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Classics in an Industrial Park?

I signed up for a work related seminar and I pulled into a very innocuous looking industrial park part of town.

Here is the entrance to the seminar and inside, I was expecting just rows and rows of folding tables and chairs for this daylong (and dry) seminar. 

Little did I know, I walked into this:

Vintage and classic cars and communication heaven!

A bit of background first (credit the Astor Classic Events Center website):  the Center is owned and operated by Art Astor and his family.

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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.
           
Mr. Astor is a California native, born in Fresno to Armenian-immigrant parents who came to this country to escape the genocide.  Art has been a Southern Californian since his father, an attorney, relocated his young family to Los Angeles when Art was only 5 years old.  Art’s education included graduation from Los Angeles High School and, after a tour of duty with the Air Force, he returned to attend the University of Southern California and earned a degree in communications.
           
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.” 

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“Stuff” is putting it lightly.  This place was like a trek back in time. 

Mr. Astor collected rare early telephones and according to the staff, all the phone works but just got dated by technology. 

Closeup on one:

Old and the New:

His train collection (I am sure its just partial):

But the highlight (and what all vintage car lovers want to see) is these great cars:

All the cars are driven in a rotation and a mechanic/restorer comes thru once a week to check on them.  All the cars have its history/info printed on a laminated piece of paper.  I took a photo of the car’s front and the info sheet.  Enjoy!

Lets start with the Jags:

American Coups:

Some of the other gems:

Next to collection of gas pumps:

Cool Packard:

The Astor Classics Museum and Event Center is not open to the public but do serve as a very cool meeting center and banquet hall.  Maybe the site of a future Purist GTG?

Hope you all enjoyed the tour!  It sure made my daylong seminar more interesting.    

Thanks for reading.