Revs Institute | Naples City

The Revs Institute, located in Naples, Florida, is one of the most respected automotive museums and research centers in the world. It is not just a car museum—it’s a carefully curated institution dedicated to the scholarly study, restoration, and celebration of the automobile and its role in society. Founded by Miles Collier in 2008, the institute serves both as a public museum and a private archive for automobile historians, collectors, and enthusiasts.

Purpose and Vision

The Revs Institute was created to preserve and advance the appreciation of automotive history. Its guiding philosophy emphasizes the car not merely as a machine, but as a cultural artifact—a product of design, engineering, and societal change. The institute seeks to explore how the automobile has shaped the world over time and continues to do so.

The Miles Collier Collections

At the heart of the institute is the Miles Collier Collections, one of the most significant privately held automotive collections in the world. The collection includes over 100 historically important automobiles manufactured between 1896 and 1995, with an emphasis on rarity, originality, and performance. Every car in the collection is maintained in operational condition and has been selected for its historical, technological, or cultural importance.

Some notable cars in the collection include:

1896 Panhard et Levassor Wagonette: One of the earliest motorcars ever built.

1939 Mercedes-Benz W154 Grand Prix Car: A legendary pre-war race car.

Porsche 550-01: The very first Porsche 550 Spyder, a landmark in motorsport history.

Cunningham C-4R and C-3 Coupe: American-made performance cars built by Briggs Cunningham.

A wide variety of Porsches, Ferraris, Bugattis, Alfa Romeos, and other marques with rich racing pedigrees or technological significance.

These cars are not roped off or behind glass; instead, visitors can get close to them and appreciate their design and engineering in fine detail.

Museum Design and Galleries

The Revs Institute spans 80,000 square feet and is divided into four main exhibit galleries:

Automobility Gallery
This section explores the social and industrial impact of the automobile. It includes early vehicles like the Ford Model T and luxury marques such as Cadillac and Packard, showing how the car transformed everyday life in the 20th century.

Vitesse Gallery
This gallery focuses on speed and performance, showcasing some of the world’s fastest and most innovative sports and racing cars. It includes legends from Le Mans, Formula 1, and the Mille Miglia.

Revs Gallery
Dedicated to motorsports history and innovation, this area features open-wheel race cars and a narrative about the culture, personalities, and events that defined the racing world.

Porsche Gallery
This gallery highlights the development of Porsche as a manufacturer. From early production cars to championship-winning race cars, it traces the brand’s technological evolution and lasting influence.

Restoration Workshop

Revs Institute is unique among car museums because it maintains an active 12,000-square-foot restoration workshop onsite. This workshop is staffed by some of the most skilled automotive technicians and artisans in the world. Their mission is to preserve vehicles in original condition, meaning repairs and restorations are done in a historically faithful manner.

Workshop areas include:

Engine rebuilding

Transmission and driveline services

Chassis and suspension fabrication

Upholstery and trim restoration

Body and paint preservation

Metal and wood fabrication

Visitors who book specialty tours can access this workshop area to see firsthand how vintage automobiles are maintained and restored using period-correct tools and materials.

Library and Archives

The institute also houses one of the largest and most comprehensive automotive research libraries in the world. The library includes:

Over 25,000 automotive books

880 periodical titles

A digital archive of over 600,000 photographs and documents

Race records, blueprints, manuals, and rare literature

Researchers, writers, and scholars use the Revs Library to study everything from motorsports history to automotive engineering and cultural studies related to cars.

Tours and Visitor Experience

Revs Institute offers several options for touring the museum:

Self-Guided Visit: Visitors can explore at their own pace using an optional mobile app with rich multimedia content.

Docent-Led Tour: A detailed two-hour tour led by an expert who shares historical and technical context for the vehicles.

Highlights Tour: A one-hour overview of the most significant cars and exhibits.

Workshop Walk-Through: An optional add-on to the docent-led tour that allows visitors to observe the restoration shop in action.

All visits must be scheduled in advance through the institute’s website; walk-ins are not accepted. This ensures a quiet, immersive, and personalized experience.

Hours and Admission

Location: 2500 Horseshoe Drive S, Naples, FL 34104

Open: Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Last Entry: 2:00 PM

Admission Fees:

Adults: $20

Students, military, veterans, teachers (with ID): $15

Children under 8: Free

Specialty tours (workshop access) may carry an additional fee

Digital and Educational Resources

For those unable to visit in person, Revs Institute offers a digital experience through its mobile app and online platform. The app includes high-resolution images, commentary, videos, and interactive features that replicate the in-person tour as closely as possible.

The institute also supports academic research, lectures, publications, and outreach programs related to automotive history, transportation studies, and conservation science.

Summary

The Revs Institute is not simply a car museum—it is a living archive and cultural institution dedicated to preserving and interpreting the history of the automobile. From its world-class collection of rare vehicles to its state-of-the-art restoration workshop and extensive research library, Revs offers an unparalleled experience for anyone interested in how cars have shaped the world we live in. Whether you're a casual fan or a serious researcher, the Revs Institute offers both inspiration and education in equal measure.