Best Private Coleection BB. GM's I've ever seen

I think its lame to have cars you don't drive. Seems like a shed full of "Trailer Queens" and we all feel the same about those I believe. I guess I'm nuts, but in a way i kind of look at cars as having a soul. When I pull one out of a feild I like to think that car that thought its days were done gets to be thrilled to be used again.

 

I live in the same town as this guy. He recently purchased an empty wal-mart building and has turned it into a museum of sorts. It is by far the most impressive collection of cars I have ever seen. He is a regular car guy (with lots of money) that loves to talk shop.

 

I get it. Long day, I guess.

That said, it sort of reminds me of Floyd Garrett, who I'd met in Fla in the 80s when he would take a transporter full of his cars to the Super Chevy shows. He would just put them out for display only, not for judging. When he moved to Tenn, he opened his museum to display his cars and others.

I like really oddball combinations and one of my favorites was the loaded '69 Kingswood Estate wagon with a 427/425. 1 of 3 built.

duojet
'56 Nomad

 

WOW - Great pictures of some really nice cars....now I know what to wish for when I blow out those birthday candles next time. Thanks for posting them.

 

makes me want to burn my cars! HMM which one do you drive first? How do you get the ones in the middle out,? geuss you must drive them all till you get to the one you want.

 

Well said. But I'm still jealous

 

whoa.

 

Just shut up. At least he's preserving some of our treasures, and not shipping them to China. I've seen a lot worse done to these cars in the past

 

So you're saying a guy can never have more than a half dozen cars or he doesn't drive them enough? What with 7 days in a week and all? You're so hardcore.

 

I think there are plenty enough of all those cars around to be able to deposit a relative few into a place to be preserved ... a kind of car archive.

I do love to see 'em on the road, but I also would like to think that there'll be some kept well preserved so that my great-great grand children might get an opportunity to see these beautiful examples of automotive art.

 

was this collector a gm executive?? while the cars may not be hamb friendly, they are a piece of history, just like our rods. great pics. if you are a car nut, you can't help enjoy looking at them.

 

I kind of glossed over the pictures after a while, but did read all the posts.
I didn't notice in the shots I did see any fire supression equipment. I sure hope he has something, too many collections have gone up in smoke!

 

i agree glad someone that can live his dream

 

The collection is in Punta Gorda, Fl. It is a remolded Wallmart store. There also is an old fashioned diner there to eat at. All of the cars are ready to take out on the street and he regulary drives what he feels like. He also has another 45-50 cars elsewhere that he rotates into the collection. It will be a long time before an auction, his daughter is manager of the museum & restaurant.
BUTCH

 

Whenever one of these threads come up I can't believe the JEALOUSY. It's displayed many ways but that's what it is for the most part when there is anything negative said about someone that has the means to amass a collection of this size.
I think the the main thought is "Gee, if I hadn't wasted my life smoking , drinking and/or drugs, throwing money away on trivial stuff and sacrificed and applied myself like this guy I could have a nice collection "stuff". But since I didn't the next best thing is to find fault with him so it will make myself look and feel better.A lot of people think that making someone else look smaller they will automatically look better/larger/ more important. Too bad it usually has the opposite effect.

Frank

 

I was visiting a friend in Vegas whos caretaker for a fellow's warehouse. This guy has just as many cars but all are Rods, Kustoms and drag cars. I'm told he holds car shows at his place and it's simply amazing what one guy can collect.

 

Ditto mate...

Preserve in a Museum available to the public

OR

end up as scrap in a chinese smelter?

Hmmmmmmmmmm .............. Hard choice aye.

.

 

No Fords! Yuck!

 

What a fantastic collection. The reaction is not surprising. At least we know where they all went now.

The question that sticks in my mind is WHY? Why would you own so many similiar cars when the world is full of interesting cars if you have the $$. How many 70s Vettes can you own before you are satisfied?

I know a guy around here that has 14 restored 1951 Fords.

Look at Leno's collection. It's not a warehouse full of 100 Packards, but to each his own I guess.

 

If you like the style, why not? His money, his toys, no different than you or I but on a different scale.

Know anyone that collects glassware? To me, there is a lot of similarity, to the collector, there is numerous subtle differences that is enough for them to warrant having the variety they do. I collect insulators, now theres a hobby that either mystifies you or satisifies you.

Alex.

 

Thanks for the pictures...but what does someone do with all those cars...look at them? heck...drive them!!

 

Bitchin' avatar, JT. I wanna buy it

 

Know what really gets under my skin? The wealthy rodders I've met have been EXTREMELY generous with charities. Far more generous than the average wealthy person, typically because gearheads worked for what they have, and started with nothing.

Yet these people continually have to put up with some churched out a-hole getting on a pedestal to look down on em for accumulating flashy objects.

Tingler, you should be defending this guy but it sure doesn't come across that way. It comes across as a guy who's not selling his straight axle playtoy or his motorcycle to feed the homeless, yet looking down on others for the same behaviour.

 

Yeah man, I read what you wrote 4 or 5 times before responding. After a couple paragraphs knocking the man and emphasizing with those who look down on him..... then at the very end it's "not such a bad thing"

Oh, and it's only OK if it's a museum.

How many conditions are you gonna put on this guy?

 

well put. lots of bashers on these forums for sure.

 

Another way to look at the negativity is "reverse snobbery". Basically, the idea is that anybody that is successful has to be one of the following:

1. a jerk
2. a crook
3. selfish
4. self centered
5. choose something else

In fact, we know nothing about the guy other than he has accumulated quite a collection and is foolish enough to let the general public see it. If he didn't let the public see it then he wouldn't need to endure the "what a waste" comments.

FWIW, the number of jackasses that are broke is the same as the percentage of jackasses with money. The money is irrelevant to the character of a person.

 

You guys are getting out of control. The guy's got some pretty fucking cool cars, and they're being well kept. How about we criticize some of the rusted junk seen here that will NEVER survive for the next generation to enjoy because some people think rusted garbage is cool "patina"?

 

Hallelujah!

So some folks choose to look down on these collectors for whatever reason they choose at the moment, but in my mind what difference does it make what you think about the person or their collection? I don't know the guy, I can't say whether he's been naughty or nice, so I don't judge him. Sure I have an opinion about what he's got there, but it's as worthless as all opinions are.

It'd be far nicer on this blue ball spinning through space if people could stop putting their conditions and morals on others. Maybe if we all just decided to live and let live all the morons (excuse me, extremists) would just melt away...no more snobs, religious zealots, hot rod gods, whoever, just gone.

I don't understand why he chooses to do what he does, but as long as he's not hurting anyone else to do it, then party on! Nice rides too, by the way

 

Wow ! what a collection....We can all use these pics to show our wifes when they think we are obsessed with cars....I would love to own a few more for sure.... Hope the guy is not a jerk! I've heard Leno is a great guy and he has a nice collection...More power to him!!

 

This proves it, There can be too much of a good thing. So you go plunk down $10 admission, if that is the case, and take a look. When do you loose interest after the 5th. or 6th. 427 'vette in a row??

IMO Jay Leno is the ultimate big $$ collector. Variety, significant cars and they are driven.

N B R