This Museum Is A Collection Of America's Golden Age In Automotive History
The American Muscle Car Museum is a private museum comprising over 400 American-made muscle cars. The extensive collection is owned by Mark Pieloch, the President and Founder of PF Inc, the company formerly known as Pet Flavors, which specializes in crafting flavors for pet foods. Let's explore the history of this massive muscle car collection and some of Pieloch's iconic cars.
What Is The American Muscle Car Museum?
The American Muscle Car Museum is a heaven for muscle car enthusiasts worldwide. It's a private museum of over 400 muscle cars from the collection of billionaire entrepreneur Mark Pieloch. Spanning an extraordinary 123,000 square feet, the museum opened in 2016.
American Muscle Car Museum | 460-Plus Cars, Every Cool Ford Imaginable PT1, REVan Evan
The Story Of Mark Pieloch
Mark Pieloch is best known as the President and Founder of PF Inc, formerly known as Pet Flavors, a manufacturer of high-quality flavoring agents for pet food. Since beginning his professional career as a pharmacist in 1979, Pieloch has always been entrepreneurial.
Part Entrepreneur, Part Inventor
Pieloch is an entrepreneur, but he's also listed as the inventor (or co-inventor) on two patents. The first is for tablets and granules, coated with potassium chloride, used in the treatment of inflammation in animals. The second is for crafting a method of use and the dosage composition of a blue-green algae extract that's used to treat inflammation in animals.
The Companies He's Started
Mark Pieloch has founded and sold several companies throughout his life, including his first, PharmaChemie, focusing on medication for large farm animals, in 1990. Since then, he's started and sold many companies: PSPC, Phycox, PalaTech Laboratories, and FlavorTek. Pet Flavors (known as PF Inc) was his final venture. All of these companies deal with the dietary and nutrition needs of animals.
Evans Waterless Coolant interview with AMCM's owner Mark Pieloch, American Muscle Car Museum
Pieloch's Early Life Around Cars
Growing up in Gardner, Massachusetts, the whole Pieloch family was big on cars. His brother and father worked on cars in Mark's youth, while his uncle owned a junkyard. He began collecting Matchbox cars with his weekly allowance from chores. Evidently, this began a lifelong love of cars.
Helping Seniors Car Raffle Grand Drawing (Core) | October 10th 2020, Helping Seniors
Pieloch's First Car
It might surprise you to learn that a man who spent his life collecting muscle cars didn't own one right away. His first car, acquired when he was just 16, was a 1967 Ford Ranch Wagon, a "hand-me-down" from his parents that Pieloch restored. It was stolen not long after its completion.
Tvabutzku1234, Wikimedia Commons
The Collection Begins
While it took a while for Pieloch to hit the big time money-wise, once he began collecting muscle cars, he never looked back. He began collecting in 2000, including many Mopar muscle cars like the Pontiac GTO Judge, and a 1987 Buick GNX with just 12 original miles on it.
Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons
Low-Mileage Cars Only, Please
When Pieloch was beginning his collection, he knew that he wanted low-mileage cars only. Currently, 63 of his cars have less than 100 original miles, 36 have between 100 and 999 miles, and another 36 have between 1,000 and 9,999 miles. This low mileage ensures that the cars are as close to pristine as possible.
American Muscle Car Museum | 460-Plus Cars, Every Cool Ford Imaginable PT1, REVan Evan
A Discreet Billionaire
You might not have even heard the name "Mark Pieloch" before today. He's a discreet billionaire who doesn't flaunt his wealth, and although his 440-strong car collection is impressive, he's not Jay Leno, nor the Sultan of Brunei, who has the world's largest car collection. Instead, Pieloch is a quiet person who only opens his garage doors to private charity and fundraising events.
American Muscle car Museum, WKMG News 6 ClickOrlando
The Building
The 123,000-square-foot building is located on a property that spans 42 acres in Melbourne, Florida. The vehicle display area is a whopping 90,000 square feet, with an 18,000-square-foot showroom and even a private restoration and maintenance facility that spans 15,000 square feet. Each car in the collection is started and driven regularly to prevent parts from seizing. There's also race tracks that are up to a quarter-mile long.
Leonard J. DeFrancisci, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Proprietary Technology In Use
To ensure that the vehicles' valets don't have to spend forever starting them, the American Muscle Car Museum uses CTEK battery charging units that desulfates the batteries when they're not running, to keep them in tip-top condition. There's also a dedicated team of mechanics and specialists to keep the cars fully-functional and road-ready.
Stephan Ridgway from Brisbane, Australia, Wikimedia Commons
A Commitment To Green Energy
One of the many impressive things about the facility is that it runs on 100% renewable energy, namely 1,200 solar panels which run everything in the facility, while the rest of the energy generated is sold back to the grid. This commitment to green energy is a key part of the ethos with which Pieloch appears to approach life.
American Muscle Car Museum | Melbourne, FL, Expertise Photography
LEDs Provide More Accurate Lighting
Alongside the solar panels, there are thousands of LED lights throughout the facilities that provide lighting for all of the display cars. According to Pieloch, they provide a much more accurate visual representation of the cars' colors than traditional fluorescent lighting, along with being much more environmentally friendly.
Built To Withstand Almost Anything
While it won't withstand anything, the construction of the complex took more than two years to complete, as Tom Davis Construction of Melbourne, FL, took on the project. The building that houses the collection and all other buildings on-site were made to withstand 225-mile-per-hour sustained winds. That's more than a Category 5 hurricane.
American Muscle Car Museum | Melbourne, FL, Expertise Photography
Use For Charitable Causes
As mentioned, the museum is only open to private events like charity auctions, private showings, and even opens up to the local schools once or twice a week for a walk-around. Non-profit groups that have fundraised with the museum include the Boy Scouts, Brevard County's Pet Posse, veterans groups, breast cancer awareness events, and more. Each time, the auctions and other events have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars.
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A Range Of Model Years
Pieloch may have begun collecting his cars in 1974, but the museum houses cars from 1955 and up, with many cars falling between the 1969 and 1970 period—the "golden age" of American muscle cars. But of course, there's classics like multiple AC Cobras, Ford Mustangs, Chevrolet Chevelle SSs, and many more.
500 CARS in ONE COLLECTION! Visiting American Car Heaven, Shmee150
Mark Pieloch's Personal Favorite
What's the personal favorite of the man who owns them all, you ask? That would be a 1966 AC Cobra 427 in Midnight Blue. Powered by a 7.0L V8 engine, the Cobra was a lightweight, high-performance roadster that's widely considered a classic, collectible, and one of the best-looking cars of all time.
American Muscle Car Museum | 460-Plus Cars, Every Cool Ford Imaginable PT1, REVan Evan
Non-American Cars
Despite the overwhelming prevalence of American cars, it's worth noting that Pieloch's collection does include a few non-American sports cars and a few supercars, including a 2019 Porsche 911 Speedster, a 356 Limousine, and numerous other Porsches.
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A Special Porsche 911
One of the cars in his collection is a special edition 2023 Porsche 911 Dakar, a car that was used to race in the infamous off-road Dakar Rally. It has an increased ground clearance, ruggedized suspension, Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain tires, six-point seatbelts, a roll bar, and even a fire extinguisher. Its engine produces 473 hp.
Multiple Ferraris
Pieloch's collection also has a few Ferraris, including Ferrari's best-selling car: the Ferrari 458 Italia, which sold more than 22,000 units. The classic F40 is also there, along with the F430. Although this collection of exquisite European cars is dwarfed by American muscle.
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Mercedes AMG GT
Another shoutout for Germany here, with the appearance of a specialized "GT" version of the Mercedes AMG. The "Black Series", a series of black (no surprise) two-door sports cars, were built by Mercedes in 2021. The Black Series covers 0 to 60 in 3.2 seconds and has a claimed top speed of 200 mph.
The Highlights Of His American Muscle Collection
When it comes to a 440-car collection, it can be difficult to choose what to cover—if you were in the room, you wouldn't know where to look! So, let's (try) and go over some of the stand-out cars from Pieloch's plethora of automotive genius.
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The Chevrolet Camaro Yenko
One of the most important parts of Mark Pieloch's American muscle car collection is the Chevrolet Camaro Yenko, a specialized version of the Chevrolet Camaro, built by Yenko Chevrolet out of Pennsylvania. This particular shop customized the Camaro by installing racing-style parts and making tuning adjustments. Yenko Chevrolet was owned by former racing driver Don Yenko.
FYI: American Muscle Car Museum, MotorWeek
Yenko Camaros Skirted The Rules At The Time
In 1967, GM had placed a ban on the size of engine that could be installed in its cars, limiting them to a 6.6L V8. Don Yenko, ever the speedster and thrill-seeker, sought to skirt those rules. He ordered Chevrolet Camaros to his Pennsylvania showrooms equipped with the smaller L78 engines, then swapped them for 7.0L L72 V8 engines.
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Other Modifications
Other modifications made to the Camaros included a fiberglass hood, similar to the "Stinger" hood from the Corvettes of the era, and a new transmission which increased the power output to 450 hp. Production was halted in 1969, then revived briefly in 1981. One of two people to own Yenko Camaros today is Mark Pieloch.
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Pieloch's Camaro Collection
The Yenkos are among the most unique in his entire collection, as there is one for every year and body style. Pieloch also acquired several of Yenko's other modified cars, including a Chevrolet Corvair and even a Yenko Vega, wherein Don Yenko upgraded the engine and power to produce 220 hp from an otherwise slow and forgettable Chevy.
500 CARS in ONE COLLECTION! Visiting American Car Heaven, Shmee150
The Indianapolis Pace Cars
Nothing could possibly be more American than the Indy 500, right? Mark Pieloch certainly doesn't think so—that's why he's got 50 Indianapolis 500 pace cars and trucks, including the very first: a 1955 Chevy Bel Air. It's the original car from 1955 Indy 500 and was the first pace car that Pieloch acquired.
FYI: American Muscle Car Museum, MotorWeek
The 1955 Chevy Bel Air
Emblazoned in red and white, weighing over 3,400 pounds, and an enormous 16 feet long, the Indianapolis 500 pace car was fitted with a tuned-up 4.3L V8 engine and a two-speed automatic transmission. Although not the first pace car ever, it was one of the most popular pace cars in Indy 500 history.
AMERICAN MUSCLE CAR MUSEUM FULL TOUR, Ranas Radar
Eight Ford GT40s
Most collectors of American muscle have one Ford GT40 if they're extremely lucky. Hell, they may consider themselves lucky even if they don't have a Ford GT40. But for Pieloch? He has eight Ford GT40s. They form a ring of speed and steel around his pride and joy: the AC Cobra 427.
FYI: American Muscle Car Museum, MotorWeek
1966 Shelby 427 Cobra Mk III
The pride and joy of Pierloch's collection: a 1966 Shelby 427 Cobra Mk III in Midnight Blue with a black interior. Powered by a 7.0L V8 engine and a four-barrel Holley carburetor, the car came with a wishbone suspension with coil springs. The car produces 485 hp and a staggering top speed of 185 mph.
American Muscle Car Museum | 460-Plus Cars, Every Cool Ford Imaginable PT1, REVan Evan
1965 Shelby GT350R Prototype
Next on our greatest hits of the American Muscle Car Museum is the 1965 Shelby GT305R Prototype, fully restored by a Wisconsin-based Ford restoration specialist before being purchased by Pieloch in 2006. Liveried in Wimbledon White with blue racing stripes, the prototype was fitted with a 4.7L V8.
American Muscle Car Museum | 460-Plus Cars, Every Cool Ford Imaginable PT1, REVan Evan
1966 Chevrolet Coupe "8 Ball"
Next up is the 1966 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe "8 Ball". This beautiful road racer is liveried in black with yellow racing stripes, and an "8 Ball" logo. It's powered by a 7.0L that generates 700 hp. We're sure that Pieloch enjoys whipping around the racing track in his '66 Corvette.
1966 Corvette "8-Ball" Race Car from the American Muscle Car Museum, Classic Drive TV
1970 Boss 429 Mustang
The Boss 429 Mustang is one of the rarest types of Mustangs from the 1970s. Featuring a racing-oriented 7.0L V8 big block engine, it provided a homologation car for NASCAR while simultaneously being a more powerful upgrade to the Boss 302 Mustang. Just 1,359 variants were produced and many surviving currently reside in the AMCM.
Simon Davison from Los Gatos, United States, Wikimedia Commons
There's Even A Tractor
One of the most recent additions to the American Muscle Car Museum is, well, not a muscle car...or even a car. It's a tractor. More specifically, a 1962 Porsche Junior farming tractor. If you didn't know that Porsche made tractors, well, you do now!
500 CARS in ONE COLLECTION! Visiting American Car Heaven, Shmee150
Muscle Car Paraphernalia
Alongside the cars themselves, there's a massive amount of car paraphernalia—from neon signs to vintage balloon tires, antique gas pumps, pedal cars, vintage soda coolers, motorcycles, and so much more. If you love everything American muscle, it (along with basically every muscle car known to man) can be found at the American Muscle Car Museum.
AMERICAN MUSCLE CAR MUSEUM FULL TOUR, Ranas Radar
When Will You Visit?
If you love all things American muscle, you simply must visit the American Muscle Car Museum in Florida. There's a car model for everyone, even if you think Fords are "Fix Or Repair Dailys", or you wouldn't be caught dead in a Dodge. It's a fantastic homage to American automotive ingenuity and history.
AMERICAN MUSCLE CAR MUSEUM FULL TOUR, Ranas Radar
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