Like a blue ribbon bloodhound tracking a scent, Dr. Fred Simeone possessed a remarkable ability to sniff out a trail of ownership regardless of how faint the trace. He employed the brilliance, tenacity and ferreting instincts that distinguished history’s great sleuths in his unearthing of long lost historically important car provenance.

Clearly, Dr. Simeone’s love and passion for meaningful classic cars did not stop at the mechanical and aesthetic wonder of the automobiles he owned and cherished, as well, he passionately embraced the pursuit of their accurate and detailed backstory.

He focused not only on the history of significant automobiles in his collection but extended his laser-like forensic curiosity to historically significant cars owned by others that suffered from gaps in time that demanded authentication.

What follows provides some of the detailed backstories unearthed for cars in the Simeone Museum.

Dr. Fred Simeone’s Mona Lisa car legacy, Part 2, Fascinating backstories of cars he preserved.

Dr. Simeone conducting a class on researching provenance

In authoring the preface to a wonderful book called The Stewardship of Historically Important Automobiles Dr. Fred Simeone wrote, “To those who believe an owner has the right to do whatever he wishes with his car in terms of use or modification, there is no need to follow another precedent. But to those who acknowledge that their preserved car has special significance as an example of the industrial age’s greatest gift, we suggest that you pass it on to future generations as it left the hands of its creators.”

In creating what many consider to be the finest automobile museum in the world, Dr. Simeone amassed and curated a pantheon of historically significant vehicles from the 20^th century and cared for each with a brilliant consistency faithful to his written words. History in general and the automobile culture in particular are far better for it. As shared by Simeone Museum Director of Programs Harry Hurst, the following stories illustrate the value as an historic record and teaching tool afforded future generations by Dr. Simeone’s unwavering dedication to preservation.

1909 American Underslung

One of the Simeone Museum’s oldest cars on display, a 1909 American Underslung visually distanced itself from the constellation of new automobile marques fighting for life in the […]

It was a few years back. I had no idea what to expect. But I had to try to get in. The Simeone Museum’s archive possessed a motherlode of historically significant automotive art and literature dating back to the birth of the automobile. Having committed to presenting at the Historic Vehicle Association International Drive Conference, gaining access to the Simeone Archive meant everything. I never anticipated it would mean benefitting from the personal attention, warmth and insights of museum founder Dr. Fred Simeone himself.

In our contemporary age of celebrity worship, vapid personalities who, without merit, condescendingly distance themselves behind digital walls act as if, with apologies to F. Scott Fitzgerald, they are not like the rest of us. In such times, encountering ready accessibility to a man of profound accomplishment challenges accepted convention.

Yet, Dr. Simeone, a gifted and accomplished neurosurgeon of global renown, joyfully embraced engaging the public in a passionate effort to promote and preserve automotive racing history. With Dr. Simeone’s passing in June of 2022, his museum now lives on by embodying his same genius and desire for engaging the public to make a century of meaningful racing history available to all.

The following affords a look at the man behind the amazing living history Dr. Simeone spent his life building for the benefit of future generations and why visiting the Simeone Museum merits a high position on any car guy’s life list.

Now, join Drivin’ News in exploring the soul of the Simeone Museum guided by longtime friend of Dr. Simeone and Simeone Museum Director of Programs Mr. Harry Hurst.

Dr. Fred Simeone’s love, vision and priceless racing legacy   Part 1

Dr. Fred Simeone behind the wheel of a 1933 Alfa Romeo on a Demonstration Day

Harry Hurst’s love of cars and racing dates back to his teenage years spent as track photographer at Sebring in the 1960s. Decades later as an accomplished photographer, author, technical writer and racing mechanic, the inevitability of Hurst meeting Dr. Fred Simeone seemed a given. Indeed, 1995 witnessed their paths cross at a vintage car event in Philadelphia where Hurst and a friend stared at what appeared to be a breathtaking Aston Martin DBR1. Both questioned how it could possibly be an original here in Philadelphia.

Harry Hurst

Within earshot of their conversation, famous photographer […]