It’s not uncommon to see classic and exotic cars on the streets of North Fork. Locals and visitors alike head east in their beloved cars, be it for a fun excursion or one of the area’s frequent auto shows, and they almost always have an interesting story to tell.
Two companies – North Fork Vintage Cars and North Fork Picture Cars – use the enthusiasm for vintage cars and rent beautiful vehicles for photo shoots, commercials, TV and film.
Retired Jericho High School store instructor Mike Malkush bought his precious possession, a 1949 Ford F-1 pickup truck, 18 years ago. The truck, which the Cutchogue resident affectionately calls Ruby, is now something of a mascot for his company.
“I would take it anywhere and it was so cool,” he said. “I’ve done car shows and over the years people have asked me if they could use it for photos for weddings [and other events]. ”
As Malkush’s classic pickup truck – and Corvette – grew in demand, he realized there was a way to make some money by renting it out for photo shoots and events. Then, five years ago, his daughter asked for several vintage cars for her wedding. “She said, ‘Dad, could we use your two cars for the wedding and maybe a few more?'” He explained.
Malkush arranged for some of his friends to drive family and wedding guests to New Suffolk Beach in their own vintage cars, and the idea for North Fork Vintage Cars was born.
“When I saw the reaction, it was almost like a car show,” Malkush recalls. “Right then, I knew I had done that anyway, let me make this kind of a deal.”
Today, Malkush rents out cars for photo shoots, commercials, marketing events, and more. As president of the Peconic Bay Car Club and the Cutchogue-New Suffolk Historical Council, he is very involved in the local community, but his cars have also been used off the beaten track. Malkush owns several cars, but also acts as an “agent” finding cars from other collectors for events.
He’s especially proud to find a 1960 Aston Martin for a Tommy Bahama shoot in Southampton last summer, and last month he got a 19th century carriage for a showing of Amazon Primes Cinderella at the Surf Lodge in Montauk restored. “They wanted me to paint it white and the price was right, so I did it myself. It was the old shop teacher in me. “
A 1951 Chevy pickup truck made by North Fork Picture Cars. (Photo credit: North Fork Picture Cars)
North Fork Picture Cars is the city’s newest auto company. Father-daughter duo Jim and Grace O’Doherty founded North Fork Picture Cars last year during the lockdown when they, like Malkush, realized how much people loved photographing their family’s own classic automobiles.
The business started when Jim, a television writer, comedian, and actor, and Grace, a television producer who also studies medicine at Columbia, were staying at their East Marion home during the COVID shutdown and discovered the opportunity.
“My father would drive through town [in his 1940s Cadillac Convertible] and people were taking pictures on their phones and I thought we could do better, ”said Grace.
Jim has been collecting vintage cars for many years, some of which have featured in television series like That ’70s Show.
“It started with me going to car shows and admiring them,” he said. “I met Charles Bronson – not the actor – who is a really serious car guy. He collects cars for kings and ayatollahs, and we became friends. ”
Jim has amassed a collection of cars over the years and has been thrilled to use them for more than his own personal collection.
“After 30 years of comedy writing, I’ve come to a point where I want to plant tomatoes and drive cool cars,” he said.
Like Malkush, Jim and Grace have a collection of cars and staff that customers use to find what they are looking for.
“I formed an alliance and we now have 75 cars,” he said. “I know my way around and I know how to get these cars to shows and events. Grace’s slogan is: Cars from every decade for every occasion. “
Grace noted that her other two sisters helped out with some of the social media and marketing of the company.
“It’s really cool because we sit at the dinner table before everyone else sits down and talk about business, and then everyone sits down to dinner,” she said. “This is one of my favorite things to drop my schoolwork.”
And while it’s a small region, there seems to be enough space for North Fork Vintage Cars and North Fork Picture Cars.
“Everyone knows everyone,” said Jim, noting that he and Malkush know each other. “It’s not about competition.”
