Tampa Bay Automobile Museum
 Tampa Bay Automobile Museum | |
  Location within Florida | |
| Established | March 19, 2005 |
|---|---|
| Location |
|
| Coordinates | 27°51′8.50″N 82°40′44″W / 27.8523611°N 82.67889°W |
| Type | Automotive |
Collections | Automotive engineering innovations, early 20th century art. |
Collection size | 90 cars Automobilia, over 200 art and lithography displays |
| Presidents | Oliver & Emmanuel Cerf |
| Curator | Susan Cerf |
| Website | tbauto.org |
The Tampa Bay Automobile Museum is an automobile museum in Pinellas Park, Florida, in the Tampa Bay area. The museum displays historic vehicles, primarily from the 20th century, with a focus on technical innovation, pioneering engineering concepts, and unusual designs.
History
The museum was founded in March 2005 by French entrepreneur Alain Cerf, who also founded the packaging machinery company Polypack, Inc. The museum is located on Polypack's property. It is operated as a family-run institution.[1][2]
In September 2019, the museum hosted a demonstration of a hydrogen fuel cell bus and a discussion on its potential use in local public transit.[3]
Collection
The museum's collection is housed in a 19,000-square-foot facility and features vehicles selected for their engineering advancements rather than mainstream popularity. Highlights include early front-wheel-drive automobiles, rear-engine air-cooled designs (such as models from Tatra), early experiments in aerodynamics, unibody construction, and alternative propulsion systems.
A notable exhibit is a fully operational, full-scale replica of the Fardier de Cugnot, a steam-powered vehicle built in 1770 by French engineer Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot. Widely regarded as the first self-propelled mechanical road vehicle, the museum's replica was completed in 2010.[4]
The museum maintains an active restoration program through its Cerf Motorworks facility, with many vehicles kept in running condition.[5]
See also
References
- ↑ "About Us". Tampa Bay Automobile Museum. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
- ↑ "Amazing Engineering". Tampa Bay Magazine. Vol. 20, no. 4, July/August 2005. pp. 50–54. Retrieved July 6, 2026 – via Google Books.
- ↑ Frago, Charlie (September 10, 2019). "A bus that emits only clean water and heat? Could we ever see one in Tampa Bay?". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
- ↑ "1770 Fardier de Cugnot". Tampa Bay Automobile Museum. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
- ↑ "Restoration". Tampa Bay Automobile Museum. Retrieved June 3, 2026.