Revs Institute

About Revs Institute

By the ULTIMATE Miami Editorial Team

Behind an anonymous façade in East Naples sits one of the world’s great collections of historic cars, kept in running order. Here is what makes Revs Institute special.

A collector’s mission

Revs Institute was founded in 2008 by Miles Collier, whose grandfather, the advertising magnate and developer Barron Collier, founded Collier County in 1923. His father and uncle played a big part in the birth of sports-car racing in the United States, and the family’s passion shows in every corner of the building.

The Miles Collier Collections hold more than a hundred significant automobiles built between 1896 and 1995, including some of the rarest road and racing cars in the world. Revs is also a research institute, with one of the largest specialist automotive libraries anywhere and a 12,000-square-foot workshop devoted to restoration and to new ways of caring for old machines.

The cars are working machines: at any time some are away racing, on loan or in the workshop being preserved.

On the floor

The ground floor is mostly sports cars, with a wing devoted to Porsche. Upstairs are the racing cars. Among the stars are a 1948 Ferrari Tipo 166, a 1939 Mercedes-Benz W154 Silver Arrow, a 1937 Delahaye, a 1959 Porsche RSK, the 1950 Cadillac Series 61 known as “Le Monstre” and a 1967 Porsche 911R.

Because the cars are run, raced and lent, the line-up changes, and guides are on hand to tell their stories.

Visiting

Visits are by timed ticket on set days, so this is not a drop-in museum. It suits car lovers above all, but the design and history appeal widely.

Our advice: book the first slot of the day, ask the docents about the cars currently in the workshop, and allow at least two hours.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Revs Institute before you go.