ArticlesAntique Museum Operating in Madison
The Valley Banner
Elkton, Virginia
July 20, 1967
A step back into Americana may be taken by touring The Roaring Twenties Antique Car Museum which is located about four miles northeast of Stanardsville on Route 230.
The newly opened establishment contains approximately seventeen automobiles, several horse-drawn buggies dating clear back to 1800 and a number of antique gasoline engines as well as many items of interest to the homemaker such as very old cooking ranges, heating stoves and kitchenware.
One of the prime attractions of the museum is a one-of-a-kind 1945 Surlesmobile which features a number of interesting innovations in automobilia. This vehicle, which was entirely constructed by hand in Japan, was built on a 4-wheel Willy's jeep chassis and sports windows and doors that roll open by moving up and down into the body of the automobile. It is also reported to have windows that will pop out in the event of sudden impact, thereby preventing many a skull injury. This latter feature has been used in one or two other automobiles since that time. The inventor, Mr. Surles, who was from Virginia, was unable to speak Japanese and the crew members chosen to build the car were unable to converse in English. This unfortunate situation led to numerous complications and five months were required to construct this automobile causing Mr. Surles, being unable to express himself, to give up a number of his original innovations. Because of manufacturing and other difficulties, this machine was never put into production.
This museum employs a novel approach to the matter of antiques from early Americana in that it also features some farm equipment. The management stated they expect, in the near future, to erect an addition onto their present structure which will house farming equipment of vintage years.
1925 Hupmobile
