Deer Park Winery and Automobile Museum, Escondido, California
Tribute by Jeffrey Sward
 
     
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Deer Park Winery and Automobile Museum Escondido California Photograph by Jeffrey Sward Deer Park Winery and Automobile Museum Escondido California Photograph by Jeffrey Sward
Deer Park Winery and Automobile Museum Escondido California Photograph by Jeffrey Sward Deer Park Winery and Automobile Museum Escondido California Photograph by Jeffrey Sward
Deer Park Winery and Automobile Museum Escondido California Photograph by Jeffrey Sward Deer Park Winery and Automobile Museum Escondido California Photograph by Jeffrey Sward
Deer Park Winery and Automobile Museum Escondido California Photograph by Jeffrey Sward Deer Park Winery and Automobile Museum Escondido California Photograph by Jeffrey Sward
Deer Park Winery and Automobile Museum Escondido California Photograph by Jeffrey Sward Deer Park Winery and Automobile Museum Escondido California Photograph by Jeffrey Sward
Deer Park Winery and Automobile Museum Escondido California Photograph by Jeffrey Sward Deer Park Winery and Automobile Museum Escondido California Photograph by Jeffrey Sward
Deer Park Winery and Automobile Museum Escondido California Photograph by Jeffrey Sward Deer Park Winery and Automobile Museum Escondido California Photograph by Jeffrey Sward
Deer Park Winery and Automobile Museum Escondido California Photograph by Jeffrey Sward Deer Park Winery and Automobile Museum Escondido California Photograph by Jeffrey Sward
Deer Park Winery and Automobile Museum Escondido California Photograph by Jeffrey Sward Deer Park Winery and Automobile Museum Escondido California Photograph by Jeffrey Sward
Deer Park Winery and Automobile Museum Escondido California Photograph by Jeffrey Sward Deer Park Winery and Automobile Museum Escondido California Photograph by Jeffrey Sward
Deer Park Winery and Automobile Museum Escondido California Photograph by Jeffrey Sward Deer Park Winery and Automobile Museum Escondido California Photograph by Jeffrey Sward
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Over a period of several years, Robert Knapp created the most complete and remarkable collection of American convertibles made between 1946 and 1983. This collection was housed at his Deer Park Winery and Automobile Museum in Escondido, California. Nearly every important American convertible made between 1946 and 1983 was represented, and many made before 1946 as well. Deer Park also included collections of antique radios, televisions, bicycles, and appliances. Robert Knapp made his fortune in real estate management. The collection was on display to the public beginning in 1979.

Since the death of its founder, Robert Knapp, the management of Deer Park Winery and Automobile Museum has transitioned to his son Clark Knapp. Per a discussion with Clark in July 2009, Deer Park will be open most Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays 10-5. The office phone is 760-749-1666, which contains a tape of open days and hours. If attempting to visit, it is best to check the tape for the most recent schedule. The collection remains intact. Clark is continuing with collection development. Various displays are being improved and reorganized.

The winery is also reinstating major production under Clark's direction. The local fields have been successfully replanted with red varieties. A full spectrum wine selection is being planned.

The page you are reading is a tribute written by Jeffrey Sward for the web site Jeffrey Sward, Photographer. The page you are reading is not an official Deer Park Winery and Automobile Museum page or site. The Deer Park Winery and Automobile Museum's web site is now http://www.deerparkwine.com/. Deer Park Winery and the automobile collection are owned by Clark Knapp. The best way to contact the owner of Deer Park Winery and Automobile Museum, Clark Knapp, is through the office phone 760-749-1666 or through email at Mail@deerparkwine.com .

The only association Jeffrey Sward has with Deer Park Winery and Automobile Museum is as a visitor and photographer. This is the extent of information available about the current status of Deer Park Winery and Automobile Museum. If anyone has additional information which might be useful for this article, please e-mail js@jeffreysward.com.

The automobile collection was well documented in a book titled They Don't Make Them Like That Any More by Robert Knapp, which is currently out of print. It may be possible to order copies of this book from Amazon or other used book sellers.

Tbd Photograph by Jeffrey Sward Deer Park Winery and Automobile Museum has won the coveted golden flamingo award for attractions of exceptional concept and scope.

The Deer Park Winery and Automobile Museum's web site is now http://www.deerparkwine.com/ .

 
The incredible Deer Park Collection included (all convertibles):
 

Amc

1961 Rambler

Amphicar

1965

Benz

1886 Veto

Bmw

1959 Isetta 300

Buick

1908 Model 10
1929 Master, Convertible Coupe
1941 Roadmaster
1948 Roadmaster
1950 Roadmaster
1950 Riviera Hardtop
1953 Skylark (2)
1958 Roadmaster
1959 Electra
1959 LeSabre
1960 Electra
1960 Lesabre
1963 Lesabre
1972 Skylark
1975 LeSabre

Cadillac

1953 Eldorado
1959 Eldorado Biarritz (2)
1960 Eldorado Biarritz
1962 Eldorado Biarritz
1976 Eldorado

Chevrolet

1951 Styleline Deluxe
1956 Corvette
1957 Bel Air
1958 Bel Air Impala
1959 Impala
1964 Corvair

Chrysler

1931 Cd Sport
1948 Town & Country
1957 300c
1960 Crown Imperial
1962 300
1982 Le Baron
1983 Town & Country

Crosley

1949 Hotshot

De Soto

1956 Fireflite
1959 Firesweep

Dodge

1955 Royal Lancer
1965 Dart
1970 Challenger

Edsel

1958 Citation

Ford

1915 Model T
1928 Model A Sport Coupe
1941 Super Deluxe
1949 Custom
1953 Crestline
1957 Fairlane 500 Skyliner (2)
1957 Thunderbird
1959 Galaxie
1965 Mustang
1966 Mustang
1969 Mustang
1973 Mustang

Franklin

1928 Sport Runabout

Fraser

1951 Manhattan

 

Hudson

1950 Pacemaker
1954 Wasp

Kaiser

1954 Darrin (sliding door)

Lincoln

1947 Continental
1949 Cosmopolitan
1957 Premiere
1959 Continental Mark Iv
1962 Continental

Mercedes-Benz

1967 250sl

Mercury

1955 Montclair
1971 Cougar

Mg

1959 Mga
1967 Mgb

Messerschmitt

1959

Muntz

1952 Jet

Nash

1950 Rambler
1953 Healey
1954 Metropolitan Hardtop
1961 Metropolitan

Oldsmobile

1903 Curved Dash
1949 Futuramic "98"
1953 Fiesta
1971 Cutlass Supreme

Packard

1935 120a
1941 110
1950 23rd Series Super Deluxe
1952 25th Series
1954 54th Series Caribbean

Pierce Arrow

1929 Convertible Coupe

Plymouth

1949 Super Deluxe
1959 Sport Fury
1963 Valiant
1969 Roadrunner

Pontiac

1953 Chieftan (glass hood ornament)
1964 Gto
1967 Catalina
1975 Grandville Brougham

Studebaker

1915 Touring
1948 Champion
1950 Champion
1952 Champion Regal
1960 Lark

Volkswagen

1979 Beetle

Willys-Overland

1950 Jeepster
 
 
 
 

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