May 23, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES I, II, III & IV • Page 15 John Hovey houses his antique car collection in style bar and fully restored it to its original glory. Since then, he’s bought and sold scores of cars. On one occasion, he bought 25 at a clip just to get his hands on a 1907 6-cyl. Pierce Great Arrow. Now he has only eight cars in his garage, including the oldest 4cyl. car in the US, a 1900 Panhard touring car, which he bought in 1985; and the oldest 2-cyl. car in the world, a 1903 Pierce. And what a garage it is! The Hoveys moved to a larger property in Wyckoff so he could build a carriage house for his cars right on the premises. The 30-ft. by 50-ft. building is a replica of the early 1900s’ carriage barn at Hildene, Todd Lincoln’s family estate outside Manchester, Vermont. The Hovey building features solid mahogany doors, copper gutters, a fully-equipped kitchen with dishes for 50 people, and a mechanic’s workshop. The walls are decorated with framed billboards for famous rallies, many of which the Hoveys has driven in. The second floor, whose walls are lined with original posters or prints related to antique cars, is designed as a party room, with a prominent spot for the pool table that once graced the Hamilton Club in Paterson. The Hoveys often host fundraising events there for the many non-profit organizations they support. Through the years, Hovey and his family have enjoyed the antique cars for touring and traveling, but none of his three children have inherited his passion for them. Only recently, one of his grandsons has undertaken restoring a Model T from scratch. Hovey himself is now working on a 1914 Pierce 48 hp seven passenger touring car, yet another labor of love. John Hovey among his antique car collection. Wyckoff’s John Hovey got the bug for antique cars from his father, who had so much fun with his 1920 Model T Ford, that he inspired his son to follow in his footsteps. Only, to John, antique cars are more than fun: they are a labor of love, a passion, a way to see the world and stay connected. “I’ve met a lot of wonderful people all over the world, and I try to keep up with them by going on tours regularly, otherwise they become just acquaintances,” he notes philosophically. This week he is traveling to England to take part in Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee Tour through Northern England and Scotland. He has already sent ahead the 1907 Pierce Great Arrow in which he and his wife, Rosa, are going to ride. And in November they will ride their 1902 CGV in an all-day trek from London to the seaside resort of Brighton along with 500 other cars built in 1904 or earlier. Hovey bought his first antique car, a 1920 Model T, in 1955 while a student at Stevens Institute of Technology. He towed it all the way from Iowa with just a metal