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Photos By John A. Secoges, Secoges Photographics

Exploring McGinty Motorcars

Pat McGinty has made historic vehicles his vocation. Learn how.

Pat McGinty is a driven man. 

He’s driven by history — and the drive is actually literal.

Pat has made vintage vehicles his avocation. Along with his wife Courtney, he’s established a business in downtown Reading that is like no other in the area.

Not familiar with the business? Chances are you’ve passed it often as you drive west on Washington Street from City Park. Glancing to your right, you’ve likely noticed a couple of vintage cars or trucks displayed in the huge picture window and wondered: “What is that place?”

If you’ve not made the time to stop by, you may want to do so after learning more about the business, McGinty Motorcars. Its building, unique vehicle inventory, owners and staff make it an outstanding site in the City of Reading.

Pat and Courtney acquired the property and started their business in April 2022. “We were fortunate that it was in turnkey condition,” says Pat.

BUILDING ON HISTORY

The previous owners, Fred and Shelly Baker, spent two years gutting and rehabilitating the century-plus-old structure with a new roof, drywall, plumbing and electricity. They created work and residential spaces that honor the past while satisfying the needs for the business of showcasing, selling and servicing vehicles.

Pat notes with pride — and some awe — that the Bakers had all 1,152 glass panes, most of which remarkably were originals, cleaned as part of the renovation. They also created an 1,800-square-foot, three-bedroom, two-bath apartment above the showroom fronting Washington Street, incorporating and retaining historic features including stained glass windows and hardwood floors.

The autophile in Pat basks in the history of the building, which is inextricably linked to vehicles and transportation.

The structure was built by the City of Reading in 1910 as a horse-drawn trolley depot. (The original stable building still exists nearby on Mulberry Street.) Within the ensuing decade, however, electric trolleys took hold, and by 1921, the city sold the property, which became the site of the Oldsmobile Company of Reading. That use continued through the end of World War II in 1945. For the next six decades, a variety of businesses utilized the large building, which continued to deteriorate prior to the Bakers’ acquisition of it.

There is nearly 6,100 square feet of garage space plus the 1,000-square-foot showroom and office. The shop is 39 feet by 140 feet with a 30-foot, two-tiered roof, vintage steel frame with all of those glass panes. Pat notes the recent addition of a steel staircase to utilize the loft area for storing parts and materials.

Today, the cavernous trolley barn, which stretches nearly one third of a city block, holds both a breath-taking display of classic vehicles as well as the state-of-the-art service center staffed by skilled technicians. Robert Delgado, who started out with the Bakers, has a clear affection for the establishment where he’s worked for 18 years. Auto experts Tim Griesser, service manager, and Tyler Winchell, service mechanic, join Delgado in true professional pride in their workplace. Kevin Merced-Colon is another go-to repair expert. In addition to the vintage vehicles, the crew also services newer work vans, cars, trucks, SUVs and minivans.

Robbie Campbell, a college student, is marketing McGinty Motorcars through the firm’s website and various social media platforms, including YouTube. Robbie also serves as the company runner and races go-karts in his spare time.

A CAR LOVER’S DREAM

On a beautiful spring day, an orange VW Beetle greeted visitors. During business hours, Pat makes certain one of the featured vehicles is parked in front of the open garage doors to invite customers as well as passersby to stop in for a deeper classic car dive.

Among the inventory that day — a sampling of the intriguing vehicles the McGintys have acquired or sold on consignment were:

• A 1977 grey-and-black Rolls Royce Silver Shadow II with 42,000 miles — this pristine 5,000-pound V-8 6.5-liter luxury sedan is not for the buyer seeking fuel efficiency. ($29,996)

• A 1978 Fiat Spider, a one-owner sports car with 17,000 miles. Owned by a Lancaster County man whose name, in line with Fiat corporate tradition, is engraved on the dashboard. ($34,496)

• Two MGs, a blue 1980 with 94,556 miles and an orange 1978 with 29,415 miles. ($14,996 and $13,996, respectively.)

• A 1931 yellow-and-black Buick Series 50 Sport Roadster, private owner since 2003, with 52,238 miles. Straight 8 with a three-speed manual and rumble seat. White convertible top, brown interior, red wire wheels with white walls. ($39,996)

• A red 1979 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am three- speed automatic with only 7,382 miles. This car was featured in a 2020 Netflix movie. ($42,996)

• A red 1959 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia four- speed manual with 113,928 miles. ($25,996)

All vehicles are painstakingly detailed and photographed. Indeed, an average of 100 photos of each vehicle are displayed on the company website, enabling customers near and far to really get close-up views of every interior and exterior aspect.

“We get a lot of feedback about our transparency regarding our online information,” says Pat, “and that’s important to our reputation.”

CHANGING CAREER LANES

Pat knows a good deal about the car business. His experience started just out of high school, and he worked for several dealerships and Cox Automotive/AutoTrader/Kelley Blue Book as an advertising consultant, receiving awards and recognition for his accomplishments. In the past decade, he owned a more traditional car dealership on Route 1 in Langhorne, Bucks County.

But the commute from the couple’s Morgantown area home was wearing, and when Pat found the opportunity to acquire the Reading establishment, the path forward was clear.

“I remember when he sent me the text message that said, ‘This is my dream place,’” Courtney recalls with a smile.

Indeed, the new commute to Reading, only 25 minutes, has been a boon to more family time, something especially important to sons Wellington, 9, and Hudson, 7 (yes — he was named in honor of the legendary car brand). When not in school, the boys love spending time at the business.

“The vibe here is just unbelievable,” Pat says. Noting that the vintage vehicle inventory is unique is clear, but the McGintys have dealt with some cars that are so much more than that.

AUTOS OF NOTE

Three really amazing vehicles set the pace.

“We had a 1985 Aston Martin Lagonda,” Pat says. “Only 25 were brought into the United States that year, and brand new it cost $150,000. We sold it to the Beverly Hills Car Club in Los Angeles in late 2023, and I understand they are still restoring it.”

The second was a special edition 1973 Karmen Ghia sport edition with only 200 to 300 produced in total. It was purchased and shipped to St. Louis, and the buyers had it moved with them when they retired to Florida.

Then, there was iconic singer Willie Nelson’s red 1980 Mercedes 450 SL (convertible with hardtop). The singer bought it new in May 1980 in Atlanta, the same year his trademark song On the Road Again topped the charts. It came to McGinty via a later owner and had 143,000 miles. The documentation verified Nelson’s ownership, and it soon became a vehicle sparking intense interest, garnering regional and trade media coverage.

Among those hearing of its availability was a corporate CEO in Virginia Beach, VA, who moonlights playing Willie Nelson songs at local venues. He now drives to those gigs in Nelson’s vintage car.

In another celebrity-related sale, a cherry-red 1961 VW Beetle became the proud possession of Funkmaster Flex, a DJ, rapper, record producer and host on New York City's Hot 97 radio station.

Pat says his customer base is pretty much split 50/50 — half from Pennsylvania and nearby states of Ohio, Maryland, Virginia, New York and New Jersey and those from further afield. The furthest he’s shipped a vehicle is to Alaska. He’s also fielded cars from Germany and other nations.

“We’re good with our footprint,” he says.

In addition to the vintage cars, McGinty acquired a lot next to his property fronting Mulberry Street from which he sells newer used— or everyday — cars, trucks, minivans and service vans. These vehicles are also featured on the website inventory page.

He remains amazed that a woman who showed interest in a 2012 Scion with 60,000 miles, being sold on consignment from a retiring area eye surgeon, unexpectedly showed up on site. She’d driven 850 miles with her son to look at the car, bought it, and had it shipped back to her home.

A TESTAMENT TO SERVICE

Close to home, City of Reading Deputy Police Chief Javier Ruiz, a classic car owner and aficionado, has dealt with the McGintys, selling a 1969 pink Volkswagen Beetle with 76,000 miles he’d had for two years and a 1988 bright orange Volkswagen Vanagon camper with 130,000 miles he’d owned for 15 years.

“We did a lot of camping and have lots of memories with that Vanagon,” he says, “especially my son, now 21, loved that as a kid. We’d drive to my brother’s house, pop the top and sleep over in his backyard.”

Ruiz is pleased with the vehicles’ new owners. The Beetle has stayed local in Berks while the Vanagon is the delight of a recently retired couple in North Carolina.

“It was a good experience working with Pat,” says Ruiz. “He found great buyers. When you buy these cars, you buy them for love.”

The McGintys love the stories associated with the vehicles.

“I feel that we’re helping preserve automotive history,” says Courtney, noting the role Reading, particularly the Duryeas, played in that history.

Courtney’s background is in the construction business where she spent 23 years helping her dad by doing his accounting. These days she’s doing the bookkeeping for the couple’s business. An antiques devotee, she’s also been collecting, along with Pat, vintage automotive signs, license plates and related memorabilia, adding to what was already in the building when they acquired it.

Working with the Berks History Center, they located an original sales receipt from the Oldsmobile Company of Reading along with a photo of the dealership. Carefully framed and matted, that holds a prominent location in the showroom where alternating vintage cars are displayed.

The showroom also boasts a 1930s-era gas pump and a circa-1981 Atari machine. 

Pat appreciates the seasonal touches Courtney adds to the huge display windows. In the summer, she featured picnic baskets, a croquet set and baseball gloves and bats, among other items. In the winter, Santa figures prominently with a late-1920s Model A Ford.

Just off the showroom is a small kitchenette area, laundry, restroom and shower, available for anyone to freshen up after long days, especially if they plan to stay in town to catch a show or game.

SPOTLIGHTING THE TOWN

With two and a half years under their belts at 1041 Washington St., the McGintys are looking to get ever more involved in city and county organizations and activities. They’ve run ads on local radio station WEEU and donated funds and helped sponsor some local events.

Keeping that garage door open with an enticing vehicle to welcome visitors is important to them.

“I encourage people to stop in,” says Pat. “I’ve had people say they’re now going out of their way to go down Washington Street to see what’s in the window.”

The couple sees the city as being on the rise and, in their mid-forties, they expect to be able to invest the time and energy to do their part.

“At the end of the day, we want to put a good spotlight on Reading, put Reading on the map in a good light,” says Pat. “We got a lot of feedback asking why we’d open a business here. Ultimately, we’re trying to bring more business people here. I think we’ll be here for a long time.”