John Shorter has what you might call a small collection of dream cars, including a white 1956 Ford Thunderbird hard top convertible with a black and white interior, a red 1985 Rolls-Royce Silver Spur burgundy with tan top and interior and a gold 2005 Chrysler Sebring convertible with a black top.
If you think he loves driving these dream vehicles, you’d be missing the big point. Shorter rents them out (along with his 2026 Lexis SUV, which he drives more frequently), often for events as picture cars that make them more about design than driving.
“If somebody’s doing a 1950s party, they might dress up and pose with the Thunderbird,” Shorter, who owns Ophelia and Friends and Prop Rentals NY said. “They’re often used to attract attention, if they’re opening a store and they want a special car outside where people can stand and do photo ops.”
While most people look at cars as transportation, enjoying the thrill of driving in a convertible or a sleek vehicle, the world of picture cars is about being long on looks and low on mileage.
These attractive automobiles have become more popular in a day of social media, showing up from Instagram to albums, as staples of the Hamptons scene, in particular, and in particular now.
“This time of year, we’re out in the Hamptons, Montauk,” said Mike Malkush, owner of Cutchogue-based North Fork Vintage Cars, with an inventory of about 150 vehicles.” This time of year we do a lot in the Hamptons.”
Vehicles Malkush represents are used for events, but also Hamptons photo shoots, including a long resume of recent work.
A car he represents was used recently for a wedding rehearsal dinner in East Hampton, and another is being used for a July Fourth weekend party in Southampton.
“I had three cars in Montauk over the past few weeks for different companies. And we go into the city,” Malkush added. “We had a 1986 red Mercedes in Bridgehampton last week for the U.S. Open golf event rented by a California company. They had balloons on it and their own license plate.”
Still, engagements and weddings are among the bigger reasons that people rent high-end, often nostalgic vehicles that can help you take a trip down memory lane.
“They’re very popular now for engagement photo shoots, announcing engagements, weddings,” Shorter said. “They can do pictures after the wedding, put it in beautiful spots by the water or by a mansion.”
Shorter said his Rolls-Royce was used for pictures for a wedding in Bellport at the Gateway Playhouse.
“We did pictures outside with the Rolls-Royce,” Shorter said. “The bride and groom got in the car near family. They can get in the car. We just ask them to take off their shoes, so their feet are clean.”
Cars typically are listed through services that place them, such as North Fork Vintage Cars, which includes a few of Malkush’s vehicles, but mostly those he represents. Shorter’s Rolls-Royce, for instance, is listed with North Fork Vintage Cars as well as Cooper Classics in Manhattan.
“The spring, summer and fall are the busiest times,” Shorter said of this seasonal business. “It’s nice weather. You want to shoot pictures of the cars on a nice day.”
Cars sometimes get used for television commercials, at special settings such as Oheka Castle, picnics or in scenic locations. But they typically are parked, more than driven day to day.
Malkush said his vehicles often are photographed at Gold Coast estates in Nassau County as well and places such as the Vanderbilt in Centerport, with its cobblestones and castle-like appearance.
“People might go there for engagement photo shoots,” he said. “They might want convertibles. People like ’50s and ’60s vintage cars.”
Nostalgia is big, with cars such as a 1962 silver Corvette and a 1953 black Jaguar convertible as popular vehicles, Malkush said.
New York magazine recently used a 1975 maroon Corvette that Malkush provided for an East Hampton photo shoot.
“A celebrity is washing a car in the driveway of a house,” he said. “They did a photo shoot of her.”
Shorter said his picture cars are not insured for day-day-day driving and, for instance, in a film, he would have to drive it or they would have to get special insurance. Malkush said a movie, if it has proper paperwork including insurance, can use vehicles he represents.
“The insurance is very reasonable,” Shorter said of Hagerty, which specializes in classic car insurance as part of its business.
Shorter doesn’t drive his cars much for personal use, except to car shows and an occasional special event such as taking his grandson to a dance. “They’re not driven very often,” Shorter said of picture cars. “You’re pretty cautious with it.”
If a couple wants to drive off in the vehicle after a wedding, picture cars are the wrong choice. These automobiles are meant to be admired, but not driven away.
“We don’t drive people in our cars,” Malkush said. “They’re picture cars only. If they’re getting married and want a get-away car, we’re not the company for that.”
Shorter stores his vehicles in a rented space similar to a garage and Malkush is primarily a broker, so people take care of their own, including restoration and maintenance.
Car owners may need to find specialty mechanics, such as Shorter did for his Rolls-Royce, which he takes to a company near Princeton, N.J., which he says is run by the technical advisor for the National Rolls-Royce Club.
“I try not to alter them. I like to keep them original,” Shorter said. “I’ve had quite a bit done with the Rolls-Royce. They did the shocks, worked on the engine. They replaced the radio, repaired the air conditioner.”
Shorter said they try to avoid shoots in the rain, not just for looks, but for the sake of the car. While older people love old cars, the traffic toward them for shoots transcends age groups.
“I think it’s a mix of people. Sometimes, younger people just want an interesting picture for Instagram,” Shorter said. “It’s not just your average car or limousine. Or they want to announce their engagement. They want something eye-catching or special, like a red Rolls-Royce or a Thunderbird.”