T A M P A B A Y A U T O M O B I L E M U S E U M

H I S T O R Y

The Tampa Bay Automobile Museum opened to the public with a formal reception on March

19, 2005. Based on a unique private collection, the museum’s offerings include front wheel

drive and rear engine cars from the 1920’s and 1930’s. Each vehicle was chosen based on

the engineering achievements that made it an important part of the evolution of the auto-

mobile, setting the standards for the engineering of modern cars.

The owner of the collection is Alain Cerf, who is the owner and founder of Polypack, a manu-

facturer of automated packaging machinery for consumer products. The Cerf family moved

from their native France to the United States over thirty years ago. The museum shares the

Polypack property that has housed the collection for many years. The Tampa Bay Automo-

bile Museum building shares Polypack’s contemporary architectural style and references to

art history.

The collection began in the 1950’s in France with Cerf’s first car, a rare 1937 Peugeot

Darl’Mat. One of only 103 of its kind built, it had become an abandoned, unwanted prewar

car. It reflected his tastes for the older, hand built European cars from the twenties and thir-

ties, in deference to the newer micro cars being offered at the time. He purchased it at auc-

tion. When upgrading his cars over time, he chose them with the same concern for technol-

ogy and craftsmanship he had seen in the Darl’Mat. He saved his earlier cars for the future,

planting the seeds of the collection. Cerf began to assemble a formal collection about

fifteen years ago. As the collection reached its current level of completion, it was decided

to open the museum to the public.

The museum houses approximately forty vehicles in 12,000 square feet of space, including

a gift shop area featuring vintage car related apparel, books and other items, and a selection

of fine craft from Florida artists. Murals and touch screen presentations feature the engi-

neers who designed the vehicles and examine historic, artistic and cultural achievements

related to their times. Featured automobiles include Tracta, Citroen, Panhard and Voisin

(France); Tatra and Aero (Czechoslovakia); DKW and Mercedes (Germany); Alvis, Allard and

BSA (England): DeLorean (Ireland), and Willys Knight and Ruxton (USA). A special feature

at the Museum is the world’s only replica of the French 1770 Fardier de Cugnot, the world’s

first self-propelled vehicle. This vehicle is on loan from the Deutsche Bahn Museum in

Nuremberg, Germany. Other vehicles will be added as restorations are completed or a spe-

cific car is found.

The Tampa Bay Automobile Museum is working to increase its presence locally, nationally

and internationally through news, entertainment and trade media, through the tourism and

hospitality industries and by outreach to area residents. Museum rental and catering ser-

vices are available for special events and meetings. Curriculum based school tours are in the

planning phases for the 2005 – 2006 school year to bring area students to the museum to

learn about automobiles, science, technology, art and design, and history.

T A M P A B A Y A U T O M O B I L E M U S E U M

M I S S I O N S T A T E M E N T

The Tampa Bay Automobile Museum offers an important and scholarly

collection of vintage European and American vehicles whose engineering

influenced the evolution of the automobile, setting the standards for the cars

we drive today.

The mission of the Tampa Bay Automobile Museum is to foster interest in and

appreciation for the technology, innovation, aesthetics and the historical and

cultural impact of the automobile to museum visitors of all ages, through the

exhibition of its collection, and through docent tours, lectures, special events

and educational programs.

T A M P A B A Y A U T O M O B I L E M U S E U M

C U R R E N T L Y O N E X H I B I T1936 Adler Trumpf Junior (Germany)

1938 Aero(Czechoslovakia)

1948 Allard P1(England)

1928 Alvis Model F.D. 12/75(England)

1938 Amilcar Compound(France)

1927 Avions Voisin - C7 Chastness(France)

1930 BSA Three Wheeler(England)

1935 BSA Scout(England)

1934 Chenard et Walcker (France)

1933 Citroen Half-Track (France)

1973 Citroen SM Maserati (France)

1937 Citroen Traction Avant 7CV(France)

1951 Citroen Traction Avant15CV(France)

1961 Citroen Sahara 2 CV(France)

1954 Citroen 2CV(France)

1955 Claveau (France)

1929 Cord L29 (United States)

1937 Cord 812 Beverly Supercharged (United States)

1952 Delahaye 235(France)

1982 Delorean(Northern Ireland/UK)

1928 Detra 4/14 Cabriolet (Germany)

1933 Derby L8 (France)

1939 DKW Meisterklasse(Germany)

1770 Fardier de Cugnot (replica)(France)

1929 Ford Model A Race Car (USA)

1929 Ford Model A with Gas O Gen Alternative Fuel System (US/Spain)

1971 Gregoire Electric Car (France)

1927 Hanomag-Kommisbrott (Germany)

1951 Hotchkiss Gregoire(France)

1953 Hotchkiss Gregoire 2 Door (France)

1972 Jaguar E-Type V-12 (England)

1953 Jensen 541 (England).

1942 Kubelwagen Type 82(Germany)

1965 Maserati Sebring (Italy)

1935 Mercedes 130H(Germany)

1937 Mercedes 170H(Germany)

1970 NSU RO-80 (Germany) 1937 Panhard Dynamic (France)

1937 Peugeot Darl 'Mat (France)

1933 Rolls Royce Sedanca (England)

1929 Ruxton(USA)

1950 Salmson S4E(France)

1953 Talbot Lago T 15 Q L 6(France)

1950 Talbot Lago Record (France)

1930 Tatra Type T T26-30(Czechoslovakia)

1967 Tatra 603(Czechoslovakia)

1937 Tatra T87(Czechoslovakia)

1938 Tatra T-97 (Czechoslovakia)

1949 Tatra T600 Tatraplan(Czechoslovakia)

1936 Tatra T-75(Czechoslovakia)

1929 Tracta A(France)

1930 Tracta E(France)

1928 Willys Knight - Model 56(USA)

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A FEW WORDS TO PRESENT OUR COLLECTION

Polypack, Inc. designs and manufactures automatic packaging machinery. This is a technicalactivity based upon research and innovation.

Behind any machine, robot, computer or automobile stands a human being. His or her abilityto create and give life - albeit a very limited artificial life - to useful equipment will lead to thedevelopment of material progress.

I was born in France and bought my first "vintage car" out of necessity in the 1950s when aTalbot, Delahaye or Darl’Mat was less expensive than a modern "people’s car". I loved thoseclassics and one after another, after good service, they were garaged, waiting for better years.

Tatra cars from Czechoslovakia became another interest. I was intrigued by technology andstyling that could almost have come from outer space.

The idea of a collection based upon avant-garde automobile technology grew strongereveryday.

Tatra and its engineer, Hans Ledwinka, symbolize the rear-engine technology; front-wheel-drive engineering was the obvious counterpoint with its great apostle, Jean Albert Gregoire.They are the Yin and Yang of automobile technology. Please see page 80 of this book.

In the course of our research we discovered more creative engineers, some of whom areunknown to the public at large. The names include Jaray, Muller, Porsche, Rasmussen andRohr.

We hope you will enjoy our collection while discovering the great engineers who designed andbuilt these innovative cars.

Welcome to Polypack’s tribute to creativity and imagination.

Alain A. Cerf

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A TRIBUTE TO CREATIVITY & IMAGINATION

In today’s world, cars are designed by groups of engineers and technicians, each specializing inone field using the latest technology available through computers. Any new design of anautomobile commands several years of research and testing.

In the first half of the 20th Century, it was common for a group of six, ten or even twelveengineers, technicians and draftsmen to undertake such studies to design a prototype ready forthe road in one year or less without the help of CAD systems, computers or even electroniccalculators. These engineers, either by schooling or by trade, were the ferment necessary to anew industry in full expansion. Each individual was in charge of different specialized areas. Inthe early 1930’s Dr. Ferdinand Porsche, working in Germany, and Jean Albert Gregoire ofFrance, were perfect examples to illustrate this theory.

Hundreds of different companies were competing in both the United States and in Europe. Newideas came into existence everyday; however, very few were successful. New materials werenot yet available or more often the capital was lacking as manufactures unsure of these newand extreme concepts were skeptical about investing in technology too fresh to be trusted.

Our goal is to present some of these engineers, many of who are virtually unknown to thelayman. These are the engineers who designed the cars on display here in our showroom.Their imaginations and dreams created technology commonly used in the automobile industrytoday.

ABOUT OUR COVER

Yin - White Tatra T87 • Yang - Black Hotchkiss GregoireThe two designers of the two cars could not be too different: but they also complemented one another.Hans Ledwinka, born in the old Austro Hungarian Empire, was an apostle of the rear engine.Jean Albert Gregoire, born in Paris, was the leader of front wheel drive in France and Europe.

Ledwinka was timid. His forte was engineering and manufacturing.Gregoire was a renaissance man. His forte was engineering, writing, expertise onwine and mushrooms, public relations and track and field.

Ledwinka earned the respect of his peers, even though, at the end of the Second World War,the Czechoslavian communist party jailed Ledwinka (German) for his involvement in the war.Gregoire had many friends in business and political circles, but few in the automotive industry.He was considered an outsider in an exclusive clique and remains widely rejected.Both men had a common goal: Design an automobile to be more rational, efficient and aheadof their time.

Both had the same opinion on at least two principles:1. Suppress the transition between the front and rear of the car with the benefit of a lower vehicle.2. Closely follow the precepts of aerodynamics.

Ledwinka asked Paul Jaray to design the bodies of the T77 and T78.The unibody replaced the chassis with the help of Budd, the guru of welded steel car bodies.Gregoire tested the prototype models in a wind tunnel. The result was a CS of .26 which is stillsuperior to today's modern cars. A cast aluminum frame replaced the chassis.Rear or middle engines are present on all sports cars and race cars. Front wheel drive is commonin day-to-day transportation.

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TAMPA BAY AUTOMOBILE MUSEUM

Polycerf, Inc. • 3301 Gateway Centre Blvd. • Pinellas Park, FL 33782

Tel: 727.578.5000 • Fax: 727.578.1300 • info@tbauto.org

BUILDING PHOTO BUILDING PHOTO

BUILDING PHOTO CUGNOT FARDIER

ALVIS DARL’MAT

TAMPA BAY AUTOMOBILE MUSEUM

Polycerf, Inc. • 3301 Gateway Centre Blvd. • Pinellas Park, FL 33782

Tel: 727.578.5000 • Fax: 727.578.1300 • info@tbauto.org

PANHARD DYNAMIC RUXTON

TATRA T87 VOISIN

TRACTA A TRACTA E