Visited a friend's father's 100-car collection

[taymk2]

thats a nice collection the most ive seen is 44 cars my buddy jeff's dad has

[megaDan]

If you like this, you should stop by the Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum at the Western Reserve
Historical Society here in Cleveland sometime ... they have an equally impressive classic car
collection.

I've driven past that often in my 5 years here, but only recently have I heard anything about it.

I finally decide I want to go, and discover its closed for most of this year. Damn.

[Yo Teach]

The line of Fords along the wall is a group of '36s. The Ford sitting against the wall to the right of the 1936 lineup is a 1934. The red Ford on the right side of the picture is a 1935 model.

Let's play a game. Quick! Pick one car for your own. You have 30 seconds to walk through and choose one for your very own; to take home and be your chariot. Your decision is final.

Which one?

I believe I spot a red 1953 Skylark. I'll take that. Or the blue Packard woody wagon.

[maloosheck]

Absolutely stunning...

[saron81]

Let's play a game. Quick! Pick one car for your own. You have 30 seconds to walk through and choose one for your very own; to take home and be your chariot. Your decision is final.

Which one?

57 Chrysler 300 convertible, please.

[seadoo2006]

I've driven past that often in my 5 years here, but only recently have I heard anything about it.

I finally decide I want to go, and discover its closed for most of this year. Damn.

Yeah, I totally forgot until after I posted that comment that they were renovating this year ... sorry about that.

[freedomgli]

Very cool collection of classic cars. I dig the woodies and the '49 Mercury.

What is the white car with the beige colored roof and gilded hood louvers?

I'm not one to tell another man how to enjoy his toys. But the overcrowding would bother me to no end, having to shuffle multiple cars in order to use them and worry about door dings, etc. Such crowding virtually ensures that many cars don't get used often enough to keep them in top running condition.

[Smokin Joe]

Let's play a game. Quick! Pick one car for your own. You have 30 seconds to walk through and choose one for your very own; to take home and be your chariot. Your decision is final.

Which one?

Too easy, the DeLorean in the far corner of the first pic. Add a Flux Capacitor and then go back in time and buy 2 of the rest for a song compared to today's prices. Sell one and keep the other and walk away with enough cash to pay for the garage and upkeep.

[barry2952]

They have a full-time mechanic. About 30 a year are taken to Concours. I drove one of his cars to Eyes on Design. No, they all don't move annually, but a large number do.

I can't believe that people have to defend a car collector on a car enthusiasts site. There wouldn't even be a hobby without collectors. These would have all been recycled into appliances if nobody cared enough to preserve them.

[barry2952]

The car with the gold hood vents is a Studebaker.

[romanl]

that is what i will be doing when i hit MEGA MILLIONS....... you only live once so might as well spend it all

[Obin Robinson]

Damn that is a seriously cool collection. This guy has some really classic pieces of automotive history. I wish we could see more pics.

obin

[RustyShackleford]

Nice collection. Thanks for sharing!

[Obin Robinson]

Let's play a game. Quick! Pick one car for your own. You have 30 seconds to walk through and choose one for your very own; to take home and be your chariot. Your decision is final.

Which one?

I'm all about that black Ford hardtop with the whitewall tires. It's the second one from the left along that back wall and sitting right next to the blue I-beam. That thing is just way too cool.

obin

[Double-V]

Boner! That is a nifty car collection. To those who are calling the owner a hoarder, not a chance. The difference between a hoarder and collector is that a collector keeps things tidy and knows where everything is, and doesn't allow his collection to destroy his home.

Oh, and trim your nails, Barry!

[TXR32]

Beautiful collection. That woody in the middle of one of the pictures is stunning. thanks for sharing.

[kwik!gti]

Seems like a great collection even though there really isn't a single car that interests me. Kinda outta my wheelhouse/scope of interest but I do respect it

[vwlarry]

Talk about hoarding. You should see the cars jammed inside my BRAIN!

[freedomgli]

Talk about hoarding. You should see the cars jammed inside my BRAIN!

Me, too! I'm a freaking car lunatic!

[bronson75]

I much prefer to see collections like this than some of the other uber-rich who go to every exotic dealership and buy one of everything. I'm sick of seeing Veyrons, Ford GTs, Ferraris, etc, etc. Those people just burn money on status symbols. It seems this gentleman put some thought into his collection and bought what he likes.
Kudos.
I agree with others, however, in that I hope they get a turn to be driven and enjoyed. Does he let people tour the collection? Seems a little cramped for a good walk-through.

[Obin Robinson]

Damn, you guys can ruin anything.
Maybe he just likes mid 30's Fords?

I don't know how you could dislike these cars. They are freaking awesome in either original or modified form. I mean who would pass up the chance to own a '32 Deuce Coupe? 1930s Fords are awesome cars and I totally understand this guy wanting to own multiples. These cars kickstarted an entire generation of hot rodding and the 1930s Ford following still isn't slowing down even to this day. I certainly would own a mid 30s Ford if given the chance: stock or modified they are both gorgeous pieces of machinery.

obin

[barry2952]

I believe the Fords celebrate the owner's birth year.

[RQ1]

Nice!

[om617952]

Would love to go see a collection like this. If i could chose only one i belive it would be a Packard v12 or Cadillac v16.

[barry2952]

Maybe because people with mental illnesses can't drive? Because people seem to assume that about this man as well.

I assure you, he if far from mentally ill. Collecting cars is like collecting fish. The size of the collection, and the fish, will expand to the allowable space.

[Air and water do mix]

I'll go first. I choose the Packard Clipper sedan in the bottom right of the photo, next to the V16 Cadillac. Clippers are the most-ut, and I could drive it like a "normal car", which would mean a lot to me.

I think I'd take the V16 Cadillac, but I wouldn't know how to maintain it. Of course, learning how and doing so would be hours and hours of fun for a guy like me.

Also, to those who say they can't be driven: Please note the number of doors on the left of this photo and the arraignment of the cars. Pull out 4 cars in line with the door and voila! You could then pull any of the cars out from either side. Nearly the entire garage is laid-out that way. With a full-time mechanic employed there I don't think it's too much of a problem.

[PoorHouse]

I assure you, he if far from mentally ill. Collecting cars is like collecting fish. The size of the collection, and the fish, will expand to the allowable space.

This is what i was thinking when going through this thread.

Who's to say it was his original intent to own this many cars and have a packed warehouse?

It wouldn't be my dream to own 100 cars, but give me 50 years of buying time and plenty of money and
I could see it happening.

[jazzcat2001]

awesome

[Air and water do mix]

This is what i was thinking when going through this thread.

Who's to say it was his original intent to own this many cars and have a packed warehouse?

It wouldn't be my dream to own 100 cars, but give me 50 years of buying time and plenty of money and
I could see it happening.

Yep. If I were to buy a nice collector car right now there's no way I could keep my Beetle. I only have space for one and money is too tight. If I had the money and space (If I had the money I'd make the space!) you're damn right I'd keep them both. This would also happen repeatedly.

[spoonie]

does he rent these out to movie studios?

[vwlarry]

The bottom line for me is that this gentleman is, as are we all, merely custodians of our belongings. They are not really "ours'. We can preserve and protect the ones that deserve it for the oncoming generations, who will with any luck do the same for posterity. Things, like cars, are kind of like that old saying about beer. We don't own the beer we drink; we only borrow it.

As a custodian, I'd say this guy is doing a fine job.

[brandonwillyumz]

What was this guy's career(s)?

Awesome warehouse. My dream, honestly.

[Dave Zero]

It looks like Mr. Miagi's car collection x10.

I don't see anybody younger than 50 years old building a collection like this.

Still interesting to look upon, but just a room full of meh for me.

[germanblake]

Thanks for sharing Barry. It must have been exciting for you to walk through and check them all out.

[barry2952]

does he rent these out to movie studios?

I think he has. The funny part is he really didn't show them or share them until his son started running the collection. That's the guy that deserves kudos.

BTW, there's plenty of space between cars to walk. I guess to some here the only difference between a hoard and a museum is how far apart the cars are.

The collection is housed in an addition to their business' building that was purpose-built. I believe there are 4 16-foot wide overhead doors. Access is no problem. My hoard is just as tight. Maybe I should give some away to create more space between them.