Orlando area collector/antique car attractions?

[greenie]

My family is forcing me to leave our winter paradise and travel to Orlando to see the big mouse. We'll be there from Sunday Jan. 26 until Saturday Feb. 1. Are there any events/attractions in the area for old car types? Thanks.

[1937hd45]

The MGM/Disney part of Disney World is GREAT! Makes you think you are in Southern California in 1938-41 REAL restored cars of the period line the streets. I'd like to visit the WWII aircraft restoration shop at the airport next time I'm down there, but I'm not sure it is open to the public. There are reasonable rooms on site at Disney World, not all are the overpriced showplaces.Not that that there is anything wrong with them.

[RoadsterRich]

Depending on how much driving you want to do here are the 'antique' auto museums/attractions around Florida that I am aware of. From Mickey these range from about 1.5 hours to 2.5 hours driving time, there is also a Museum in Tallahasee as well, however unless you are driving down through the panhandle the time to get there would be excessive from Orlando.

You can always hop down US-192 to Melbourne (I'm a few miles west of the beaches) and say "Hello" to me, no museum, but I do have a garage full of 1930 Chrysler 77 parts (enough to make about 1 1/2 cars at least it seems). Also have stored away at the girlfriends down south, a 1959 Mk IX Jaguar Saloon and a trailer full of 39/40 Cadillac Parts, 40's/50's Chevy Parts, 30's Flathead Ford Parts, Model A Ford parts and mid 60's Corvette parts. Not much to see, but always a good welcome.

Birthplace of Speed Museum, 386-672-5657, 160 E. Granada Blvd Ormond Beach

A collection of Corvettes from every year since 1953 is the centerpiece of Klassix Auto Museum, Daytona Beach's newest attraction. Complementing the extensive Corvette collection are era period sets and scenery depicting the role the automobile has played in American sub-culture and history. A specialty area is dedicated to the heritage of racing history in Daytona Beach. Additional areas include a "Bike Week" scene dedicated to the motorcycle and displays of other Classic cars, and race cars. A motorsports memorabilia/gift shop plus a 50's era soda fountain/ice cream parlor augment the facility.

For race enthusiasts who want to trace the rich history of auto racing in Daytona Beach, racing memorabilia can be found at the Halifax Historical Museum in downtown Daytona Beach. A new attraction is the Gallery of Legends, walls of photographs that trace the history of racing in Daytona Beach at the Visitor's Center at the Daytona International Speedway.

Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing, 877-271-3278, 13700 SW 16th Ave, Ocala Florida. Welcome to Big Daddy?s Museum of Drag Racing and Museum of Classic Automobiles. We have two museums at one location, ticket pricing is for both Museums. The Museums are open daily (except for Christmas) from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Eastern Time.

Sarasota Classic Car Museum, 941-355-6228, 5500 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota Florida. Located on U.S. 41 in Sarasota, Florida, the Museum?s 60,000 square foot facility sits on 4 acres of land near such good neighbors as The Ringling Museum of Art and the Asolo Theater, home of the Sarasota Ballet Company. The SCCM is a Museum by day and a Banquet and Event Facility by night. A 4,000 square foot open-air garden Atrium in the center of the Museum is used for dining and dancing amidst the car collection. A huge Gift Shop filled with an eclectic assortment of collectibles rounds out the facility. The entire facility is "wheelchair friendly" and free wheelchairs are available for visitors. The Museum features a ?living? collection of over 100 automobiles, constantly being updated through acquisitions, exchanges with other car museums, and through donations of vehicles from collectors. The collection spans over 100 manufacturing years. Almost every letter of the alphabet is covered: Auburn, Bentley, Cadillac station wagon (one of only 5 ever made), DeLorean, Edsel, Ferrari, etc. Vintage, classic, muscle, exotic cars?.they?re all here. We have John Lennon?s Mercedes Roadster and a dragster belonging to Don Garlits among our favorite treasures.

Hope the information helps,

Rich

[1937hd45]

The Don Garlits Museum is a MUST SEE if you are in the area. One of the nicest collections I've seen, every car has a nice plaque with its history explained. There are many AACA National First Prize winners on display in addition to the race cars.

[R W Burgess]

Don't forget the classic car dealers throughout the state guys. I personally like PJ'S Autoworld at Clearwater, Fla. which has a nice web site. There's also another dealer right up the street from PJ. And Guess what? It's free to the public. Oops, Hope P Hartmann didn't see the classic reference as most of the cars are '50's and up. Wayne

[Guest AlK]

RoadsterRich: I am new to this general site as I am usall posting on the Packard site. But my other passion is Mopar. Your post was interesting as I am right now killing time until the wife gets up and in about 2 hours or so we will be leaving here(Phenix city, Al) to head for Melbourne to attend a Mopar meet in Melbourne, on Saturday. We will be staying at the Super-8 there. Bring your Chrysler/parts over

Al Kahl

[RoadsterRich]

Al,

You are probably on your way now... but I will be there tomorrow morning bright and early. I will have a vendor 'booth', though I'm not sure where it will be. If they will let me park the Suburban in/by my spaces (I think I ended up getting two of the 20'x20' areas) then there will be a big silver with dark blue accents Suburban parked nearby. It has a fiberglass topper on it, making it quite distinctive. If they don't let me park in/by my space you will likely spot me by looking for the guy with all the parts spread out on blue tarps, and in 22 gallon rubbermaid bins. I'll be there with Colleen & the grandson (he's 5, he'll be doing most of the selling probably <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> . Not sure how much Mopar parts I'll have with me, but there are sure to be some. If I don't bring what you want with me, but possibly have it, we can always slip over to the house. The Super-8 Melbourne is just a few miles from my house. It is at US-1 and US-192, I live close to Babcock & US-1, not far at all. The vast majority of my parts are for 1930 Chryslers, with some going back to about 1928, and some going forward towards the mid 1930's.

I'll also be bringing loads of late 30's Cadillac parts (complete dashes w/gauges, air cleaners, chrome bits and more, also bits and pieces from 30's Ford Flatheads, early 30's Chevy and Buick, mid 60's Vettes, and stuff. Mostly Cadillac stuff, but one never knows what one will find in the bins...

Sure hope to see you, and perhaps a few other DF'ers there! Have a safe trip, look forward to meeting you.

Rich

PS: Here is a visual of me, hope it doesn't break your monitor!

[RoadsterRich]

Got to meet Al Saturday at the MOB Super Swap. We didn't get much time to chat, but was great to meet a fellow DF'er. Unfortunately neither the Chrysler or the Suburban were at the meet. Transmission failed catastrophically on the Suburban about 4PM on Friday on I-95. All in all had a good time at the swap meet, despite the cold weather and gusty winds. Didn't sell much, but then again the meets tend to be more muscle car oriented. Met some other great folks, and the grandson got to ride in the sidecar on a WWII BSA British Military Motorcycle.

Sure hope I get to meet more of the DF'ers in March in Orlando, or April in Cocoa at the Cape Canaveral Region's 'Spring Celebration of Cars' show.

Ramblin Roadster Rich (Fits better huh?)