DESERT DELIGHTS CAN BE FOUND AT THE TUCSON AUTO MUSEUM
The Tucson Auto Museum, also known as Wayne’s Toys, is the collection of Wayne Gould. The slogan of the 80-vehicle museum in southern Arizona is “We specialize in Wow!” While there are some standard cars like Thunderbirds and Corvettes, Gould lives up to his motto by focusing on unusual vehicles you won’t find elsewhere.
Two flaming red sports cars perched by the entrance are real rarities. The first is a 1963 Apollo GT that was developed by three Californians named Milt Brown, Ned Davis, and Ron Plescia who created International Motor Cars to compete with Ferrari and Aston Martin. The head turning bodies were hand built in Turin, Italy and shipped to Oakland where Buick suspension components and V-8 engines were installed. Only 88 of the cars were produced. A yellow 1965 Apollo GT was driven by the villain Peter Thorndyke in the original Love Bug movie.
Yellow looks great on this 1973 De Tomaso Pantera L, which is powered by a 351-cu.in. Ford Cleveland V-8. Photo: The Milnes
Next to it is a beautiful 1962 Sabra Sport Roadster, Israel’s first, and only, sports car by Autocars Co. Ltd. of Haifa. The body was designed by Ashley Laminates of Great Britain, where the first 100 or so Sabras were built before being assembled from kits in Israel. Powered by a four-cylinder Ford Consul engine, it’s estimated that around 150 were exported to the United States but production stopped at less than 400 cars. The car’s logo is a prickly cactus, an appropriate image for the Sonoran Desert in Arizona, home of the saguaro cactus.
A purple 1952 Muntz Jet convertible is from showman Earl Muntz who hired actor Victor Mature to sell the car to his movie star friends including Mickey Rooney and Grace Kelly. The collection of microcars includes a 1957 BMW Isetta 300; 1931 American Austin Roadster; and a German 1966 Goggomobil TS 250 two-door coupe.
The front end of this 1957 Hudson Hornet sports a lot of shine, but it wasn’t enough to keep Kenosha from fading away in its final year of production.Photo: The Milnes
In contrast to the microcars, Eisenhower-era land yachts include a 1952 DeSoto Custom Convertible and 1957 DeSoto Fireflite. A rare 1957 Hudson Hornet custom sedan was produced in Hudson’s swan song year. The exuberantly designed car featured a large egg-crate grill, an abundance of creases and chrome trim on the sides, and twin-fin trim that appeared on both front fenders.
The front end of the British-built 1964 Daimler SP250 convertible looks like it’s ready to get hooked on a fishing lure. Introduced as the fiberglass-bodied Daimler Dart at the 1959 New York Auto Show, Chrysler said “not so fast” with that name. In his book Cool Cars, Quentin Wilson calls it “the car that sunk Daimler” as Jaguar bought Daimler in 1960 and the SP250 eventually faded away.
A one-of-88 1963 Apollo 5000 GT. The car is an Italian-American hybrid, with the body built in Turin by Intermeccania and finally assembly, including the installation of Buick engine and suspension parts, done at International Motors in Oakland, California.Photo: The Milnes
Unusual for an American museum there are a trio of Citroëns including a 1972 Citroën SM (Serie Maserati). In 1968 the French auto maker acquired Maserati primarily for its engine technology for the new Grand Tourer they envisioned. The result was the fastest front-wheel-drive car at the time, powered by a Maserati 2,670 cc 170 hp V-6 that had been adapted from its Indy V-8 engine. That performance, and space age design, earned the Citroën SM Motor Trend’s 1972 Car of the Year award.
A 1967 Oldsmobile Toronado Roadster was customized by George Barris and driven by Mike Connors in the first season, with various iterations and colors, of the TV detective show Mannix. According to Gould, “I bought it at a Worldwide Auction in Pebble Beach. Very cool car, right? Got to love the rotary dial car phone.” The car was so modified by Barris that its actual model year is in dispute among hardcore fans of the show.
The museum is located very near the freight tracks leading through Tucson so railroad fans can get up close to the rumbling rolling stock.
Show and Tell
The rust-inhibiting arid climate of Tucson makes it a great place for classic car owners and car shows. One of my favorite shows takes place regularly at the 1950s themed Little Anthony’s Diner at 7010 East Broadway Blvd on the east side of town. There’s a DJ playing music and a lively crowd on Saturdays. For more information go to LittleAnthonysDiner.com and click on the car shows tab.
On the last Saturday of the month car fans head up north to the Oro Valley branch of the national chain Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers. I’ve eaten so many of their custards over the years that I don’t need another excuse to stop by, but the car show is worth an extra trip. Freddy’s is at 11143 N Oracle Road, Oro Valley, AZ 85737. For information about this, and other, car shows in the Tucson area go to obsessionscarclub.com.
If ogling all these cars gives you a hankering to own one, or more, Tucson Classic Motor Co. can help you out. The vintage dealer at 2540 E. Grant Rd always has a few dozen vintage beauties on display. Visit them at TucsonClassics.com.
The Tucson Auto Museum is located at 990 S. Cherry Avenue, Tucson, AZ, 85719. Usually open on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from late September through May but it varies. Check website for updates: TucsonAutoMuseum.com.
Michael Milne is the author of the Roadster Guide to America's Classic Car Museums and his latest, 75 Top Car Museums - Europe & America.
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