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Simeone Collection- The Doctor is in

Simeone Collection
Simeone Collection

Dr. Fred Simeone is a visionary automobile collector, enthusiast, Concours judge, and leader of the growing automotive preservationist and conservationist movements.

Dr. Fred Simeone is a passionate man. As a renowned surgeon and medical educator, he has saved and improved numerous people’s lives. A world-class automotive enthusiast, he curates and collects great sports, racing, and GT cars. And as an individual, he’s driven by all of the good derived from the spirit of competition. He’s also a much-in-demand Concours judge and author of considerable knowledge and authority.  

1964 Cobra Daytona
1964 Cobra Daytona- First to be built, first to race and last to race.

Dr. Simeone considers himself an automotive history preservationist first and a car collector second. He rightly believes overrestoration will degrade a cars’ historical worth and works carefully to find high-provenance examples with much of their original patina intact.

As such, the good doctor (and we say that with no sense of irony whatsoever) has assembled a finely curated collection housed in a large and attractive facility in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

The Simeone Collection is a wonderful acquisition of streetcars, and more notably, significant racing cars – most in original, as-raced condition. 

Among the many and varied pearls in his museum are the 1938 Mille Miglia winning Alfa Romeo 8C2900B MM Spyder. It is highly original with impeccable provenance. 

1938 Mille Miglia winning Alfa Romeo 8C2900B MM Spyder
1938 Mille Miglia winning Alfa Romeo 8C2900B MM Spyder
1950 Allard
1950 Allard
Mario Andretti
Andretti first racing car tribute Hudson
Simeone Collection Hudson Hornet
1953 Hudson Hornet Twin H-Power

Beyond that, there are Porsche 917s (most famously the “psychedelic or ‘hippy’ 917 LongTail), Maseratis, Ferraris, Ford GT40s, one of the six original Shelby Cobra Daytona coupes, and the list goes on. Again most in original and/or as-raced condition and specification.

1970 Porsche 917 LH
This 1970 Porsche 917 LH came in second at the 1970 Le Mans
1975 Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 TT 12
1975 Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 TT 12- This vehicle won the World Championship in 1975 and 1977
1954 Le Mans- 1952 Cunningham C4R
Class Winner at 1954 Le Mans- 1952 Cunningham C4R (one of three made)

You might expect an institution like this one to house a massive restoration shop but instead hosts a modest yet capable maintenance facility.  

Dr. Simeone isn’t against restoration when that’s the only way to make a car once again viable. It’s just that he passionately prefers not to be the hands that wash away all of a great car’s stories and originality. And this is no parade queen society, as Dr. Fred drives, shares, and otherwise enjoys his vehicles.  

workshop at Simeone Collection

On many a weekend, he’ll select certain cars to be taken out for “maintenance laps” around the museum’s ample parking lots. And he opens up the taps too — these are not 10 MPH demo cruises; the public is welcome to attend, so they can see, hear, feel, and often smell these mighty machines at work, if not in wheel to wheel battle.

1953 Jaguar C-Type
This 1953 Jaguar C-Type came third in the 1953 Sebring Race
1956 D-Type Jaguar
This 1956 D-Type Jaguar came third in the 1956 Sebring race
1963 Corvette Grand Sport in Simeone Collection
1963 Corvette Grand Sport- One of five ever built and most original remaining

Some of the cars of the Simeone Collection sit among specially designed and built, period-flavored diorama type exhibits; others are more modestly displayed, but each has a placard that tells its story. One particularly large stage replicates a vintage race course’s pit row, lined up with a precious “pre-grid” of historic sports and endurance racers. 

Your own, semi-private look at a mythical Le Mans starting grid, including cars that have actually been on the grid at la Sarthe. 

1966 Ford GT40 Mk II
This 1966 Ford GT40 Mk II participated in the 1966 Le Mans
Simeone Collection
This 1967 Ford GT40 Mk IV participated in the 1967 Le Mans

If you’re ever in or near Philadelphia, stop by the Simeone Collection, as it’s a ‘Must Do.’ There’s no formal tour, but Dr. Simeone often gathers visitors for a personal walk around the facility. Keep an eye out for the Mille-winning Alfa (and another that once finished second), Porsche 917 Longtail, Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa, and Maserati 300S. 

Simeone Automotive Museum

6825 Norwich Drive

 Philadelphia PA 19153