POST FALLS, Idaho (AP) — They're not for sale, but Joe Arrotta would love to show off his collection.
The Post Falls auto dealer who sells Nissans, Chryslers, Jeeps and Subarus recently filled a new 10,000-square-foot building with more than two dozen of some of the most collectible cars ever built.
The emphasis is on American muscle cars, with his '32 Deuce coupe and a Porsche GT2 bookending Mustangs, Camaros, Vipers and a few other rare models. His most recent acquisition is the Plymouth Barracuda convertible driven by Mike Connors in the early 1970s "Mannix" TV detective show.
It's not his only 'Cuda, though. There's also a triple-black 1970 Hemi 'Cuda, with a 426 engine and four-speed tranny.
"It's rare," Arrotta said. "It's one of the most sought-after cars in the world."
He also has a pair of 600-horsepower 427-cubic-inch ZR1 Camaros.
"A total of 33 were built with the 600-horse engine, and two of them are sitting here," Arrotta said.
Add a few pedal cars, motorcycles from Harley and Indian, a Whizzer bicycle with gas engine and some rare pickups, road-racing Mustangs and a drag-built Chevelle, and Arrotta may have to hand out bibs to protect the paint jobs from drooling visitors.
"It's a collection, not a museum," he said. "I drive them all."
Arrotta's private collection is housed across Polson Avenue from his dealership, Midway Nissan. It will not generally be open to the public, but will be on special occasions or by appointment. This Friday and Saturday he plans to open the doors to let fellow auto fanatics have a peek.
Viewers will get to see his award-winning Deuce — the 1932 Ford coupe called "Glow Tech" for its one-of-a-kind orange paint job that won the World Cup at the Portland Roadster Show several years ago.
And lest anybody gets any ideas of spiriting any of the cars off, a word — he's also right next door to the Post Falls Police Department, whose officers were recently treated to a tour.
"It's heavily alarmed," Arrotta said of the collection.
In addition to drawing car nuts to his several new-car showrooms, Arrotta plans special events, group tours and said he'd like to work with the community to help fund-raising activities. The large lot between his collection and the police station will be planted with grass for events that will include car shows.
"It's just a fun thing to do," he said.