WHAT: The Simeone Foundation Museum in Philadelphia is a museum for more than 60 rare racers, which span the 20th century and include models by Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, Bugatti, Stutz and Hudson.

Tucked away in a former engine manufacturing plant in an industrial corner of Philadelphia, the museum opened in June and had its formal dedication in November.

The cavernous facility showcases cars in huge dioramas, from a three-dimensional Italian village to a tableau of the Bonneville Salt Flats. Within each setting, the cars are arranged in chronological order to convey what Simeone said is the message behind the metal: how vehicles are improved by the spirit of competition.

An exhibit on Le Mans, a 24-hour endurance race, starts with the 1933 Alfa Romeo 8C2300 Le Mans — a high-riding, rectangular vehicle that to the modern eye looks more lumbering than aerodynamic. It ends with the 1970 Porsche 917LH, a low-slung, sleek and curvy racer with a bubble-like cockpit.

"It's designed to show how we are all compelled to compete and, in the process of competing, we evolve," owner Fred Simeone said.

Simeone, 72, got the car collecting bug from his dad. It has taken him to places like Argentina, where in the 1970s he tracked down a 1937 Alfa Romeo 2900A that had placed second in the 1937 Mille Miglia, an Italian road race. It was sitting in a shed owned by the son of a man who had raced it in the 1950s.

Simeone groups most cars by race course and year to show the evolution of the winning vehicle. He designed the dioramas himself. Simeone said his collection was only possible because he started early.

Buying these cars in today's market "would be totally out of my league," Simeone said. "But if you purchased them 30 years ago, it was doable."

At the museum's dedication, Simeone gave retired auto racing champion Mario Andretti a guided tour before honoring him with the first "Spirit of Competition" award.

The tour included a sporty, bright red 1975 Alfa Romeo 33-TT-12 parked next to a black 1926 Bugatti Type 35, which comparatively looks like a glorified buggy. Both had raced in the Targa Florio, a course through the hills of Sicily.

When asked if he had any favorites, Andretti noted the Alfa Romeo, which he had once driven to victory in the Monza race. But then he reconsidered. "Any of the cars that I ever won with are my favorite," Andretti said.

IF YOU GO...

The Simeone Foundation Museum: 6825-31 Norwitch Drive, Philadelphia; Adults, $12; seniors, $10; students, $8; ages 8 and under, free. TuesdaysFridays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; weekends, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. www.simeonemuseum.org, 215-365-7233.