World's Largest Collection of Convertibles Is Loaded With Rare and Iconic American Cars

World’s Largest Collection of Convertibles Is Loaded With Rare and Iconic American Cars

Posted by author July 11, 2024 World

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Photo: Remote Trooper/YouTube

Convertibles are no longer in fashion nowadays, but there was a time when this body style dominated the auto industry. Specifically, cars with fixed roofs didn’t become mainstream until the 1920s, and convertibles remained somewhat popular for a few more decades. If you’re a fan of open-top rigs, then you definitely need to check out the Deer Park Winery and Auto Museum in Escondido, California.

What? A vineyard and a car museum all in one place? Yup, Deer Park successfully combines vintage wines with classic cars. It also offers wine tasting, and the museum includes way more than just automobiles. It’s also packed with old TVs, radios, arcade games, toys, and bicycles. The car collection includes more than 100 examples.

The self-proclaimed “world’s largest auto museum of convertible & Americana” is also home to some of the rarest drop-tops ever produced. In addition to a long list of iconic American nameplates, of course.

If you’re a Cadillac Eldorado and Lincoln Continental fan, you’ll find various generations of these cars in three buildings. Naturally, you’ll also see several Bel Air Impala from the 1950s and 1960s, including a Tri-Five. But while it may be loaded with famous nameplates, this museum also houses vehicles you rarely see, including a 1954 Kaiser Darrin, a 1941 Packard 110, and a 1954 Packard Caribbean.

While the Lincoln Continental is a constant presence at local car shows, I bet it’s been a while since you’ve seen a 1949 Cosmopolitan. This short-lived nameplate was one of Lincoln’s first post-WWII designs. Introduced in 1949, it remained in production for only two generations until 1954. This first-year convertible is one of only 1,200 made. And it’s downright gorgeous.

The collection also includes a 1941 Buick Roadmaster Phaeton, one of only 326 made, and a 1958 Edsel Citation, of which only 900 were sold. The Hudson Pacemaker is yet another classic we don’t see very often. Hudson only produced this nameplate in 1939 and from 1950 to 1952. The museum has a 1950 convertible.

The second Hudson on display is a 1954 Super Wasp Brougham. The Super Wasp was an upper-trim version of the Wasp, produced over two generations from model year 1952 through 1956. Only 122 units were produced, making this Hudson the rarest vehicle in this collection.

The 1951 Frazer Manhattan parked next to it is nearly just as scarce. Frazer sold only 130 of these four-door convertibles. Yup, that’s not a typo; this drop-top sports a four-door layout, which is somewhat unusual regardless of the decade. The museum is also home to a 1949 Kaiser four-door convertible. And yes, these cars are related because Kaiser and Frazer merged in 1947.

I’m not entirely sure this museum houses the world’s largest collection of convertibles. But it’s arguably the most spectacular when it comes to orphan brands and super-rare automobiles. Check it out in the video below.