Muscle Car City Museum Representing More Than 80 Years Of American Automotive History Has Closed Its Doors After 14 Years Of Operation. Revealing The Reason Inside?

Rick Treworgy, owner of Muscle Car City Museum, in Punta Gorda, Fla., where he had displayed more than 200 GM muscle cars and trucks that includes one of the largest such collections in the country and represented more than 80 years of American automotive history.

“It’s been a great 14 years for the business,” Treworgy posted. “I’ve loved every minute of it, but I am 72 and beginning to feel like it. I, with heavy heart, have decided it’s time to retire. Muscle Car City, this year, is going backwards because of COVID-19 and the lack of international business.”

That’s the bad news.

The good news is that about three-fourths of the collection, some 200 “very fine vehicles,” as he put it, will be offered at no reserve by Mecum Auction on-site at the museum, 10175 Tamiami Trail, Punta Gorda. You can preview his lifetime collection from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 21, and the auction will follow on Friday, Jan. 22 and Saturday, Jan. 23.

“If there is anything in the collection you really like, now is the entire time,” Treworgy wrote. “Entire collection in the museum will be sold no reserve as well as all memorabilia.”

Included in the collection is a 3LT Torch Red 2020 Corvette, as well as at least one Corvette from 1954 to 1975, along with a ’92, ’96, ’98, ’02, ’06, ’10, and ’16.

Also up for sale will be a large selection of vintage Camaros, Chevelles, GTOs, Trans Ams, and El Caminos from the ’60s and ’70s and Bel Airs and Impalas from the ’50s and ’60s.

Two other unusual vehicles to be auctioned include a ’33 Chevy fire engine and a ’55 Chevy Coca-Cola truck.

Once the auction is over, Treworgy plans to take home about a fourth of the collection, where “it will become my private toy box again.”

He plans to leave Sting Rays Bar & Grill open “and after it all settles” will possibly hold car shows and swap meets through that business. For now, though, he says his focus will be getting the museum closed and the building leased.

“Thanks everyone for all the support over the years,” he wrote.