Customs Help Me Loan a Legendary Car to a Museum

I'm nearly done completing the work on my father's Hupmobile and I'd like to loan it to a museum to give the car a safe place to live until my family decides to sell it. If you didn't see my history of the car previously, there's a long post from March 22, 2017 when my dad was still working on the car.

Do you have recommendations for museums where this car would be a good fit? I'm hoping to find a place where the "Bonneville Hupp" as we call her, would be other 30s vintage race cars. But above all I need a place where lots of folks can see the car, so somewhere that is easily accessible from a major airport, maintains regular hours, and maintains a high standard that attracts real auto enthusiasts and collectors.

Thanks in advance for any recommendations you can give.

 

Check out the Gilmore Museum in Hickory Corners Mi. Where are you located. Might help.

 

The Automobile Driving Museum in El Segundo, CA seems to meet your requirements.

 

Driving it with your family isn't an option?

 

There are worthy Museums all across the Country. You should probably add where you are located, before this Thread gets real long.

 

ask Breedlove about his experience loaning a car to a museum.

 

I am in La Crosse, Wisconsin. I am required to sell the car according to my father's will. The money goes into an education fund for all his nine grandchildren (and counting, we hope).

I'm thinking of Barrett-Jackson next year as a place to sell it. In the meantime I can either put it in a garage where no one can see it or I can put it in a museum where people can learn about the car and potential buyers can see it easily.

I can't believe the Breedlove experience is anything close to typical.

 

I've already contacted Gilmore. Is it an easy drive from Chicago or Detroit?

 

What's the rest of their collection like?

 

Try Speedway in Lincoln, Nebraska. Excellent place, real busy. Has a lot of race cars. And fairly close to you. Bones

 

Yup the American museum of speed- the speedway museum- in lincoln in world class and chock full of historic race cars and hot rods. Amazing company for your car to be in should that be the direction you go

 

@Cord Blomquist...such a fantastic story and car....Nothing to offer but congratulations and hope for things to fall in place for your Fathers Racer/Hotrod...

 

Volo auto museum?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volo_Auto_Museum



Sent from my iPad using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Outside of being within a reasonable distance I'd think picking one that would best display and honor the car and it's history would be wise. Some might be happy to have it but stick it in a back corner pretty much forgotten and hidden.
Other than that I'd consider planning on what auction I was going to put it in, then take it to a few major shows in the region and display it and let the folks enjoy it and it's history.
I'd say getting it listed for the auction early and getting all of the pre auction mention plus a good sales hour might mean more to the kids education fund than people seeing it in a museum. Folks who have the want for something like that need to know in advance that it will be there.

 

Hey, Cord;
Very nice car.
I'd bet the Studebakers Drivers Club museum in South Bend would be happy to be temp caretakers. Esp since the re seems to be more than a few brushes w/Stude-related people/things/events.
I can help you out w/a contact there, if you're interested.
BTW; any more pics? I do love late20's->early30's boattails. I did check the other thread, but maybe some more/better detail pics, incl engine, interior, n chassis?
TIA.
Marcus...

 

Beautiful car.

 

Most museums will only take a car for a minimum of a year - you have to leave it there under agreement.

Your bottom line of selling the car conflicts with your desire to have the car seen by the public at large.

You won’t generate publicity for prospective Buyers by putting it in a museum - you will generate interest & probably drive up the price by entering it in car shows - but that takes time & money.

An auction is not the way to go - unless your car has a significant & relevant name of builder and/or ownership attached to it that is recognized and appreciated by the bidding crowd - it will go unnoticed and under appreciated .

You pay to put a car in an auction.

Probably the most money for the car can be had by going the car show route & hoping buzz generates interest from a tv show to add exposure.

Jim

 

Truly Vintage has a valid point about getting it out there. Bring it to Hershey PA in the fall. That show/swap is still strong and your car fits the venue.

 

A hard thing to do, sell that car after doing all that work and not enjoying the the finished product.
As to following you fathers wishes. If you wanted to keep the car there should be a workaround if you can afford it. Have the car appraised, buy it for that price. You could buy it at the auction as well. That would cost you more and not give the family more. Auction fees are more than appraiser fees.
You never know where the auction can go. What is the appeal of a modified Hupp to the auction crowd that day, even with documentation? If you watch cars like that at auction often times they are put into a few auctions to see where the baseline price is on it. That is why you sometimes read that a car brought more or less at a previous auction.

 

Gilmore is about 15 miles NE of Kalamazoo Michigan.

 

Gilmore museum for sure. It is basically in between Chicago and Detroit. Just a bit north off of I-94. They get a lot of traffic, especially in the spring, summer and fall seasons. During the summer, they have a lot of shows that draw major and serious collectors such as the Classic Car Club of America event, Pierce Arrow, Lincoln, etc. I think it is the best museum in the USA.

 

I don't know what the requirements are for "donating" a car to a museum, but aren't you are asking a museum to basically store your car until you decide to sell it. I would think there is a difference between donating and storing a car.

 

Donating is akin to selling it, they get the car and since the way a museum is registered, they will issue an appraise value for a tax deduction. Now they own the car and can do whatever they want with it. A friend who worked at the Peterson, says that there is a slew of very nice cars in the basement that have been neglected over the years. Make a portfolio and send to all the Museums and take the best offer

 

Sell it to Jay Leno..



Sent from my Moto G Play using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

That’s an amazing car! Your father did a superb job of getting it to look it’s best. I hope you found a good home for it.

 

Hey @Cord Blomquist

After reading all of the material that is posted on this car of your fathers, from this thread and the other thread as well, in my opinion, as suggested by @greybeard360 , indeed, approach Jay Leno about selling it to him.

As cool as that car is, and considering its history, if Leno owned it, it would be well taken care of and most importantly, it would get driven.

If parts break on it, he has a great staff that can fix it or fabricate parts for it.

By it being driven by Leno in one of his videos, it would really be seen by a lot of people world wide, that often watch his channel.

Contacting Bruce Meyer, who is also another well known car collector, that could take good care of the car, is another avenue of possibility to consider.

Thanks for posting and sharing the information on this very cool Hupmobile.

 

4&1/2 years have passed by, - I wonder what original poster decided………..

 

From a post by the OP in another thread on May 25 2018:

 

Maybe try the Revs Institute in Naples, Fl (hopefully not affected by recent storm) - their museum is packed full of racing heritage vehicles. With your complete story and documentation they might be interested. thanks for sharing a very cool story!