Most of us know how difficult it is to juggle a single car, or even two, with garages just not having the room these days. So how elaborate and expensive must it be to house a car collection into storage?
There are many celebrities, dignitaries and business people who make a point of amassing some of the rarest, most expensive vehicles on the planet. Keeping these vehicles stored and looked after safely requires something a little more expansive than the average garage.
This month we’re going to take a look at just a drop in this ocean, with some of the most impressive car storage collections known to man and the lengths people go to in order to maintain their collection.
Craig Jackson’s Tyre Shaped Collection
Appropriately themed, tucked away in Arizona’s Paradise Valley, Craig Jackson has had a dedicated space created to house all of his cars in an economic and space saving manner. The CEO of Barrett-Jackson car auction company, Jackson has created a storage facility in the shape of a tyre. With the cars arranged much like spokes in a wheel, the decor is also dedicated to cars, with the roof resembling a hub cap.
His collection is worth millions of dollars so it’s hardly surprising that he’s gone to the lengths he has to house his collection.
Tom Gonzales’ Underground Collection
Hidden away underground in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, Tom Gonzales’ collection of cars and motorcycles has the key assets in a lower floor which you are only able to reach via a special elevator. Funded by selling his company, this collection and storage facility runs into the millions – but it’s the elevator which garners the most attention, 15 feet high and 60 feet long, it can hold multiple vehicles all at once, the kind of power afforded to aircraft carriers.
John Travolta’s Humble Garage
Often referred to as a garage, you’ll be gobsmacked when you see an aerial photograph. The actor famed for his roles in Grease, Pulp Fiction, and Face/Off, has a facility with the ability to hold 15 vehicles, with room for a jet, a Boeing 707 (plus the vehicles which come as support for these) and a runway which stretches 1.4 miles – those planes have got to take off somewhere!
Jay Leno’s Big Dog Garage
Making his name – and his fortune – as a late night chat talk show host, Jay Leno has a passion for cars which he’s never made a secret of. A huge collection of cars and motorbikes, he houses them in Southern California at his very own ‘Big Dog Garage’. This is more than just somewhere pretty to leave his vehicles though, it functions as a workshop for the vehicles and includes a kitchen. Utilising 17,000 square feet of space, you’re left in no doubt that this is one serious collector.
Hamad Bin Hamdan al-Nahyan’s Pyramid Museum
Open to the public in the UAE, the Sheikh’s collection of vehicles (including a Russian tank from WWII) is housed in a pyramid built in the desert. Requiring climate control to ensure the right conditions for the vehicles, the museum is said to be laid out like a small city. One of the most extravagant attractions is the Dodge Jeep, which reaches over three stories in height.
While your collection might not be as large, expensive or expansive as these examples, it proves that having your collection housed all in one place is easier than having it clutter up your home.
If you’re looking for flexible, affordable storage options for your collection – whether it’s books, memorabilia or clothing – look no further than Simply Storage. Contact us today and we’ll be happy to discuss your individual requirements.