Welcome To UK Classic Cars

More Than Just a Bunch of Old Cars

The Sarasota Classic Car Museum, in sunny Sarasota, Florida, has stood the test of time, and is probably one of the oldest businesses to still exist in the Sarasota/Manatee County area of South Florida. Although the museum has been here since 1952, it didn’t officially open to the public until 1953. And being 56 years old hasn’t diminished this quint museum at all. In fact, since its’ renovation, it appears that it will be around for at least another 50 years.

If you’re ever in this part of Florida, it would be worth your time to visit. It’s located on U.S. 41 in Sarasota, Florida. The museum sits on 4 acres of land which happens to be right down the road from the Ringling Museum of Art and the Asolo Theater. You can’t help but see it. Just keep looking for a large building with an antique car on its roof.

This collection of cars represents over 100 manufacturing years and contains cars starting with almost every letter of the alphabet. You have Auburn, Bentley, Cadillac station wagon, DeLorean, Edsel, and Ferrari to name just a few. You also have exotic cars, vintage cars, muscle cars (my favorite) – and even Don Garlits’ dragster. You’ll get to see and John Lennon’s Mercedes.

Memberships

The museum is a non-profit organization that runs basically from donations. In order for them to meet and achieve their goal of preserving cars from the 20th century, along with their history – they offer membership to the museum.

The memberships range in price from the Chrysler Copper Membership for $50.00 to the Tucker Titanium Membership for $5,000. Each membership has its’ benefits, but they are non-transferable, aren’t valid for special events, but the cost is tax deductible.

Even though it’s one of the oldest car museums in the world, the Sarasota Classic Car Museum is more than just a bunch of old cars and is not to be out-done by other attractions in this area. It has a gift shop filled with collectibles, there is an antique camera and photograph display, an antique game arcade – with games that actually work, and yes, there is the “living” collection of over 100 automobiles. But it also has a 4,000 square foot open-air atrium which can be used for banquets and special events.

Stage Room

They also have a 3,300 square foot stage room where meetings, receptions and auctions can be held and a 1,500 square foot business meeting room. If you should ever use their facility for your meetings or special events, you don’t have to worry about food because they also offer catering services with a large variety of menus and cuisines.

If you have an event coming up – let them know about it. All their rooms are flexible and can be adjusted for any occasion. And so you’re able to make a grand entrance, they also offer limousine service, so you can arrive in style.

Special Events

They specialize in birthday parties, Christmas parties, class reunions, auctions, art exhibits, anniversaries, rehearsal dinners, theme parties, wedding receptions and more. To make that special event even more special, they will also arrange for a balloon artist, a band, a disc jockey, ice sculptures, a photographer, a Santa and valet parking.

So not only do you get to see this amazing collection of cars, you can dine and dance among them also. The entire building is accessible by wheelchair and they even have free wheelchairs you can use.

The Sarasota Classic Car Museum is open daily from 9am to 6pm, 364 days a year. They are closed on Christmas however. The price rates are listed below, but you will have to inquire about group rates for schools. If you access their website, you will discover a discount coupon that can be printed and used for a $1.00 off the price of your ticket. This coupon doesn’t have an expiration date on it, so check with them to make sure it’s valid.

Vintage Luxury Cars: Styling Cues You Will Never Find on a Modern Luxury Vehicle

As with the fashion world, the luxury car market is no stranger to fleeting trends. The ’80smarked a paradigm shift in the way that luxury, or at least perceived luxury, was defined by the consumer. Up until the ’80s, the notion of a luxury car in America had largely remained the same for a half-century – the cars were big, outfitted with what we now view as gaudy ornamentation and styling cues, and often had superfluous design language. When Mercedes-Benz and BMW started to sell in large numbers in the land of the Yankee, luxury car style in America changed forever. Throughout the ’80s and ’90s, there was a distinct difference between luxury cars from European and American carmakers; the Americans favored audacious styling cues drawn from eras that had long passed us by, while the European cars favored a more austere design language. As the war waged on, the German luxury brands became the preferred brand of luxury in America, with many seeing the American-made Lincolns and Cadillacs as gauche in terms of style. Fast forward to 2013, Cadillac created a true BMW 3-Series competitor with its compact ATS sport sedan, and Lincoln’s MKZ is devoid of the flashy styling cues that defined the brand for decades. As America’s luxury makers adopted the more restrained European concept of luxury style and design, many styling cues that were once ubiquitous in the luxury car segment are just features of “back in my day” stories told by old-timers at “cars and coffee” events.

Vinyl Landau Tops

Vinyl landau tops gave American luxury sedans like the Lincoln Town Car an air of luxury, but they also allowed water to form between the surface material and the structural metal, creating rust. All that shimmers is sure to fad away.

Opera Windows

The opera window, that small glass opening in the luxury vehicle’s C-pillar, was a ubiquitous feature that denoted personal luxury on vehicles like the Cadillac Eldorado, Cadillac Seville, Oldsmobile Toronado, and the Lincoln Mark and Continental series. The trend was so ubiquitous that it became passé and started to adorn vehicles like the woeful Dodge Mirada and Ford Mustang II Ghia. To my knowledge, the last known appearance of the opera window was on the 1991 Chrysler TC by Maserati. Just sayin’

Hood Ornaments

There was a time when nearly every premium car was defined by its decorative hood ornament, but when the once exclusive hood ornament found its way to the hood of pickup trucks, its days were numbered. Sure, Rolls Royce and Mercedes-Benz keep the tradition going, but no other brand would dare adorn their vehicle with a hood ornament today.

Corinthian Leather

Chrysler coined the term “Corinthian leather” during the ’70s, and while the term may have helped sell a few vehicles to uninformed consumers, it mostly became to the automotive world what Comic Sans font is to graphic designers.

Button-Tuft Quilted Seats

Modern luxury cars are noted for their taut seats with firm side bolsters that hold occupants in their seats as the vehicle accelerates from 0-60 mph in a manner that was the exclusive realm of exotic sports cars during the Reagan-era. Fittingly, American luxury cars from the ’90s and before featured button-tuft quilted seats that gave off the sensation of driving a rolling La-Z-Boy, a trait exacerbated by the floaty ride of the car’s suspension. These seats, especially when covered in velour upholstery, evoke images of what I imagine the seats of a Storyville establishment would have looked like.

Exterior-Mounted Continental Spare Tire

An external mounted spare tire, often covered with an expensive decorative cover, was the ultimate status symbol on luxury sedans and coupes for decades. What is more decadent than such a flashy display applied to such a utilitarian item? I guess the proliferation of full-size spares left sales of cars with the so-called Continental tire flat. The luxury car styling cue enjoyed a brief resurgence during the ’90s thanks to the SUV. Because of course it did.

Fender Skirts

This classic luxury car styling cue offered aesthetic flair and functional benefits in the form of aerodynamics but the ubiquity led to it becoming passé by the ’70s. A few of General Motors’ premium brands retained the design throughout most of the disco era, but they died off as Jimmy Carter took office and enjoyed a brief resurgence on a few Cadillac models through the ’80s and ’90s.

Did you grow up admiring a car that you always wanted to have, but now it no longer sells in the market and has become a classic? Did you know that you can purchase classic cars in auctions and find your dream car if you are lucky? Everyone has a different taste for cars. While some only look at them as a mode of transport, for others, it can be a beauty that they can admire for a lifetime. Classic cars also become a great asset that can be passed down to generations. If you are ready to buy a classic car, here is what you need to get started.

Buy books on classic cars

You must have knowledge of the classic cars that you plan on purchasing. You may find some information on the internet but buying magazines and books on classic cars is the right way to receive the right information. You should purchase books from quality publishing houses that specialize in cars, accessories, and motorsports. It is an inexpensive investment you need to make before you can start buying classic cars.

Buy your favorites first

No matter what you hear from outside, never change your opinions on the car you want to buy. Collecting classic cars is a dream hobby, and you cannot base your decisions on what others say. At the same time, just because you spot a classic car does not mean that you should have it. Find your need to buy a classic car and stop making bad investments for the sake of owning a collection.

Have a plan

Plan ahead of time for the car you wish to have. You need to think of the type of car, its accessories, investment in restoration, adding modern luxuries, and other additional charges. It all depends on what you will do with the car when you buy it. You can use it for occasional driving, for showcasing, or for regular use. In any of the cases, you need to think ahead of time and know your budget.

Stick to the budget

Once you know the budget, stick to it. Do not make the mistake of chasing the prices just because you want the car so bad. It is a common mistake beginners make during auctions. They forget to stay realistic with the numbers and make poor deals. The value of the car will not even matter if you realize that you got conned for money. Also, if you feel that you cannot afford the maintenance of the classic car, do not buy it.

Prepare the garage

Your classic car may need several repairs and maintenance. Make sure your garage is clean and ready for your new car. Develop a few mechanical skills to take care of your car on your own. Do not think of buying a classic car as an investment. Give time to your new hobby and keep your car clean and checked for repairs all the time. Avoid purchasing a car that does not fit your mechanical skillset.