William H. Smith has had a tremendous influence on the car hobby in a multitude of areas. Under his leadership, AACA became the largest collector car club in the world, with more than 60,000 members and 400 regional clubs worldwide. He was the co-founder of the Automotive Restoration Marketing Organization (ARMA) and was the driving force behind the renowned Hershey Swap Meet. |
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A collector of antique autos since the age of 14 when he acquired a Model A Ford and a 1939 Chevrolet Coupe, Smith joined the AACA in 1966 when he began restoring a 1927 Ford roadster pickup, which subsequently won a 1st Junior, Senior and a Grand National Award. In 1975 Smith was elected to the AACA Board of Governors and served for two years (1979-1980) as the organization’s National President. During his tenure he has judged at 155 meets throughout the U.S. and been published in numerous hobby magazines including Old Cars Weekly and Hemmings Motor News.
One of Smith’s dreams – to establish an AACA Museum as the climax of the organization’s on-going efforts in preservation and education – became a reality when the AACA Museum opened in 2003. The Museum features more than 80 automobiles and hundreds of artifacts and is located near Hershey, PA. Today, he serves on its Board of Directors. While he officially retired as AACA Executive Director in 2003, Smith continues his activities on behalf of the collector car community as a spokesperson and lobbyist for the hobby. |
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Car Club Central
