaborate floats filled with vibrant colors have proven wildly popular with crowds. Believe it or not, the tradition of parade floats originated in medieval Europe when churches decorated horse-drawn wagons with biblical scenes. However, the term "float" can be traced back to London in 1535 with the Lord Mayor's Show, in which a parade of decorated barges floated down the River Thames. The name has stuck ever since, and by the time automobiles rolled on to the scene in the 1890s, it was only natural that they would carry on tradition. Continue reading here... |
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Discover More
To learn more about motor-floats, why not "float" on over to the Library or give us a call? It is just one of a plethora of subjects found in our flat files, which are not found in our online catalog. They contain information on everything from carburetors and tires to more unusual topics, such as early amphibious vehicles and sales literature on funeral cars.
Over time we will be showcasing more "oddball" examples from our collection on our new blog: http://aacalibrary.tumblr.com/ Be sure to check it often, as we will be adding new material every day!
Our Best eBay Auction Yet!
Looking for the perfect gift for your favorite automotive enthusiast? Be sure to visit our eBay store. eBay store link here.
We Have:
- Reproduction factory photographs
- Books
- AACA Memorabilia
Very rare material is up for auction this month (Auction link here):
- Antique license plates from 1917 through 1957
- 50 Rare Books, including:
- 5 different editions of Autocourse
- 6 editions of Automobil Revue
- The Grand Prix Car Vol. 1 by Lawrence Pomeroy
- Classic Car Profiles Vol. 1 - 96
- Automobile Racing by Ray F. Kuns
- Brill City and Interurban Cars (1910) - a catalog of trolley and railroad cars
- pre-war book published for the Japanese Auto Club of Southern California
- Several antique automotive books, such as the Hand Book of Automobiles (1925), Two Thousand Miles on an Automobile (1902), and The Romance of the Automobile Industry (1916)
- And much, much more!
The auction ends on Sunday, December 1st at 9:30 PM EST, so be sure to place your bids in before then! Also be sure to check out eBay store in the future, as we will be expanding our inventory of photographs and books in the coming months. For a full list of available photographs be sure to view our master list. Master list of photos here.
More info available on our website or contact our head librarian, Chris Ritter critter@aaca.org or 717-534-2082.
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1. This auto company, the last of the great independents, folded up and quit producing automobiles in 1966.
2. These two Italian automobile companies merged in 1969 (Hint: Ford had earlier, but unsuccessfully, tried to buy one of them.)
3. This patent for a hydrocarbon motor vehicle caused havoc among auto manufacturers in the early 1900s.
4. What was the original name of the Chrysler Corporation?
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It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Trains, Trees, Toys & Tons of Holiday Fun! Now- January 6, 2013
New this year the Museum has trees decorated by local school children (vote for your favorite!), The Car-Toon Truck featuring all comic book characters from 1896 - present, Herbie the Love Bug, more Trains with a new display, more Themed Trees - Pez, Teddy Bear, Santa, Hershey's, snowman, Grinch & more, new Coca-Cola theme area. Many of your favorites are back again - Ernie's Taxi from "It's A Wonderful Life", Sammy the Snow Plow and The Great Grinch Escape. Lots of new and exciting things for this season!
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We want to hear from you! Tell us about your vehicle, a restoration project, an event recap or tour account! Send a short story and photos about your love of the antique auto hobby so we can share it with the rest of our members here on Speedster.
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The Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, is the country's premier resource for the collectible vehicle community. Since its formation in 1935, the Club, through its national office, publications, and membership, aids individuals, museums, libraries, historians and collectors dedicated to the enjoyment and preservation of automotive history.
AACA Headquarters
501 W. Governor Road
Hershey, PA 17033
Phone: 717-534-1910
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