They say good cars don’t get old, or at least that they get better when they do. Old cars always have battle scars about which to boast, and owners who drove them with pride. Cars from way back have quite a story to tell, because they reconnect the past with the here and now. Perhaps that is one of the reasons why Thomas Price has a soft spot for vintage cars.

He has a soft spot for almost thirty of them, in fact. He has amassed his collection of stunning and memorable vintage cars over the years, including his favorite Alfa 8C. And at 67 years of age, Tom Price has no plans to stop collecting cars just yet.

Believing in Cars

He has been hoping to own a roadster from the pre-war era, despite his already jaw-dropping collection. Price collects cars not to just put them up on a pedestal and keep them under lock and key. He does his vintage cars justice by racing them, and winning often.

Price’s infatuation with automobiles started early on. His love for everything on wheels has fueled him to dedicate his career to cars, with more than three decades of auto entrepreneurship under his belt. With Price, his work is also his hobby.

Talk to Tom Price about his cars and he’ll probably mention the 1932 Alfa Romeo Supercharged 8C before all others. Bought from an Englishman who raced the Alfa 8C in the ‘80s, the sturdy car’s shelf life was given another extension after Price continued to race it with pride. Just last year, his Alfa Romeo 8C had another victory at the Wine Country Classic, proving that the car still has what it takes to win. That’s why he believes in his cars.

Tom Price’s favorite: 1932 Alfa Romeo Supercharged 8C

Hunting for Treasure

Tom Price has been in the car industry long enough for him to possess the extra knowledge needed to spot a diamond in the rough.

When it comes to cars, he doesn’t shy away from cheap buys and bargains. More than a decade ago, he spotted an ad in the paper about a 1948 Jaguar drophead convertible. At a little over $1,000, it was a bargain. Price acted fast, purchasing the magnificent Jaguar without delay.

Aside from its pedigree, the car had a few special touches that made it stand out. The convertible top had a classic landau bar made of chrome, and three control presets for the operation of the top: closed, partly closed, and fully open. It also had a “trafficator”, an electrical switch found on the steering wheel, which was arguably the forerunner of the modern turn signal and “suicide doors” an unusual feature where the doors open from the front.

Firing up the Ferrari

Price is also the proud owner of a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO. He has every right to be proud as there are less than forty of this model, each carrying a hefty $15 million price tag minimum.

Purchased in 1983, the car belonged to a Maserati distributor. Its previous owner raced it and scored World Championship points, finishing second overall. The car even proved its value beyond racing, with its former owner often driving it home after the races.

The GTO has lived a full life, with Price himself having raced it more than a hundred times. He also drives it out on the streets, becoming an esteemed ally in Price’s everyday travels. “It’s phenomenally balanced; it’s powerful,” Price declared proudly. “The stylish beauty…the shape. You slide it through the corner and once it comes out, it goes fast.” Said like a true racer.

The GTO has a 3.0 liter V12 engine with 300 horsepower. Price said that most vintage race cars are much faster now than before, due to modifications and improvements that their modern-day owners often add. However, his Ferrari broke that rule. “This car was so developed at its time that even with professional drivers racing it now, their lap times are approximately the same or even a little bit slower than what the best drivers had back in the early sixties,” Price shared.

More recently, Price raced the GTO in the 2009 Shell Ferrari Historic Challenge. He has raced it in the same event several times before, earning his own share of wins.

During a race in Mont Tremblant, Canada, another car sped up past Price’s Ferrari, damaging the front of the car. But after a hasty repair, the patched up Ferrari still ended up winning the race.

Enjoying his keep

Indeed, Tom Price makes it a point to enjoy all the cars in his collection. He often takes his vintage Packard Station Wagon to picnics and on short, leisurely trips.

Originally priced at about $1,500, the 1941 120 Station Wagon was nicknamed “The Logs” by Price after a lodge situated by Lake Tahoe. The car actually spent the majority of its existence around that area. Aside from its history, another factor that resulted in its nickname was its beautiful interior. The overhead was intricately varnished, reminiscent of a wooden boat’s handcrafted interior.

There were less than seventy models of this station wagon built, making this vintage car another of Price’s prized possessions. The station wagon is the color of buttercup, the exact same hue that the car came out as when it was first released by Packard.

Feigning Innocence

Tom Price has another jewel in his garage that looked almost sinfully unsullied, the 1965 Aston Martin D-5 convertible. Its color is a dark, rich green, almost black to the casual observer. Both its color and its simple yet classy design gave it an air of innocence. However, there was more to the car than meets the eye.

Price’s Aston Martin was actually a custom made left hand drive, of which less than twenty models were built. Although the car’s exterior has already been repainted, its interior was still in its original leather upholstery.

Not a car to be underestimated, it can reach 180 miles per hour with its six cylinder overhead cam engine with an impressive 300 horsepower.

Living the Life

Because of his hard work and determination, he has succeeded in doing what most wish for, that is, enjoying what he does for a living. After funding his own college education in Colorado, he worked hard, with Ford Motor Company for several years before he finally started his very own dealership in Marin County, California.

The Price Family Dealerships, has exclusive Marin County dealerships for Jaguar, Volvo, Aston Martin, and many others. He has expanded his business to other areas, including Sunnyvale and Sacramento. Now, he has more than ten franchises all across California.

It’s a dream come true for Price to be surrounded by his first love: cars, cars, and more cars.

Reaching Out

For Tom Price, success is not merely a matter of getting, it’s also about giving. His dealership group has been a loyal sponsor of several advocacies, including several children’s causes, such as “Advocates for Children” and “Dedication to Special Education.”

The Price Family Dealership has also been playing a considerable role in raising breast cancer awareness by sponsoring the Breast Cancer Coordinating Council in Marin County.

After the devastation that hurricane Katrina left in its wake, Price also reached out to the hurricane victims. Through his dealerships, he raised more than $75,000 to aid those who were injured and those who lost their homes.

Despite Tom Price’s exquisite vintage car collection and business operations, being a philanthropist is perhaps how he would like to be most remembered.

By Alma Jones

Alma Jones is a Jack (or Jill) of all trades. She is a licensed physician and a published author of print health magazines and online health websites, while also a car enthusiast, painter, and a fashion blogger. By 2010, she will be adding “music critic” to her portfolio. You may contact her at doc_alma_jones@yahoo.com