Mangano straps in for LI car museum

Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano officially announced his plans to build a car museum on Long Island Friday.

Mangano said the one-of-a-kind museum he envisions, dubbed the "Autoseum," would bring more than just sweet rides to Long Island.

“In the spirit of attracting film industry jobs to Nassau County and expanding what we started at Grumman Studios in Bethpage, I am now exploring the possibility of bringing this to Nassau County to not only display the cars, but to also build them here and teach the trade,” Mangano said.

Car Nation, Newsday.com’s auto blog, had the scoop last month after running into Mangano and his family at a car shop in Queens.

Mangano’s announcement kicked off the start of the Hollywood Star Car Show at the Cradle of Aviation museum in East Garden City. On exhibit Saturday and Sunday will be famous vehicles such as the Batmobile, KITT from "Knight Rider," and the "The Dukes of Hazzard" Charger. Admission is $10.

Edward Mangano, center, Nassau County executive, poses behind the Batmobile stunt car from "Batman 3" with the car's creators, George Barris, left, and Andy Perillo at New York Custom Coach in Queens. Mangano came to the shop not only to see famous vehicles, but to discuss the possibility of building a car museum on Museum Row in East Garden City. (Newsday / Sally Morrow / July 30, 2010)