INDUSTRY INSIGHT: 
Richard Carpenter in one of his favorite cars, a jet black 1965 Plymouth Satellite
Richard Carpenter
The Collector - One half of the legendary music group "The Carpenters", and his classic car collection, Yesterday Once More.
A 1965 Plymouth Satellite sits with a deep and rich black exterior, the paint accented by gleaming chrome along the side. “My first car,” Richard Carpenter reports. “My dad said we didn’t need a convertible, but hey, I was 18…”
The Plymouth is one of more than two dozen cars housed in a commercial building in Newbury Park appropriately named “Yesterday Once More”. The title is taken from the #1 hit song that Richard co-wrote with John Bettis and made famous with his sister in the 70’s superduo The Carpenters.
Indeed, the collection, mostly Chrysler products, sits in a spacious, immaculately kept showroom, underscored by a high-gloss floor that perfectly reflects these pristine vehicles. At first glance, one notices what appears to be an abundance of space between each of the cars; it’s by design. “I like to look at and appreciate their lines,” Richard explains.
A glance toward the back reveals a 1970 Plymouth ‘Cuda, equipped with a 440 cubic inch six barrel and “Shaker” hood. The car, in perfect condition, has logged a mere 40,000 miles in the almost four decades.
1959 Chrysler 300E in Camel Tan
“I purchased the car brand new,” Richard recalls, “but went on the road not long after that. The fact is that most of the miles were put on by my dad.”
Also in the collection is a rare 1959 Chrysler 300 E, one of only 12 known to still exist. Originally purchased in 1978, it’s a California car whose second owner had discovered it on a farm in Utah in a chicken coop. It is finished in “cameo tan”, one of only four 300E convertibles
Chrysler painted that color.
His passion for cars was fostered in his youth. A product of New Haven, Connecticut, Richard and his family moved to Downey, California in 1963. Richard remembers the time when car dealers would black out their windows, preventing the public from seeing the new cars. Back then, there was a specific release date for new models, and arrivals prior to that date were hidden from public view.
Not to be deterred, he admits to reading the newspaper advertisements to learn more about the new models. “Back then,” he says, “the cars changed every year.”
With all his success, Richard continues to appreciate “old school” qualities. The day following a visit to Mastro’s Restaurant, he received a phone call inquiring about the service he received. “That’s true customer service,” he exclaims. Walking the talk, Richard is one who still sends hand-written thank you notes.
Richard Carpenters collection in his Yesterday Once More warehouse, Newbury Park, CA
Beyond his museum, he is a philanthropic contributor to the community and continues to be a major supporter of the arts through the Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center. Built in 1994 on the campus of California State University, Long Beach, it has the expressed goal of supplying community members access to “the entire spectrum of performing arts.”
Yet cars remain central to his life. To view much of his collection and learn about Richard, visit his Web site at www.richardandkarencarpenter.com
