When I set out to bring Adventures of a Vintage Car Collector back to life, I wasn’t just polishing up an old manuscript. I was honoring my father’s voice while bridging his era of collecting with our own. His stories, written decades ago, carried the grit of barn finds, the thrill of auctions, and the passion of a generation that built this hobby from the ground up.
Growing Up With Vintage Cars
Growing up, I saw firsthand how my dad, Alan Radcliff, approached collecting—not as a transaction, but as a stewardship of history. His book captured that spirit, but many of the details had aged, and younger readers needed context. Cars he once bought for hundreds are now worth millions; movements that were underground are now celebrated on concours lawns.
Rewriting the book wasn’t about changing his words, but about expanding the lens. I wanted today’s enthusiasts to see how yesterday’s stories shaped the culture we live in now. Each chapter is a dialogue between generations: his perspective, preserved; mine, added; and the result is a book that speaks to both the seasoned collector and the curious newcomer.
My father’s book inspired me to preserve this world in print and now online through the Museum and Collectors Club. I hope it inspires you too.
About Bentley
Bentley is the published author of Living the Hybrid RV Lifestyle, about his other passion, as well as the business book Checkmate: Mastering Competitive Sales Strategy. He has always dreamed of republishing Adventures of a Vintage Car Collector, adding in the stories that missed the original publication and including more color photographs of these amazing cars. His next project will be telling the tale of the last Duesenberg. Look for that soon!
The father of three children, Bentley and his wife Sharon reside in Cocoa, Florida when they aren’t on the road in their RV.
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