MONROE — The scene is reminiscent of a country club cotillion from days gone by. Vintage cars line the driveway, with a Rolls-Royce, a couple of Jaguars and an Austin Mini Cooper rounding out the display. One almost expects royalty to emerge from the glistening vehicles, but the setting is not in the European countryside.
The cars are in Monroe, and they belong to local resident Larry McCartt.
“I like European cars because of their appearance, which is very appealing to me,” said McCartt, a car collector for more than 50 years.
Most of his collection is displayed at car shows around the country, but McCartt also can be seen driving his Rolls around town.”My Rolls is unusual because it has a broadcloth and not a leather interior,” he said. The car was originally driven in Florida and leather seats would have been too hot to ride on, so the manufacturer made the adjustment.
McCartt also owns a 1970 Jaguar E-type Roadster that has doubled in value since he bought it in 1999. In addition, he is restoring a second Jaguar that he describes as a drive around car, with perfect blue, leather interior. His 1980 Austin Mini Cooper S is even smaller than the Minis in the movie “,” and his 1979 is notable because it is the triple white champagne edition.”The new VW’s are nice, but you can’t find the white interior, exterior and top any more, and that’s what I like,” he said.
McCartt won four coffee mugs for his journey, but said he never entered the contest for the prize. When asked if he’ll continue to add to his collection, McCartt said he is always on the lookout for something new, but added that cars aren’t his only love. In addition to his automobiles, he owns a 1986, 27-foot Regal Ambassador boat, and weekends find him at , where he has been a train engineer for the past eight years.
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