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Powerful engines, vibrant exteriors and rare cars,
the Motorama Auto Museum has it all.
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The curator of this museum once raced cars,
and is now an expert on the collection he helped build.
- Well, it started as my collection of cars,
which was eclectic and rare automobiles.
It is now the Motorama Auto Museum, a 501 non-profit.
- Very nice!
And so, how many vehicles do you have
as part of your collection?
- There's over 400 vehicles here.
- Oh, wow. - There's quite a few people
that are into cars and vehicles in general
that are getting older.
They want them to be preserved,
and so, their goal is to save this stuff.
- That's awesome!
And make it available to the public? - Correct.
- So what can visitors expect when they visit the museum?
- Well, each room is a different genre.
We're standing in the race car room.
There's one that's weird cars.
There's the boneyard display.
There's a whole variety.
So, there's something to interest everybody.
I love these old cars.
I look at 'em as history,
so they need to be preserved.
The really, really rare stuff
needed to be where people could see them.
There's an awful lot of cars here that are one of a kind,
one of two, one of five.
You don't want them to be sold
and wind up in some rich guy's garage, never to be seen again.
So, that was the real basis for starting the museum.
- Angela: Wonderful. Can we check out more? - Sure.
- Let's see what we have in here.
Our first stop was to the bike barn,
home to some pretty uncommon automobiles.
- So this is an Alfa Romeo Giulia Spider.
Giulia means "little jewel."
It was Italian and sexy and fancy.
- Angela: And there are different features that they put in their car?
- Tom Zatloukal: Yes, every car has its own little unique thing.
The big point about these was
the styling and the effect when you drove them.
They made cool noise.
- Oh, okay. - And it's a two-seater.
It's a fun car.
It's a car you go on a date with.
- Angela: Absolutely. You drop the convertible top back; people can see you.
- Oh, yes. - Very nice.
Can we check out some more cars? - Sure! - Awesome.
- Tom: This is a Packard Cavalier, 1953.
- Angela: It's beautiful.
- They were special because of the wild colors.
It had the big motor in it.
This particular car has had a total of three owners,
including a museum.
It has 23,000 miles. - Oh wow, that's it?
- Yeah, that's why you keep it for a museum.
- Angela: Because it's so well preserved.
- Yes. How you can tell your Packards apart:
if the wings stand up, it's a normal one.
If the wings lay back, it has the big engine.
- Because the-- whatever bird this is, going faster because--
- Yes, yes, yes. - Aha, I get it! I get the visual aid.
- Also, it has all the gold plating on it.
- Angela: So, tell us about this one.
- This is a 1952 Jaguar 120 Roadster.
- Mmm, very nice, so Roadster meaning like the two seat?
- Tom: Two seat, yes. - The convertible? - Yes.
- Okay. - Yes.
This particular car is known as "Pat's Jag."
- Angela: Who's Pat?
- Pat was a friend of mine's wife.
- Hm-mmm.
- And I restored this car 40 years ago for her.
And she loved it and cherished it.
And, she passed on.
After that, the car was never driven again.
So eventually, Ed says it needs to come to the museum--
that was her husband-- and so there it is in all its glory.
No, you cannot buy this car.
- [laughing] I mean, it is a nice car.
Thank you so much. - Okay, you're welcome.
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