It would not be uncommon to find a place like this while cruising the PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) in Southern California than on Long Island. However, as of this week, Teddy Roosevelt's hometown of Oyster Bay has its own vintage Petroliana, automotive, and advertising exhibition.
Collector Car Showcase depicts another era. (Photo: Business Wire)
Called “Collector Car Showcase” (www.collectorcarshowcase.com), this multi-level, 18,000 square-foot facility sits on Route 106 (85 Pine Hollow Road) at the gateway to this North Shore hamlet -- home to several museums, but better known as the Summer White House (Sagamore Hill) for the nation's 26th President Theodore Roosevelt -- from the south. Just opened after extensive construction since summer 2013, CCS should have great appeal to avid car, Petroliana, and advertising collectors, American history buffs, and those who enjoy casual antiquing or just love unimaginable craftsmanship and beauty of a passing era.
Some would call it a museum, but its creator David Jacobson, 51, a local resident, said it better by calling it a showcase of imaginable achievement in engineering and design. In it, you will find vintage automobiles from several countries, gas pumps from the early 1900’s and advertising signs that harkens back to late 1800’s.
The showcase, open five days a week, has over 1,000 items on display that adorn the walls, ceiling, and floors. A complete listing of the collection has been researched and is maintained online.
There are many car hobbyists and collectors in the area, Jacobson beamed.
"By coming to see our facility, they can relive their youth, show off to their kids, engage in 'auto talk' with like-minded visitors and spend as much time here to rekindle memories when they were growing up."
*Petroliana, or antiques related to gas stations and the oil business, is a collecting area focused on advertising, with key subcategories being gas pumps, gas pump globes, oil cans, road maps, signs, and major names like Mobil, Texaco, Standard Oil, Phillips 66, Shell, Sinclair, and Esso.
"New York deserved something like this," Jacobson, the affable car collector explained in describing his rationale. "Although this is a private venture, other collectors’ personal car collections are on display as well. But, it is a showcase that tells a visual story about the evolution of cars, artifacts, memorabilia, advertising and everything associated with the early 1900-50 time period that many collectors rightly call the heyday of cars in this country."
Rather than serve as a permanent exhibition, the intent of CCS is to shift the showcase theme every two months.
For example, a Corvette Showcase is being considered for the spring where significant Corvettes From 1953 through 1978 would be displayed, allowing the facility to host many national and regional car clubs. An important role for the Showcase is to serve not only as a meeting place, but as a venue for corporate, personal and family-oriented events and parties.
Jacobson envisions using the Showcase as a living laboratory for nearby schools, including colleges that offer advertising courses.
While the facility is a first class museum-like facility that showcases yesteryear, CCS also provides custom detailing, exterior and interior reconditioning services, car storage, hand car washing and window tinting, among other amenities. Cars displayed can also be purchased.
"This is a perfect window to the 'Mad Men' era that will excite all types of people as it certainly has for me in making this extraordinary place a reality."
Collector Car Showcase represents one of many museums or historic sites in Oyster Bay. Aside from TR's home, Sagamore Hill, under the watch of the US National Forest Service (www.nps.gov/sahi), the village is home to the Oyster Bay Railroad Museum (www.obrm.org), Raynham Hall Museum (www.raynhamhallmuseum.org), Oyster Bay Historical Society (www.oysterbayhistorical.org) and 20th Century Cycles, 'Piano Man' Billy Joel's motorcycle museum (www.20thcenturycycles.com).
About Collector Car Showcase
Conceived in 2012 by David Jacobson, the 18,000-square-foot multi level facility opened in January 2015 on the southern approach to Oyster Bay, NY. Filled with antique cars, collector autos, Petroliana, related memorabilia from the early 1900’s thru 1970 and the advertising that promoted this on the silver screen and airwaves, Collector Car Showcase operates five days a week. Hours of operation and other information may be found at www.collectorcarshowcase.com.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20150129006442/en/
