by Kurt Minson
There are car shows, and there are auto shows. And then there is the Molto Bella Auto Show.
A slight twist on the Italian phrase la macchina molto bella (very beautiful cars), this invitational event celebrates its 7th overall year and its 2nd at Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens in Akron, Ohio on Sunday, September 8, 2019 from 10 am to 4 pm on the lush green of the Great Meadow.
With a name like Molto Bella, people expect a showcase of more than its fair share of highly regarded, high-value Italian exotics. Not to disappoint, this year’s entries include the prancing horses of Scuderia Ferrari and Lamborghini’s fighting bulls as well as the tridents of Maserati. But, as was intended, the show delivers much more than that to the 5,000+ enthusiasts expected to attend that day.
The Cars
Conceived to be a fun, cool and diverse collection of 400 autos of the finest, most rare and most interesting order, Molto Bella VII brings together cars from the deep south (Georgia), Midwest (Illinois, Michigan), Southwest (Texas) and Upper South (Virginia), in addition to those from all over Ohio. Some of the marques expected to grace the Great Meadow include Allard, Bugatti, Cheetah, Dusenberg, Jaguar and Pierce Arrow.
Celebrity cars, like Lou Costello’s 16-cylinder Cadillac and a Bill Mitchell-built Rivera Grand Sport highlight a nice grouping of unique, custom, modern muscle and purpose-built vehicles. A special feature this year is the collection of 1938 Chevy and 1932 Ford hot rods owned by the late Elton “Sonny” Hunt (known as The Rodfather). Attendees can also view a winner of the Great American Race, a 1931 Auburn owned by Chad and Jennie Caldwell.
The Venue
Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens, built between 1912 and 1915, is a 70-acre country estate with gardens located at 714 North Portage Path in Akron, Ohio. It is one of the largest homes in the United States. A National Historic Landmark, it is nationally significant as the home of F. A. Seiberling, co-founder of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, his wife Gertrude Penfield Seiberling and their family. Because the site had been a stone quarry in the past, the Seiberlings chose Stan Hywet (a loose translation from the Old English meaning “stone quarry” or “stone hewn”) as the name of their American country estate.
The Tudor revival consists of 64,500 square feet, 4 floors and a basement. All of the Seiberling family had a voice in its design: Gertrude wanted a music room, F.A. a private office, and their sons an indoor swimming pool. Reflecting the family’s love of hospitality and social events, the formal dining room seats 40, and there are 5 guest rooms, each with its own full bath and walk-in closet.
In the 1950s, the non-profit Stan Hywet Hall Foundation was formed to preserve the estate and, in 1957, the six Seiberling children donated Stan Hywet. In honor of the stone inscription above the front door of the manor house, which reads Non Nobis Solum (Not for Us Alone), Stan Hywet and its grounds are now open to the public as an historic museum and event venue.
The Show
The Molto Bella Auto Show was founded by long-time friends, car aficionados and collectors Frank Todaro and David Nelson. Built on their wide-ranging contacts in the collectible car world, the show honors a pledge made by Todaro and Nelson to honor the life and memory of Frank’s late father and Todaro’s Party Center founder, Camillo (Mel) Todaro, during his illness from kidney cancer.
All donations from Molto Bella support the Kidney Foundation of Summit County, a non-profit organization established to assist patients in Summit County who suffer from kidney disease. It provides financial assistance for utility bills, dialysis transportation and prescription payments. This year’s car show goal is to donate $100,000 to the organization.
Molto Bella is also considered the heir apparent to the Glenmoor Gathering Auto Show, held for eighteen years at Glenmoor Country Club, once that glorious event had run its course. Intended to usher in a new, higher energy concept, Molta Bella is more than just a well-considered but conventional auto show. It goes well beyond the concours concept, with its emphasis on exacting restoration and authenticity and includes a little something for everyone.
Frank Todaro explains, “It’s all about the kind of cars and the mix of cars we pick, not just concours. Hot rods, touring cars, electric cars, movie cars, unique cars with unique histories are all part of the mix.”
“Our music is also designed to get away from the Beach Boys stuff you normally hear at cruises,” he continues. “We have a great selection of the blues playing, cigars for people who enjoy smoking, great food and a professionally laid-out space for the cars. Finally, there is no judging. People love not to be judged. Your car is your trophy … what more could you possibly need?”
The Sponsors
This year’s Molto Bella VII sponsors include Cornell Tools, the Kidney Foundation of Ohio, Summit Racing Equipment, FirstEnergy, Montrose Ford of Fairlawn, Westside Jaguar, Maserati of Akron, Alfa Romeo, BMW of Akron, Volkswagen of Akron, Cell-O-Core, Mercedes-Benz of Akron, J.W. Didado Electric, House of LaRose, Stella Artois, Howard Hanna Real Estate, RM Sotheby’s and Todaro’s Party Center.
Want to learn more? Visit:
The Molto Bella VII Auto Show
Sunday, September 8, 2019
Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens
714 North Portage Path, Akron, Ohio
10 am-4 pm
https://todaroscarshow.com/