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McMullen 32 Roadster

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by stanlow69, Jul 26, 2012.

  1. stanlow69
    Joined: Feb 21, 2010
    Posts: 7,348

    stanlow69
    Member Emeritus

    During the Meecum auction in Des Moines on TV, (the owner of Meecum Auctions) made the announcement that he just secured the McMullens 32 Roadster for the Auction in California. Did anybody else hear that announcement. If so, It`ll be the highest selling price for a 32.
     
    Last edited: Jul 26, 2012
  2. Totally not meant to start a shit-storm but.....

    Wonder what the highest price paid for a '32 has been to date? Not the cost to build but the highest purchase price.

    If McMullen's isn't the highest, I imagine it'll come close.

    JH
     
  3. Jim Stabe
    Joined: Oct 31, 2008
    Posts: 178

    Jim Stabe
    Member

    I'd rather have the Doane Spencer roadster.

    I remember watching Tom drive that thing through Bob's drive in in Whittier in the 60's, don't know how he made it through the line without overheating.
     
  4. AnimalAin
    Joined: Jul 20, 2002
    Posts: 3,416

    AnimalAin
    Member

    I think the key here is which McMullen roadster. He had a few over the years.
     

  5. stanlow69
    Joined: Feb 21, 2010
    Posts: 7,348

    stanlow69
    Member Emeritus

    I didn`t start this to talk about the price of the car. I made that comment because of the long history of the car and the coverage it has had in Street Rodder. .
     
  6. Larry T
    Joined: Nov 24, 2004
    Posts: 7,875

    Larry T
    Member

    And Hot Rod..........And Popular Hot Rodding. It is an iconic car. I was a teenager in the 60's. When someone asks me for MY idea of a hot rod, it's the first car that pops into my head.
    Is the car still in El Paso?
    Larry T
     

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  7. Drive Em
    Joined: Aug 25, 2006
    Posts: 1,748

    Drive Em
    Member

    It's still here as far as I know.
     
  8. Bruce Lancaster
    Joined: Oct 9, 2001
    Posts: 21,681

    Bruce Lancaster
    Member Emeritus

    If you collect the HRM and the 2 PHR articles, you get to see the car right before and right after the switch to Chevy trans and Chevy-based QC. I think I also have an early feature from when McMullen had just bought it...one of the small obscure custom/rod magazines.
     
  9. And don't forget the clone that the magazine built as well.
     
  10. tinmann
    Joined: Nov 11, 2005
    Posts: 1,588

    tinmann
    Member

    I have a Hot Rod magazine around here somewhere where McMullen has it listed for sale for $5K. I suspect that this time around the selling price will be higher.
     
  11. alchemy
    Joined: Sep 27, 2002
    Posts: 20,405

    alchemy
    Member

    Yeah, weren't there at least three "McMullen roadsters"?

    Original one, Moser-engined one, and the SR Magazine poorly-done copy.
     
  12. Didn't the original build have the car start with a credit card?? It turned the hot rod world on it's ass back in the day. I used to have both front covers of the car 15 or 20 years apart......Lost them somewhere... TBJ
     
  13. Deuce Daddy Don
    Joined: Apr 27, 2008
    Posts: 5,544

    Deuce Daddy Don
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Here's the "Mosher" one I took when we were in Visalia for Roadster Roundup in the mid 70's
    How many knew the logo on the early Street Rodder covers were his pet cougar?---He even brought the cougar to our LAR meeting one night!---On a leash!!!
    Also his magazine letters TRM stood for his first wife & Tom (Tom & Rosemary McMullen).
    Lots of "Inside stories" on Tom over the early years!----Don
     

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  14. Larry T
    Joined: Nov 24, 2004
    Posts: 7,875

    Larry T
    Member

    Yea, there are clones and later "tribute" builds, but only one "THE McMullen 32".
     
  15. alchemy
    Joined: Sep 27, 2002
    Posts: 20,405

    alchemy
    Member

    Credit card was probably the 1980ish Moser car.
     
  16. Mazooma1
    Joined: Jun 5, 2007
    Posts: 13,598

    Mazooma1
    Member

  17. Rosemary Genuso was Tom's first wife, but I can't remember anyone ever calling her anything but "Rose" Well, there were a few choice names after the divorce, but that's a different story. She Drag Raced A '57 Corvette under the name Wild Rose.
    When I first went to work for McMullen (Truckin' Magazine) I was introduced to one of the cougar's (not Rose, but the big ass cat) about scared me to death (there were 3, Cibie, Spoke, and Wheel) - there was also a Black Panther and a Leopard. And at onetime a Bobcat, but I think Dave Brackett took that one home as a pet. Tom and Rose divorced in 1974. He married Deana in '78 and she was with him in the plane when they passed.
    The company name had changed to McMullen Publications, then when Tom partnered with Ken Yee it became McMullen & Yee. In 95 that was bought out by K-III and certain titles were now published as McMullen-Argus Publishing, which was renamed Primedia in 1997. Then in 2005 Primaedia was bought out by The Source Company which became Source Interlink, which brings us to today. Whew!
    As for the original 32, doesn't Jorge Zaragoza still own the car?

    Hey Don, did you know Lynn Rosevear when he was in LA Roasters as well?
     
  18.  
  19. pastlane
    Joined: Oct 4, 2007
    Posts: 1,063

    pastlane
    Member

    Getting further off track.. Before moving from Niagara Falls to California & marrying Tom, Rose was a regular winner at Niagara International Dragway.
     
  20.  
  21. The37Kid
    Joined: Apr 30, 2004
    Posts: 30,627

    The37Kid
    Member

    I know for sure the '32 Vicky he built was credit car staterd.
     
  22. The37Kid
    Joined: Apr 30, 2004
    Posts: 30,627

    The37Kid
    Member

    I guess it will have to hit $523,000 or better. Bob:rolleyes:http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/tag/ermie-immerso/
     
  23. gearheadbill
    Joined: Oct 11, 2002
    Posts: 1,318

    gearheadbill
    Member

    "As for the original 32, doesn't Jorge Zaragoza still own the car?"

    If it's still in ElPaso I'm sure he does.
     
  24. Got to remember the Petersen bought Ermie Immerso's '32 Orange Twist and it has quite the cash reserves to get what they want. I guess the McMullen roadster will be in $300,000 - $500,000 range.
     
  25. stanlow69
    Joined: Feb 21, 2010
    Posts: 7,348

    stanlow69
    Member Emeritus

    I know the Orange Twist won the AMBR trophy but 50% or more people have never heard of Ermie or the Orange Twist. Then there`s the other guy who lost out at a $5oo,ooo bid. Wasn`t Ermie the crew chief or head mechanic for Carrol Shelby.
     
  26. exStreamliner
    Joined: Apr 7, 2009
    Posts: 1,553

    exStreamliner
    Member

    Even fewer folks remember that Dick Smith originally built Ermie Immerso's '32 Orange Twist and Buffalo Motors did a great job of making it perfect... But, I totally agree... Few cars are as widely known as th McMullen roadster... Just the number of times it was on the cover of Street Rodder it would be impossible not to be aware of it
     
  27. shoprat
    Joined: Dec 23, 2006
    Posts: 1,109

    shoprat
    Member Emeritus
    from Orange, CA

    Went to Tom's Fun Run several times. Always a good day.
     
    Cyclone Kevin likes this.
  28. Tom's fun run was always a good time. Too bad they screwed it up.
     
  29. Deuce Daddy Don
    Joined: Apr 27, 2008
    Posts: 5,544

    Deuce Daddy Don
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Not really, I just checked my old LAR roster, Lynn's LAR card number was #51, don't know the year, but my LAR card # is 144, I came into the club in 1971.
    Yep, when Tom Married Deanna, he invited the LAR club to the wedding, not only LAR, but quite a few notables in the car magazine field. If I remember correctly, it was held close to Knotts berry farm.
    Tom had a few of us over for dinner at his mansion in Orange(?) one time, & gave us the "cooks tour" of his facility---Wow!--Whatta' layout!--Including the old mine tour!
    Did you ever see his & Deanna's home??
    After LAR meeting on one night after Tom built the "Mosher" we were cruising to a restaraunt & thru some tunnels, I was next to Tom & later told him his new Mosher sounded like a "Cement Mixer" with all the noise it made in the tunnel!!---Yep, lots of stories!!!!----Don
     
  30. mercmaniac
    Joined: Sep 17, 2004
    Posts: 159

    mercmaniac
    Member

    I have seen the Moser engined one. A good friend of mine owns it. And....it's not on the West Coast.
     

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