The Weekly 3
Towards the end of 2005, I turned 21 years old, which is also when I met my future wife, Torie. There wasn’t a whole lot else going on in my life. I was working full-time with Pepsi, trying to finish my degree and halfway through my first enlistment contract.
Mel Martin, on the other hand, had already established himself as an expert mechanic. A very successful real estate developer and avid car collector.
In 2005 Mel created Martin Auto Museum. I’ve had the privilege of spending some time with Mel and what he has created is special. I’ve been able to visit the current location, but just Miles Through Time Automotive Museum, he had humbler beginnings.
Mel has amassed a huge collection of cars that even includes one of the uber-rare Tuckers. If you’re a Tucker fan like me, you’ll want to visit just to see #1021.
Back in 2005 again, Chick-Fil-A had been serving their breakfast menu for one year. Truett Cathy, the founder, was 84 years and had quite the car collection he accumulated over the years.
Unfortunately, Truett passed away in 2014 at the age of 93, and many of his cars went to auction as so many do under similar circumstances. However, a few were kept and could be considered a pleasant surprise if you visit the Chick-Fil-A Backstage Tour.
This is definitely not your typical car museum, and it really isn’t a “car museum,” but it is an impressive car collection curated by a man with a vision who had tremendous success in his life.
Surprisingly enough, despite living in the Atlanta metro, I have not had time to visit Chick-Fil-Backstage Tour. It is on my list though, and if I can find the right person to talk to, there could be some synergy with Miles Through Time. I have a vision. 😉
Back in 2005, Marshall Belden Sr.’s Canton Classic Car Museum had already been open for 27 years, and sadly, Mr. Beden had been gone for 10 years.
It’s great to see Marshall’s vision stay alive so many decades after he’s been gone, which unfortunately is uncommon in the “car museum” world, but only because so many “museums” are really private collections.
There’s nothing really wrong with that, but it does almost always put an expiration date on the museum, which is something I admittedly avoid.
Sometimes you never really know what the future will be. I believe it is always best to go do what you can now, rather than put anything off. Whether it is the museum you’re considering visiting, or something else in your life, it’s best to just do it.
If you want to see more, visit the Weekly 3.
WHICH AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM WILL YOU VISIT NEXT?
Plan your next trip, discover your new favorite, or find the nearest museum
Sean Mathis
Creator of Automotive Museum Guide
Founder of Miles Through Time Automotive Museum
P.S. Make sure you follow AMG on Facebook and join the FB Group to see what’s going on at all the museums.
Explore Automotive Museums in
ARIZONA
Martin Auto Museum
Created in 2005, the Martin Auto Museum is the brainchild of owner and founder Mel Martin. Mel saw a need to share a collection of vehicles that represent significant periods in automotive history.
Explore Automotive Museums in
GEORGIA
Chick-fil-A Backstage Tour
Truett Cathy was known for his huge car collection, most of which has been auctioned off to raise funds for charity, but there is still a collection of 20+ vehicles you can see on display at Chick-fil-A Backstage Tour.
Explore Automotive Museums in
OHIO
Canton Classic Car Museum
The Canton Classic Car Museum was established by the late Marshall Belden, Sr in 1978. The museum currently exhibits forty rare and unusual classic and special interest automobiles.
Check out Past Newsletters
From a group of car enthusiasts and a racing team to a trucking empire
One museum was founded after a successful racing career. One was created after making a fortune from a well-known truck stop, and one came to fruition after a group of guys came together and created the only car museum in their state.
Do you know what museum is named after both the city and the founder?
I tell everyone I talk to at every museum I visit, that every museum is different, and they are all worth visiting, even if you only visit once.
Getting Creative with Automotive Museums
The good news for people like us, is that there are no shortage of cool places to visit all over the world.
The Price of Admission
The price of admission is always a subject of debate. It is also one of the most common updates to museums listed in the Automotive Museum Guide.
You can see 5 vehicles or hundreds
One of the cool things about the Automotive Museum Guide is that you can use it as a resource at your pace. Most people do not travel the country specifically to visit automotive museums.
Closed for the season is better than closed for good
I’m on the road again this week, so this one will be brief. Last week I had to share the unfortunate news about a few automotive museums closing very soon.
These two museums are closing VERY soon
I have unfortunate news about two automotive museums that are closing this year. The first one I had a heads-up about it, so I knew it was coming.
For a Short Time, There Were 3 Cadillac Museums
There are two Cadillac museums you can visit in the USA. For a short time, my one-car museum could have been the third Cadillac museum in the country.
Underground storage is a thing
This was by far one of the most unique and cool places I’ve ever been to pick up a vehicle. The vehicle had been stored inside the side of a mountain for the last decade in a place called Brady’s Bend Underground Storage.
From up North to Down South
The Weekly 3I'm on the road again, picking up another donated vehicle for Miles Through Time Automotive Museum. Hopefully, I don't mess it up again and leave this in my drafts until Wednesday like I did last week. 😉 If you're reading this on Monday, I'm much closer...