Martin Auto Museum

Glendale, AZ   Finally a beautiful day with no rain.

 

Paul and I decided that we needed a break from the mundane. So we headed west to Glendale to Martin Auto Museum. Mel Martin started this museum in 2005 but by 2022, he still had more cars in storage than he did in the museum. That's when they moved to their current location. There are over 160 cars on display so sit back and enjoy the pictures. (I did not post 160 pictures.)

There is a $10 entrance fee and I loved their "desk".

 

Paul checking out some of the cars.

1965 Studebaker Wagonaire - This car featured a distinctive rear roof that slid forward, expanding the cargo space. It also had a drop-down step on the rear tailgate.

1914 Dodge Bros. Great Race Car - 300 cars were built in the first year of Dodge. Dodge was the first mass produced car with all steel body. This car was driven by Jack Cassan from North Hollywood, CA to New York City in the 1985 Great American Race.

 1959 Edsel (Ford) F-350 Medium Duty Tow Truck

Arizona Diamondbacks Custom 1994 Harley Davidson Softail - this one-of-a-kind bike celebrates the Arizona Diamondbacks and the 2001World Series Manager Bob Brenly. The baseball features include a seat constructed from an authentic MLB base and a game-used catcher's mask. Hand painted by Jeff Needham to include AZ sights and colors, Louisville Slugger wood bats, snakeskin effects and team branding logos. 

 

Lots of neon.

The Library

1949 Ford Woody Wagon - classic wood sides and the legendary bullet nose.

Even a carousel for the young at heart.

1967 Chevrolet Corvette Cutaway - this car does not run or drive and likely never will. Chevrolet built a cutaway Corvette to introduce the 1963 split-window coupe. Marina Blue is one of the 10 colors available in 1967.

1931 Cadillac Fleetwood Convertible - Cadillac was the only car company to offer V-8, V-12, and V-16 models. This coupe was V-8 powered.

1936 Alvis Firebird Drophead Coupe - British touring car and only 449 were made. It has an aluminum body on an ash wood frame. This car is the only known right hand drive Firebird Drophead Coupe in the U. S.

1939 Crosley Convertible - powered by a 12 horsepower, two cylinder air cooled engine and weighing in at less than 1,000 pounds. You could buy one of these for $325 for a convertible coupe or $350 for a convertible sedan. They got 40 mpg and were sold through department stores in the appliance department.

2016 WaterCar Panther - an amphibious car manufactured by WaterCar out of California. The design is based on the Jeep Wrangler. It is constructed from lightweight steel for the chassis and fiberglass for the body. The "hull" is filled with 32 cubic feet of Styrofoam making it virtually unsinkable. Top speed is 85 mph on land and 45 mph on water. Driven by a V-6 Honda engine.

 

2010 Transformer Edition Chevrolet Camaro - General Motors offered a special edition appearance package for the Camaro. The car was designed to resemble the Bumblebee Camaro from the 2007 hit movie. The package included: autobot insignia fender badges and wheel caps; an embroidered Autobot insignia on the center console; gloss black rally stripes with Transformers logos and Transformers logo doorsill plates.

 

1964 Ford Thunderbird Convertible - this was the only car of this generation to have the word Thunderbird spelled out on the front hood instead of a chrome emblem.

 

Anybody need a riding lawn mower?

Or how about a mailbox?

For anyone who likes old cars, this museum needs to go on your to-do list. The volunteers who work here are extremely knowledgeable and are willing to answer an questions you have.

More Pictures of Elias and His Family

 

  AJ, AZ  - the weather is still lousy. Rain and wind and cold. Lots of rain and wind. Northern AZ is getting buried under snow. Interstates closed. Not a great AZ winter.

 Pictures are my only way right now to keep up with all the changes in Elias's life. They grow and progress so rapidly. So I am putting tons of pictures in my blog book.  I'm glad Michaela's family could be with her but I'm also very jealous. I'm having some major dental work done and when that is finally over and healed, I will figure out how and when I can go visit. Can't be soon enough.

 

He was NOT a fan of his first bath tonight 

His appointment went perfect!! He's in the top percentile of his weight now and the doctor was so happy with him that we don"t have to see him again until his 2 month checkup! 

 

Todd, Michaela, and Elias on the couch. Michaela's sister Annie, brother Colton and his girlfriend, and her mom, Marybeth.

                                                            Aunt Annie

              

 

 I love this one. All that love in one picture.

 

 

Thank Goodness February Has Been More Fun

 AJ, AZ - the weather has been lousy. Lots of rain and cold for Arizona. We have a couple of nice days and then a cold front comes through with more rain and a whole lot of snow in the north country.

February has certainly been more exciting than January of 2023.

I had the great fun of a colonoscopy on the 1st. Clean as a whistle. Hopefully the last one I will ever have to have.

On the 3rd Elias James Dixon was born. My heart is filled with  joy for this little boy and his Mom and Dad. I sure wish Jim was here to share this joy with me.  (just to let you know there are actually pictures that aren't baby pictures further down)

 

 

February 4th we had a cookout at the Saguaro Ranch. Some of the group went horseback riding but that group did not include me. Such a gorgeous place.

 

February 7th marked one year since Jim died. I decided to treat myself to a pedicure and a couple pairs of new shoes. The loneliness gets really hard at times. But I'm doing okay. 

 For Valentine's Day my grief support group had a "Gal"entine's Day. We did a lot of laughing and enjoying each other's company along with good food. Really a great time.

There are more adventures to come in February.