Tampa Bay Automobile Museum Celebrates 21 Years
- Mar 12
- 2 min read
Updated: Mar 23
This past Saturday, March 21, the Tampa Bay Automobile Museum celebrated its 21st birthday with an afternoon of stories, conversation, and celebration surrounded by the museum’s remarkable collection.
Guests had the opportunity to meet the collectors, the Cerf family, enjoy raffle drawings throughout the afternoon, and raise a glass with beer and prosecco as we marked this special milestone together. A highlight of the celebration was a live talk and Q&A with Olivier Cerf, who shared personal stories about the museum’s history, the collection, and the passion behind it.
The celebration also came on the heels of another exciting museum event: our recent rotary engine workshop. Hosting this hands-on program so close to our anniversary made the occasion feel even more special, highlighting not only the history preserved within the museum, but also the curiosity, learning, and enthusiasm that continue to bring people together here.
The Panhard That Started the Collection
As the museum celebrates 21 years, it is only fitting to look back at the car that started it all. The 1938 Panhard Dynamic holds a special place in the history of the Tampa Bay Automobile Museum. It was Alain Cerf’s reason for starting the collection and became the spark that eventually led to the museum itself.
Around 30 years ago, Alain Cerf asked his son Olivier if he knew what a sleeve valve was. Olivier replied that he did not. Alain said he did not either, then added, “I just bought one.”
That one car opened the door to a much larger journey.
A Very Different Car Than the One You See Today
When the family first bought the Panhard, it was painted in a two-tone navy and silver combination. Olivier remembers it as not being a particularly attractive car at the time, at least not in that condition.
The transformation took patience. The paint and bodywork alone took more than a year to complete, handled by a body shop in Tarpon Springs led by Al Wiseman, a respected collector with a significant collection of his own.
What visitors see today is not just a rare automobile. It is the result of vision, restoration, and years of dedication.
Thank You for Celebrating With Us
We are grateful to everyone who joined us for this special anniversary celebration. It was a wonderful way to reflect on the history of the museum, celebrate the collection, and share the stories behind the cars with our community.
Thank you for being part of our journey. We look forward to many more years of preserving and sharing automotive innovation and history.