Welcome to the Ted Vernon Show
Written by Erik Bojnansky - BT Senior Writer, Photos by Silvia Ros
July 2012
Yes, he sells classic cars to foreign potentates, but that’s just his warm-up act
Ted Vernon loves to be the center of attention. He craves it. It’s what drives him, and as such, it’s good for
business.
For the past 35 years, Vernon has owned and operated Ted Vernon Specialty Automobiles, a dealership that
mainly sells and trades classic cars, trucks, and motorcycles. His customers range from small-business owners,
retirees, tourists, and fellow car dealers to celebrities, professional athletes, and even royalty from Saudi Arabia,
Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates.
“The way he buys, sells, and trades is nothing short of amazing, to be honest,” says Jim Silverman, sales manager
at Vista BMW in northern Broward. “He’s a master of knowing what a deal is going to do. He trades down the line.
You do a deal, he shakes your hand, and as far as he’s concerned, the deal is done.”
Vernon isn’t content, however, with being the local classic-car guru. A short, muscular man with a long bushy
mustache and bald pate, he produces movies that usually star himself and whose plots have included homicidal
scarecrows, a kidnapped autistic child watched over by a guardian angel, a maniacal Seminole spirit, zombies, and
murderous Cuban communist art thieves.
At age 63, Vernon also wrestles for Fort Lauderdale-based Future of Wrestling as his alter-ego, the “Trillionaire Ted
Vernon,” an unscrupulous wrestling manager out to destroy whoever is cast as the protagonist in a particular bout.
Previously he sang in a doo-wop group, smashed cars in demolition derbies at the old Hialeah Park racetrack, and
fought in amateur and professional boxing matches.
1/5
Welcome to the Ted Vernon Show
Written by Erik Bojnansky - BT Senior Writer, Photos by Silvia Ros
July 2012
“He’s
thirtysomething
happy.
athe
Ifcharacter
you’re
who
laughing,
and
runs
he
likes
the
he
won’t
day-to-day
entertain
stop
making
affairs
people,”
of
jokes.”
the
says
business
his
wife,
while
Robin
Ted
Ziel-Vernon,
deals.
amemorabilia
striking,
“That
makes
six-foot
Ted
blonde
Vernon
“I
at
laugh
am
all,
all
egotistical
day.
whole
Ilot
deal
hardworking
fellow,”
with
he
stuff.
people
admits.
That’s
all
“I
day.
like
why
being
I471
don’t
Robin’s
in
do
front
here.
alocation
damn
of
Robin
thing.
camera.
does
It’s
all
great
Imakes
don’t
the
stuff!”
hard
enjoy
stuff.
the
Iand
behind-the-scenes
buy,
sell,
trade
cars.
stuff
I
A
show
glimpse
of
the
Vernons’
world
can
be
seen
on
Discovery’s
Velocity
Channel,
reruns
of
the
2011
realty
South
Beach
Classics,
may
It’s
not
not
about
come
the
here
car
to
anymore.
buy
aexposure
featuring
It’s
Vernon
about
the
the
says.
couple
experience.
“I’ll
and
crack
their
It’s
on
auto
their
the
Ted
dealings,
old
Vernon
lady,
still
tell
Show!”
them
air.
“When
stories,
people
keep
come
them
here,
laughing.
The
boats
from
Biscayne
moved
couple
aan
and
hidden
to
8301
jet
has
skis.)
NW
Shopping
just
barely
7th
moved
Ave.,
anice
half-acre
Center
tocar,”
adjacent
ato
larger
and
instill
size
the
stage,
to
I-95.
Little
at
in
(The
River.
fact.
NE
old
For
79th
That
33
St.
changed
years
inproperty
is
the
being
Ted
Upper
several
Vernon
leased
Eastside,
months
Specialty
as
awhere
ago,
storage
shoehorned
Automobiles
when
and
the
repair
between
business
operated
thethey
Aside
showrooms.
including
collection.
from
aPlaza
providing
“machine
This
gives
more
gun”
plenty
created
of
space
by
than
Miami
for
the
Vernon
titanium
old
site,
not
artist
the
only
new
Omar
to
display
Ali,
as
his
well
covers
vehicles,
as
four
sports
but
acres
to
show
includes
off
his
and
art
a
afacility
collection,
pair
taxidermy
offor
Thatfight
sharp
sloth,
he’s
been
last
and
claw,
features
collecting
aand
squirrels
warthog.
an
stuffed
“frozen”
elephant
A
professed
animals,
on
head
bark,
animal
with
mounts,
and
trunk
lover
mounted
and
outstretched,
who
skins
claims
antelope
for
not
years.
acenter
and
wallaby
even
“They
deer
to
that
keep
heads,
all
appears
have
a
catch
bear
stories,”
to
and
when
be
lion
flipping
he
he
rugs,
says.
fishes,
the
athat?”
raccoon,
Vernon
bird
with
says
aits
they
legal
Greenwald,
The
Vernons’
wanted
struggle
has
and
to,
cost
own
with
but
Stephen
him
the
story
because
owners
millions
has
Bittel,
taken
they
of
ofpresident
Biscayne
dollars,
had
some
to,
unexpected
Vernon
he
of
Plaza
Terranova,
says.
Shopping
maintains,
For
turns.
the
a Miami
past
Center,
The
and
seven
couple
Beach-based
has
principally
been
years,
moved
aStreet.
source
the
developers
property
from
Vernons
of
their
relentless
management
old
have
Edward
location
been
stress.
Easton
locked
not
company.
because
and
in
Allen
a79th
Alan
Street
multi-use
dealership,
Marcus,
property
project
the
to
when
comprising
Vernons’
Biscayne
he
attorney,
Plaza.
2470
to
housing
Atsell,
contends
the
time,
units
owners
that
the
and
shopping
the
retaliated
200,000
conflict
square
started
by
severely
owners
feet
in
2005,
of
limiting
wanted
retail.
when
access
The
to
Vernon
replace
site
to
plan
it.
refused
the
included
aging
to
mall
Vernon’s
his
with
a
seethes.
Visitors
land,
Street,
barely
iswere
Robin
obstructed
the
even
eventually
width
forbidden
by
of
two
arefused
car,
created
streetlights.
from
were
using
a
provided
new
“I
athe
doorway
couldn’t
back
to
road
the
walk
by
Vernons
perpendicular
ripping
in
and
down
as
out
easements.
ofa
to
my
wall
79th
building.
facing
One
their
easement,
Can
Instead,
parking
you
imagine
two
just
lot. narrow
north
strips
ofsell
79th
Vernon
of
2/5
Welcome to the Ted Vernon Show
Written by Erik Bojnansky - BT Senior Writer, Photos by Silvia Ros
July 2012
Easton,
“invitees”
awarded
legal
fees
insists
Greenwald,
the
to
of
his
$266,588
mall
that
business,
owners
Biscayne
and
to
Bittel
Vernon’s
$40,583
and
Plaza’s
for
also
back
in
bill.
sued
March
owners
rent
Vernon
on
2011.
some
for
Early
more
the
vacant
this
rent
than
year
mall
for
$2
15
property
Judge
million
years
William
for
until
he
alleged
formerly
they
Thomas
used
added
Vernon’s
as
violations
ame
the
parking
mall
land.
made
owners’
lot.
A
jury
by
The
fraud
easement.
deposition,
1986
Vernons
after
based
Stephen
Marcus
Miami
on
are
a
appealing
1957
developer
claims
Bittel
court
informed
the
the
Michael
judgment
owners
case.
him
Dezer
They’re
knew
Robin
of
the
about
testified
uncovered
easement.
also
the
countersuing
that
easement
guaranteeing
he
backed
the
but
out
shopping
never
the
of
aright
disclosed
deal
center
to
to
use
buy
itowners
the
during
the
private
shopping
for
the
lost
civil
road
income
center
trial.
as
During
and
in
a
Harris
charge.
collector.
Buchbinder,
He
(Dezer
insists
owns
Bittel
an
attorney
the
never
Dezer
knew
representing
Collection,
about
the
the
car
1957
shopping
museum
ruling
center
and
in
North
accuses
owners
Miami
Dezer
in
Beach.)
the
ofVernons’
protecting
lawsuit,
his
friend
scoffs
and
at
fellow
the
fraud
car
Vernons
Marcus
is
to
confident
extract
damages
that
an
appellate
from
the
court
mall
owners:
will
overrule
Judge
have
Thomas’s
much
more
decision
to
worry
and
about
clear
than
the
we
way
do.”
for
the
Says
like
it.
Vernon:
And
they
“Igrowing
are
have
bullies.”
a
low
bullshit
tolerance.
I“They
don’t
like
being
pushed
around.
Itrespass
don’t
like
being
bullied.
I“As
don’t
When
the
with
stop
one
one
this?’
he
Jewish
fight
was
And
and
itbeing
kid
was
then
in
my
that
up
itvery
was
neighborhood
in
Iwho
had
Brooklyn,
with
to
bigger
lose.
Vernon
who
And
guys
didn’t
Iawaived
wasn’t
recalls,
and
back
bigger
going
he
down,”
was
guys
to
do
constantly
he
and
that.”
says.
bigger
“I
targeted
didn’t
guys….
let
by
Isought
them
was
wanna-be
like,
push
‘What
tough
down.
would
guys.
Itan
itstarted
“I
take
was
to
His
was
cousin,
a
fighter.
Avi
That
Wygodski,
was
his
personality.
lives
in
Tallahassee,
You
never
gave
doubts
him
that
shit.”
Vernon
ever
wanted
to
back
out
of
a
tussle.
“He
Vernon
neighborhood
we
doesn’t
were
like
didn’t
walking,
me
like
was
this
people
forcing
in
bully
front
tormenting
little
came
of
Avi
him.’”
by,”
to
his
walk
Wygodski
family
off
the
members,
remembers.
sidewalk
either.
whenever
“I
told
When
Ted,
he
he
‘We
was
discovered
have
around,
to
get
he
that
came
off
an
the
older
to
sidewalk.
the
boy
rescue.
in
the
This
guy
walked
His
Vernon
and
cousin
hit
his
on
picked
the
head
refused
sidewalk.
up
against
the
and
kid,
told
He
one
swung
him
didn’t
of
the
to
him
mess
stay
cars.
around,
on
with
“He
me.”
started
and
sidewalk
flung
to
cry,”
too.
him
Insults
Wygodski
between
were
two
recalls.
exchanged
parked
“That
cars.
was
until
The
it.
suddenly
bully
From
lost
that
his
day
smaller
balance
on,
I
“When
just
lucky.”
hold
fight
you
someone
somebody,
fight
someone,
down
or
you
and
you
have
make
to
them
defend
leave
say
them
yourself,
uncle,
because
do
wanting
itababy,”
well.
then
Don’t
ahe
piece
they’ll
have
of
come
you
them
again,”
back.
If
Vernon
back
you’re
and
explains.
going
think
to
you
get
“You
got
stupid
don’t
As
soon
his
gorgeous.”
soon
1962
followed
as
Buick
he
him
graduated
convertible
to
Ohio,
high
with
his
school,
next
his
uncle.
stop.
Vernon
He
“Itthe
was
was
left
like
charged
New
my
York.
with
“Common
reckless
says.
sense
driving
“It
had
told
and
acome
fresh
me
lost
to
wax
his
go,”
license,
and
seal.
says.
so
It
he
Trouble
was
stored
The
pop.”
them
Teenagers
members.
day
down
Three
the
“I
Attacked
and
kids
suspension
said,
clobbered
in‘What
their
by
Gang.”
late
gang?’”
was
them
teens,
lifted,
Vernon
one
he
roughly
by
gleefully
was
one.
Vernon’s
picked
The
picked
next
up
age,
day
by
up
the
his
hit
the
his
police,
car.
local
Buick
“I’m
paper
who
driving
with
questioned
ran
snowballs.
along
the
story
and
him
Vernon
under
all
about
of
ahe
the
says
sudden,
the
headline
other
he
chased
pop,
gang
“Three
pop,
Vernon
Virginia,
reached
(41st
unpleasant
Street
then
Pennsylvania,
his
job,
breaking
and
went
there
Pine
to
work
point
was
Tree
and
for
me.
in
Drive)
finally
the
his
Imust
didn’t
father,
real
and
South
estate
want
then
Harold
Florida.
quit.
to
business.
work
Vernon,
“Inever
Once
was
for
him
He
his
he
real
reached
managed
dirty-job
anymore.
estate
guy,”
Miami,
the
developer,
construction
Vernon
he
knew
and
says.
he’d
the
of
“Anytime
Tower
found
job
took
41
home.
there
him
inthe
Miami
to
He’d
was
West
an
Beach
also
3/5
Welcome to the Ted Vernon Show
Written by Erik Bojnansky - BT Senior Writer, Photos by Silvia Ros
July 2012
“I
would
have
my
dad,
been
but
ashows
Ithe
very
didn’t
wealthy
like
working
guy
had
for
Ishot
him,”
kept
working
he
adds.
for
“I
wanted
him
-maybe.”
the
independence
of
being
myself.
Iwas
probably
along
River
with
decided
$150,000.
his
business
toto
“I
bought
into
associate,
the
itwhen
car
on
amid-1980s.
he
handshake,”
says.
So
He
in
opened
he
1979
says.
his
bought
“You
first
dealership
can’t
an
old
do
that
boating
with
anymore.”
ashe
facility
partner
on
in24/7
the
1977,
banks
but
of
he
the
didn’t
Little
get
Vernon
this
dealership
learned
up.
on
Igo
love
job.
what
“Iher
had
Iactivities,
do.
abusiness.
Ithousand
love
my
clients.
dollars
Every
and
a“When
lot
day
of
is
debt,”
fun.
Every
he
says.
day
“I
is
worked
abeams.
different
deal.”
for
years
and
built
Vernon
credits
her
husband’s
success
to
his
drive.
he
wants
something,”
she
says,
get
it.”
This
divorced
care
when.
so
sure
was
offor
She
her
of
and
apparently
himself
moved
terminally
had
custody
is
in
what
the
with
ill
mother.
him
attracted
of
his
about
On
two
me
that
the
two
children.
to
couple
date,
months
him,”
Robin
he
she
later
told
on
says.
Ziel
her
and
aIhe
blind
was
they’d
they
working
date
were
be
14
getting
married
two
years
jobs
married;
ago.
within
while
At
two
all
the
going
she
years.
time,
to
had
school
Ted
“The
to
do
Vernon
fact
and
was
that
taking
say
was
he
was
me.”
Robin
recognized
inventory
stirs
the
soon
drink.
through
the
went
She
value
trades
gets
work
of
having
itcase
rather
for
all
done.
athan
husband
website,
I’m
car
able
auctions.
and
an
to
innovation
do
provided
what
“My
wife
focus
do
that
is
because
has
afor
rocket
his
allowed
of
business.
scientist!”
her,
Vernon
and
For
he
to
example,
obtain
never
did
most
“She’s
in
this
the
of
before
the
his
late
automotive
straw
1990s
she
that
she
Oflove
various
recent
all
Vernon’s
episode
television
of
extracurricular
since
the
acting
Most
seems
of
to
his
be
roles
his
favorite.
are
unnamed,
He
says
menacing
he’s
appeared
tough
guys,
in“he’ll
20
such
films
as
and
amet
Burn
Notice
supposed
the
chest.
to
sneak
up
behind
protagonist
that
was
Michael
amet
couple
Westen,
years
played
ago
at
by
his
actor
old
Jeffrey
location.
Donovan,
In
one
scene,
only
to
he
get
kicked
in
Ito
kick
told
pad,’
Donovan:
and
Iparachute
said,
‘You
know,
‘Imovies
don’t
hit
need
me.
no
Don’t
stinkin’
kick
Because
pad.’
So
I’m
he
going
hit
me.
to
sell
Ithe
this
like
you
killed
me.’
He
says,
‘Get
him
start
On
the
Ilose
second
‘You
know,
Vernon
Jeff,
you
says,
kick
he
like
decided
aplay.
pussy.’
toHis
give
Boom!
Donovan
He
hit
even
me
again!”
more
encouragement.
“Asawasn’t
the
set
is
about
to a
Vernon
produces
the
in
which
he
stars.
first,
Scarecrows,
idea.
hijack
one
by
Aasay,
ain
one
photographer
plane
by
living
dead
approached
with
scarecrows.
their
him
hostages
with
aadditional
into
horror-movie
a
haunted
concept:
Florida
cornfield,
Heavily
armed
came
only
to
out
robbers
be
inwho
hunted
1988,
who
down
pull
off
and
even
aSports:
heist
gutted
his
and
Around
the
same
time,
he
produced
and
co-wrote
another
movie,
Hammerhead
is
magazine
exploited
atake,
greedy
promoter.
He
reportedly
made
no
money
on
film
but
told
the
about
Canadian
kind
online
wrestler
sports
who
SLAM!
“You
but
you
learn.
Iimpact
had
fun
with
it.”
Vernon’s
star
and
movies
produce
have
two
earned
low-budget
him
fans
horror
and
movies,
film
work.
Just
awhich
few
months
ago,
he
says,
he
flew
to
Siberia
Tumors
and
Zombie
Infection.
more
of
an
honor
thing
than
anything
else,”
he
explains,
adding
that
the
director,
“The
Alex
executive
Wesley,
loved
producer
thing
Scarecrows
,was
now
B-movie
cult
classic,
and
was
willing
to
pay
his
first-class
airfare.
“I
had
aJones,
great
time,”
he
says.
Vernon
as
and
“some
documentaries
wrote
definitely
of
the
worst
had
for
an
cinematic
income
and,
on
debacles
the
for
cinematic
fun,
of
all
time.”
career
bizarre
At
of
the
Aiden
and
age
zany
of
Dillard,
24,
films
prior
a which
31-year-old
to
meeting
he
describes
Vernon,
has
on
Dillard
shot
his
own
commercials
directed
website
Meat
Weed
Madness,
followed
bycreates
the
sequel
Meat
Weed
America,
girls.
starring
potent
marijuana
and
horny
4/5
Welcome to the Ted Vernon Show
Written by Erik Bojnansky - BT Senior Writer, Photos by Silvia Ros
July 2012
When
for
on
the
the
Accord
script
Dillard
and
Productions,
and
finally
turned
asked
crossed
itHe
Ted
into
aan
Miami-based
aifinvisible
paths
gangster
I in
could
with
shoot
movie.”
Vernon,
company
there,”
he
that
Aiden
was
also
actually
recalls.
owns
trying
“He
the
Beach
says,
to
make
‘Sure,
Channel.
aspirit.
special
ifis
you
“I
give
wanted
kind
me
ofher
awander
amovie
warehouse
role.’
on
Iwhose
rewrote
autism
Thus
came
Special
Angelz,
says.
The
movie
movie
Iriver
have
also
ever
features
made,”
and
in
he
which
had
guardian
Vernon
found
a
plays
angel.
new
a
partner
On
gangster
his
in
website,
his
who
kidnaps
Dillard
mischief.
an
proudly
autistic
calls
“We
kid
itbecame
in
“the
order
most
great
to
recoup
embarrassing
friends,”
aspace
debt.
he
Vernon
produced
starred
Dillard’s
next
two
movies.
In
daughter
detectives
wrapped
up
is
trying
murdered
filming
toand
track
by
down
Cuban
the
agents.
painting
Local
the
fetish
agents
artist
stole
Rubber
inDeathprint,
the
Doll
course
and
Vernon
of
techno
their
homicide.
musician
alike
pacifist
And
Otto
art
dealer
Dillard
Von
Schirach
just
play
Hell
Glades,
Seminole
Everglades
spirit
jungle
named
on
Columbus
Coo-wah-chobee
Day.
who
slaughters
plays
the
part
amake
group
of
of
axe-wielding
beautiful
women
they
through
about
a
an
Dillard
cast
Vernon
inDillard
Deathprint
and
Hell
Glades,
says,
attention.
she
He
doesn’t
loves
seek
it.
the
limelight.
“Ted
will
guilt-trip
me
too,
into
but
it,”
she
acted
“I
reluctantly.
don’t
being
Unlike
center
husband,
of
she
needs
it.”
It
“I’m
income-generating
documentary
might
trying
be
to
aRobin
get
while
project
into
before
career,
real
about
estate
there
seahorses.
are
did
learn
more
aVernon
brief
something
Dillard
stint
B-movies.
as
that
a
car
pays
salesman
He
money,”
isa cinematic
taking
at
he
Vernon’s
ahis
hiatus
says.
While
from
dealership.
the
figuring
fictional
He
out
is
film
an
also
business.
finishing
a
Vernon
entrepreneur
is
confident
says,
“As
that
soon
Dillard’s
as
Ior
break
say
to
won’t
him:
‘Aiden,
last
long.
let’s
Filmmaking
movie,’
is
insays.
he’ll
blood,
make
just
awhile
movie,
as
acting
I the
promise
is
in
Vernon’s.
you.”
The
Feedback:
[email protected]
5/5