Muscle Car City; Rick Treworgy’s toys are for boys, and girls, of all ages to admire, envy in Punta Gorda
Muscle Car City in Punta Gorda, Florida is a car-guy or girls dream. Photo Rori Paul
Its a Car-Guy’s dream; your own car museum with literally a few hundred vehicles parked – some street ready and registered – where you can share them with the world, make a few bucks, and keep the passion you’ve had your life-long in full gear. Muscle Car City is Rick Treworgy’s dream, one he shares with the public, and whether you’re a Chevy guy or not, this car spot is a must-do spot to get the oil pumping thru your soul.
Think of Muscle Car City as the ultimate Man Cave.
Rick is your warm and gracious host, a car guy through and through. Photo Rori Paul
Yep, this is a place for Chevy guys in particular. Like Rick, those guys are passionate about an American classic, the car many learned to drive in, took their girl to Lovers Lane in, cruised the streets in, maybe even got for your kids.
Hey, but a car is a car – for some – and for those who are not Chevy guys, put aside the preference for a while and enjoy the show. This is a good one even you’ll enjoy.
(For more on the Charlotte Harbor, Punta Gorda area, click here)
Rick’s Muscle Car City is located along the Gulf Coast of Florida in Punta Gorda, a once sort of sleepy town, save the hustle and bustle of cattle operations and shipping, one day to become a burgeoning retirement community and tourism stop. A hurricane took its toll here, bringing to light a character among the locales, that saw this town by the sea once again reinventing itself, this time as a hip new spot for those tourists, retirees and others to discover.
Chevy guys are going to be in heaven, but anyone who loves car will find this place speaks to them. Photo Rori Paul
Now with a number of great locations around town for folks to enjoy, Rick’s car spot is a natural addition and good friend of those who know of this secret little haven along the Gulf.
Cars, T’s and more
Once a WalMart, this building was perfect for a car museum. Big, enormous, well set for pulling any number of cars in and out, lining them up along aisles from which to peer into their interiors, not to mention take photos. Its a big place.
From the old to the new, the powerful to the intricate, from sports to utility, even a sweet speed boat thrown in for good measure, this museum will give a car guy – and of course, you car girls out there, you’re very much included – a haven for sharing the passion with others, including your host. Look around, Rick’s a hands-on guy and you just may see him among the many cars parked here.
Yep, he even drives some from time to time.
Once a WalMart, Muscle Car City is a huge place perfect for Rick's personal collection of vehicles. Photo Rori Paul
Not all the cars are maintained as street worthy in the sense that it would be incredibly costly to keep them allregistered. Yet “street worthy” or not, any one of these vehicles can be started and operated at a moments notice. How’s that for a guy’s dream?
Rick has a staff who keep the vehicles at the ready, are ready to answer your questions, and even help with taking photos.
And if you can’t get enough, remember this was once a store, so Rick has one here as well, ready to sell you most anything with cars and car gear attached. T-shirts and polos get the ball rolling, but add in signs, gear for your actual car and more, and you’re likely to spend a little – or a lot – while you’re visiting.
Oh yea, and as most car guys know, there’s a lot to be said for a dirty joke or innuendo, so be on the look out for a little, good, “clean”, fun dirty stuff here and there. Can’t find it? Look for the people laughing.
Vintage cars that should be the envy of most any museum can be found on display with an up close view. Photo Rori Paul
Food like you remember
Hey, what car guy, Chevy lover, or gear-head doesn’t love a good burger and fries? Grandpa, you, maybe even your kids can remember when the drive-in was the place to go, the burger joint with the guys and your girl were the best way to spend weekend nights, and chill’n in the car was what was cool.
Rick’s Muscle Car City comes with its own burger joint, like the diners you loved, you can sit back, enjoy the all-American fare, and pretend like that GTO or Corvette is yours – and maybe out in the parking lot it really is.
Muscle Car City is a place for the boys to play, the girls to partake their secret (or not so) passion for hot wheels, and for memories to flood back and be built anew.
Admission:
$12.50 onetime pass (plus tax)
$6.00 child onetime pass (plus tax)
$37.50 annual pass (plus tax)
Children 2 and under FREE with adult.
Group Rate: $11.00 (plus tax)
per person for groups of 15+ people
Maybe its not a car, but what's more American that Bud and Boating? You're going to see this hot-rod for the water here as well. Photo Rori Paul
Museum Hours:
Tuesday – Sunday 9am to 5pm
Diner Hours:
Tuesday – Sunday 8am to 4pm
Monthly Events:
Every 3rd Saturday
Muscle Car City Cruise-In
Summer Show Hours are 9am to 1pm
Every Last Sunday
Muscle Car City Auto Flea-Market
from 7am to 1pm
Muscle Car City
3811 Tamiami Trail
Punta Gorda, FL 33950
Phone 941-575-5959
Any car guy or girl can tell you, the cool is in the details.
An engine guy would love this Corvette for the
window in the hood.
I was thrilled when I saw this Pontiac -
the first car I ever loved was this one.
I dreamed as a kid that I’d learn to drive and
one day own one. Didn’t realize that cars changed so much over the years.
But it was fun visiting those memories again, and that’s what is
at the heart of Muscle Car City; memories.
Always dream of the perfect Vette?
Maybe yours is here.
Sorry, while there are some cars for sale,
none of these are among them.
This one I quickly fell in love with…
At the end of the rainbow is the road to
your dreams. At Muscle Car City,
you can share the dream with Rick,
and perhaps be inspired to create your own…
Shirts and more can be found in the store.
Look for the people (like travel writers)
gathered and laughing for the fun stuff.
The diner offers up all-American fare
like any good car place would.
Ok, so I cheated and turned this photo into
a B&W one, but it seemed fitting.
A guy and his cars, diner food,
and black & white photos -
this is the youth we so lovingly remember
and you can enjoy for a little while longer
at Rick’s Muscle Car City.
