Herb Chambers Car Collection » Herb Chambers

Herb Chambers News – Boston Business Journal Talks to Herb

herb chambers car collection — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:08:42 +0000

Driven to succeed: Herb Chambers

Herb Chambers’ name is synonymous with his car dealership empire — as well as his ubiquitous commercial jingle.

But Chambers, who never attended college, actually got his start selling copy machines, not cars, before he made the transition to dealerships in 1985.

“I’ve always loved cars ever since I was a child,” he said.

Despite the brutal automotive sales market, Chambers, who operates 45 dealerships across New England, has had a decent year by most accounts. October sales were up over last year, and year over year, sales volume will be comparable, although profitability is expected to improve because of cost controls, he said. In 2009, he opened four new dealerships.

He recently sat down with Boston Business Journal reporter Lisa van der Pool to discuss business.

How is business going, post Cash-for-Clunkers?

Cash-for-Clunkers gave the industry a huge spike, but in lower-cost cars. The problem was that we weren’t prepared for Cash-for-Clunkers. The result was that we exhausted our inventory very quickly. And we had very few cars — at some dealerships we had no cars — left. At the same time nobody told the factories there was going to be a Cash-for-Clunkers program. So what happened with the economy, and car sales being down earlier in the year, is that the factories cut way back on production, because there was a glut of cars out there. Then all of a sudden, Cash-for-Clunkers comes along and exhausts the supply of cars. We delivered close to 1,200 cars.

What do you think of the government’s bailout of the automobile industry?

It’s too soon to judge. The domestic auto companies are in a mess. The executives are being changed almost daily. The

canceling of dealers is very troubling. They’ve had family businesses that will not be in existence any more. We are fortunate because we have been able to keep all of our dealerships — except Pontiac and Saturn.

Has advertising been a key part of your business strategy from the beginning?

We spend an awful lot of money advertising. The good news is that with the technology today we can monitor calls coming into dealerships, and people coming to our Web site. Because today about 80 percent of people, before they buy a car, they go online.

Are fuel-efficient cars here to stay?

Absolutely, positively. Everybody’s talking about bluetech diesels and hybrids. The name of the game is you’ve got to deliver great mileage. Everybody’s going to be in the hybrid business. I think it’s a great thing because we’re going to use up less oil.

What kind of car do you drive?

I change cars a lot because I love them. And I can. The people at all my dealerships hate to see me coming because they always know I’m going to take one of the nice cars. Right now, I’m driving a Bentley Coupe.

Three greatest passions?

My family, my business and automobiles. Because I love automobiles, I collect them.

How many cars do you have?

I used to have 25, now I have about 15 or 20 now. I have older cars, some from the ’50s. Part of the problem with collecting old cars is that they’re great to look at, but they drive terribly. But I like to drive, so I’ve been selling off some of the old cars that I have and replacing them with some exciting automobiles. For example I have a Mercedes-Benz SLR convertible, which is a car we sell. They ended the production on the car so I think it will be a very good investment. I have a new Lamborghini, which I think is a very exciting car to drive.

Trait that gives you a competitive edge?

Enthusiasm.

Herb Chambers

Ralph Lauren Car Collecton

herb chambers car collection — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 23:03:53 +0000

Ralph Lauren Car Collection

Ralph Lauren’s Cars

Its no doubt that we are fascinated with celebrity houses, personal lives and careers.

Now more than ever we are being exposed to amazing car collections – Come on we all have seen MTV Cribs….

Fashion mogul Ralph Lauren is well-known for his Polo label, a brand that coveys the inner American Dream of money, acceptance, and an overall opulent way of life.

What Ralph Lauren is not as well-known for is his incredible car collection.

The 29 cars that Lauren lays claim to include the 1929 Blower Bentley, 1930 Mercedes-Benz “Count Trossi” SSK, 1938 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic Coupe, 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 Mille Miglia, 1958 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa, 1961 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa 61 Spyder Fantuzzi, and the 2005 McLaren F1LM.

“”I’ve always admired timelessness, and some of the cars that I have started to collect have that message of timeless beauty,” Lauren says in the show.

The BMFA recently displayed Lauren’s collection.

Ralph Lauren Collection

Ralph Lauren’s 2005 McLaren

Ralph Lauren’s Cars

Ralph Lauren’s 1938 Bugatti

Ralph Lauren Collection Ralph Lauren's 1961 Ferrari

Ralph Lauren’s 1955 Jaguar

Ralph Lauren’s Cars

Ralph Lauren’s 1930 Mercedes

Ralph Lauren Collection

Ralph Lauren’s 1938 Alfa Romeo

Ralph Lauren Collection

Ralph Lauren’s 1938 Bugatti

Herb Chambers – Car Collecting Tips

herb chambers car collection — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 19:16:11 +0000

Herb Chambers Classic Car Collecting Tips

By BENGT HALVORSON

If you’re a car enthusiast like us, you’ve probably lusted after some special car for years.

But you’ve hesitated because you don’t want to make a mistake that could cost you thousands, and maybe even ruin your marriage, right?

How do you get into that sexy classic car and stay out of financial trouble?

Follow a few commonsense tips and your love affair with a classic car will be less destined for heartbreak.

Fall is the best time to shop for an old car. It’s the time of year when a lot of cars are changing hands, and the market is more for the buyers than the sellers. Lack of winter garage space, unfinished summer project cars, and classic-car dealerships cutting their inventories are all reasons why fall is a good time to buy.

In shopping for classic and vintage old cars, the local newspaper is not the place to look.

Pick up a copy of Hemmings Motor News (www.hemmings.com) for heaps of classified listings, or Sports Car Market (www.sportscarmarket.com) for listings and excellent advice.

Collectors’ meets, car shows, and club events are also good places to hear about quality classic cars for sale. Also, there are several reputable auction companies that stage regular classic-car auction events around the country.

These auction companies usually have decent documentation on most of the cars to be auctioned off. Two such examples are RM Classic Cars (519-352-4575, www.rmcars.com) and Dan Kruse Classic Car Productions (210-495-4777, www.dkruseclassic.com

When you do find a potential car, be wary. As in buying any used car, buying an old car is a risk. Follow these tips to minimize the risks:

Determine the fair value. Check on the car’s value, in its present condition, in a price guide such as the Standard Guide to Cars & Prices. Double-check it with another resource if possible.

Popularity helps.

Check for clubs that take special interest in the model. This will provide some assurance of the car’s status and collectibility, and it will also give you contacts for procuring hard-to-find replacement parts. Rarity of a particular model is not necessarily an indication that the car will have a loyal following.

Check for obvious alterations or flaws. If any significant components of the car have been altered or replaced with different ones, or if body panels don’t meet properly, pass the car up, even if it’s extremely cheap. Shoddy body repair work or a poor paint job indicates that the last owner cut corners on a restoration. The car will be extremely hard to resell, and repairs may be complicated.

Have the car checked by an expert. It is extremely worthwhile to have the car checked out by an experienced classic-car appraiser. Such shops usually do a complete inspection, including making sure powertrain and chassis numbers match, for less than a few hundred dollars. Sometimes, only the experts will be able to tell a poor restoration from a good one.

Have a place to properly store your car. Make sure you have a secure place that’s warm and dry. Ordinary home garages often suffer from moisture buildup (read: rust), so make sure you have adequate ventilation. Sometimes, local car clubs arrange for group car storage in dust-free, dry environments at reasonable rates.

Insure your investment. Remember that you need to arrange for full-coverage insurance, valued for what the car is currently worth. Some major insurance companies, such as the AAA, offer classic car insurance in some states.

For specialty and antique vehicles, check with Hagerty Classic Car Insurance (800-922-4050, www.hagerty.com).

Be prepared for costly repair bills and maintenance. Routine repairs can cost a fortune, especially on some older European cars. Ask the experts or your local car club what the weak design points are on your car, and also which parts are especially hard to find, and pay special attention to them.

Are you ready for it? This is probably the most important question of all.

Restoring, or just keeping, an old car can be taxing on personal time and the wallet. If you find yourself not having enough time in your schedule for family time and social obligations, don’t buy it.

If you have enough spare time and money, having an old car can be a relaxing and fulfilling hobby.

If you don’t think you’re ready for a big investment but have the garage space, start with something less risky but fun, like an affordable ’60s- or ’70s-era MGB or American muscle car.

And one final point: Don’t plan to make money on the car, because you probably won’t.

Buy a car you like-better yet, one you’re passionate about-and have fun with it.

For more information about Herb Chambers Companies please click here

By BENGT HALVORSON