A lot of people reading Garage Style are just that – people who can’t help themselves, they just love launching businesses around their passions, or a void in the market that needs to be filled. Some sell the business and move on to another venture, while some keep running the business and launch another one – it’s all very personal. Steve Contarino is exactly that personality – he’s had a multitude of businesses since he was 20-years-old and doesn’t show any signs of slowing down. His latest venture is, of course, Automobilia Vintage. A dyed-in-the-wool car guy, Steve has been collecting memorabilia for decades, and has amassed quite the array of pieces. Now, he doesn’t hold many things for too long – he’s the kind that enjoys it for a while, and then trades it out or sells it off and finds something else. Things are very fluid in his garage. While he’s heavily rooted in Rolls-Royce and Checker (yes, the cars made famous serving as taxi cabs), he gravitates to the odd and lesser seen. This is what makes his latest venture, Automobilia Vintage, so interesting. It’s packed with items rarely or never-before-seen. Take a quick read below, maybe you’ll see something you just can’t live without!
Automobilia Vintage’s Steve Contarino
Steve’s origin story begins not with a single car, but with a hundred. His early venture, Adamson Industries, specialized in restoring Checker automobiles, amassing a fleet that once rivaled small dealerships. But as the realities of space, labor, and weather set in, Steve pivoted after many dedicated years.
“I could still do this,” he recalls, “but with items that don’t take up so much room.” Thus, Automobilia Vintage was born – a haven for quarter-scale models, clay prototypes, and rare design studies that capture the essence of automotive innovation
What drives a collector like Steve? It’s not just the object – it’s the story.
“I love the things you’re not supposed to have,” he admits.
Among his prized possessions are three clay dune buggy models from Mercedes-Benz, never meant to see the light of day.
“They were smuggled out, somehow,” he says with a grin.
These pieces, once destined for destruction, now live on as tangible whispers of what might have been.
Another gem: a quarter-scale Ford model rescued from a shuttered office in Sterling Heights, Michigan.
“Meet me at the corner,” the anonymous caller said. Steve dispatched a friend to retrieve the baby car, which was a piece of design history that nearly vanished into obscurity.
Steve’s collecting philosophy is part serendipity, part obsession.
“The majority of it finds me,” he says.
Whether it’s a mislabeled “toy car” at a major auction or a prototype Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament made of shatterable material to meet U.S. pedestrian safety standards, Steve’s eye for detail and relentless curiosity turn overlooked items into museum-worthy treasures.
One of his most surprising finds came from a train auction, of all places. Hidden among model locomotives were 20 lots of Gordon Buehrig automobilia, including clay models, fiberglass cars, and prospectuses for a mobile office concept.
“It was out of place,” Steve says. “But I was successful on 20 of 20.”
For as long as he can remember, Steve Contarino has been a car guy. His automotive passions span wide – from the elegance of Rolls-Royces to the utilitarian charm of Checker cabs. The contrast between the two couldn’t be sharper, yet together they capture the breadth of his fascination.
The Collector’s Code: Know What You’re Looking At
Steve emphasizes the importance of research and discernment.
“You’ve got to make sure you know what you’re looking at,” he warns. With the rise of 3D printing and replica models, authenticity is everything. He’s become a resource for auction houses and fellow collectors alike, helping identify factory prototypes and concept pieces that others might overlooked. For Steve, collecting isn’t just about ownership – it’s about stewardship.
“I love it for a little while, then turn it over to the next caretaker,” he says.
His passion is rooted in preserving the stories behind the objects, whether it’s a vintage racing poster or a clay model (seen above) that escaped the crusher. He’s quick to credit mentors and friends like Jerry, a Rolls-Royce aficionado and appraiser, and Gary Wales, the mad scientist of custom builds.
“Everybody needs a cheerleader,” Steve says. “Jerry was mine.”
Where to Pick, What to Watch?
So where should collectors look? Steve’s advice is simple: everywhere. From eBay to flea markets, from Hershey to Monterey, the gems are out there. But diligence is key.
“It’s like looking through a dictionary for capital A’s,” he jokes. “You’ve got to keep flipping pages.”
Steve also sees a deep connection between automobilia and motorsport.
“Racing and automobiles go side-by-side,” he says.
Whether it’s a dirt track sign from New England or a driver’s helmet from a bygone era, these artifacts capture the evolution of speed, design, and human ambition.
Steve Contarino’s story is more than a collector’s tale – it’s a roadmap for anyone who believes that the soul of the automobile lives not just in engines and sheet metal, but in the objects that surround them.
From clay models to hood ornaments, from concept sketches to forgotten prototypes, Automobilia Vintage is a celebration of the stories that make our automotive past unforgettable. See more on Steve’s website here
