ArticlesFeatured Museum . . .
The Roaring Twenties Antique Car Museum
naam news
National Association of Automobile Museums
Gary Pelger, Editor
Just south of Madison, Virginia is an eclectic collection of antique automobiles, stationary engines, garden tractors, gasoline and lubrication pumps, antique phonographs, ancient department store dummies, various glassware and china, and kitchen utensils that owner John Dudley refers to as "a historical collection of American industrial art." His collection includes a 1924 Cadillac V-8 seven-passenger phaeton that was used as a parade car in Flushing, New York for years. Unrestored, it still sparkles in its original black lacquer, brass, and chrome. It would cruise comfortably with seven passengers at 55 miles per hour and give 12-14 miles per gallon. A 1925 Star 4 that still carries the livery of the Miller Taxi Company of Westminister, Maryland represents public transportation of the era. Star was know for its durable parts and rugged reliability.
His museum, established in 1967, is all about mechanical innovation by and for people "who had to make do with what they had." Examples include a gas-powered Maytag washing machine that doubled as a food processor, a Model T converted to a tractor, a wagon that unloads heavy items through the floor, cars that run on kerosene and gasoline, and portable stills that kept the revenuers searching and scratching their heads.
The museum house thirty-three cars of various makes from Cadillac to Whippet. What all have in common is that 90% of the vehicles on display are unrestored originals; John likes originals. Some cars, like the '48 Playboy with a retractable hardtop and John's most unusual car, the 1945 Surlesmobile make the museum a must see. The Surlesmobile is a forerunner of today's popular mini-vans.
The one-of-a-kind car designed in 1937 by engineer Don Surles was an aerodynamic teardrop that maximized use of space. The side doors are electronically operated and split horizontally to slide into the roof and under body. Surles, caught up in the WW II draft, did not actually build the sleek utility car until 1945. Stationed in Japan, he commissioned the Tokyo Bus Works to build it from surplus jeep parts. According to John, the bus builders spoke little English, Surles spoke little Japanese, so, a few design details were lost in the translations. An ungainly stock bumper was grafted on to make the car street worthy, but still it remains remarkably modern with seating for eight.
Back in the United States after military duty, Surles took the revolutionary prototype to the major manufacturers who all turned the idea down. One of the features later turned up on a Chevy station wagon though. Disillusioned, Surles packed his concept car into the family garage until 1967 when he donated it to the Roaring Twenties Museum.
The museum collection includes such cars a s the 1904 Carter, a 1922 Buick Chummy Roadster, a '24 Cleveland, two Hupmobiles, two Whippets, and a '41 Packard. Also included are mannequins from the Golden Rule Store of Billington, West Virginia. Most are more than a hundred years old. Ancient "weed eaters", gas station signs, kitchen gadgets, toys, and other paraphernalia are scattered about the museum and it annexes in what seem a haphazard fashion, yet it all blends together in a delightful collage.
The Roaring Twenties Automobile Museum is located on route 230 just south of Hood, Virginia between Madison and Stanardsville in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is open by appointment, seven days a week. Admission is five dollars. Phone (540) 948-6290 for reservations. Please visit their web site for additional information on the Roaring Twenties Antique Car Museum: www.roaring-twenties.com
