The Weekly 3

I have to admit, last week I cheated. I used to write these emails on Monday morning and then send them right away, but it became too difficult to stay consistent. It’s been a while now, where I have a pretty good flow of checking three automotive museums and writing all of this on Sunday.

Writing this on Sunday gives me a little more time to update everything and allows me to schedule the email at the exact same time every week. Unless, of course, I forget to actually schedule, which does happen on occasion.

Last week though, I went on the road early Sunday morning to drive to Troy, Missouri to deliver my 1932 Roadster to its new owner just in time for me to turn around and drive to Mobile, Alabama to pick up my dream truck Monday morning and then head back home towards Atlanta.

There was no time to write this email, so I actually wrote it on Friday. I spent all day at Miles Through Time Automotive Museum, so I had no time on Saturday, which left Friday as the day to predict the future.

This was a risky move. Coordinating the delivery of one car and the picking up of another with 24 hours of driving and no way of knowing anything would for sure happen, was a risk I needed to take.

Fortunately, the buyer was happy with the Roadster, and I was able to collect the cash required to purchase my 1956 Ford F100 and, because I left so early on Sunday, I was able to see the truck in Mobile by 10 am the next day.

Usually, a 56 F100 “big window” is way out of my price range, or it’s a complete project I can’t just enjoy. The truck I got, I could afford since I had just sold my Roadster, but it’s not perfect, but it’s close to just being a reliable driver.

In the end, I did buy the truck and was back home by 8 pm on Monday. Although the truck seemed to run really well, the brakes felt unsafe, which means I have to get them fixed before I can really enjoy the truck. Along with the brakes, I’m hoping to install power steering, AC and hopefully update the wheels as soon as I can.

Everything else I plan to do with the truck can be done over time as I save more money, but I can drive it and enjoy it now. The 56 F100 had a lasting impression on me that has lasted over 27 years. 

My grandpa’s 59 Cadillac is sentimental and led to the creation of Miles Through Time Automotive Museum, but it was the 1956 Ford F100 that changed my psychology and is probably responsible for why I even care so much about my grandpa’s car.

Here is my original 56 F100 project that never got finished when I was younger.

Here is my new one next to my Pop’s 59 Cadillac.

Next to my Pop’s Cadillac, you see just a little bit of a green car, which is a LaSalle that is temporarily on display in the museum. If you want to see a bunch of Cadillac’s and LaSalle’s I suggest visiting the Cadillac-LaSalle Club Museum.

The building is styled from a 1948 Cadillac dealership, which makes it really cool. This museum is also just one of the many at the Gilmore Campus, so visiting the Cadillac-LaSalle Club Museum will also give you access to all the others at Gilmore. 

While Gilmore is North America’s largest automotive museum, the LeMay Collections at Marymount is the largest in the northwest. There are over 1,500 vehicles! I’ve never been to this museum, but I hope I can come up with an excuse to visit sooner rather than later.

The Frontier Auto Museum isn’t quite as big as the other two, but it reminds me a lot of Miles Through Time Automotive Museum. The museum is heavily themed and styled from the 50s. There is even a coffee shop and relics store affiliated with the museum. This is another museum I haven’t been able to personally visit yet, but I’m very intrigued to visit.

I’m super glad I didn’t have to tell you this week, that I was just kidding about selling my car and buying my dream truck. Sometimes, you just have to put things out there with the intention that it will work out.

That’s one of the main reasons I talk so much about the future plans for Miles Through Time Automotive Museum. It is hard to fathom how we are going to be able to afford to do it, but where there is a will there is a way. 

Gilmore took time to become what it is today. Even the AACA Museum started in a much smaller facility than what they have today, which is three floors and very impressive.

Use the Automotive Museum Guide to discover a museum you really want to visit, and make that one of your goals this year. 

If you want to see more, visit the Weekly 3.

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.