RBS Car Collection

Where every car has a story — and every story has a little Reed Brothers Dodge history.

Reed Brothers Dodge amassed a small, personal collection of automobiles over the years. This collection includes a variety of cars, each with its own unique story and significance to the family and the dealership’s history. The special memories can make any car legendary or worthy of being a collector car. But part of the fun and mystique of owning collector cars whether they are vintage cars, sports cars, or muscle cars are the stories behind them.

1928 Dodge Brothers Standard Six – How a $100 Find Became a Showroom Icon

The 1928 Dodge Brothers Standard Six made its way to Lee Gartner more than four decades ago, purchased for just $100 from a used car dealer in upper Montgomery County. The dealer had phoned him with the promise, “Lee, I have something you need to see.” One look at the car told Lee it would require significant work; but he also knew that this classic Dodge was exactly what the Reed Brothers garage needed.

After entering the dealership’s care, the old Dodge spent over forty years under the skilled hands of the Reed Brothers Body Shop and Service Department, where it was gradually restored and kept in running condition. When it first left the factory, the Standard Six sold for $835 and came equipped with a 6-cylinder L-head engine rated at 27.34 horsepower. Once fully restored, the car became a point of pride on the showroom floor, sparking countless conversations with customers and visitors. With just 46,504 original miles, it continued to run reliably until it was eventually sold in 2012.

For the Reed family, the 1928 Dodge was more than a restoration project—it quickly became a favorite backdrop for family photographs, a charming reminder of the dealership’s long history.

Gartner family (2nd & 3rd generation owners) in front of the 1928 Dodge Brothers Standard Six at the dealership’s 75th Anniversary celebration.

1946 Dodge Deluxe 4-door Sedan Fluid Drive, Nicknamed “Charity”

1946 Dodge Deluxe 4-door Sedan Fluid Drive

This wasn’t just any car. It was one of the very first cars my father, Lee Gartner, sold as a young salesman at Reed Brothers Dodge. Years later, when its original owner, Lewis Bell, could no longer drive, my dad bought it back. Mr. Bell had affectionately named the car “Charity”, explaining that it was the only car he ever owned and it always got him where he wanted to go. The nickname stuck… and so did the car.

When “Charity” wasn’t sitting proudly on display in the dealership showroom, it was carefully stored in a shed behind the building; a quiet resting spot for a car that had already earned its place in Reed Brothers history.

1946 Dodge Deluxe parked on the street

To commemorate Mary Jane and Lee Gartner’s 50th wedding anniversary on April 10, 1998, the dealership gave “Charity” a special sprucing up. Richard, the eldest son of Lee and Mary Jane, had the honor of chauffeuring his parents to and from the Kentlands Mansion in the vintage Dodge for their Golden Wedding Anniversary celebration. It was the perfect way to mark fifty years together, in a car that had been part of the family story for decades.

Mary Jane & Lee Gartner standing next to ’46 Dodge at their 50th Wedding Anniversary

Today, “Charity” is more than a car, it’s a link to my dad’s early career, a symbol of his loyalty to the people and cars that shaped his life, and a rolling piece of Reed Brothers Dodge history.

1994 Dodge Viper RT/10 from the Reed Brothers Collection

This handmade 1994 Dodge Viper RT/10 was one of the most striking cars in the Reed Brothers Dodge owner’s private collection. Finished in bold Viper Red with a dramatic, sculpted profile, it turned heads the moment it arrived at the dealership.

When the Viper first became available, Chrysler allocated only one to each specially qualified Dodge dealer. So when Reed Brothers learned they would receive one, the decision to purchase it was immediate and unanimous; the car was destined to become a future collectible, and everyone knew it.

The Viper didn’t rely on heritage or nostalgia to make its mark. Instead, it offered something far more thrilling: pure, unfiltered attitude. It was wild, flashy, loud, and unforgettable. Driving it was equal parts excitement and challenge. It wasn’t built for comfort; it was built for the thrill. And yet, that was exactly why people loved it. There simply wasn’t another car on the road that delivered the same adrenaline and sense of fun.

After many years in the Reed Brothers collection, the Viper was eventually sold to a close family friend and devoted car enthusiast, where it continued to be enjoyed and appreciated.

Viper’s happy new owner

1999 Plymouth Prowler

Reed Brothers acquired the 1999 Plymouth Prowler because it was a limited edition, hand assembled car. The Prowler came about as part of Chrysler’s efforts (the last as it turned out) to differentiate Plymouth from the rest of its lineup in hopes of keeping the brand alive. It was hoped that it would be received well enough to garner some attention, some of which might spill over into some of their other models. In this it was similar to the Viper … in other ways, eh, not so much. It is truly a car that you have to drive to fully appreciate … and one you’ll never lose in the grocery store parking lot! While it was not a daily driver, neither was it a garage queen.

For a baby boomer such as myself, this car was a throwback to the cool ’60s when I was growing up. But you really didn’t need the radio blasting out the Beach Boys’ “Fun, Fun, Fun” to get attention in the Prowler. The only other car I’ve driven that has come close to drawing so much attention was the Viper. Wherever I stopped — even at traffic lights — people would roll down their windows or walk up to the car, look it over, and start asking questions. The first one, usually, was “What is it?” Second, of course, was, “How much does it cost?” The next question was, “I see you’re a dealer, is it for sale?”

This car is guaranteed to turn heads in traffic. If you’re not a celebrity but you want to feel like one, here’s the recipe: Buy a Plymouth Prowler. Drop the top. Cruise up and down your local strip. Wave at the gawking crowd.

Just don’t try to drag race a Dodge Viper.