Ron Vogel, who, as a kid, could tell you the difference between a Crosley and Morris Minor has spent much of his adult life helping protect the treasure trove that is the historic automobile.

It was my pleasure to sit with Ron and chat about his love affair with cars and their history. Since he and I evolved from the 1950s with found memories of the Hula Hoop, Buffalo Bob Smith and the fall coming-out parties of the new model years, this was hardly work.

I asked Ron when automobiles first got in his blood?

“Initially, when I was two-and-a-half feet tall. I loved cars from the first time I saw them. When I was a little kid, I could see a taillight or a headlight and know what car it came off.

“Of course, there weren’t as many cookie-cutter cars out there, either.”

Vogel, an architect, is a docent at the California Automobile Museum in Sacramento. In fact, he teaches docents, so solid is his knowledge of classic autos.

He and friends Marie and Bruce Risley teamed to create Cruise In at The Marketplace every third Thursday each month. It’s a growing event where as many as 80 vintage and just-plain-cool cars gathered so fans can gawk and owners can exchange stories.

As passionate as Vogel is about design and old cars, the longtime Davis resident has his “collection” limited to two vehicles — a bright-red 1969 Camaro Rally Sport and a bronze 1969 AMX.

“I just sold a Datsun 240Z, but by contract with my wife (Loyla), I’m limited to two.”

But Vogel says he doesn’t need a raftload of personal collectibles to be excited by vintage automobiles. Yes, touching them is terrific. But learning about the different cars — then sharing the history, therefore keeping people involved in their legacies — is why Vogel is so passionate about what he does on both sides of The Causeway.

“I’m an architect, so I’ve always had this thing for design. So when I see something, I always think of the design of that item — or whatever it is — and cars have always fit into that,” Vogel told me.

General Motors design guru Harley Earl is among Vogel’s heroes and says he misses the design shows that came with 1950s and 1960s manufacturers.

“Those were beautiful cars. That time was addictive and put cars in my head,” Vogel said, adding that when he became a teenager, the love affair heightened.

Vogel loves the California Automobile Museum and the work he does as docent and teacher.

Vogel had a guest from the Blackhawk Museum in Danville, which contains some of the most expensive cars on the planet. But the guest was pleasantly taken aback by the Sacramento display.

“He said, ‘Our cars are beautiful,’ ” Vogel explained. ” ‘They’re pieces of sculpture, but no one can relate to them.’ Here, with every car, people say, ‘My grandfather had a car like that. I had a car like that.’ ”

So what does Vogel think about Detroit’s retro effort with cars like the Camaro, Mustang and Thunderbird?

“For the most part they’re good. The (new) GTO I couldn’t tell the difference from a regular Pontiac. But the Mustang is a home run. The Challenger and Camaro are not bad, but they’re so big and boxy.”

On his tours, one has to forgive Vogel when he dwells at the 1956 convertibles or some of the muscle cars of the mid-’60s. Vogel says every walk by is special to him.

One can only image how first-time visitors must feel seeing their old Chevy Impala 50 years later.

— Bruce Gallaudet is a staff writer for The Davis Enterprise. Reach him at [email protected] or 530-747-8047.

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Davis resident Ron Vogel, left, leads a group of visitors on Thursday at the California Automobile Museum in Sacramento. Vogel is pointing out one of the first cars to have an electric headlight. Fred Gladdis/Enterprise photo

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