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Hometown Auto Retailers Announces Second Quarter 2004 Results

WATERTOWN, Conn.--Aug. 1, 20041, 2004--Hometown Auto Retailers, Inc. (OTCBB:HCAR) today announced its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2004.

Hometown reported revenues of $68.7 million in the second quarter of 2004 versus revenues of $78.1 million for the same period in 2003, a decrease of $9.4 million or 12.0 percent. On a same store basis (excluding the Chrysler/Jeep sales and service franchise sold in June 2003), revenues decreased $8.4 million or 10.9 percent to $68.7 million in the second quarter of 2004 from $77.1 million for the same period in 2003. Gross profit for the second quarter of 2004 decreased $1.2 million or 11.1 percent to $9.6 million versus gross profit of $10.8 million in same period in 2003. On a same store basis, gross profit decreased $997,000 or 9.4 percent to $9.6 million for the second quarter of 2004 from $10.6 million for the same period in 2003.

Net income for the second quarter of 2004 was $233,000, generating basic and diluted earnings per share of $0.03 versus net income of $1.1 million and basic and diluted earnings per share of $0.15 for the same period in 2003. Results for the second quarter of 2003 include earnings of $0.08 per share from a gain on the sale of a Chrysler/Jeep sales and service franchise in June 2003.

Hometown reported revenues of $134.6 million for the first half of 2004 versus revenues of $138.4 million for the same period in 2003, a decrease of $3.8 million or 2.7 percent. On a same store basis (excluding the Chrysler/Jeep sales and service franchise sold in June 2003), revenues decreased $876,000 or 0.6 percent to $134.6 million in the first half of 2004 from $135.5 million for the same period in 2003. Gross profit for the first half of 2004 decreased $648,000 or 3.3 percent to $19.2 million versus gross profit of $19.8 million in same period in 2003. On a same store basis, gross profit decreased $239,000 or 1.2 percent to $19.2 million for the first half of 2004 from $19.4 million for the same period in 2003.

Net income for the first half of 2004 was $335,000, generating basic and diluted earnings per share of $0.05 versus net income of $962,000 and basic and diluted earnings per share of $0.13 for the same period in 2003. Results for the first half of 2003 include earnings of $0.08 per share from a gain on the sale of a Chrysler/Jeep sales and service franchise in June 2003.

"We were disappointed with both revenue and profit results for the first half of 2004," said Corey Shaker, Hometown president and chief executive officer. "We are continuing to look for reductions in costs without hurting efficiency and our marketing efforts. We have made some strategic moves toward these goals. We have just recently completed the purchase of the real estate that houses our Chrysler Dodge and Jeep store in Brattleboro, Vermont. This real estate purchase will allow the company to save more than $2 million versus continuing the existing lease. In addition, we have been successful in converting several key management positions to more commission-based versus salary-based pay plans. Recent reports show improving July sales industry wide, and if these trends continue, we feel we will benefit from some of the cost savings we have and will be implementing."

Hometown sold 3,368 vehicles during the second quarter of 2004, 498 less than it sold in the same period in 2003 or a decrease of 12.9 percent. Hometown sold 6,682 vehicles during the first half of 2004, 100 less than it sold in the same period in 2003 or a decrease of 1.5 percent. Total vehicles sold (by category) are shown in the table below.


Year-Over-Year Comparison     For the three months  For the six months
                                 ended June 30,       ended June 30,
                                  2004     2003        2004    2003
                                -------  -------     -------  -------
New vehicle                       1,655    2,098      3,151    3,466
Used vehicle - retail               781    1,000      1,696    1,936
Used vehicle - wholesale            932      768      1,835    1,380
                                -------  -------     -------  -------
Total units sold                  3,368    3,866      6,682    6,782
                                =======  =======     =======  =======

On a same store basis, Hometown sold 3,368 vehicles during the second quarter of 2004, 468 less than it sold in the same period in 2003 or a decrease of 12.2 percent. Hometown sold 6,682 vehicles during the first half of 2004, 7 less than it sold in the same period in 2003 or a decrease of 0.1 percent. Total vehicles sold (by category) on a same store basis are shown in the table below.


Same Store Basis Comparison  For the three months   For the six months
                                ended June 30,        ended June 30,
                                2004      2003       2004       2003
                              --------  --------  ---------  ---------
New vehicle                     1,655     2,068      3,151      3,373
Used vehicle - retail             781     1,000      1,696      1,936
Used vehicle - wholesale          932       768      1,835      1,380
                              --------  --------  ---------  ---------
Total units sold                3,368     3,836      6,682      6,689
                              ========  ========  =========  =========

Sales of new vehicles decreased $6.2 million or 12.2 percent to $44.8 million for the second quarter of 2004 versus $51.0 million in 2003. On a same store basis, sales of new vehicles decreased $5.3 million or 10.6 percent to $44.8 million for the second quarter of 2004 versus $50.1 million in 2003. Used vehicle sales decreased $2.9 million or 15.5 percent to $15.8 million for the second quarter of 2004 versus $18.7 million in 2003. Parts and service revenues for the second quarter of 2004 decreased $65,000 or 1.0 percent to slightly less than $6.2 million versus slightly more than $6.2 million in 2003. On a same store basis, parts and service revenues increased $122,000 or 2.0 percent to $6.2 million versus $6.0 million in 2003. Other revenues (net) decreased $180,000 or 8.2 percent to $2.0 million for the second quarter of 2004 versus $2.2 million for the same period in 2003. On a same store basis, other revenues (net) decreased $173,000 or 7.9 percent to $2.0 million for the second quarter of 2004 versus $2.2 million for the same period in 2003.

Sales of new vehicles decreased $991,000 or 1.1 percent to $85.9 million for the first half of 2004 versus $86.9 million in 2003. On a same store basis, sales of new vehicles increased $1.5 million or 1.8 percent to $85.9 million for the first half of 2004 versus $84.4 million in 2003. Used vehicle sales decreased $2.4 million or 6.8 percent to $32.7 million for the first half of 2004 versus $35.1 million in 2003. Parts and service revenues for the first half of 2004 decreased $322,000 or 2.6 percent to $12.1 million versus $12.4 million in 2003. On a same store basis, parts and service revenues increased $112,000 or 0.9 percent to $12.1 million versus $12.0 million in 2003. Other revenues (net) decreased $67,000 or 1.7 percent to $3.9 million for the first half of 2004 versus $4.0 million for the same period in 2003.

About Hometown

Hometown Auto Retailers (www.htauto.com) sells new and used cars and light trucks, provides maintenance and repair services, sells replacement parts and provides related financing, insurance and service contracts through nine franchised dealerships and one stand-alone used car facility located in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont. The company's dealerships offer nine American and Asian automotive brands, including Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, Jeep, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercury, and Toyota. Hometown is also active in two "niche" segments of the automotive market: the sale of Lincoln Town Cars and limousines to livery car and livery fleet operators and the maintenance and repair of cars and trucks at a Ford and Lincoln Mercury factory authorized free-standing service center.


                    HOMETOWN AUTO RETAILERS, INC.
           UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
           (in thousands, except share and per share data)

                         For the Three Months     For the Six Months
                            Ended June 30,          Ended June 30,
                        ----------------------  ----------------------
                           2004        2003        2004        2003
                        ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
Revenues
   New vehicle sales     $ 44,776    $ 50,952    $ 85,891    $ 86,882
   Used vehicle sales      15,780      18,739      32,690      35,133
   Parts and service sales  6,155       6,219      12,114      12,435
   Other, net               2,011       2,193       3,905       3,973
                        ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
      Total revenues       68,722      78,103     134,600     138,423

Cost of sales
   New vehicle             41,960      47,668      80,315      81,228
   Used vehicle            14,318      16,945      29,562      31,763
   Parts and service        2,813       2,711       5,572       5,633
                        ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
      Total cost of sales  59,091      67,324     115,449     118,624
                        ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
      Gross profit          9,631      10,779      19,151      19,799

Selling, general and
 administrative expenses    8,466       9,109      17,087      17,555
                        ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
      Income from
       operations           1,165       1,670       2,064       2,244

   Interest income             37           7          81          14
   Interest (expense)        (884)       (799)     (1,685)     (1,577)
   Other income                 1         938           3         951
   Other (expense)              -           -          (4)         (3)
                        ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------

Pre-tax income                319       1,816         459       1,629
      Provision for
       income taxes            86         733         124         667
                        ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
Net income               $    233    $  1,083    $    335    $    962
                        ==========  ==========  ==========  ==========

Earnings per share,
 basic                   $   0.03    $   0.15    $   0.05    $   0.13
                        ==========  ==========  ==========  ==========

Earnings per share,
 diluted                 $   0.03    $   0.15    $   0.05    $   0.13
                        ==========  ==========  ==========  ==========

Weighted average shares
 outstanding, basic     7,191,588   7,175,105   7,183,347   7,175,105
Weighted average shares
 outstanding, diluted   7,324,514   7,175,105   7,397,886   7,175,105


                     HOMETOWN AUTO RETAILERS, INC.
                      CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
            (in thousands, except share and per share data)

                                                June 30,  December 31,
                          ASSETS                  2004       2003
                                               (Unaudited)
                                               ---------- -----------
Current Assets:
   Cash and cash equivalents                    $  7,082   $  5,639
   Accounts receivable, net                        5,871      6,058
   Inventories, net                               49,791     37,774
   Prepaid expenses and other current assets         640        625
   Deferred and prepaid income taxes               1,416      1,349
                                                 --------   --------
     Total current assets                         64,800     51,445

Property and equipment, net                       13,906     12,678
Other assets                                       1,085      1,141
                                                 --------   --------
     Total assets                               $ 79,791   $ 65,264
                                                 ========   ========

              LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Current Liabilities:
   Floor plan notes payable                     $ 50,558   $ 38,003
   Accounts payable and accrued expenses           5,815      5,798
   Current maturities of long-term debt and
    capital lease obligations                      1,155        996
   Deferred revenue                                  916        609
                                                 --------   --------
     Total current liabilities                    58,444     45,406

Long-term debt and capital lease obligations      12,900     12,076
Long-term deferred income taxes                      125        125
Other long-term liabilities and deferred revenue     802        729
                                                 --------   --------
     Total liabilities                            72,271     58,336

Commitments and Contingencies

Stockholders' Equity
   Preferred stock, $.001 par value, 2,000,000 
    shares authorized, no shares issued 
    and outstanding                                    -          -
   Common stock, Class A, $.001 par value,
    12,000,000 shares authorized, 3,870,137 
    and 3,655,853 shares issued and outstanding,
    respectively                                       4          4
   Common stock, Class B, $.001 par value,
    3,760,000 shares authorized, 3,519,252 
    shares issued and outstanding                      3          3
   Additional paid-in capital                     30,017     29,760
   Accumulated deficit                           (22,504)   (22,839)
                                                 --------   --------
     Total stockholders' equity                    7,520      6,928
                                                 --------   --------
     Total liabilities and stockholders'
      equity                                    $ 79,791   $ 65,264
                                                 ========   ========