Ron Sturgeon is the definition of the American dream. From humble beginnings, Sturgeon went to Richland High School, and when his father passed away when Ron was 17, he was left with almost nothing. One of the few things his dad did pass down was a Volkswagen Beetle. Sturgeon taught himself how to work on cars, mainly VWs, and eventually opened his own Volkswagen repair shop. After a short time, he realized that salvage, not repair, might just be more profitable. So, with a pivot, this self-made man turned his attention toward recycling and salvage.
Eventually, he sold his company to Ford Motor Company. After some time, the empire he built was struggling under the direction of Ford, prompting Sturgeon, along with a group of investors, to buy it back. After making it profitable again, he re-sold the company (again for a huge profit) and began a new venture in real estate.
In addition to his business acumen, Sturgeon is also the author of multiple books on entrepreneurship and is the founder of Salon and Spa Galleria. To say Sturgeon is a man who wears many hats would be an understatement. A dog lover and philanthropist, Sturgeon continues to give back to the community that helped make him who he is today. All his success has afforded him the opportunity to become one of the most prolific car and toy collectors in the country, with over 30 years dedicated to finding rare cars and toys for his collection.
Now, at age 72, with a net worth of … well … let’s just say a lot … “Rapid Ron” wants to share his fine auto and toy collection with the masses. The DFW Car & Toy Museum serves not only as the offices for Sturgeon’s many business ventures, but also a spectacle for all to enjoy, with hundreds of makes and models and over 3,000 toys and other collectibles that offer not only educational opportunities, but a palpable nostalgia.
“I really started collecting toys in the mid-‘80s into the late ‘80s,” Sturgeon said. “I started buying things when I knew I was going to open a museum based on what I thought to be of interest to other people. In the last 10 years, I have accumulated most of the cars I have on display today.”
As we work through the brutal summer months, DFW residents are always looking for something fun and interesting to do while staying out of the oppressive heat. The DFW Car & Toy Museum scratches that itch, and the best part … it’s absolutely FREE! Yes, that’s right … you can see this incredible collection for nothing. Adults, children and even dogs (as mentioned, Sturgeon is a devoted dog lover) are welcome.
As you begin your tour, you make your way through the main toy gallery. Toys include vintage diecast, tin, race cars, scale models, rare Monopoly games, Lego, and even rooms that feature robots and space toys. The robot and space toys room was featured on an episode of American Pickers in 2021, where one of the most prized collectibles caught the eye of Mike Wolfe, host of the History Channel hit show. The toy that was of interest to Wolfe is a rare Atom Jet Racer from the 1950s, which is complete in the box, making it extremely rare. It is just one of the prize pieces in Sturgeon’s collection. This opening stanza to the museum will tug at your nostalgic heartstrings, no matter your age. It’s a wonderful study on the way toys used to be made and marketed, and you can’t help but feel like a kid again.
In addition to toys, there is also a collectible room dedicated to salesman samples and patent models, which I found to be very interesting. This room has vintage scale models of products like toilets, pump jacks, hay presses, and other items and equipment. These salesman samples are exactly like they sound like. Salesmen would take these scale models of products out with them to potential customers and show them how the products functioned using smaller models. Although the cars are the main attraction to most, Sturgeon boasts about his toys just as much.
“I think people don’t think much about the toys,” Sturgeon said. “They think Matchbox, they think Star Trek. They get here and they find things they played with as a child. I think people get here and find the toys more interesting than they thought they would. In fact, the toys are worth more than the cars.”
After your walk through the toy section of the museum, you make your way into the main car gallery. Even if you do some online scouting on the museum website before you see it in person, nothing can prepare you for the sheer size and scale of this space. With over 200 vehicles to view, you could spend a couple of hours just admiring and taking photos. If you spend the time to read about each model, you could very easily spend double or triple that amount of time in wide-eyed admiration of the collection.
Each area is designated by manufacturer or vehicle type, with sections dedicated to supercars, race cars, celebrity-owned cars, street rods, and even micro-cars. There are also sections dedicated to German cars, Asian cars, American cars, “odds and ends,” and one of my personal favorites … “cars that shouldn’t exist.”
In that “cars that shouldn’t exist” section, you will find kitschy models that have become infamous in popular culture. You will find the Molotov cocktail of vehicle designs, the Ford Pinto … which became notorious for fuel tank explosions when rear-ended. You will also see a 1957 two-tone Nash, a Yugo, a 1985 Pontiac Fiero GT and, yes … the car made famous in the movie Wayne’s World, a 1978 AMC Pacer. Yes, the one in Wayne’s World is a ’76 model, but I assure you, there isn’t much difference. I spent a good deal of time just looking at these ridiculous models and reading up on their history.
As you make your way out of this back hall of the museum, you also come upon another vehicle made ultra-famous by one of the most beloved movie trilogies of all time. Think 88-miles-per-hour. Yep, that’s right, you guessed it. Sturgeon’s collection also features a 1981 DeLorean DMC. You probably know it as the vehicle Doc Brown turned into a time machine in the Back to the Future movies. This model has yet to be outfitted with a Mr. Fusion for time travel purposes, but it’s still super cool to see up close.
In the Celebrity section of the museum, there are several cars once owned by celebs, including a Mercedes once owned by Johnny Carson, a VW that was once in Jerry Seinfeld’s collection, and even a 1949 Studebaker M5 pickup that was once owned by Grateful Dead sound engineer Owsley Stanley and used to transport equipment for the band. Nicknamed “The Dred,” this is not only a unique classic, but also a piece of rock and roll history.
As you continue your tour, you begin to see just how expansive this collection actually is. At this point, we have barely begun to scratch the surface. Other cars include BMW, Mercedes, Alfa Romeo, Bentley and Aston Martin, just to name a few.
One of the most popular sections of the main exhibit hall are undoubtedly the supercars. These modern engineering marvels will take any gearhead from zero to 60 in two seconds flat. This section includes some of the fastest cars on the planet, like a 2017 Ford GT, which tops out at a face-peeling 216 mph. There is also a 2020 McLaren 720S, which has a sleek look and beautiful purple paint. One of the newer supercars in the collection is a 2022 Ferrari SF90, which is the first-ever Prancing Horse to combine the power of a combustion engine and three electric motors. The combination produces a whopping 986 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque.
Speaking of Ferrari, Sturgeon’s collection also features a 1994 348 Spyder, a 1992 512 TR and a 2002 575 Maranello. If you love a Ferrari, then the DFW Car & Toy Museum has you covered.
Although every car in the collection is special in its own unique way, there are a select few that really stand out in the crowd. Three of the most popular (and rare) vehicles in the collection have car nuts coming from far and wide just to be near them. One is the 1994 Jaguar XJ220, which is considered one of the rarest and most desirable supercars ever to be produced. Only 275 were ever made, and one slowly turns on an oversized lazy Susan for your enjoyment at the DFW Car & Toy Museum. There is also a 2008 Bugatti Veyron, which, although not exceedingly rare, is a hit among fans of the supercar. When it hit the streets in 2008, this speedster boasted a sticker price of close to $2 million.
When it comes to rare cars, most wouldn’t think Toyota would have a candidate in the conversation. But the 1967 Toyota 2000GT is one of the most sought-after and rarest cars in Sturgeon’s incredible collection. Only 351 were built, including a pair for the James Bond movie You Only Live Twice. These rarely come up for sale, and when they do, they can command more than $1 million at auction. It’s a stunning ride, and one that you won’t want to miss while you’re touring the museum.
I already mentioned the “cars that shouldn’t exist” section of the museum, but there are plenty of other special and interesting models that you need to see. Other fun things to check out include a 1962 Lamborghini 1R Tractor. Now you may be wondering why a car museum has a Lamborghini tractor. Well, before Ferruccio Lamborghini began making cars, he was an established designer or tractors, boilers and even air conditioners. This tractor is a great example and has been completely restored. It really pops and is a great addition to the museum. Oh, and if you like Lamborghini automobiles, the tractor sits between a 2012 Aventador and a 2015 Huracan. Pretty cool.
One notable omission from the museum is the American muscle car. Sturgeon has always gravitated toward European flair, so if you expect to see a 67 Shelby Mustang GT 500, a ‘69 Dodge Charger or a 1970 Chevelle, you won’t find them. There are some American cars, like the 1961 Chevrolet Corvette 283 or the 1955 Cadillac Series 62 Sedan, but you aren’t going to see any Detroit muscle.
“I just don’t like the muscle cars,” Sturgeon said. “They’re just not me. I like the European stuff.”
Although the DFW Car & Toy Museum is free to the general public, they also offer unique opportunities to rent the space for corporate functions, parties, wedding receptions or even retirement parties and family reunions. The main museum can accommodate up to 500 guests with plenty of parking, a space that can accommodate a band or DJ and room for catering. There are no food and beverage minimums, meaning those using the space can control their own food and bev, or even bring in food trucks if they choose.
There is also a 4,000 square-foot VIP lounge that features a 20-person boardroom table, a billiards table, kitchen, and outdoor wrap-around patio space that is perfect for cigar smoking. It’s a perfect space for corporate functions or presentations in advance of a great team-building experience before you hit the museum floor.
I know I mentioned the museum is free of charge, and that reflects Sturgeon’s humble beginnings and his commitment to giving back to the community that helped buoy his success. There aren’t many things to do around DFW that offer this kind of experience for zero cost. The cars and toys will keep your attention whether you are flying solo, taking the kids for something indoors and out of the heat, or on a day date with someone special. It’s perfect for the car lover looking for some high-octane entertainment, or someone just wanting to learn more about exotic makes and models. The DFW Car & Toy Museum has something for everyone.