After yesterday’s breakfast outing at Crazy Ottos Restaurant in Acton, California & then later visiting Dennis Neice's property at San Canyon, my good Kiwi mate, Mike Lawrence took me to the Galpin Ford Dealership’s Private Museum.
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| We grabbed a hearty US-style breakfast at Crazy Otto's in Acton, California |
Galpin Ford, located in North Hills, California has been the number one volume Ford Dealer in the world for the last whopping 24-years. Next door to the dealership they have a private museum that features around 50+ cars, mostly from the blue oval, but they have a keen interest in the custom cars of Hollywood.
Below are a few photos that I thought you may be interested in. In the first photo [below] is the red Cobra No 66 - which is an original Cobra race car.
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| An original Shelby Cobra race car |
Designed by the legendary Carroll Shelby, who after winning the 24-Hours of Le Mans in 1959, Shelby began race-car building. In 1962 he introduced the Shelby Cobra, at the time was the world’s fastest production car. He went on to design the Shelby Mustang GT for Ford, a car that helped define a generation.
The red Ford GT40 [below] has never been registered to be driven on the road with only 550 original miles on the Speedo. These magnificent vehicles were built from 1964-1969, there were only 105 produced.
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| Ford GT-40 - originally produced to win long-distance races against Ferrari |
The famous Ford GT40 won 24-hours of Le Mans four times consecutively from 1966-1969 including a 1-2-3 finish in 1966.
The very famous NZ race car designer & driver Bruce McLaren along with fellow Kiwi Chris Amon won the first victory for any American manufacturer at the 24-hours of Le Mans in front of Henry Ford ll in 1966.
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| This kit car once belonged to entertainer Liberace. |
The big cream vehicle with his trademark candelabra sitting on top of the radiator shell is a kit car once owned by one of the most famous entertainers in the world, none other than the flamboyant Wladziu Valentino Liberace (1919-1987).
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| The Pink Panther mobile - the driver has to wear a helmet because he sits out in the open. |
Finally the legendary Pink Panther mobile was built in 1969 and was on of the most exuberant and radical cars of the era. Shaped like an anteater, it is an outstanding 23ft long and 6ft wide & is powered by a massive seven litre engine.
Featuring prominently in the Pink Panther cartoon opening and closing sequence, the car was the work of legendary Hollywood car designer Jay Ohrberg — responsible for the Back To The Future DeLorean, the 1966 and 1989 Batmobiles and David Hasselhoff’s vehicle in Knight Rider.
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| The 'Pleasure Capsule' of the Pink Panther Mobile |
Behind the driver and engine is what is known as the 'Pleasure Capsule' - an interior with pink shag reclined seats, square-tufted upholstery, half a dozen faux-fur pillows, a 1970's era car phone and a bar.
This vehicle just exudes the '70's Classic era cool with its space age styling.
The Galpin collection acts as a wonderful selling tool and shows the dealership’s dedication to cars, Ford history, custom cars, hot rods, and automotive history, but it’s more than just a museum – it’s a showroom in itself. All interesting vehicles from a by-gone era.
Cheers
Ken
Ken
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