A Killer Car Collection Right Down The Street

As any car nerd can attest, it’s all but impossible to go anywhere without noticing cars. They’re everywhere and largely dominated - at least in my nape of the woods - by F-150s, RAV4s, Altimas, and the like.

But periodically, the wail of a Porsche flat-6 will give me whiplash as I scramble to identify the source. My family thinks (knows) I’m crazy when this happens, but there’s nothing I can do about it. I’m afflicted.

Now it’s one thing to spot an unusual car while out and about, but it’s another to discover a local source of cool cars right in your neighborhood. I know I’m not the only one who says things like, “Yeah, that M5 lives at that blue house on Sardinia Street”.

Again, my kids find it odd that I refer to neat cars as living things, but it’s out of my hands. So, you might imagine my level of neck-snapping excitement at realizing there exists a place, just a few doors down from my own house, that is packing serious automotive heat.

I Spy Shimmering Sheetmetal

From the street, or sidewalk, there is a long driveway culminating in a garage. Far enough away that you have to take a hard look, but close enough to catch an occasional glimpse of glistening sheetmetal when the door is up. Is that an AMG GT I spy? Doth mine eyes see a Bentley?

I once saw a lime green vintage VW bus in excellent condition exiting said driveway. It had my head buzzing with wonder at what else might be lurking at the end of this driveway. All of which led me to a decidedly old-school outreach effort - a hand-written note - that resulted in a meeting with my neighbor. His name is Dennis and he is the consummate car guy.

Lifelong Gearhead

A lifelong resident of Dover, New Hampshire, Dennis got the car bug early. Visits to the local Western Auto led to a passion for building car models. Then there was the love of watching racing on TV, the auto shop class in high school, and an early job working in the motor pool at a local military base.

Dennis later joined the Army and became a highly skilled mechanic, working on just about every kind of wheeled machine you can imagine. Settling back down in New Hampshire, he got into the swing of buying and selling cars. Lots of them. At least 100 that he can recall.

Here An AMG, There American Muscle

Typically only hanging on to them for a few years, Dennis performs all the maintenance himself and currently has the keys to 30 cars. “Only” 13 were on site, as I discovered in the second, hidden garage, with the remainder spread between storage at his business and on consignment locally.

To me, viewing such a collection of cars is overwhelmingly amazing. To the point that I blurted out expletives upon seeing them (I have a terrible sailor’s mouth that I mostly fail at keeping under wraps).

But hey, you might do the same upon seeing a Maybach GLS 600, an AMG-GT 55, a 1954 Corvette, and a 1970 Pontiac GT-37. That’s not counting the sharp silver C8, incredibly deep green W223 S500, and…the other garage. As Dennis will tell you, he’s a Mercedes and Corvette guy, which is borne out in his garage. But that’s not all, oh no, that is not all. Some highlights of this hardware.

Maybach GLS 600

An SUV of towering presence running a twin-turbo V8 good for 550 hp and 538 lb-ft of torque. It’ll go from 0 to 60 in less than 4 seconds, even though it weighs more than 3 tons and has perhaps the most opulent cabin of any vehicle on the road. Especially the back seat

AMG-GT 55

Finished in the glorious shade of Patagonia Red Metallic, this is a coupe that screams sexy. Low slung, taut sheet metal wraps around truly excellent 21” AMG forged wheels hiding cross-drilled brakes with yellow-finished calipers.

What can I say, I dig wheels and tires. Another member of the twin-turbo V8 club, this little beauty makes “just” 469 hp. As you might imagine, it’s a rocket, which Dennis will attest to.

W223 S-Class

In the land of full-size high-end sedans, the S-Class stands tall. Audi’s A8 is almost too understated and the 7-Series is, um, unpretty, but the latest S-Class kills it on the style front with a just-right blend of menace and prestige.

Big power and a stunning cabin are nice, but man, the 20” AMG wheels really set it off. Did I mention the paint job? Appearing black at a glance, it is in fact Emerald Green Metallic, a hue that is absolutely mesmerizing in the sun. This is the way.

C1 Corvette

One of two 1954 Corvettes under Dennis’ care, this is a car that deserves recognition. For one thing, it’s more than 70 years old and looks damn good. For another, it is the godfather of America’s Sports Car, responsible for kicking off generations of world-class Detroit performance. Which leads us to the C8.

C8 Corvette

From the first year of C8 production, this silver beauty looks fast standing still. Traditionalists may bemoan the transition to a mid-engine format and lack of a manual transmission.

But objectively, it is an outrageous vehicle. 490 horsepower from a free-breathing 6.2L V8 is the kind of juice even the most grouchy Corvette purist can appreciate. And get a load of the ZORA license plate - love it. Also, Dennis has a ZR1 on order. Zora would be proud.

1970 Pontiac GT-37

I can’t pretend to be an expert on classic muscle, but a 1970 Pontiac GTO does tend to jump out at me. Except this is not a GTO, it’s a GT-37, which I’ve never heard of. Dennis filled me in that this car was effectively a GTO hiding in plain sight to foil insurance premiums at the time.

Meaning, a 4-barrel, 400 cubic-inch V8 and 4-speed manual are on tap to provide the undeniable excitement of classic American muscle.

A Hidden Garden of Automotive Delights

While I was busy drooling over these lovely rides, Dennis mentioned a second garage. One you can’t see unless you’re in the backyard. A backyard which is so stunningly landscaped as to require its own discussion by the way. Cool bit of trivia for any Dover locals out there, this backyard was where the Dover High football team practiced when the school was still at the McConnell Center.

However, we’re here for the cars. So when we exited the first garage through a back door and took a few steps to the second garage side door, a whole other collection of sweet rides was unveiled. This may have been where a few choice expletives escaped my face.

Multiple lifts, a full racing simulator, and all manner of memorabilia were on display. Like a collection of framed 1975 Chevy dealer posters, an old photo of a gentleman racing his Lotus, and a cool 3D rendering of the Club Motorsports track up in Tamworth. But the cars, oh yes, the cars.

The Porsche Doka

Right out of the gate, there is an excellent VW Doka finished in gray with 15” Fuchs, Carrera graphics, and a Porsche tailgate emblem. The cabin is done up in stunning red 911 style with a matching red canvas roof and get a load of the engine bay on this thing. Replete with TNT soda can!

Tri-Power For The Win

Next door sits a 1987 XJ and beyond that, a sharp 2007 Aston Vantage with a 6-speed-stick. Moving underneath, there’s a red C7 fronted by handsome 1986 Alfa that just begs, “Let’s go for a cruise…”.

An excellent Ford street rod that is half 1939 and half 1940, so as to incorporate a rumble seat sits beyond, and in the furthest corner, a 1969 Corvette 427 Tri-Power. That last car is fairly awesome with its triple-carbed 7.0-liter brute of an engine that surely sounds the stuff when fired up.

Getting a chance to look at so many excellent cars all under “one” roof was a treat and one that will keep me on the lookout for more hidden local gems. A big thank you to Dennis for taking the time to walk me through what is clearly a deep-seated passion for all things automotive.