Monday – April 11, 2011 Boynton Beach, Florida
I love to discover new “things” and to have serendipitous experiences!! Today was one of those days! :-) I’ll start from the beginning:
This morning I wanted to go to the Morikami Japanese Garden in Delray Beach, Florida, but it is closed on Mondays. I soon discovered that all the museums in the two surrounding counties are closed on Mondays! I searched all the event pages on the Internet for interesting activities and events nearby without much luck. Finally Jeff found the Fort Lauderdale Antique Car Museum and it was open!
Front of the Museum
I might be the only woman in the world who likes cars. Ever since I was a kid, I enjoyed “automobilia”, or everything that had to do with cars. In eighth grade science I learned how the combustion engine works, and the difference between gas and diesel engines! It was fascinating.
I enjoyed looking at cars and remember being excited about the new models every year during the ’50s and ’60s. I love sports cars; especially the Ferrari – Testarossa, my favorite car!
Most of all I love driving cars! One year, my car was totalled during the night when it was parked across the street from the house. I was so depressed and upset not to have “wheels” for a few weeks. If I had to choose between my car and a place to live, I would choose the car!
Also, I have owned and driven RED cars since 1978, most of them stick-shifts. To me, the car represents “Freedom”, in every sense of the word, and independence and happiness. Whenever I’m sad or depressed or upset, I get into MY car and drive. Drive on a high-way. Drive on a free-way. Drive in wide open spaces and go….
It was a wonderful idea to go to the Antique Car Museum today! What I didn’t know was that all the cars were Packards. According to Wikipedia, Packards were luxury cars built in Detroit, Michigan between 1899 to 1958. The Packard brothers thought they could build a better horseless carriage. Packard automobiles were the first to have modern steering wheels and they built the first production 12-cylinder engine. Packards were sold to wealthy clients at prices starting at $2600, at a time when simple roadsters sold for $375.
We drove South to Fort Lauderdale on Route 95 and found the Antique Car Museum on SW 1st Avenue behind the Broward County Hospital. The museum was in a non-descript building on a commercial street surrounded by vacant lots and train tracks. We hesitated, but then a young woman opened the door and gave us a cheery welcome. We paid the senior admission fee of $5.00 each, turned around, walked into the huge room, and our jaws dropped. “Wow!” We both said out loud. We couldn’t believe our eyes.
All around the perimeter of the room were the most beautiful antique Packard automobiles anyone could imagine. They were all in like-new condition from top to bottom. The bodies of the cars gleamed; the chrome glistened, and each car was in perfect condition. The room looked like a new-car dealership. Even the tires were clean!
As we walked around the cars we noticed that the walls were covered with a variety of Packard and automobile parts. There were also beautiful oak cabinets filled with more automobile accessories. There were collections of: headlights, cigarette lighters, carburetors, radiator covers, hub caps, hood ornaments, toy cars, flower vases, oil cans, gasoline signs, door handles, etc., etc….. It was an unbelievable collection of cars and car parts.
On three sides of the room there were the self-driven roadsters and chauffer-driven special cars. On the other side there was a bright red Packard delivery truck and a “paddy wagon” police truck.
Then we discovered a second room filled with more antique Packards! These were newer cars from the 1930s, ’40s and ’50s. These was also a tow-truck and a fire engine. What an unbelievable collection. Further on there were two more rooms.
One room had more car parts and a small theater showing a video of the history of the Packard company. The last room was a memorial to Franklin Delano Roosevelt and exhibited FDR memorabilia.
We noticed that the two mechanics were working on several cars. Their job was to keep all the cars in running order. Unbelievable!
A Packard “Woody”
We watched them start one of the cars. It actually took both of them to accomplish the task and about 10 minutes: one depressing the clutch pedal and playing with the choke while the other sprayed ether into the engine. After a few false starts, they got it running and backed the magnificent red Packard out into the sun shine. We followed to take pictures.
Then the mechanic driving the car asked the other mechanic, “Would they like to come for a ride?” “Holy Moly! Would I?!!” I thought. It was a two-seater up front, so we had to take turns. Jeff went first, (I took photos of him in the car) and then it was my turn! It was just once around the block, but WOW! I felt like a kid on a joy ride!! I looked at the old dials on the dashboard and watched the driver double-clutch to switch gears. It had three speeds and reverse.
It was a quick run-around the block and we were at the back door again. WOW!! Was that fun!!! I was afraid to touch anything on the door. It had a double red leather hinge and chrome door handle. Amazing! I felt like a giggling school kid!! That was FUN!!
I thanked the mechanics and we stood by to watch them drive the car into the showroom of the museum. The second mechanic moved a flat metal pan in position under the car to catch the oil dripping from the engine.
He pointed to one of the cars and said that Albert Einstein rode in it. Another car belonged to Grover Cleveland. One of the other cars had just 25,000 miles on the odometer. The museum had the original bill of sale for that car. In front of each car was a small stand with a loose leaf book which described the history of the model and personal history of that particular car. What an amazing museum. Highly recommended!
A Rare Hood Ornament & Antenna