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Sarasota Classic Car Museum

The Sarasota Classic Car Museum was established in the year 1952, and it is known as the third oldest automobile museum in the US. The museum has a total area of 60,000 square feet, and it is located on the N. Tamiami Trail in the city of Sarasota, Florida. Some of points of interest that are situated in its vicinity are The Asolo Theater and The Ringling Museum of Art.

There are more than 100 classic cars on display at the museum, and new cars are being added to the collection from time to time. The automobiles in the museum represent car models that were produced over a period of 100 years. Visitors can find a wide range of classic cars on display, ranging from Cadillac and Rolls Royce to Ferrari and Pierce-Arrow. There are also a number of fascinating cars that were once owned by celebrities, including the Psychedelic Bentley of the Beatles, a Paul McCartney Mini Cooper, a John Lennon Mercedes Roadster, and a Don Garlits dragster.

Other than classic cars, the Sarasota Classic Car Museum also displays other historic items, such as pianos, antique cameras, and music boxes. There is also a gift shop that offers a wide range of souvenirs items. The museum is open to visitors during the day, but at night, it becomes a facility for banquets and special events. An outdoor atrium within the museum serves as a place for dining and entertainment.

Adults need to pay an admission fee of $8.50, while seniors and children will get concession rates of $5.75 and $4.50 respectively.

Russo and Steele Classic Car Auction in Monterey

The Russo and Steele “Sports and Muscle in Monterey” classic car auction will be held from the 13th to the 15th of August, 2009 at the San Carlos Ballroom of the Marriott Hotel in Monterey, California. This event is one of the most anticipated classic car auctions of the year, and it draws collectors and enthusiasts from all over the world. About 150 stunning sports cars and muscle will be put up for sale in this auction.

Some of the highlights of the Russo and Steele Monterey auction include a 1966 Bizzarrini Strada 5300, 1970 Lamborghini Miura S, 1970 Maserati Ghibli Spider, and Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona. A very rare car on the block is the 1965 SSSC-2 Exhibition Chassis Club Racer that was built by apprentices at Rolls-Royce. This car was meant to be a show car, but it was later turned into a race car. Another car that is worth mentioning is the 1960 Ferrari 250 GT Series 2 Cabriolet. It was once owned by avid classic car collector Vilem B. Haan, and later on, it was given an impressive restoration job by master restorer Steve Tillack. The muscle car line-up include a 1968 Shelby Mustang GT500KR Fastback, 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T 440 Six-Pack Convertible, as well as other great models from Ford, Chevrolet, and other manufacturers.

Other than the classic car auction, there are also interesting events such as a celebrity memorabilia auction, vintage races, and cocktail parties at the Russo and Steele Monterey auction. Bidders can register at the Russo and Steele website.

Legendary Classic Cars at the National Automobile Museum

The National Automobile Museum in Reno, Nevada features one of the most fascinating collections of classic cars in the US. Most of the cars that are displayed in the museum were once owned by casino mogul and avid classic car collector Bill Harrah. Presently, the museum collection consists of more than 200 classic cars.

The idea of establishing the National Automobile Museum was conceived after Harrah passed away in 1978. Two years later, Holiday Corporation acquired Harrah’s casinos and hotels, as well as his extensive automobile collection, and they had wanted to put the collection up for sale. However, the people of Nevada were disgruntled with the decision, and the Nevada government decided to set up a museum to house the collection. Holiday Corporation made a donation of 175 cars to the museum, and the National Automobile Museum was opened in the year 1989.

Some of the interesting automobiles that are on display include a 1913 Stutz Bearcat, 1907 Thomas Flyer 35 Racer, 1938 Phantom Corsair Experimental Coupe, 1936 Mercedes Benz 500K Special Roadster, and a wide range of rare cars from well-known manufacturers such as Cadillac, Chrysler, Chevrolet, Ford, Lincoln, Porsche, and others. There are also a number of celebrity classic cars in the museum, including Lana Turner’s 1941 Chrysler Newport, Elvis Presley’s 1973 Cadillac El Dorado, James Dean’s 1949 Mercury 9CM Coupe, and John Wayne’s 1953 Corvette 2934 Convertible.

Other than the fantastic automobile collection, visitors can also view an extensive collection of historically-significant artifacts, artworks, and accessories at the museum.

Preventing Fraud When Selling Classic Cars Online

Those who are selling classic cars online should be aware that there are scammers on the internet who will pose as buyers to cheat people of their cars or money. Therefore, it is important to exercise extra caution when you are dealing with online buyers. Here are a few tell-tale signs that you may be dealing with a fraudulent buyer.

Buyer requests that you pay for an inspection: The buyer will ask for the car to be inspected, and then, he will recommend an inspection company of his own. When the inspection company receives payment from you, you will not hear from the company or the buyer again. It is usually the buyer’s responsibility to pay for an inspection.

Buyer can only be contacted via emails: Scammers will try not to give you their real phone numbers, and they will suggest that you contact them through email.

Buyer claims that he is in a foreign country: Many fraudulent buyers will tell you that they are in another country.

Buyer sends payment by cashier’s check: A cashier’s check can take up to a month to clear. By the time you realize that the check is no good, the buyer would have disappeared with your prized classic car.

Buyer is an agent or has an agent: This is one of the common tricks that are used by scammers. The buyer may send you more money than the actual price of your classic car by cashier’s check, and then, he will ask you to send the extra money to his agent, who is of course the scammer himself.

Buyer uses a phony escrow company: Make sure that the buyer sends payment through a legitimate escrow company.

Most Wanted Classic Cars: Dodge Charger (Part 2)

The third generation Dodge Charger was produced from 1971 to 1974. This new car sported a split grille with hidden or exposed headlights, a semi-fastback rear window, and a ducktail spoiler. The models of this generation included the basic Charger in coupe and hardtop styles, the Charger 500, the 500 SE, the Super Bee, and the top-of-the-line R/T. The basic Charger featured a 225 cid Slant 6-cylinder engine with 145 hp, as well as the optional 318 cid V8 with 230 hp. Engine options for the Super Bee included the standard 383 cid V8 engine with 275 hp, the 440 Magnum with 370 hp, 440 Six Pack with 385 hp, and the 426 Hemi with 425 hp. The Charger R/T had the 440 Magnum as standard engine, and the Six Pack and Hemi as options.

The fourth generation Charger (1975-1978) was designed after the Chrysler Cordoba, and it was called the Charger SE. A few engine options were available for this new model, including the 318 cid LA V8 engine, the standard 360 cid small block, and the 400 cid big block. In the year 1976, three other models were made available, and they were the basic Charger, Charger Sport, and Charger Daytona. Two years later, the Dodge Magnum was brought in to replace the Charger. The Dodge Charger was reintroduced in 2006 as a full-size car.

Today, the Dodge Chargers of the late 1960s and early 1970s are regarded as some of the most desirable American classic cars. Classic car collectors are particularly interested in the second generation Charger, which was produced from 1968 to 1970.