Museum Spotlight #1: Ragtops Motorcars, West Palm Beach.

Ragtops Motorcars in West Palm Beach is a classic car museum located on Old Dixie Highway between Okeechobee Blvd and Belvedere Rd.

Opened in 1980, the museum is situated in a former Cadillac LaSalle dealership built and credited in 1929 as being the largest building of its kind north of Miami. The collection, is distributed through both the single story former showroom area and the first 2 floors of the attached 3 story garage, the second floor being accessible either by a staircase or the fully functional car transport elevator. A second building, Club LaSalle offers more collection space

The Showroom area of the museum, is designed as a 1950s diner, with a glass brick and mica soda bar which sells water and soft drinks. The room is decorated with juke boxes, diner booths and vintage license plates adorning the walls. The "Garage" Gift shop is also located here selling Ragtops branded clothing, toy cars, and unique items which include handbags made out of old license plates and belts adorned with bottle caps.

The first floor of the 3 story garage, known as Memory Lane, is made to look like a small town's main street featuring store fronts as well as "Ragtops Beach" a surf themed display featuring a sand sculpture of the museums logo. Finally the 2nd floor, known as the "Drive In", features a large projection screen with the cars parked facing it.

Contrary to its title, Ragtops's collection isn't limited to only convertibles. The cars featured, range from coupes and sedans to trucks and station wagons. It is also home to one of the few surviving Amphicars. The collection also isn't limited to just classic cars. In one visit you can encounter a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air one minute and a late 80s Mercury Colony Park the next.

What sets Ragtops apart from other museums, is that it was primarily built as a classic car dealership and still functions as such today. Many of the vehicles there, have a price tag. If you have the right money, you can walk in, make an offer, and drive off with your dream car, and even have it stored on site as part of the collection. Ragtops, also has the ability to host special events either in the main building or the adjacent Club LaSalle.

So if you are a classic car buff, and looking for a place in West Palm Beach to check out, Ragtops Motorcars Museum and Dealership may just become your new favorite place.