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Hometown Auto Retailers Announces First Quarter 2005 Results

WATERBURY, Conn.--May 1, 20056, 2005--Hometown Auto Retailers, Inc. (OTC BB: HCAR) today announced its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2005.

Hometown reported revenues of $61.8 million in the first quarter of 2005 versus revenues of $65.9 million for the same period in 2004, a decrease of $4.1 million or 6.2 percent. Gross profit for the first quarter of 2005 decreased $214,000 or 2.3 percent to $9.3 million versus gross profit of $9.5 million in same period in 2004.

Net income for the first quarter of 2005 was $268,000, generating basic and diluted earnings per share of $0.04 versus net income of $102,000 and basic and diluted earnings per share of $0.01 for the same period in 2004.

"We are pleased to report a higher net profit year over year for the first quarter of 2005," said Corey Shaker, Hometown president and chief executive officer. "Although revenues were down 6.2 percent, we were able to reduce SG&A more than $600,000. This is partially a result of lower legal fees associated with our settling the Morristown and Vergopia legal matters."

Hometown sold 2,867 vehicles during the first quarter of 2005, 447 less than it sold in the same period in 2004 or a decrease of 13.5 percent. Total vehicles sold (by category) are shown in the table below.

Year-Over-Year Comparison       For the First Quarter Ended
                                         March 31,
                                      2005           2004
                                -------------  -------------
New vehicles                           1,437          1,496
Used vehicles - retail                   737            915
Used vehicle - wholesale                 693            903
                                 ------------   ------------
Total units sold                       2,867          3,314
                                 ============   ============

Sales of new vehicles decreased $3.1 million or 7.5 percent to $38.0 million for the first quarter of 2005 versus $41.1 million in 2004. Used vehicle sales decreased $1.3 million or 7.7 percent to $15.6 million for the first quarter of 2005 versus $16.9 million in 2004. Parts and service revenues for the first quarter of 2005 increased $197,000 or 3.3 percent to $6.2 million versus $6.0 million in 2004. Other revenues (net) increased $131,000 or 6.9 percent to $2.0 million for the first quarter of 2005 versus $1.9 million for the same period in 2004.

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

                                                 For the Three Months
                                                    Ended March 31,
                                                 ---------------------
                                                     2005       2004
                                                 ---------- ----------
Revenues
   New vehicle sales                               $38,025    $41,115
   Used vehicle sales                               15,560     16,910
   Parts and service sales                           6,156      5,959
   Other, net                                        2,025      1,894
                                                 ---------- ----------
      Total revenues                                61,766     65,878

Cost of sales
   New vehicle                                      35,592     38,355
   Used vehicle                                     14,003     15,244
   Parts and service                                 2,865      2,759
                                                 ---------- ----------
      Total cost of sales                           52,460     56,358
                                                 ---------- ----------
      Gross profit                                   9,306      9,520

Selling, general and administrative expenses         8,009      8,648
                                                 ---------- ----------
      Income from operations                         1,297        872

   Interest income                                      70         44
   Interest (expense)                                 (920)      (774)
   Other income                                          2          2
   Other (expense)                                       -         (4)
                                                 ---------- ----------

Pre-tax income                                         449        140
      Provision for income taxes                       181         38
                                                 ---------- ----------
Net income                                            $268       $102
                                                 ========== ==========

Earnings per share, basic                            $0.04      $0.01
                                                 ========== ==========

Earnings per share, diluted                          $0.04      $0.01
                                                 ========== ==========

Weighted average shares outstanding, basic       7,086,500  7,175,105
Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted     7,210,990  7,471,259


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

                                               March 31,  December 31,
                          ASSETS                 2005         2004
                                             (Unaudited)
                                             ------------ ------------
Current Assets:
   Cash and cash equivalents                      $5,336       $6,101
   Accounts receivable, net                        6,320        5,081
   Inventories, net                               42,930       43,440
   Prepaid expenses and other current assets         745          634
   Deferred and prepaid income taxes               1,464        1,464
                                              -----------   ----------
     Total current assets                         56,795       56,720

Property and equipment, net                       13,663       13,854
Other assets                                       3,524        3,649
                                              -----------  -----------
     Total assets                                $73,982      $74,223
                                              ===========  ===========

              LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Current Liabilities:
   Floor plan notes payable                      $42,573      $42,474
   Accounts payable and accrued expenses           5,750        5,106
   Current maturities of long-term debt and
    capital lease obligations                      5,477        5,505
   Deferred revenue                                  664          735
                                               ----------   ----------
     Total current liabilities                    54,464       53,820

Long-term debt and capital lease obligations       8,521        8,621
Long-term deferred income taxes                      123          123
Other long-term liabilities and deferred
 revenue                                             716          726
                                               ----------   ----------
     Total liabilities                            63,824       63,290

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 shares issued and
    outstanding                                        4            4
   Common stock, Class B, $.001 par value,
    3,760,000 shares
    authorized, 3,519,252 shares issued                3            3
   Additional paid-in capital                     30,017       30,017
   Accumulated deficit                           (18,823)     (19,091)
   Less: treasury stock, 940,000 Class B
    shares in 2005                                (1,043)           -
                                               ----------   ----------
     Total stockholders' equity                   10,158       10,933
                                              -----------   ----------
     Total liabilities and stockholders'
      equity                                     $73,982      $74,223
                                              ===========   ==========