Hi Guys, Just thought I'd pass this along. You'll see why in a minute.

I'm in a local Rodders club and they set up a tour of a local guys "collection". He's a well off local business man that has collected rare and unusual cars for years. I had heard of some of the cars and even seen a few at local shows, but had never been to his building. Well Monday nite we got the grand tour and it blew me away! These pictures are not mine, but from another group that went thru a couple of years ago. I took some, but haven't scanned them yet. Anybody that appreciates the old classics will like this, and the 63 Chrysler Turbine car is the icing on the cake! (it's the only operable Turbine car in the world in private hands)

Man, what a collection. Duesenbergs, Packards, Lebarons, Airflows, etc. This guy and Jay Leno are buddies, and Leno has stopped in a couple of times. He's 83 years old and as he gives this tour he spouts off details about every single thing you see, even remembering the prices on different things. He has done most of these cars in house over the years.

I've lived in Terre Haute all my life and passed by this unassuming building a million times and never knew what all was inside. (It was the cities original Packard dealership when built, never knew that either)

I forgot to mention that none of these pictures have captions. If you have a question ask, and I'll try and remember what was what. The Duesenberg, Packards, and Turbine car are easy to sort out. The "clear" looking 40 Chevy was built by GM for the 39 World's Fair and is fully operable. The entire body is plexiglass. The funny looking "buggy" is a 1903(?) Overland, which started manufacturing in Terre Haute and later moved and became ****** / Overland, and is the only Indiana manufacturer that is still (sort of) in business today as D-C Jeep.

Just thought I'd share. Hope you guys enjoy! Phil

Frank Klepz museum: http://beaver.vinu.edu/11-03-2002%20kleptz/

 

Nice pictures, that must have been amazing to see first hand. How many hours did you get to spend looking around?

 

I think we poked around in there for about 2 1/2 hrs. There was so much stuff in there in cases and back in the shop it was hard to tear yourself away!
They finally shoved us out the door into the cold.

I'm gonna try and go back as soon as I can set it up. Phil

 

WOW! That Chrysler Turbine is quite the rare car.

Chrysler Turbine info page check it out.

 

Bet he has that missing James Dean Crash car hidden around there.

 

Sounds like a great tour. Classics in the true sense of the word.
Dono

 

CustomCab4x4-
I hope you realize what a historical car you were standing next to, the Chrysler Turbine. Of all the cars in that collection, THAT one is nothing short of incredible. I'm amazed that there's one in a private collection, and I'd sell my soul just to be able to drive it. Ultimately, the turbine proved too impractical for an everyday car, but it did a lot for Chrysler's image as the "engineer's" company of Detroit in the 1960's.

 

Excuse me, I have to go change my underwear!

 

like walking though big daddys collection down in ocala fl.

 

Yes, I sure did. I have slobbered over those cars since I was 10 years old. (and they were new) I had seen him DRIVING the Turbine car a couple of times and knew he had it, but to stand next to it and stare at it is something else! Explaining to people that DON'T know what it is, is half the fun. Most people think it's a T-bird or something from Ford.

Phil




CustomCab4x4-
I hope you realize what a historical car you were standing next to, the Chrysler Turbine

 

Hey Jeff, did you catch the 1970 300-H (Hurst)? Only 501 of those made!

 

Yeah, you can tell Frank has a hankering for Chryslers. And just like all the other cars, that big tank was neat as a pin.
Phil