Michael Dezer is a well-known New York and Florida real estate developer and entrepreneur. While discussing high-rise condo real estate with him in Miami a while back, Dezer mentioned he had something he wanted us to see.

On the lower floor of the Trump International Beach Resort in Sunny Isles, Florida, the real estate expert showed us part of his extraordinary vehicle and memorabilia collection – housed in an 18,000-foot space. His dream was to put this collection, ranging from Vespas to classic and antique cars, motorcycles and cars from films, in an above ground museum for all to enjoy.

Now, his dream has come true, as the Dezer Collection Museum is formally opening in January of this year.

Michael has been a vehicle collector since the 1970s, and his  collection has grown to over 1,000 vehicles, along with vehicle  memorabilia. The museum is spread over 250,000 square feet, on eight  acres of property, and is deemed to be the largest vehicular attraction  in the United States.

We spoke to Dezer to find out more about the collection, his obsessions and his interests outside of cars.

CENTURION: How long have you had a vital interest in automobiles?

Michael Dezer: I have been collecting for 55 years. My first purchase was a Vespa, 1957.  Then I bought a 1942 Jeep and a 1949 Plymouth. I still have them. They are classics, and their lines and colour are beautiful – works of art, really.

How long has it taken you to collect all the vehicles in the car museum?

I started seriously collecting in the 1970s. I am still collecting, and will be always.

What is the rarest car in the collection?

There are so many. There are at least 50 one-of-a-kinds. Also, in the museum are seven types of cars, all displayed differently. There are American classic cars, European classic cars, bicycles, mopeds and scooters (about 400 of those), then there are cars of the stars – these include the James Bond Collection of Aston Martins, the DeLorean from Back To The Future, the car from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, the Batmobiles and the Ghostbuster mobile. There also cars from Magnum P.I., The Great Race, Miami Vice – the list goes on and on.

Could you explain a little of your collector’s instinct?

It is really easy: when I see one I like, I buy it. I know cars of  the 50s quite well, and I know that many are collector’s items now. But  I love other kinds of vehicles also. One of my great joys is  collecting, then displaying and sharing. I said once that even if I was  offered 100 million USD for this collection, I would turn it down. It is  like selling a loved one. You don’t do that.

Visit The Dezer Collection Museum webpages