A very Happy Tomaso seated in a Ferrari 360 Modena
Spyder Ferrari! (The Tomaso Collection)
Move over Mustang Sally’, that Ferrari Spyder
definitely “Slowed Me Down!”
Otay, I’ve tried to scribble this down before
it became completely forgotten! Warranting another trip to the wonderful Martin
Auto Museum. Hence my placement of vehicles is becoming hazy after my February
visit…
At one point, my most excellent Docent Jeff
asked me if I knew about Transformers? Which I slightly do, since my debutante
Indianapolis 500 in 2009 featured one of
that year’s Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen movie stars.
Funny how I can still vividly recall Crash
Gladys of Speed Freaks fame interviewing whomever it was against the window of
the IMS third floor Press Room’s windows. Before rediscovering it was Josh
Duhamel, who was that year’s Indy 500 Pace Car driver.
Transformers
Star Josh Duhamel looking for Speed at Indianapolis
As the Transformer Bumblebee stood along one
side of the building. While Jeff told me we were standing in front of a
Transformer Edition Camaro. Which I had no idea how rare these were. As less
than 2,000 2010 Camaro’s in Rally Yellow were ordered with the $995 appearance
package, available only that year. For either LT or SS models
Not sure what we walked past next? But I do
know we made our way to the Ford Mustangs, which I’m guessing there must have
been two 1968 and 1 /2 models? Since thought we stood and “Gawked” at a black
428CJ (Cobra Jet) model with four speed top loader manual transmission? With
Blogmeister’ Miguel telling me there was a white version also. Along with two
1966 289cid V-8 cars on display. One being a convertible I believe, and the
other a coupe.
Actually, thanks to Martin Auto Museum Docent
Gene, I learned it was a white 1968 1 /2 Mustang with that ubiquitous 428cid
V-8 cobra Jet engine. While the “Black Beauty” was a 1995 Shelby Mustang
Hardtop convertible. With only 499 models being produced.
Sauntered past a nice 1957 Chevrolet Bel air,
before Jeff asked me if I knew the difference between a Chevy station wagon and
Nomad? Telling me that the Nomad has vertical trim “stripes” pieces on the rear
door.
Stopped briefly in front of my favourite
Camaro, i.e.; 1967-69 Z/28. As it had the requisite twin hood stripes, but
don’t remember what year it was? Before Jeff explained how you could tell the
differences between the three model years…
At one point we stood and “Gawked” at the 1930
Duesenberg “J” model Boattail “Speedster” which Jeff said had more chrome than
paint! Being Fire engine red, and having been owned by a Gangstah’.
Arguably being one of the three most valuable,
nee “expensive” cars in the collection. Along with the aforementioned 1965
Cobra 427 continuation car, and the 1948 Tucker.
There was a 1973 De Tomaso Pantera sitting
alone. Along with a Pontiac GTO, whose doors were locked, when Jeff asked me if
I wanted to sit in it?
So He took me to the car alongside it, a 1964
ford Thunderbird convertible, which I happily sat in.
A Pontiac something-ruther’ with the “revered”
W30 package was nearby. Arse-sumedly the very same Pontiac GTO alongside that
T-Bird…
As history denotes, the GTO was the brainchild
of John Delorean.
Of course the museum had a Delorean DMC-12 on
display, albeit with its gullwing doors closed, but Jeff had me run my hand
over the brushed aluminum bodywork. While I’ll let Rick DeBruhl do the heavy
lifting…
VIDEO; Why Can’t this
Delorean go 88 miles per hour
There were also a trio of the sedans similar to
what Marty McFly drove in the Back to The Future movies I believe, but no flux
capacitors on that Delorean DMC-12…
There were a few Corvettes parked together. As
Jeff described the 1963 split window we stood in front of. Before having me run
my hand over the rear window’s “spine”. But guess I threw Jeff for a loop when
I said I acutally thought the 1965 Sting Ray was better looking! Which He
promptly walked round trying to see if they had one? Only finding a ’67 Sting
Ray, along with a 2020 Corvette.
While I haven’t even mentioned Jeff asking me
if I wanted to sit in a Ferrari, Uh duh!
As suddenly I found myself getting low to the
ground to climb into a 2001 rosso Ferrari 360 Spyder with black top. Tapping my
head upon the convertible’s roof fabric when clambering aboard! As it took me a
little while to deduce that indeed, it was equipped with paddle shifters, which
I finally found upon the steering wheel…
Jeff asked me if I wanted to ride the
Merry-go-Round? Which I eagerly said yes! Before ultimately settling on riding
the Zebra, with our entourage doing three leisurely circuits, going up and down
before we said we’d had enough and Jeff turned off the vintage Merry-go-Round,
circa 1950’s.
There was a 1929 Ford converted into a Popcorn
and Peanuts vehicle, which roasted the peanuts and popped popcorn. Along with a
Dump truck from the Mayer mines, being from 1917. As Jeff had me put my hand on
what was left of the solid rubber tyres.
VIDEO: Omaha’s Douglas 1917
Dump truck History
Alongside sat a vintage tow truck, also from
Mayer, which is where the Museo’s proprietor Mel Martin, now 95 years old got
His start.
Then nearly three hours later, Jeff had to go
to His next scheduled appointment. As it was a real treat having Jeff
personally escort me thru the entire museum! As Jeff gave me the right amount
of “verbiage” for the many, countless vehicles He stopped and described and had
me run my hands over various portions of; with Jeff’s permission to do so.
As it’s a living, breathing Automobile museum,
for which you’re allowed to get into many of the cars, provided their doors are
unlocked. But as Always, please treat the vehicles with respect.
Photo C/O No Fenders Blogmeister’ Miguel.
