Tomaso taking a spin in His Daddy’s (1964) T-Bird at the Martin Auto Museum. (The Tomaso Collection)
As where’s ‘Ol Commander Cody and His Lost Planet
Airmen and that Hot Rod Lincoln when Yuhs need Him?
Thanks to Snowbyrd MJ’ signing up for a
Senior’s guided tour, Wayback’ on January 15th. Inadvertently we learned about
an unknown gem of an Auto Museum in Glendale, Arizona. Which the Museo’s brochure
proclaiming it’s the largest car museum in Arizona.
The museum has approx. 185-187 vehicles,
obviously with something for everyone to see. As suddenly I was on the
telephone talking with Bob, who’s a volunteer at the museum. Asking if they had
any Ford Mustang Mach 1’s on hand?
Nope, we’ve got a 1968 Bullitt’ Replicar, a ’67
and ’64 I think He said? Although it would have to be a 1964 1 /2, since the
Mustang became available to the public in April of that year. Which the early
Stangs’ are designated, if memory serves me correctly…
While No Bob’s your Uncle jokes here, Hya! Also
mentioning something about two Shelby’s. Telling me about hod one had only six
miles on it’s odometer; having been assembled from parts in the 1980’s.
Then He asked me if I’d ever heard of a Tucker?
Telling me the museum had number 20-something of the 51 built. Number 23
perhaps? Claiming it cost the museum $1.7m plus several thousand in paperwork.
Think He said $11k?
This would coincide nicely with the number
$1.8m bandied about during my later visit. While the Tucker 48 in question is
No. 21 of 51…
Naturally I had to launch into telling Him
about how America’s Car Museum in Tacoma, WA also has a Tucker in its vast
collection, He mentioned something about another Tucker owner placing His
prized on the second floor of His building…
When He told me He was a Chevy guy, I couldn’t
resist and playfully said we were doing Ok until you told me that, Hya!
Explaining how I’m a Died-in-the-wool FoMoCo’ (Ford Motor Company) Guy!
As Bob wanted to tell me about His 1940’s
Packard He owned and His next door neighbours cars, including a 2022 Shelby
Mustang, which I think He said had 740 Ponies? (740Bhp)
Before we needed to hang-up, so Bob and His
other volunteer Jeff could get back to leading the tour that Snowbyrd MJ’ and
company were on. Telling us to come back and visit on Thursday’s, when they’re
both there.
Naturally, immediately after hanging up, I “googled”
a query for Martin Auto Museum in Glendale, AZ. As their website proclaims
Martin Auto Museum and Event Center at 43rd Ave. and Thunderbird
Road.
A very cursory visit to the website’s About Us
page mentions how they’ve now got over 170 vehicles in their collection, with
the museum having begun in 2005. Quickly outgrowing its original premises, a
new location was established in 2022.
As the museum is dedicated to the preservation
of Classic Cars, Hod Rods, Customs and Imports. Along with an extensive Automotive
memorabilia
Including vintage gas pumps, signage, etc.
There’s over 700
parking spaces for hosting events. Along with three separate “event” rooms.
There’s the Cadillac
Class room, being 3,500 square feet. Seating up to 80 people. Plus Audio/Video
equipment.
Next is the Mustang
meeting room at 4,900 square feet. Which seats up to 150 people. With
Audio/Video and a projector.
And then there’s the
Bristol Ballroom at 12,500 square feet. Seating up to 500 people for weddings,
etc.
As it sounds like its got friendly staff
volunteers and an awesome collection of Automobilia, which I couldn’t wait to
go visit when in Arizona this February…
Martin
Automotive Museum and Event Center
Photo C/O No Fenders Blogmeister’ Miguel.
