Auto Collections Las Vegas

Palatial Parking - The Auto Collections at Quad Resort & Casino Las Vegas

My first entrance to a big collector car museum was a long time ago – a welcome diversion from the nearby Consumer Electronics Show. Las Vegas seemed like a natural place for such a car fantasy – money meets auto meets tourist. Started by Palace owner Ralph Engelstad, the Imperial Palace Auto Collection was right on the strip and one of the must see family attractions. It’s not often I would buy a gift shop souvenir, but I was so enthralled by the experience I bought the Palace truck model in case to remember by. It must be a collector’s item by now.

Now one thing you can count on in life is change in Las Vegas – something’s is new and different every 6 months. The Imperial Palace gave way to Harrah’s, a name synonymous with auto; today the site is undergoing renovation and is newly known as The Quad Resort & Casino. But one of the few original guilty pleasures of Vegas is still sitting pretty in the parking structure out back - The Auto Collections. With over 150 near perfect examples of some of the most collectible cars ever made, the Auto Collection remains a memorable trip down memory lane. As beautiful and more valuable than ever - $100 million anyone?

One interesting change to the program is that the Collection is now a sales showroom. Most of the cars on display are actually for sale – this has to be the world’s best car lot. The price range has something for everyone - $15k for a 1952 Mercury Sheriff’s car to $750k for a 1929 Rolls Royce Springfield Phantom Phaeton. You couldn’t buy a new car with comparable class or rebuild a wreck with the same dollars.

Many a famous person have a part in the collection – Johnny Carson, Sam Barris, Marilyn Monroe, Howard Hughes, John Kennedy just to drop a few names. Pick one of the big names – big models – big year – big option sheet; one of a kind; there’s likely one in the Auto Collection. Play it safe with a ‘63 Corvette split window coupe; a triple white ’79 VW convertible or red ’55 Chevrolet Bel Air (coupe or convertible?). Be different in a McFarlan, Panhard Dyna Z, or Ahrens firetruck. Or go crazy with a Jaguar XJ220; a Maserati GT or Eleanor and be Gone in 60 Seconds.

Being a showroom, the Collection changes continuously. Some of the staff have been busy preparing 9 cars for various winter auctions in Arizona – Barrett-Jackson in the main. The regular car fanatic will get very much lost in thought along the many lanes and wings of the structure. You can't help but be impressed by the depth, variety and quality of so many collectible cars gathered in one place. For the price of less than anything else in Las Vegas, go see the Auto Collection for yourself. Just resist the urge to touch… www.autocollections.com

Photos and story by Randy Berg