Automobilia expo features international collection of vintage items
Car culture isn’t just about the vehicles, for many it’s about the community, the knowledge aspect and the memorabilia. Collectors of all kinds made their way to the Automobilia Collectors Expo during Classic Car Week, at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Seaside from Monday to Wednesday.
Hosted by What’s Up Monterey, this is unofficially the 20th year of the event. Formally known as Automobilia Monterey, the former founder of the expo retired and two new names took on the event planning.
Will Elkadi, owner of What’s Up Monterey and Ben Horton, owner of Hortons Books rebranded with a new name and invited many returning and new vendors to Seaside to continue the tradition.
Taking over in March, Elkadi and Horton had less than five months to pull the collectors show off, bringing together dozens of vendors from all over the country and internationally.
“It’s about vintage culture, antiques and memorabilia. These are things you couldn’t find anywhere else,” Elkadi said. “You can buy find old and antique car parts that aren’t sold in stores, purchase original racing suits worn by famous drivers, and get custom handmade gear from countries in Europe.”
Visitors could search through hundreds of items from GearHeads wall decor featuring colorful neon signs to automotive decor from Ben Harvey, who sold unique pieces like an espresso machine made out of a car engine. Big names in automobile art and paintings like Lynda Hinter, James Caldwell and Michael Furman were in attendance as well.
Christian Schimpke, from Los Angeles, is the founder of Crash, jewelry handcrafted from luxury cars. She repurposes discarded metal that doesn’t get recycled and creates bracelets, necklaces and other jewelry pieces with the original car paint and colors. From there, she lasers designs into the pieces, making each one unique.
“I’ve been an artist for decades, and my husband’s body shop worked with luxury vehicles. When he would bring these beautiful cars to the garage, I always admired the colors,” Schimpke said.
It’s not just car memorabilia either, Mike Headley from Yorba Linda, had an array of vintage radios from the 1930s and 40s.
“My grandfather gave me a small radio 37 year ago that he owned,” Headley said, “and I’ve been collecting them ever since.”
Hortons Books is a family-owned business that sells out of print motoring books and brochures. The owner, Ben Horton, is one of the new founders of the Automobilia expo, hoping to help grow the event even larger next year. (Kyarra Harris/Monterey Herald)
The vendor stand for Crash, sustainable jewelry made from the metal of luxury cars. The founder, Christi Schimpke said each item is hand made and retains the car’s original paint color. (Kyarra Harris/Monterey Herald)
The company Acaba Gantier sells leather racing gloves from France, and were a popular item amongst visitors browsing the tables. (Kyarra Harris/Monterey Herald)
The Central Coast Poker Rally volunteers each year setting up small games for guests at the entrance to the expo, the proceeds go to equipment for the Mid-Coast Fire Brigade. The lobby also featured a DJ and drinks for a mingling space. (Kyarra Harris/Monterey Herald)
Show Caption1 of 4Hortons Books is a family-owned business that sells out of print motoring books and brochures. The owner, Ben Horton, is one of the new founders of the Automobilia expo, hoping to help grow the event even larger next year. (Kyarra Harris/Monterey Herald)
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