Art Astor Collection
Astor Classics Event Center
Anaheim, California

Art Astor is the owner, President and CEO of the Inland Empire’s KSPA AM 1510 (softer side of the ‘60’s, ‘70’s, and ‘80’s) and North San Diego’s KFSD AM 1450 (classical) and KCEO AM 1000 (financial news and talk). Art is a veteran of over 50 years in Southern California broadcasting.

Art’s automobiles are his second passion, radio being the first love of his life, with some 270 cars now in his collection. The classics range from Packards to Pontiacs, Morgans to Mustangs, several Jaguars, Rolls Royces, and Howard Hughes’ 1940 Cadillac Formal Town Sedan, to name just a few. Each of Art’s cars is special in some way: perhaps it is a rare vehicle, or has an interesting history, or reminds Art of some special event in his own life. Every car is a “driver,” and Art takes each one out for a spin every few weeks.

Additionally, Art has created a museum which houses the world’s largest collection of working and beautifully restored antique telephones and radios. He has wonderful collections of model trains, gas pumps, antique slot machines, pedal cars, movie memorabilia and other interesting “stuff.”

The Astor Classics Event Center is dedicated to advancing education and knowledge through the preservation, restoration, and presentation of a living collection of automotive and communication technologies. It is here at the Astor Classics Event Center and Living Automotive and Communication Museum where this dream assemblage has become a reality.
http://www.astorclassics.com
http://www.socalcarculture.com

The Automobile Driving Museum
610 Lairport Street
El Segundo, California 90245
310.909.0950
http://www.automobiledrivingmuseum.org/
http://www.socalcarculture.com

Las Vegas, Nevada
http://www.shelbyautos.com/
http://www.socalcarculture.com

Deer Park Winery & Car Museum - Escondido, California
http://www.deerparkwinery.com/
http://www.socalcarculture.com

A collection of Toys, Cars, Motorcycles and related Automobilia
Dunkel Bros. Machinery Moving
1515 E. Katella Ave
Anaheim, California
714-712-5888

http://www.socalcarculture.com

Imperial Palace Hotel
Las Vegas, Nevada
http://www.autocollections.com
http://www.socalcarculture.com

Joe's Garage
Tustin, California
Pre-Auction Tour
http://www.socalcarculture.com

The Marconi Automotive Museum is an 18,000 square foot facility that houses an impressive array of exotic and classic automobiles and race cars. Owned and operated by the Marconi Foundation for Kids, and housing over 70 vehicles, the Museum offers an eclectic selection for any automobile afficiendo.
The Museum is open Monday through Friday from 9am to 4:30pm, by appointment.
1302 Industrial Drive
Tustin, California 92780
PHONE (714) 258-3001
http://www.marconimuseum.org
http://www.socalcarculture.com

The NHRA Motorsports Museum, long a dream of NHRA founder Wally Parks, opened to the public April 4, 1998, after years of planning and months of hard work cataloging and arranging the exhibit. Housed in a 28,500-square-foot building on the edge of the historic Los Angeles County Fairplex, the NHRA Motorsports Museum echoes NHRA's mission statement to preserve, protect, and perpetuate the sport of drag racing.
The museum, presented by Automobile Club of Southern California, is open year-round, Wednesday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (except Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas), features an impressive array of vintage and historical racing vehicles –- nearly 50 at the Grand Opening -- along with photographs, trophies, helmets and driving uniforms, artifacts, paintings, and other memorabilia chronicling more than 50 years of American motorsports. A gift shop offers a wide variety of souvenir items.
The NHRA Motorsports Museum presented by Automobile Club of Southern California is located at Fairplex Gate 1, 1101 W. McKinley Avenue in Pomona. The phone number is (909) 622-2133.
http://www.nhra.com/museum/
http://www.socalcarculture.com

San Diego Automotive Museum

The original idea of creating an automotive museum in Balboa Park came from Briggs Cunningham, a renowned automobile collector and racer. The idea circulated for many years until an inspired group of local automotive enthusiasts propelled the idea forward. In 1979 the San Diego City Council first considered the issue and in 1980 they gave unanimous approvel to the museum and granted a long term lease for one of the historic buildings in the jewel of San Diego - Balboa Park.

After spending approximately $1 million renovating and upgrading the building, the San Diego Automotive Museum opened in December of 1988. Since then millions of local auto enthusiasts and tourists from all over the world have visited our world-class collection. Today the museum stands as a living tribute to the automobile and what it has meant to our culture.

The San Diego Automotive Museum is a non-profit corporation under section 501(c3).

Balboa Park
San Diego, California
http://www.sdautomuseum.org/
http://www.socalcarculture.com

Simpson'S Garden Town Nursery was started in 1928 by Hal Simpson in Pasadena, California under the original name of "Simpson'S House of Service". With only an eighth grade education and a co-signed note for $500.00 Hal started his small business later to become known as "The largest, most diversified garden center in five western states". During the difficult beginnings his friends told him he was "too far out, be broke in sixty days and back looking for a job". Hal did have a couple of part time jobs, as a Sunday School bus driver and at nights at a gas station. He and his wife Helen also ran a side business, "Sierra Hatcheries", to make ends meet. One of the first entries in the company checkbook shows a check drawn for $55 to purchase a used model "T" delivery truck. The nursery grew and prospered until the outbreak of World War II, which caused profound changes in the nursery and Simpson family.

With most Americans leaving their civilian jobs to work in the war effort, Hal was left with only a few employees. This brought the need to change the name of the business from "Simpson'S House of Service" to the present "Simpson'S Garden Town Nursery". The other, more personal change would be the beginning of a life-long friendship. Hal did business with the Yamane nursery family. Even though they were American citizens of Japanese decent, they like many others were forced to live in an internment camp in Arizona. On a handshake, Hal ran their nursery while they were gone. At the end of the war Hal returned the business to the family. Because of the deep respect between the two families, the friendship is still alive even today.

After the war Simpson'S Garden Town grew dramatically; with over 70 trucks, 47 telephone lines, an F.T.D. florist shop, full landscape department, lawn mower, pet shop, and several other outlets. The small business that was once at the end of the road, now called Colorado Boulevard, home of the yearly "Rose Parade". Tragedy struck in November of 1959 when a four alarm fire broke out, destroying the nursery buildings and supplies. Though most of the records and charge receipts were gone, customers came forward to pay their accounts and suppliers helped out by restocking. In 1968, the State of California , in the name of progress took most of the nursery property to build the 210 freeway. With the money from the freeway sale, Hal bought the 185 acre "Barrett House Ranch" in Jamul. Hal had considered retiring, but his heart told him to continue growing plants. He regenerated Simpson'S Garden Town Nursery on a portion of the ranch in Jamul. This time in a style suitable to the area, there were no phone, no salesmen, no deliveries...just good plants stock at a reasonable price.

Today the nursery has expanded to include Gift Shops, Pottery, all varieties of seasonal color, Herbs, Grasses, along with many new introductions for the interested gardener. And for the vintage car enthusiast there are large barns with over 50 antique vehicles to view, for free. The nursery is owned and operated by Hal Simpson's Granddaughter Cathy and her husband Lee. Their sons are learning the business when not attending school. So come on out, take a short ride to the country. We hope to see you here.
http://www.simpsonsnursery.com/
http://www.socalcarculture.com

The Nethercutt Museum
15151 Bledsoe Street
Sylmar, California
http://nethercuttcollection.org
http://www.socalcarculture.com

Vic Edelbrock's Garage
Torrance, California
http://www.edelbrock.com/
http://www.socalcarculture.com