Join the fueled festivities to support a good cause!
If you’ve spent any time around car people in Florida, you’ve probably heard whispers about the American Muscle Car Museum in Melbourne. It’s one of those places that sounds almost too good to be true, a massive private collection tucked away behind closed doors, only opened a handful of times each year. The museum spans more than 120,000 square feet and houses over 400 vehicles from the personal collection of Mark Pieloch, whose love for all things automotive back more than 40 years. Inside, you’ll find everything from classic American muscle of the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s to modern marvels like a Ford GT, along with plenty of automotive memorabilia that helps tell the bigger story. Neon signs, antique gas pumps, motorcycles, pedal cars, and even vintage bicycles fill out the space and make it feel less like a warehouse and more like a living archive.
The museum isn’t open to the public day to day, which is what makes its upcoming Space Coast Toy Drive and Car Show worth making the trip for. For the event, the team is working alongside Vetted Ventures, a company that focuses on private sales and acquisitions across a range of industries. The goal this holiday season is pretty simple: bring people together around cars and do some good for the local community in the process. And there’s no shortage of things to see while you’re there. The collection includes more than 50 Indianapolis 500 pace cars, over 50 Shelby models, and one of the most extensive Yenko collections in the world, with 29 cars representing every make and model ever produced. Add in more than 50 Porsches, including a handful of Porsche-Diesel tractors, and you get an idea of just how diverse the collection really is.
The event itself runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is open to the public. Entry is straightforward: bring an unwrapped toy or pay $30 per person, and you’ll receive a wristband for access to the museum. All donations go directly to Candlelighters of Brevard, Space Coast Discovery, and Toys for Tots, helping local families during the holiday season. The car show is open to all makes and models, with gates opening at 9:30 a.m., and the rest of the day is meant to be easygoing. Expect food trucks, a DJ, local vendors, and plenty of time to walk the collection at your own pace. It’s a relaxed way to spend a few hours, surrounded by great cars, while supporting a cause.
Sources: American Muscle Car Museum/Vetted Ventures
