http://www.lemaymuseum.org/blog/ Latest blog entries from America's Car Museum en-us Fri, 24 May 2013 18:46:32 PDT Fri, 24 May 2013 18:46:32 PDT LeMay - America's Car Museum CMS http://www.lemaymuseum.org/blog/2012-bank-kirkland-concours-delegance/ This 1933 Marmon V-16 Convertible Coupe owned by Aaron Weiss of San Marino, Calif. was named "Best of Show" at the 2012 U.S. Bank Kirkland Concours d'Elegance at LeMay - America's Car Museum (ACM) today. The event, which raises money for Seattle Children's Hospital, featured more than 120 cars, motorcycles and boats on the Haub Family Field at America's Car Museum. ... Wed, 12 Sep 2012 14:02:00 PDT http://www.lemaymuseum.org/blog/carroll-shelby-1923-2012-personal/ Yes, he was a snake oil salesman... and a flim-flam man and, from time to time from what I've read and been told, an olympic class truth stretcher. But he was also an "American Original"... an irrepressible individualist... an unapologetic iconoclast... a man with no use for focus groups and market research. Carroll Shelby probably would never have made it in today's mamby-pamby, hyper-sensitive and over-regulated market place... but if anybody could, my chips would be on him. ... Mon, 14 May 2012 10:34:00 PDT http://www.lemaymuseum.org/blog/piece-american-history-uncovered/ Researching the cars here at ACM often reminds me of genealogy research, where you look at people’s ancestry, birth date, marital status, immigration, residence, military, professional, fame/infamy, and, finally, death records. Similarly, vehicles have very comparable records, a birth date, place they were created, licensing history and, perhaps, histories of being moved from state to state (or country!). There are records showing ownership changes and whether the car has been restored. The titles are just like our own birth records and can tell us volumes concerning past owners and, hopefully, the vehicle’s “family” pedigree.While researching the records for ACM’s 1917 Crane Simplex Chassis No. 2358, I found a small reference that the car had possibly been owned by the J.D. Rockefeller Family. John D. Rockefeller founded and built the Standard Oil Company empire in the late 19th century, eventually becoming one of the most prominent and wealthiest men in the country, so it was likely this fine luxury automobile built in New York might have been in his stable.I went looking for concrete evidence to make sure this claim was true. ... Mon, 12 Mar 2012 18:30:00 PDT http://www.lemaymuseum.org/blog/to-craft-finest-automobiles-in/ The 1956 Continental Mark II"To craft the finest automobiles in America" - was the motto of short-lived Continental Division of Ford Motor Company, and during its two year production run, the division produced the Continental Mark II series. Our newest addition to the collection is this 1956 Continental Mark II, donated to America’s Car Museum by Steve Boone, owner of Northwest Harley Davidson in Lacy, WA. Steve, who has been a tireless LeMay- America's Car Museum supporter, is a member of the Museum's Board of Directors and the Chairperson of ACM’s Collection Committee.The Mark II is a beautiful display example of Ford’s forward thinking in engineering design and attention to quality. When Steve acquired the car he said it caught his eye for its sleek look and luxury interior. “I thought it was just a beautiful car!”, Steve tells us. ... Wed, 18 Jan 2012 12:09:00 PST http://www.lemaymuseum.org/blog/avanti-rescue-update-green-sparkle/ After 40 years, the First Avanti is no longer Green Sparkle and is on its way back to its original Avanti White. Over the past couple of months, ACM’s Avanti has undergone some major changes and our monthly updates on the ACM’s Collection pages have been showcasing the recent progress. The car has been completely stripped by our all-volunteer rescue team in Bellingham, Washington, under the direction of James Bell of the Bell Studebaker Museum. In final preparation for paint removal, James and his crew cleared out everything under the car-- the driveline, brake and fuel lines, exhaust, etc. so they wouldn’t be in the way of soda blasting the frame. The volunteer crew, who are all members of the Whatcom County chapter of the Studebaker Driver’s Club, have meticulously dismantled the car taking care to label and bag all parts. The rear end was swapped out with a temporary one and the refreshed rear-end, new leaf springs plus suspension from the A-arms out in front will be replaced once the car has returned for re-assembly. Read More ---> ... Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:47:00 PST http://www.lemaymuseum.org/blog/beautiful-bullet-nose-coupe/ 1951 Studebaker Champion StarlightAmerica's Car Museum received an extra special gift in our stocking this year from Dick Hannah of Vancouver Washington. This 1951 Studebaker Champion Starlight Coupe was lovingly restored by Dick Hannah Dealerships (under Mr. Hannah's direction) in 2009 and was frequently on display at the dealership's showroom.Studebaker's design team created the Starlight under the direction of  legendary Raymond Loewy and final designs were executed by Virgil Exner.  The daring 1950-51 Bullet-nose Studebaker has become one of the most iconic American automotive designs. ... Wed, 28 Dec 2011 17:14:00 PST http://www.lemaymuseum.org/blog/hot-rod-shop-deuce-delivery/ 1932 Ford Sedan Delivery...is our newest addition to the collection generously donated to America's Car Museum by Gerald Greenfield and Family, of Lake Tapps, Washington.By 1931 sales of the aging Model A were plummeting. Ford knew that they needed a modern design to revitalize the company. Working around the clock they designed and built the first economical V-8. The first of what was to become the "Deuce" models rolled off the line in April of 1932. The Sedan Delivery truck was only produced for the last two months of the year and only 402 were built making it one of the rarest Fords of all time.This car's story has been featured in the June, 2009 edition of Rod and Custom Magazine, CarTech's America's Coolest Rides Station Wagons, and has won many awards including the 2011 Goodguys Pacific NW Best Commercial entry. ... Wed, 16 Nov 2011 14:12:00 PST http://www.lemaymuseum.org/blog/1962-volkswagen-karmann-ghia-think/ This post comes from our own Autobiography article of OpenRoad; our quarterly publication for members. If you would like to receive this award winning publication, sign up to become a member today! Otherwise, you can download the full article from OpenRoad, here. ... Tue, 10 May 2011 13:37:00 PDT http://www.lemaymuseum.org/blog/whats-an-iowa-police-car/ LeMay - ACM had an exhibit set up at the New York International Auto Show last week that sparked quite a bit of press coverage for the Museum. Here's one of many great stories posted on the New York Times blog last week: ... Mon, 25 Apr 2011 13:55:00 PDT http://www.lemaymuseum.org/blog/ralph-lauren-car-collection-exhibited/ This comes from Sports Car Digest blog:Among the major car collections in the world, there is one that stands out more than any other as synonymous with excellence: that of iconic American fashion designer Ralph Lauren. A selection of the most prestigious sports cars from the 1930s to present day is on view for the first time in Europe at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, with the exhibit running 28 April – 28 August, 2011. ... Wed, 23 Feb 2011 13:11:00 PST http://www.lemaymuseum.org/blog/whats-flames/ In answer to the first question, I can say without the slightest hesitation or equivocation, I have absolutely no idea and neither does anyone else. As for their meaning, the answer is both obvious"they look cool"and a bit more complex, involving how we, as human beings, are  visually and emotionally hard-wired.Download a copy of this article here. ... Fri, 11 Feb 2011 16:04:00 PST http://www.lemaymuseum.org/blog/smart-cars-turned-vanity-toys/ In the early 2000’s Mtv “pimped” ordinary vehicles into a one of a kind, eye catching dream cars on their hit show, Pimp My Ride. Tricked out with accessories from drinking fountains in the center console and five plus subwoofer sound systems, to disco balls in the backseat, Mtv started a public craze to have the most off the wall car - signifying the owners status as a “pimp.” Many gave the show flack for their obvious consumerism and disregard for the function of a vehicle, however, others continued this trend well in to the next decade. ... Fri, 28 Jan 2011 17:22:00 PST http://www.lemaymuseum.org/blog/coast-to-coast-story-on/ By: Karl Anderson, LeMay Board MemberIn the summer of 1929, Martha Beck, of Boston, Massachusetts, packed up her two daughters, Barbara and Marjorie, and two of their friends, Iva Bryant and Else Rommelfanger, and embarked on an epic cross-country road trip in their new Ford Model A touring car. They drove through the Blue Ridge Mountains to Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona and New Mexico. ... Wed, 26 Jan 2011 17:17:00 PST http://www.lemaymuseum.org/blog/retrieving-cars-impossible-locations-thats-1/ For the last 25 years there have been about a dozen 1923 to 1931 cars perched on the bleachers in the old gym at Marymount. Seven of them were cars donated by the LeMay family to the museum. Following a meeting with Doug LeMay, the Museum was given a green light to access the cars provided a ramp could be used rather than a forklift in order to protect the new carpeting in the gym. ... Thu, 13 Jan 2011 08:44:00 PST http://www.lemaymuseum.org/blog/new-nissan-leaf/ By Erin BaileyThe Nissan Leaf leads the way in electric automobiles as a ZEV (Zero Emissions Vehicle) utilizing an 80kW AC synchronous electric motor that reach speeds up to 90 MPH. The Leaf is a five passenger, five door 100% electric vehicle with a 24 kWh lithium-ion battery and a 3.3 kW onboard charger. These features provide a vehicle that can travel 100 miles before needing a charge, making an impression on the carbon footprint of its owners. Moreover, EPA Urban Dynamometer Driving Schedule, a laboratory test commonly referred to as the LA4 test cycle, which represents city driving conditions placed the LEAF at a top speed of 57 MPH in the city. ... Wed, 01 Dec 2010 14:03:00 PST http://www.lemaymuseum.org/blog/delorean-trip/ This post comes from Darryl Tinnerstet, Logistics Coordinator for 
LeMay - AMERICA'S CAR MUSEUMBackground: from 1986 through 2004 I operated Specialty Automotive in Olympia, WA, selling new and used DeLorean auto parts worldwide, while also working full time as an engineer.  During that time I restored/refurbished 7 DeLoreans and parted out 6 more.  Over those 18 years of traveling the country buying up dealer parts inventories and restorable cars I naturally had a few interesting adventures.  The following is the second of several true stories from that period. ... Tue, 23 Nov 2010 14:09:00 PST http://www.lemaymuseum.org/blog/error-my-ways/ By Bob Poe, Museum member & volunteer since 2000 In 1949, I was living in Gary, Indiana working for US Steel's Gary works. At the age of 19, it was time to purchase my very first car. With $450.00 in my pocket, having no idea as to what kind of vehicle was desired, and being rather naive, I approached the used car salesman and said "I've got $450 cash...what can I get?" ... Fri, 19 Nov 2010 10:59:00 PST http://www.lemaymuseum.org/blog/1947-packard-clipper/ This 1947 Packard Clipper Deluxe Eight sedan is our newest addition to LeMay-America’s Car Museum Collection. The car was donated by Club Auto Member, Christopher Bayley of Seattle. Mr. Bayley states “To me the Dutch Darrin designed Clipper is the most beautiful "modern" Packard. Some of us even think the Silver Cloud I Rolls Royce and comparable Bentley mimicked the look of these cars.” ... Tue, 16 Nov 2010 18:22:00 PST http://www.lemaymuseum.org/blog/profile-on-honda-fit/ Known as the Honda Jazz in Asia, Australia, Africa and the Middle East, but commonly known as the Honda Fit in the US and Mexico was unveiled at the 2010 Paris Auto Show. ... Mon, 25 Oct 2010 14:20:00 PDT http://www.lemaymuseum.org/blog/teeny-tiny-productions-starting/ Starting from the Beginning…In 2009, Burt Richmond & Diane Fitzgerald, long-time residents of Chicago’s historic Old Town neighborhood and car enthusiasts, had their first exhibition of microcars and minicars.  In conjunction with the 60th Old Town Art Fair, which was just 2 blocks away, Diane and Burt displayed eight small cars (complete with information plaques) in front of their home and received an overwhelming response.  The small, fuel-efficient cars attracted so much attention that Diane and friends Rebecca Hoffman and Wendy Jarchow, decided to produce small car events - exhibitions and invitational car shows - to piggyback with Chicago's summer festival season – and Teeny Tiny Productions was born. ... Wed, 06 Oct 2010 15:37:00 PDT http://www.lemaymuseum.org/blog/bedroom-car/ Background: From 1986 through 2004 I operated Specialty Automotive in Olympia, WA, selling new and used DeLorean auto parts worldwide, while also working full time as an engineer.  During that time I restored/refurbished 7 DeLoreans and parted out 6 more.  Over those 18 years of traveling the country buying up dealer parts inventories and restorable cars I naturally had a few interesting adventures.  The following is the first of several true stories from that period.This is one of those stories you hear and say “yeah, right.”  But it’s true and I have the photos to prove it. ... Thu, 30 Sep 2010 17:42:00 PDT