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Hot Wheels: Classic Car Shares

JANUARY 22, 2009

Exotic car clubs bring in weekend warriors with a need for speed

Time-sharing apartments and vacation properties have long been a way for people to enjoy great resort homes without the expense or effort of having to maintain them year-round. With gas prices headed skyward, and companies like Zipcar experiencing huge success, auto-sharing is becoming a popular option as well.

Rental giant Hertz has begun a service similar to the Zipcar pick-up-and-drop-off model. At the other end of the spectrum, fanciers of luxury and classic cars are getting together to pursue their love of racy rides. Classic car clubs let you hit the road in a Ferrari 599 GTB, a 1957 Porsche Speedster, or a Detroit muscle car like a 1969 Chevelle Super Sport without having to spend a small fortune. Classic Car Club of Manhattan charges regular dues (about $7500 for about 40 hours of drive time a year); after that, you can borrow the club's cars—when they're available—for only the price of gas. The clubs attract various types of car enthusiasts, from young professionals to old-schoolers used to driving the best of the best. You can find out more about getting behind the wheel at exoticcarclubs.net, and look for clubs in the New York area here.