Matt Harwood Posted June 1, 2022 Share Posted June 1, 2022 Many of you in the hobby probably knew my good friend Bob Lichty. He was a former editor with Hemmings Motor News, Old Cars Weekly, and others, as well as working for big collections like the Blackhawk Collection and The Canton Classic Car Museum. Most recently, he owned and operated Motorcar Portfolio, another dealership near us, and served as a friend and mentor for many years. I was heartbroken to learn of his sudden passing yesterday morning. Bob was one of the kindest, most generous people I've ever known. Always soft-spoken, he was a wealth of knowledge and was always eager to share. He was one dealer with whom there was never any competitive friction and instead we collaborated and shared experiences and he was the first person to whom I turned for help when we had a legislation issue a few years ago. He was instrumental in making collector car auctions legal in Ohio (WTF, Ohio?) and always offered his lifetime of experience to anyone who would ask. His breadth of knowledge covered everything from brass cars to modern collectables and he could speak on all of them with authority. My sincere condolences to those closest to him. I'm sure many of you knew him and I thought you might like to know of his untimely passing. Godspeed, Bob. 4 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketraider Posted June 1, 2022 Share Posted June 1, 2022 Well that's a gut punch and a real loss to this hobby. RIP Bob. Had many "old car" conversations with him at his Carlisle spots. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Bond Posted June 1, 2022 Share Posted June 1, 2022 Geez, sad to hear this. Knew Bob for years and always enjoyed talking with him. I remember when he was working on that first AACA History book. He had a lot of friends in this great hobby. RIP Bob. Terry 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Roth Posted June 1, 2022 Share Posted June 1, 2022 Bob was a real treasure to our hobby, as well as a genuine "Nice Guy", always willing to share his wealth of knowledge. We spoke several times, and shared some very pleasant times - not nearly enough ! RIP, Bob, Marty 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_S_in_Penna Posted June 1, 2022 Share Posted June 1, 2022 I've spoken with him a couple of times. May his life continue on fully and enthusiastically! Is there someone to continue his Motorcar Portfolio business? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JCHansen1 Posted June 1, 2022 Share Posted June 1, 2022 Sorry to hear this. I have a favorite Bob story... Three years ago I was looking at a '61 Olds located in Bob's showroom, which at the time was in the lower level of the McKinley Grand Hotel in Canton. Bob suggested we take a ride. Being in the basement of this hotel, Bob had engineered a "reinforced" 4-post drive-on hoist to raise the car up from his level to street level (the loading bay behind the hotel) so he could get cars in and out. It was a pretty neat idea, but I was a little nervous watching the car go out this way. We got the car out and I had a drive, but I traded places with him about a block away from the hotel, as there was no way I was driving the car back onto the hoist for our descent back into the darkness of his storage area behind the cars on display. From the passenger seat, I was mildly terrified as Bob drove back into a very dark hole, but trying to play it cool. Once the car was about a quarter of the way onto the hoist the ramps disappeared from my view, and you couldn't see anything at all in front of you, which was somewhat disorienting. I let out a nervous groan. Imagine driving on a road where there is no road, just darkness. Bob confidently drove straight onto the hoist- and there we were, maybe 8 or 10 feet above the ground on the hoist. All I could imagine was Bob hitting the brakes too hard, and the inertia stored in that 4,000 pound Oldsmobile as it stopped on the ramps ripping the reinforcements from the vertical I-beams the hoist was secured to, sending the hoist, the car, -and us- crashing to the ground. Fortunately, that didn't happen, and as Bob's helper lowered us slowly back down into the basement, I have never in my life been happier to have a car back on the ground as I was in that moment. Sitting in the driver's seat, cool as a cucumber, Bob saw my nervousness and had a good-natured laugh at my expense. Later, even though I wanted to get back on the road home, and it was around closing time, Bob and I sat and talked cars in his office for maybe an hour. We had a really nice chat, and I'm glad I took the time to get to know him a little. He had lots of good stories, and he really scared the heck out of me that day- I'll never forget it. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lump Posted June 2, 2022 Share Posted June 2, 2022 Sad news. I knew Bob from my years handling the advertising and marketing services for many of the major businesses in the old car hobby. Bob and I spoke often in those days. Prayers for his family and friends. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brass is Best Posted June 2, 2022 Share Posted June 2, 2022 Sad news. We did business with Bob many times. He was a good person. I hope he is driving an old car in Heaven right now. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_S_in_Penna Posted June 20, 2022 Share Posted June 20, 2022 On 6/1/2022 at 5:39 PM, John_S_in_Penna said: Is there someone to continue his Motorcar Portfolio business? Repeating my question. I hope someone is going to continue the business. His website is still operational, so is someone going to continue? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Harwood Posted June 20, 2022 Author Share Posted June 20, 2022 His son, Curtis, worked there with Bob. I'm assuming that he'll take the reins. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
34CR12 Posted July 7, 2022 Share Posted July 7, 2022 I just saw this obituary. I had talked to Bob on the phone three times. Twice around 2005 and once in 2021. He helped me "sort thru" and answer questions I had regarding two different somewhat uncommon collectible cars that we had both owned. He was such an amazing resource of information on those cars! He was a friendly insightful man who knew an immense amount regarding many older, and even newer, collectible cars. I recall from 2005 I had even (randomly) asked him about a 1949 Kaiser Frazer 4 door rag top that I had seen in 2001, (near San Diego in a museum), and he knew a lot about those cars too! I had also quickly asked some other questions regarding other odd or uncommon collectible cars that I had always wondered about. It was like I couldn't "stump him" as he knew so well regarding any car I asked about, and he had the most amazing insights on each car I had asked about! He always took my calls, was always willing to talk, and always left me with good solid information that I just felt like I could not get anywhere else. Same goes for email. He was always willing to answer my questions. This last time we talked, in 2021, he told me how Ohio had worked out out so much better for his family and his business after leaving overpriced California, many years ago. He was so personable, especially to a stranger like me calling him out of the blue asking a bunch of questions regarding some uncommon collectible cars. What a gracious man and I'm so thankfull I got to talk and trade emails with him when I had questions. He was the best example of what I see the old car hobby as being all about; Taking "a moment" to share information with humility and enthusiasm. He was "old school" but in the very best ways imaginable!! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdome Posted July 8, 2022 Share Posted July 8, 2022 This is sad news. I have known Bob for many years that I think go back to about the time he moved to Ohio, maybe mid 1980's? His present showroom is in a former Chevy dealership about 2 blocks south of the hotel. I'm not comfortable with dealers and flippers partly do to the fact that I'm not their kind of buyer and they generally don't care for lookers but I was always welcomed at Bob's place and would stop in to say hello occasionally and take a look at his inventory. The last time I stopped in was back in March. Bob was not there but his son was. Curtis is a personable individual like his father and should do well if he chooses to continue the business. I never bought a car from Bob but I did sell a 13 Buick at his first auction held at the Knight Center in Akron and by coincidence I bought a 24 Cadillac coupe at his last auction held at the Glenmoor Concourse in Canton. Kruse held an auction back in their time at the former Richfield (Ohio) Coliseum near Cleveland. It was a disaster. Sellers didn't get paid and buyers didn't get their cars or titles or received erroneous titles. After that mess, the state ended public auto auctions. Years latter, Bob somehow made it happen. Godspeed Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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