We left our beloved New Orleans excited that we were returning to what used to be our home state of Florida. But before we would be back of the East Coast we had two stops to make. The first stop was Tallahassee, specifically to visit the Tallahassee Automobile Museum.
Elvis and his Pink Cadillac greet you at the entrance to the Tallahassee Automobile Museum
Duesenberg Model J Double Cowl Phaeton
Tallahassee Automobile Museum
This 1972 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray cost $350,000 to custom build. 1972 was the last year for front and rear chrome on the Stingray!
1966 Ford Mustang Dragster is a Pro Stock Show Car with a build price of $300,000.
A Chevy Super Sport line up at the Tallahassee Automobile Museum
My guess is that you realize that Steve and I LOVE cars. Over the many years that I have been sharing our lives with you, I have written many posts that are automobile related. When deciding our route we always research online to see what the points of interest are in the area. For Tallahassee, Florida, the Tallahassee Automobile Museum kept popping up in our search.
Little GTO
The Back to the Future 1983 DeLorean
This elegant emerald beauty sports very wide white wall tires. Who remembers those?
Obviously, we had to go there and see this unique attraction for ourselves. And were we ever glad that we did! From the second we approached the entry, we knew that we were in for a real treat. We were greeted by Elvis and his gorgeous Pink Cadillac which was just a mere inkling as to what was inside.
The Collections
1953 Chevrolet Corvette Commemorative Edition. This edition was made in 2003 to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Corvette. About 170 were built. This one is #118 and built on a 2001 chassis.
1955 Chevrolet Bel Aire
Ours was turquoise and white!
There is even and Edsel at the Tallahassee Automobile Museum
The Tallahassee Automobile Museum is so much more that just a huge collection of cars. Yes. There are over 160 classic, antique, muscle and movie cars on display. But that is just one of the myriad of collections housed in this museum. If it was produced, and there was more than one version it became a collection. There are huge collections of just about anything you could imagine. Motorcyles, scooters, bicycles, pedal cars, antique boats, outboard motors, sports memorabilia, Florida fishing lures and a large, really enormous, doll collection. But there is still more! There are displays of antique cash registers, adding machines, brass electric fans, antique slot machines, juke boxes, law enforcement badges and patches, one of a kind Steinway Grand Pianos and much more. There’s even a $3 million Corvette on display.
This Chrysler Prowler looks so exotic.
And these horses were so stunning! Forged Furlong Metal Art by Estanislao Della Monica is made from various pieces of steel, many of which are parts from automobiles.
Now that’s a color Cadillac I could enjoy driving.
This is a trip down memory lane that covers two floors, so be prepared to spend a good couple of hours there. The Tallahassee Automobile Museum collection is designed for your enjoyment. And we have one man to thank for it.
Owner/Collector DeVoe Moore
A refreshing color for a car that was usually black. Made me think of gangsters.
One of a kind Steinway Grand Pianos
Lots of unique pianos to marvel at.
DeVoe Moore found his passion for collecting at the young age of 9, when he started his first knife collection. It wasn’t long before his love quickly grew to include cars. While in his Junior year of high school, he customized his brother’s 1951 Ford two-door hardtop. Then, while still in high school he had a 1933 Ford Coupe chopped and channeled with an Oldsmobile motor. To quote DeVoe “This car would ‘outrun anything’ in Tampa, Florida”. Next was a 1953 Mercury Monterey two-door hardtop. Moore and 3 of his high school pals rolled this car smashing the top down against the seats.
Law Enforcement Badges and Patches
Matchbox Cars
Even the Blues Brothers enjoyed the collections!
All of that was merely the start of a lifelong passion for the craftsmanship seen in the automobiles and other collections he has assembled. He still collects today. What guides his passion is to make sure that the children of today have an opportunity to visit the past, to be excited and amazed at their own history and potential.
And every kind of doll imaginable including Mohamed Ali, Barbies and many, many more.
Who remembers child star Shirley Temple?
1931 Ford Model A “Woody”. This took 11 months to build in 2010. The body is made from 3/4″ Red Oak and Plywood. Yes, it is street legal!!!
In DeVoe’s spare time he enjoys working his farm which includes water buffalo and goats, working his pastureland, and speaking to community groups and associations about free enterprise and the museum. In addition to these interests, DeVoe’s businesses could certainly be considered ‘hobbies’ to him.
Put the Tallahassee Automobile Museum on your list!
1892 Studebaker Doctor’s Carriage. The piece protecting the driver’s legs from flying mud was called the dashboard, a term we use today for a different function.
1860’s Horse Drawn Hearse
This was hearse used for President Abraham Lincoln’s funeral.
Nostalgic Juke Boxes
At the Tallahassee Automobile Museum there is truly something for everyone and age. DeVoe Moore is constantly adding to these collections. There is too much to see for me to describe it all to you, so I hope that you can begin an amazing journey through history and inspire your imagination by visiting the Tallahassee Automobile Museum in the near future!
A long row of antique convertibles at Tallahassee Automobile Museum
Slot machines and brass fans
Adding machines galore and typewriters too!
An array of outboard motors. And yes, there’s a collection of boats too.
