Over 800 vehicles, 300 acres, and three decades sound like the makings for an episode of American Pickers, but it’s an automotive treasure trove uncovered in a recent Barn Finds article. A reader of the site reports of this vast collection of cars and parts mainly covering the 1920s to 1960s. The source of these vehicular riches is Dave Rapp, who purchased the land in Starlight, PA, in the 1990s and moved his business here from New York. Online reports praise Rapp’s venture as the source for hard-to-find components, including NOS (new old stock) items.

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An Eclectic Mix Of Cars And Parts

Mega Stockpile Of Rare Cars Discovered On Pennsylvania Farm
image via aaca.org

According to these posts, Rapp, a retired police officer, is a pleasant guy who takes pride in his collection. At the same time, he has an encyclopedic knowledge of his inventory and gets deeply involved in helping customers with their restoration projects. A little digging reveals his eBay store, which displays an eclectic mix of parts ranging from a 1936 Studebacker oil pan gasket to a hub cap for a 1979 Chevy Nova. It’s easy to roam through these part listings and wonder how they came into Rapp’s possession.

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More Than 800 Cars

Mega Stockpile Of Rare Cars Discovered On Pennsylvania Farm
image via aaca.org

Those who’ve visited the Pennsylvania property sing particular praise for the gathering of parts for Crosley and Pierce-Arrow cars. Among the 800 vehicles on site are more than 75 Hudson vehicles.

Hudson Motor Car Company disappeared as an independent automaker when it joined with Nash-Kelvinator in 1954 to become American Motors Corporation. Yet, despite its relatively brief history (it started in 1909 in Detroit), the company enjoyed moderate success during the first half of the 20th century. Hudson Motors positioned itself between mainstream brands like Chevrolet and Ford and upscale nameplates such as Packard and Lincoln. It’s not uncommon to come across a Hudson Hornet, perhaps the company’s most memorable product, at classic car shows. The Hornet was renowned for its torpedo-style body, low center of gravity, and handling that rivaled more expensive vehicles of the day.

According to the story, Rapp’s Pennsylvania repository also is home to a collection of Crosley Motors items, although there aren’t any details. Unless you’re a more advanced auto enthusiast, familiarity with Crosley cars is likely to be slim to none. Crosley was a short-lived venture (1939-1952) that offered tiny vehicles to American consumers. The quirky, underpowered designs never gathered acceptance other than some interest due to war-era gas rationing. One of Crosley’s last vehicles was the post-war HotShot, which was reminiscent of tiny British roadsters. Ultimately, the post-war boom and demand for larger and better cars killed off Crosley.

Impossible-To-Find Pierce-Arrow Parts

Mega Stockpile Of Rare Cars Discovered On Pennsylvania Farm
image via aaca.org

Pierce-Arrow is another automaker represented in this Pennsylvania stockpile. In its heyday, Pierce-Arrow was among the upper echelon of automobile manufacturers. The company also produced more mainstream vehicles like trucks, boats, and motorcycles. Pierce-Arrow arguably reached its pinnacle during the roaring 20s when heads of state, business leaders, and movie stars were regularly seen in its cars. In 1928, Studebaker took control of the company. But, the Great Depression severely dampened the need for luxury cars, and Pierce-Arrow shut down in 1938. The fact that Rapp has Pierce-Arrow parts makes his operation a lifesaver for some collectors.

Sources: detroithistorical.org, http://www.classic-car-history.com, www.pierce-arrow.org, aaca.org