Anyone from the Lynchburg, VA area?

[Snakebit]

We visited friends near Lynchburg, Va this past week. They took us to the Main Street Market in Lynchburg. Accross the street on the opposite corner was a large garage dating 1899. It had a sign Horse and Buggy Springs and another sign Midland Motor Works. In the front window were 2 1954 -56 Mercurys and a 1918 Cadillac. A small sign on the front said private collection, no admittance. I strolled around the corner and noticed vintage car parts on the window ledge. I looked in the window and there were a bunch of vintage cars, Model T's, an old Ford race car, and even a Stutz Bearcat! Some restored and some in their original condition. I looked in the next window and the same thing! This was the basement section. There were 3 floors to this old garage so I can only imagine what is on the other 2 floors!

Anyone have any information on this? This collection and the building would make a great museum.

[Jim Maxwell]

That museum is a part of Mark Smith's automobile collection. Mark lives in Lynchburg and used to own the Old Philadelphia MotorCar Company. He has a wonderful collection of cars, including Duesenburgs, Pierce Arrows, 16 cylinder Cadillacs, Ferraris, Rolls Royces and, until a couple of years ago, an original 289 Cobra with only 16,000 miles on it.

He prefers original unrestored cars. He is a nice guy and really knows his stuff. He also has an incredible collection of Automobilia.

Jim