VA/NC- A ROBINSON FIRE TRUCK,A HIDDEN MUSEUM, ROLLING SCULPTURE AND ART DECO

A little eclectic CARHUNTER Blog this week and we start with a  1911 Robinson Chemical fire rig that served Staunton Virginia until 1971 and reported to be maybe the only Robinson fire truck still around!

It is housed in a tiny slot of the modern fire station with much fire memorabilia of service equipment as old as the civil war that can fit!

 

Ok, now what is the CARHUNTER's 39 Plymouth doing in Staunton Virginia? 

Staunton Virginia is one of the gems of secret cities across the country with much history,great restaurants and historic buildings.

Directly across from the Stonewall Jackson Hotel you will find a quiet little building, well at least part of the week when it is all business as a classic car dealership.



Bruce A. Elder keeps it low key until the weekend when the lights stay on and guided tours are given. The dealership swaps it's hat for a museum venue at that point!

 

The building itself is an original Ford dealership from 1911, Beverly Motors and in 1925 changed names to Augusta Ford. It remained in business until 1965 when a salesman named Paul Obaugh purchased it eventually moving and modernizing. He is still in business today!

Check out the video!

  The building houses some very interesting vehicles like this Cadillac Built Camper, maybe the only factory built one left!

A senators Caddy limo

Straight 8 Buick

Mr. Elder built this to compete for the Ridler award at the Detroit Autorama and was actually driven cross country by Mr. Elder

Upstairs next to a very old original vehicle elevator is a Fordson tractor, we were told by our guide Brain that all Ford dealerships were forced to sell tractors even if they were in a city location so many were modified for city service with snow plows or paving equipment!

This model T truck was originally sold right in this building! 

This truck was also delivered right here!

A barn find Cord Beverly sedan, supercharged and front wheel drive!

A British Riley looking out of place in the Ford shop!

Famous Wood brothers Ford NASCARS were sponsored by Augusta Motors and I remembered that on the cars! They are going to recreate a replica of one!  

Dan Gurney

 

Gotta love a Hupmobile 

Our tour guide Brian's Blazer, was his dads truck.

Custom built Rolls Royce one off limo

You just don't find Firebirds still holding their overhead cam 6!

A barn find Studebaker complete with mouse skeletons!

Yes this really is Darrell Waltrip's Monte Carlo NASCAR

And yes again this is Richard Petty's Grand Prix

 

Nice period correct gasser, Pontiac powered 

Hey why not toss in some customs!

None of the real Gran Sport Corvettes had a/c, power everything and were street legal!

Now what is this THING?
A little cloudy, but it was built to be a confusing sleeper!

Without even opening the hood we noticed a Cadillac steering wheel, lack of Chevrolet emblems and a strange steel bar behind the seats? Don't ask about the rear wipers because we still are not sure? There is a 472 race prepped Caddy motor and NASCAR frame appointments!
It is said the car was built by Smoky Yunick! 

Lets go back a bit to a guy named Bill Frick from Long Island

Bill Frick started dropping Cadillac motors in the oddest cars

Go back a little further and we see Mr. Frick started dropping Caddy Motors in Fords, known as the Fordillac!

This is claimed to be a Frick built car, but the custom body is questionable. the car was built for the Campbell Soup guy!

 A Italian Vignale was the recipient of a Caddy plant and only one Bill Frick Special was built!

 

Documented as the 1st GTO Judge ever built! 

Leaving Staunton for points south I find a stash of old iron and whip a U-turn for an early morning raid! 

Yes it says US Mail!

Nope the early HEMI was already removed 

I can use this Truck for something!

The south destination was the North Carolina Museum of ART in Raleigh

for a short term special exhibit!

Rolling Sculpture Art Deco Cars

I have been to the owner of this ones home and there are many more Packard's along with many, many more rare cars! 

 

 

This car was basically scratch built on TV's Guild of Automotive Restorers 



As I hinted this blog was all over the place and so was the CARHUNTER!