Auto enthusiasts might call this a honking good deal.
In Morristown, New Jersey, $1.46 million buys not just a three-bedroom, three-bathroom house and its sprawling garage — but also a number of precious vehicles that a new owner can store right inside.
In the coveted Mount Kemble Lake community — less than an hour from New York City — a house hunter also stands to get five antique cars, all of which are beautifully preserved.
For the past 46 years, Gil Fitzhugh has called this his home. Now, at 88, he is preparing to leave it behind, along with the collection of automobiles that has been the beating heart of his passion for nearly half a century.
The decision, he said, is bittersweet, but the time has come.
“I’m sure I’ll look back and say, ‘Gee, I missed that.’ But I’m old. Looking forward to something new,” he told The Post.
Each car was built between 1904 and 1914 — all before the onset of the first World War.
“They’re very historical in that they go back to the beginning of the automobile revolution,” Fitzhugh said.
His oldest car, a 1904 Oldsmobile, priced at $57,500, was built just one year after the first automobiles were manufactured for tourism in the United States. It still runs today.
His 1907 Cadillac Model K, offered at $56,500, is a striking open-top runabout, and has taken part in countless antique car tours.
The 1911 Stanley Model 63, meanwhile, priced at $86,500, is a steam-powered marvel.
And the 1912 Buick Model 35, offered at $48,800, is fully restored from the ground up. The 1914 Ford Touring offered at $15,500, comes with a sturdy frame and period details.
Each one, Fitzhugh says, must be driven with care and skill.
Unlike today’s standardized vehicles, every car in his collection operates differently, requiring a unique combination of levers, pedals and mechanical intuition.
“Each and every one of them work differently from the others. You have to learn how to drive each one like you are essentially learning to drive all over again,” he said.
To own these vehicles is, most of all, to enjoy them.
“The idea is not to get to some place in a hurry. The idea is to drive to some place scenic. The idea is to putter along this little stream and then go up this little winding road and down the other side to another stream, and drive by the country roads,” Fitzhugh said.
For years, that is exactly what he has done. His cars have traveled to antique car shows across the tri-state area, earning admiration from collectors and enthusiasts alike.
Now, he hopes they will find a home with someone who will love them just as much.
Buyers have the option to buy each car individually, with all five totaling $264,500 — or to buy the home individually for $1.2 million.
Beyond the garage that houses this fleet of history, the home itself is also something special.
Originally built in 1935, it has been carefully maintained, expanded and customized over the years. It stands 2,800 square feet in size.
Inside, the home is filled with light. A woodburning fireplace anchors the living room, while large windows open to the lush greenery that surrounds the property.
There are two offices in addition to an artist’s studio. The home also comes with a woodworking shop, equipped with a built-in sawdust collection system.
Mount Kemble Lake residents enjoy a private lake, a clubhouse and scenic wooded acreage, all preserved by a trust.
“Nestled in a picturesque setting, Mount Kemble Lake offers a unique blend of history, charm, and community living,” said Weichert Realtors’ Lisa Molinari, the home’s listing agent.
She knows this not just from experience in real estate, but from personal experience.
“While showing a home in this incredible community, I was so captivated by its charm that I ended up buying here myself,” Molinari said.
Soon, Fitzhugh will move to a retirement community in Pennsylvania, trading his hands-on life with antique cars for something quieter.
“I’m not going to let go completely. I’m going to sell the cars just to clear out. And I will hate losing them,” Fitzhugh said.
“But it’s not as if I’m never going to look at an old car again. The early car hobby is still strong in Pennsylvania.”
