Last year a thread was started by Dennis Hockenbury about the Collier Collection in Naples, Florida, and several folks expressed an interest in touring the facility. I’ve recently spoken with Scott George about a tour of the museum. However, before I begin let me say that Scott is very enthusiastic about our interest in a museum tour and in a recent e-mail to me wrote “We are pleased that this group (TNF) exists to help in the history of the sport…”
A summary of what we discussed follows:
1. The Collier Museum is a 85,000 sq. ft. facility and has 100 cars on display, approximately half coming from the late Briggs Cunningham collection.
2. We will also visit their restoration shop, library and archives.
3. We will be guided through the museum, either by Scott or one of the many volunteers who donate their time. They are referred to as “cam followers.”
4. Our group may range in size from 3 to 30. The thought of everyone agreeing on one date is clearly impractable, so other tours may be arranged, based of course on the museums’ schedule.
5. Weekdays only: the museum has many volunteers available during the week to assist with our tour, answer questions, and of course, open hoods.
6. No photos or videos are allowed. Cameras are not allowed in the building,
However, Scott did also write, “I can arrange to have a group photo taken of all of you with a car and possibly photos of individual favorites ? We can then email or send to the members.”
7. I invited Scott to be our guest at dinner after our tour and he accepted.
8. The date is Friday, March 18th 2005
The reasons:
- Sebring 12 Hours starts at 10:00 AM the following day (2 ½ hour drive.)
- Amelia Island Concours (5 ½ hour drive) is the previous weekend.
- The museum has no tours currently planned for this date.
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A March 18th date affords those traveling long distances the opportunity to attend other motorsports events. I also think it is important to take the tour before museum cars are shipped to other events around the world. As Doug Nye mentioned, the Sebring winning OSCA was in California last summer. A Cunningham was also on display at the IMRRC in Watkins Glen last year.
In fact, the Cunningham D-Type will will not be at the museum on March 18th, 2005.
It will be on display that week at Sebring for a Jaguar event.
So there it is.
We have to start somewhere and I hope I’ve assisted in some small way in getting this process started. I really don’t care when we go as long as the Ferrari 166 Spyder Corsa is there. I have no plans to attend Sebring , but wouldn’t it be neat to take that early morning drive south on Saturday morning?
Personally, it would be OK with me to scratch this one off my twelve year old “must do” list. I also wouldn’t mind visiting the museum before I receive my first Social Security check from Uncle Sam
Cheers, and let’s try and do this!
My thanks to Dennis for posting the Collier thread last year and to Doug Nye for putting me in touch with Scott. I’m sure there will be more questions, and I can be reached in a sleepy and snowy Chicago suburb at 847-255-7552.
P.S. Scott George gave me permission to post a photo of the museums’s 166SC on TNF along with this message. It is a from a post card I bought at Briggs’ museum in Costa Mesa many moons ago. However, I will not use Image Shack to do this. So, if someone would like to post it for me please send me your e-mail address. Thanks.
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I'm definitely interested in visiting the museum (work schedule permitting).
and a photo on page 176 of "FERRARI, THE MAN, THE MACHINES" published by AQ in 1975. 
