McQueen's family donated several of his motorcycles that are featured as part of a motorcycle display that includes his first bike, a 1946 Indian. According to the museum, "he appreciated the sense of freedom of cycling and was soon captivated with off-road racing when he witnessed a skilled rider navigating up a steep hill in the Hollywood area. He [later] purchased a Triumph 500 and with help from his friend, Bud Ekins, became competitive in some of the best of the off-road races like the Baja 1000."
From the Baja 500 check out Barn Find, a wooden barn where Moonshine and wrenches were used in attempts to get the engine to start running. The barn includes a 1928 Studebaker that sat in a shed in Imperial Beach for 40 years. The original owners, according to the museum website, parked it in 1966, and with the exception of a few rare trips around the fields, it has not moved.
According to the website, the original idea of creating an automotive museum in Balboa Park came from Briggs Cunningham, a renowned automobile collector and racer. The idea circulated for many years until an inspired group of local automotive enthusiasts propelled the idea forward. In 1979 the San Diego City Council first considered the issue and in 1980 they gave unanimous approval to the museum and granted a long term lease for one of the historic buildings in the jewel of San Diego - Balboa Park.
After spending approximately $1 million renovating and upgrading the building, the San Diego Automotive Museum opened in December of 1988.
The decade also witnessed a flying automobile that traveled through time.
1981 edition
Marty McFly: Wait a minute. Wait a minute, Doc. Ah... Are you telling me that you built a time machine... out of a DeLorean?
Dr. Emmett Brown: The way I see it, if you're gonna build a time machine into a car, why not do it with some style?
The machine that helped Doc and Marty discover the Old West and the hover conversion of 2015 (where is that hover board?!) sits with the door open ready for Back to the Future geeks like myself to look inside and wonder about the "pitfalls and the possibilities." If the DeLorean doesn't catch the eye, however, there are show stoppers that are permanent fixtures to the museum.
Examples include a 1966 Bizzarrini P538 and 1925 Bently 3L Red Label.
When I was there this past July I caught the Orphan Car exhibit, which ran from June 6 to September 26, that featured automobiles from companies like Nash that faded into the sunset.
The museum also pays homage to its plank roots. The plank road, which was predominated during the Progressive and early World I era, played a huge role in helping travelers go through desert communities like Yuma, AZ and El Centro, CA on their way to the Pacific Coast.
During the first quarter of 2015, which began on January 9 and runs to March 27, Faye Levy, Office Manager of the museum, says they are featuring vehicles people traveled to the exposition in as well as 1920s and 1930s automobiles. The second quarter, beginning in April, will look at military and civilian cars and trucks during the Second World War while the third quarter will take a look at the fins and stylish Post-War cruisers, like a Chevy Bel-Air. Finally, the last quarter, which will run from October to January will look at the future, including smart cars and those that run on alternative fuel.
For now, here are a couple of beauties to help get your appetite going. Head to the museum if you ever hit San Diego.
That is really nice road car show there. It's an interesting watch to see how dreams and realities have grown throughout time, and how those have intersected here and there. Now, we find ourselves with car models of differing mileages, along with different types of fuels and whatnot. What is constant is the need to supply those fuel tanks when the situations on the road would call for it, and the means for those should evolve with shifting vehicle setups and configurations. Thanks for sharing that! All the best!
ReplyDeleteAbraham Yates @ Apache Oil Company