How can I see the Nicola Bulgari Collection in Allentown, PA ?

[Tom Boehm]

Where can I find out about it? I could not find a website. Is it ever open to the public? Has anyone ever been there? What is there to see? This collection gets mentioned often in Hemmings Classic Car and Crankshaft. 

[Steve Moskowitz]

It is an incredible collection of over 200 cars and is not open to the public.  They have a restoration shop on grounds, test track and a beautiful building for events.  They are in the midst of finishing a welcome center that will have views of some of their cars and that will be open to the public.

 

Mr. Bulgari has a passion for cars that most people would not dream of restoring to the level they do.  He is also a major Buick fan.  He has built something magnificent out of pure love for American cars.

[RLS_JR]

Was there for the Buick Nationals a few years back.  Amazing

[John_S_in_Penna]

21 minutes ago, Tom Boehm said:

Is it ever open to the public? Has anyone ever been there? 

He's happy to open the collection to car clubs.

A club would have to make arrangements well in advance.

Our own region has been there, and his collection manager,

Keith, who would normally be overseeing the restorations,

kindly took several hours to give a thorough tour and explanation.

[dship]

His organization hosted the BCA 50th anniversary in 2016.   

[Tom Boehm]

So it seems I have to wait until a car club that I am a member of gets an invitation. 

[Graham Man]

No trailer queens here, they all run and drive.  I put a couple youtube links on the bottom.

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=XRkIpMUioEQ

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNdjCVxXUTc

 

 

[philip roitman]

Was there for the 50th anniversary Buick Meet. Had the pleasure also going again in 2019 With my good friend Martyn (Marty) Schorr of Motion Cars Fame, Publisher of Cars illustrated, Founder of Vette magazine and Eastern PR Head during the Buick GN era to the beggining of the 2000's. He is a good friend of Mr. Bulgari. I couldn't and wouldn't post all my photos so here are a few photos of the beginning of our day long tour. Mr. Bulgari who at that time had also made the HVA part of the complex in one building. The place is incredible. Keith Flickinger was our host for the tour and lunch. Keith is an amazingly kind and talented person and a member of the AACA. Mr Bulgari should be thanked and praised for saving a huge part of American Automobile history that no one else would ever have done. 

 

 

 

 

W

 

Edited December 28, 2023 by philip roitman (see edit history)

[Hans1965]

I love this 1942 Olds coupe. Never seen before. 

 

 

 

Edited December 28, 2023 by Hans1965 (see edit history)

[Bhigdog]

And to think when i worked at western electric, right across union blvd, that was a drive in movie. The western electric works is now a base ball field.

Time marches on......bob

[ch1929]

I love the Hupmobile coupe.  

 

 

[Tom Boehm]

4 hours ago, Hans1965 said:

I love this 1942 Olds coupe. Never seen before. 

 

How many 1942 Oldsmobile woodies have you seen lately? Thanks Phillip Roitman for posting so many pictures. That 1946-1949 series 75 Cadillac seemed to have a non original engine in it. I thought all the cars in this collection were restored to strict factory specs. 

 

 

Edited December 29, 2023 by Tom Boehm (see edit history)

[Tph479]

I was at the collection earlier this year on a tour. It really is a stunning collection and the restorations are magnificent on cars that usually never get that kind of treatment. The grounds and buildings were fantastic and in spotless condition. If anyone ever gets the opportunity to visit it I would highly recommend going.
 

Mr. Bulgari should be commended on his dedication to the hobby and the hospitality that he has shown to us fellow enthusiasts. The pictures above do not do the place justice. Every car is in immaculate, authentic condition and all of the cars are in turnkey running condition. Kudos to a job well done and it was a real treat to see it in person.

[TAKerry]

I have never seen the collection or grounds but they look to be magnificent. I am only a couple hrs away and keep hoping there will be a 'public' day. I think I have read that they will restore even the most modest/pedestrian cars of the era. Like Tph mentioned, ones that get little love. I think it was the Bulgari collection that had a mid 80's buick sedan 4 speed base model at one of the big shows.

[8E45E]

9 minutes ago, TAKerry said:

I think I have read that they will restore even the most modest/pedestrian cars of the era. Like Tph mentioned, ones that get little love.

Evidence of that is the early 1980's Chrysler minivan as seen in one of the above photos.

 

Craig

[philip roitman]

19 hours ago, Tom Boehm said:

 

A select few are MODERNIZED, HOT Rods. The Caddy is a airport car for visiting friends that will thrill whoever gets picked up.  White Chrysler 300 has a modern big block and a NASCAR frame and goes like heck. He also has some modified 1980's big block Buicks in Italy that would knock your socks off. He calls them his Taxi cabs. Most of his cars though are all original American cars that most people would never restore. Mr Bulgari is a truly amazing car guy.

Edited December 29, 2023 by philip roitman (see edit history)

[Tph479]

When I was visiting this collection, I was taken back by the size of his personal restoration shop. There were maybe 15 talented employees working on nothing but his cars, one of which, a 1937 Nash coupe, was nominated for the Zenith award this past year. The buildings could have been easily filled with Duesenberg’s and European cars with fancy Spaghetti Alfredo bodywork but Bulgari has went out of way to restore and collect American cars. I have seen pictures of his collection in Rome and it is similar to what he keeps in Pennsylvania.

 

We were treated with a goodie bag when we left, which included a hardcover book on his collection of Limousines of the Vatican and also a model car. You could tell talking to his restoration guys that their passion for the hobby probably mirrors Bulgari’s.

[Hans1965]

From Wikipedia:

 

"He collects vintage cars, especially American marques, in both Allentown, Pennsylvania, and Rome. His 21-acre facility in Allentown houses 125 cars in seven warehouses.^[4] He has 85 or more cars in Rome, including the faster models, and flies them to Allentown when they need repairs.^[12] His favourite marque is Buick and he has many from 1940 and 1941, coincidentally the year he was born."

 

He flies them to Allentown. This is so damn cool. 

 

 

 

[Owen_Dyneto]

Yes, you need to belong to a club and have them apply for a visit.  The Packard Club visited in 2015, I believe it coincided with his first "opening".

[edinmass]

A taste of what is on display……sent to me by another visitor. They allow photos, most collections this large do not.

[Zimm63]

My Great Grandfather had the Allentown Stutz dealership in the late 20s early 30s.  Wonder if any of the cars he sold are here.  

[John_S_in_Penna]

27 minutes ago, Zimm63 said:

My Great Grandfather had the Allentown Stutz dealership in the late 20s early 30s.  Wonder if any of the cars he sold are here.  

Probably not.  I don't recall any Stutzes in the collection.

Nicola Bulgari especially likes American cars of the 1940's,

and not "prestige" cars.

[Steve Moskowitz]

Mr. Bulgari does own a Stutz but it may now be in the collection in Italy.  Mr. Bulgari has an extensive collection in Rome and many of those cars are indeed prestigious. Keith Flickinger (NB's head guy at the Center) is an AACA Board Member and a good friend so I mentioned this thread to him.  While the Center does try to accommodate clubs and others it is not an automatic nor are they set up at this time to do regular tours.  It is one of the reasons they are building the Welcome Center.  It has glass panes overlooking quite a few of their cars.  So while they will try to be accommodating, tours will be on a limited basis and they may ask groups to combine with others.  

[Steve Moskowitz]

Glad I said may as I had not seen the car since it appeared at a concours I was judging at.  In fact the Stutz is here in the states and is a 1933 DV32 Monte Carlo.

[58L-Y8]

If a 1933 Stutz DV-32 Monte Carlo by Weymann doesn't come instantly to mind, here is one.   Mr. Bulgari has excellent taste in cars....