Tin Lizzie Ranch in lower Buckeye

Monday 27th February - 2023

Here's my final wash-up from Phoenix, Arizona after a pleasant 3-months stay here in America.

In 48-hours l will be behind the wheel of 'Sheila' for the last time here in North America for the 375-miles or 600 kms drive to Los Angeles for our final crossing of the desert on Interstate Highway 10.

Our host David Ker is one of our Club members & invited the Model A Ford & Model T Ford club members plus a few ring-in hot rods to attend his Ranch.

I'll be heading west for Hawthorne in Los Angeles, California to deliver 'Sheila' to my shippers, so that they can organise her safe passage back to Australia across the mighty Pacific Ocean to Sydney.

There were some very impressive Model T Fords & Model A Fords in attendance 

The plan is to depart Chandler here in Phoenix at 5:00am on Thursday morning to beat the traffic on their 6 lane Freeway (each way). Once it is light the 202 Loop Freeway is chock a block each way, sometimes it is like a giant carpark & I sure as anything do not want to be caught up in that sort of a traffic jam before I head to LA.

Hopefully if everything goes to plan I will arrive in LA mid afternoon drop the vehicle off then catch a taxi to LAX International Airport & wait for my flight on 'Skippy' later that evening arriving home into the lucky country first thing on Thursday morning the 2nd March.

It is still very cold here in Phoenix, especially if the wind is blowing. Early mornings it drops down to 5C or 40f very rarely does the temperature drop to that level in Sydney, however once the sun comes up it does start to warm up somewhat.

It usually turns out to be a very pleasant day until the sun goes down again in the arvos. Once the sun disappears the temperature immediately drops dramatically.

David has been collecting stuff all his life & as you can see by the photographs he has built himself a very impressive Man Shed or even better still a Museum.

I sure do not know how those Wagon Trains & those Cowboys heading west handled these conditions in the 1800s. They definitely were a tough bunch, trust me.

I really had no idea how cold it gets here in Phoenix until this trip. Usually I spend the summer months here (June-July-August) & it is stinking hot, day in day out, very rarely does the temperature drop below 100f or 38C (even in the evenings) for those 90-days continuously, this year’s adventure has been a very pleasant change.

Yesterday I attended my final event with the Model A Ford Restorer’s Club of Arizona. This years event was the Annual Round up at the Tin Lizzie Ranch in lower Buckeye, don’t you just love that name?

There will be no more live reports on ‘Warbo’s Magical Mystery Tour’ from me here in the States.

I certainly hope that you have enjoyed sharing my adventures while l was here on this trip, I have tried not to bore you with my stories & adventures.

It must have worked somewhat, because I have not received any negative feed back or nasty emails. Maybe it is because you all are much too polite.

Stay safe, I hope to catch up with you all in the not too distant future.

Regards,

Warbo

Dwarf Car Museum Visit

Friday 24th February - 2023

Hello again everyone,

Reporting live from the most amazing Dwarf Car Museum right here in the desert of Maricopa County in Arizona.

Before l start to write this post, I must tell you all that this time next week 'Sheila' & l will be well & truly into our 8-hour trek across the desert driving west on Interstate Highway 10 towards Los Angles via Arizona & California. It will end an era for 'Sheila' & myself.

Over the past 13-years we have accompanied each other over many, many thousands upon thousands of miles crisscrossing America, enjoying ourselves like you would not believe & not once in all that time has the old girl let me down.

I sure hope that I do not jinx myself by saying this. Our journey from Phoenix to Los Angeles is only 375-miles or 600 kms. 

L-R. ‘32 Ford - ‘34 Ford - ‘39 Chevy - ‘41 Mercury.

The plan is to depart Phoenix early on Tuesday morning the 28th February & arrive at my shippers in LA mid afternoon. Once we have arrived safely in Richmond, California we will say cheerio to each other & l will not cast my eyes on the love of my life until she arrives in Sydney a few months later.

Bon-Voyage “Sheila”. l am going to miss  you, l wish you a safe passage across the mighty Pacific Ocean to the lucky country, to the place they call the land Down-under.

Don't you just love 'Rust Rooms'

Now back to my blog story about the Model A Ford Restorers Club of Arizona’s outing yesterday to the famous Dwarf Car Museum here in Maricopa County Arizona.

We had a roll up of eleven Model A Fords, other club members rolled up in their modern cars & in total there we 39 people for the 100-mile or 160 kms round trip to the Dwarf Museum in Maricopa.

I was aware of the Dwarf Museum because over the years I have seen TV shows about this Museum plus l have read about this unique place in magazines.

Never in my wildest dreams did l think for one moment that l would be rubbing shoulder with Ernie Adams (see photo below) the creator of this wonderful Dwarf Car Museum.

Ernie is a spritely 82yo gentleman that is sitting on the left of me, what a legend he is.

Every day he spends at the Museum talking & chatting to all the punters that visit his museum from all over the world, he is as sharp as a tack telling stories & jokes of how he first started building these unbelievable miniature driving cars.

On the right is the 1949 Mercury that rich guy wanted to pay US$450,000 for.

Towards the middle of the afternoon l introduced myself to Ernie & his friends sitting around the table of knowledge (see photo). For some unknown reason Ernie took a liking to me & allowed the 'Squire' from Down-Under to join his inner circle of friends (see photo). I suppose with my good looks & eccentric personality they had no other option.

I sat with them for a couple of hours listening to all their stories while consuming a few chilled Coors beers, as any Aussie worth his salt would.

Ernie is a spritely 82yo gentleman that is sitting on the left of me in one of the photos. What a legend he is.

Needless to say l did ask Ernie some questions of how his dream all started way back when, he told me that the his first miniature metal car was built in 1965. He has never sold any of the miniature cars that he has built, which leads me into another great yarn.

When world acclaimed car tragic Jay Leno came to do a show from Ernie’s Dwarf Museum, for his TV show Jay wanted to purchase one of the miniature vehicles to add to his own personal collection.

It did not happen. I asked Ernie how much these treasures would be worth on the open market. He told me that the first miniature car he ever built was a ‘39 Chevy. He was offered US$150,000 for it & guess what that ‘39 Chevy is still parked in his Museum.

Another yarn he told me was about a real rich guy that wanted to buy the blue 1949 Mercury (see photo) this is the car that I saw featured in one of those car shows on TV a few years ago. Ernie tells me that this bloke went as high as US$450,000 & say no more the 1949 Mercury is still parked in his Museum.

I also wanted to know what type of engines are installed in these miniature cars due to the lack of space. He told me that they are all fitted with 4-cylinder ‘72-‘82 Toyota engines, these miniature cars are fully street legal for the road & are capable of speeds up to 100 mph or 161 kms.

At the moment they are building a miniature ‘64 Chevy Convertible Impala SS (see photo) check out the rear bumper bar, you can see how narrow the Chevy will be when completed by the width of the original bumper bar.

Miniature ‘54 Chevy.

During the conversation yesterday Ernie & his friends wanted to know how on earth l ended up at his Dwarf Museum there in Maricopa County about 8,000 miles or 12,900 kms from Sydney Australia. I mentioned that I was visiting with the Model A Restorers Club of Arizona group. He then said to me do you own one of those Model A Fords parked out there in the paddock to which l answered, yes.

What followed next completely knocked me off my feet, he said that there is a green 1931 Model A Ford Town Sedan parked out there. Ernie then told me that as far as he was concerned that vehicle was his pick of all of the 11 Model A Fords out there.

I was ecstatic to think that he had chosen “Sheila” to be his choice from the other 10 cars, because let me tell you there were some other very nice Model A Fords that he could have chosen. (see photos).

In finishing off this blog, money cannot buy the fun l had with those guys yesterday at the Dwarf Museum, l feel so privileged to have had the opportunity to meet Ernie & his friends to share their stories & jokes, absolutely priceless.

Moving right along, l certainly hope that you have enjoyed sharing this great adventure with me.

Stay safe. Regards for now.

Warbo.

Windscreen repair for Sheila

Saturday 25th February - 2023

Last week on the way to take my friend Steve Core back to Sky Harbour International Airport for his departure back to LA, I managed to be unlucky enough for a vehicle on the Freeway to throw up a small stone that hit my windscreen.

Photographs show Fernando repairing the chip on the front windscreen of my Model A Ford.

Unfortunately that small stone damaged the screen on the passenger's side of 'Sheila'. Yesterday, I decided to have it repaired so that it will not spread across the rest of the windscreen.

That my friends... is all she wrote.

Warbo

Exploring Tucson & Tombstone in Arizona

Saturday 4th February - 2023

Hello again this time from Wyatt Earp, & Doc Holliday country here in Tombstone, Arizona.

At the Media Entrance to the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona. Photo: Steve Core

Life has been moving right along very swiftly since l last wrote to you all from Glendale about my evening to watch our Australian boy, Liam Wilson, fight for the vacant World Title fight at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale. (right next door to the Super Bowl Stadium).

About as real as a stagecoach can get, rolling down the main, dirt street of Tombstone, Arizona.

All I am going to say is that he was robbed of winning the World Title by the corrupt boxing authorities here in America, just ask Jeff Fenech.

Just some of the airliners in storage here at the Pinal Air Park in Marana. All the blue tails are plenty of parked West Jet B737s from Canada.

Liam can hold his head up high, he is a very humble young man & spoke beautifully after his devastating loss to these bunch of crooks. I know because I was sitting front row ringside & witnessed every second of the fight & videotaped every moment including the knockdown that happened right in front of me, even including his opponent spitting out his mouth guard to get extra time to recuperate. Bunch of low-lifes.

My mate, Steve Core, had just arrived from Australia for his 3-week visit to Arizona. Here we are, in the San Tan Village RV Park, just about to load up 'Sheila' for our road trip down south to Tucson, Tombstone and Nogales.

I was talking to various people after the fight, mainly Mexicans (because they made up 98% of the audience) & they commented about the fight saying that the fight World did not know about our Aussie boy from Down-Under, however the whole world knows about him now & they can’t wait to see him fight again especially here in America.

Liam can only learn by this experience, & I wish him all the best for the future.

The 'Dream Lifter' is a converted B747 airframe that is one of four ever made to fly B787 components from around the world to the Boeing 787 assembly facilities. Pinal Air Park, Marana.

Moving right along to our departure from San Tan Mobile Village yesterday I decided long before Steve arrived that we would head south towards the Mexican border towards the Pinal Air Park in Marana, near Tucson where the huge airliner graveyard is situated for all the retired aircraft from all the airlines of the world are sent to.

Reenactment gunfighters from the OK Corral, touting for business, line the main street of Tombstone, Arizona.

Wow! What an eye opener that was for me, there were hundreds of aircraft parked out in the desert in storage or being dismantled. I suppose they were pulled apart as orders came in for their second hand parts from airlines from all over the world.

Driving into Tucson itself, we then did a drive around the perimeters of the massive Davis Monthan Air Force Base where over four thousand of retired US military, US Government and US Aerospace aircraft are parked in open storage.

These mannequins mark out the spot where the real gunfight, probably the most famous shootout in the West, at the OK Corral took place in Tombstone in 1881.

Last night we retired at a Motel in a town called Willcox, Arizona which is only 30-miles from the state of New Mexico's border for a well earned R&R.

We decided to hit the tarmac early this morning as I had made plans to spend the day in Tombstone. Ever since I was a kid I have always wanted to visit Tombstone because l grew up watching Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, and the legendary Gunfight at the OK Corral & all the old Western movies.

These old Tombstone words were never truer and still apply today!

I sure was not disappointed believe me, it was like walking back in time to the 1800s. Tonight we are held up here in Sierra Vista approximately 35-miles north of the real border with mainland Mexico.

Quite a few old ladies here; 'Sheila' and an endless line-up of retired American Airlines commuter jets all sealed up and basking in the Arizona sun. Pinal Air Park, Marana, Arizona.

Tomorrow morning Steve wants to travel to Nogales, a town that is situated right on the mainland border with Mexico. We will probably spend an hour or so checking out Nogales before changing direction to drive north towards Tucson.

'Sheila' parked on the fence line of the Davis Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona. The base is home to the US military's massive storage and regeneration facility.

I need to be back in Chandler in the early afternoon, the drive back home is about 2-3 hours. As long as we depart Tucson around 11:00am, that should give us plenty of time for 'Sheila' to deliver us back to familiar territory.

The sign on this 140-year old original piano sums up it's magnificent history

Once we are back in Phoenix, l have a few important things to accomplish before we set sail for the northernmost parts of Arizona, north of the Grand Canyon, towards Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Glen Canyon, Lake Powell Dam & then onto Las Vegas in Nevada to check out the new two-billion dollar 'Allegiant Stadium' home of the NFL's Las Vegas Raiders.

Me, outside the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, where I had just purchased my front row tickets to see & support Australian boxer, Liam Wilson, fight for a World Title. Photo: Steve Core

We want to be in Vegas by Sunday the 12th Feb to watch the LVII Super Bowl live on one of the big screens at Caesar’s Palace.

That’s about all for now, stay tuned, there is still plenty of stories & photographs to follow from the “Squire”.

Stay safe. Cheers.

Warbo.

Finally the Front Page

Thursday 2nd February - 2023

Hello folks, firstly if your a Sutherland Shire resident, and if you’re out of your pajamas, please take a walk outside and check the front lawn to see if you have your copy of this week’s Leader newspaper because there’s a very interesting story on the 'Squire from the Shire' regarding recent events.

I have been promised many times over the years with our Sylvanvale Pre WWII Vintage Car Show that we would be featured as the front page story of the Leader Newspaper and finally after 9-years - we have made it.

I was talking to the Leader’s Editor, Murray Trembath during the Australia Day celebrations and I mentioned that we are the custodians of the annual Sylvanvale Pre-WWII Vintage Car Show and he asked me about our upcoming Car Show scheduled for Sunday September 17th, 2023 at the Sutherland Council Car Park.

I’m hoping with the support of Editor, Murray Trembath and The Leader that we will get blanket coverage leading up to this year’s show instead of a story about our Car Show appearing one week after the event - which is no good to anybody.

If you haven't seen this week's Leader, then here’s the link for you to read the front page story online. CLICK HERE

Stay Safe, Regards

Ken Warburton

Australia Day with Honours...

Friday 27th January - 2023

Now that the dust has had time to settle from yesterday’s magnificent Australia Day celebrations in Cronulla, I have decided to put pen to paper to bring you all up to date with me being awarded the Sutherland Shire's Citizen of the Year Award for 2023.

First of all I would like to say that receiving this award is an incredible honour for me, however I would like to dedicate this wonderful award to my parents, Norma & Allan Warburton & my sister Carol.

While I'm very proud to say, that I am this year's Sutherland Shire Citizen of the Year ‘23. I will now try & explain why. As this has been a 75-year-long journey for the Warburton family.

Pictured at Cronulla Beach on Australia Day after the Ceremony with

the Mayor of the Sutherland Shire, Carmelo Pesce. The festivities

performance stage and the magnificent Cronulla Beach are in

the backdrop. Photo: Steve Core

It wasn’t until Carol was five years old that Mum and Dad realised that something was wrong with their daughter. Carol was diagnosed with a mental disability. My parents did not know at the time, but Carol’s disability occurred because my mum suffered from German Measles when she was pregnant with Carol.

While we now know that the disease can have serious complications on an unborn child, this wasn’t known in the 1940s. I am Carol’s little brother, three years her junior. Sadly, Carol & my parents are no longer with us.

Because of Carol’s disability my parents had a plan. They wanted to change the lives of people with a disability. My recollection goes back as far as the 1950s, Mum and Dad along with another four families were the founding members of the Handicapped Children Centre of NSW, (1947) which is now known as Sylvanvale.

One of my favourite photos and my late sister Carol

and me. Photo: Courtesy of Sylvanvale

It all began at the Baptist Church in Flora Street, Kirrawee. The church allowed a group of ladies who had a child with a disability, including my Mum, to meet in the Church hall. It started off like a playgroup and support group for the parents and the Children. The parents then wanted the chance to give their children an education and to achieve this, they needed to raise funds.

Every Saturday morning we used to participate in a fete at outside the Cronulla Post Office. Dad would work on a chocolate wheel and Mum and the other ladies would sell things they’d sewed, knitted or cooked. Little things like those covered coat hangers and teapot cozies, anything to raise much needed funds.

The Handicapped Children Centre thrived, so much so that the families were able to open a home - the very first Rainbow Lodge - for people with a disability in the Blue Mountains. I have been involved with this wonderful organisation my entire life, helping out wherever I can, volunteering my time and energy to support people with a disability to reach their potential.

On Cronulla Beach on Australia Day. The Sutherland Shire Council put 

on a magnificent day of free entertainment for the Shire's nearly a
quarter of a million residents. Photo: Steve Core

I was humbled to learn last year that Leanne Fretten, CEO of Sylvanvale, had nominated me for the Sutherland Shire Citizen of the Year Award for 2023. Yesterday, I was invited to attend the Australia Day Awards in Cronulla Park and low and behold yours truly walked away with the treasured and prestigious Sutherland Shire Citizen of the Year award for 2023 for which I am absolutely over the moon about.

My point is that without the guidance of my wonderful parents I would never have been involved with Sylvanvale or nominated or receive this magnificent recognition for the Warburton family.

These days I am still heavily involved with Sylvanvale to raise money for whatever cause is most important to help people that are less fortunate than myself. Every year since 2015 (except for Covid) with the help of Steve Core (my right-hand man) along with a band 30-loyal Volunteers from Qantas who l used to fly with as an International 'Trolly Dolly' organise the Sylvanvale Pre-WWII Vintage Car show to raise much needed funds for Sylvanvale.

Cronulla Park provides a natural amphitheater for Australia Day festivities
in Cronulla. You can see that people have their blankets and tarps

pegged out for the evening's entertainment and fireworks.

Photo: Steve Core

The 2023 Sylvanvale Pre-WWII Vintage Car Show will once again be held on the asphalt in the Council car park in Flora Street, Sutherland on Sunday September 17th. What I am asking you to do is to write this date down in your papyrus diary because this event is not to be missed. It is a wonderful day out for the whole family to feel, touch, smell, and admire 150 Classic Vintage motor vehicles built before 1939 with all monies raised going to a wonderful cause.

In finishing off this story before I hang up the gloves on this blog I have a few thoughts that I would like to share with you and why I do what I do. As a child growing up I can remember vividly the struggles the foundation families of the Handicapped Children of NSW experienced. I remember those early days when they didn’t have enough money to rub two copper coins together.

Today, from those very humble beginnings Sylvanvale supports 750 people, we have forty Group homes throughout Sydney and the Blue Mountains, and wait for this, Sylvanvale has an annual turnover of $70 million. My dear old Dad used to say to me with his words of wisdom. “Son, don’t ever think you can’t make a difference in this world”.

I sincerely hope that you have enjoyed reading just a little of the Warburton family’s journey through life.

Sincerely

Ken Warburton

NB: Now I have to head back to Phoenix, Arizona today to continue my planned vacation. So I'm hopping on Skippy, for another Qantas trans-Pacific flight this morning.

Now... T-minus 8-months away...

Tuesday 17th January - 2023

Today, marks exactly 8-months to go in the countdown to our 2023 Sylvanvale Pre-WWII Vintage Carshow. Set for Sunday, 17th September, 2023, at the Sutherland Council Car Park in Flora Street, Sutherland, NSW.

Since the outstanding success of our first Show in our new location of Sutherland in March 2022, we have been working hard on the 2023 Show to make it grander and more spectacular.

Please mark the date now in your Diary as it will be not one to miss.

Event: Sylvanvale Pre-WWII Vintage Car Show

Date: Sunday 17th, September, 2023

Location: Sutherland Council Car Park

Address: Flora Street, Sutherland

Time: 9:00am until 3:00pm

Food and Beverage vendors on site

'Sheila' back from the Mexican Auto Beauty Parlor

Wednesday 11th January - 2023

You can’t keep a good man down they say…

This morning when Sam & I ventured over to Mesa, here in Phoenix, to pick up 'Sheila' after she had spent a couple of days of 'enhancement treatment' in the Mexican Auto beauty salon. Boy was I pleasantly surprised when I first set eyes on her this morning.

'Sheila' sparkling in the Arizona Winter sun after she returned
today from the Mexican Auto Beauty parlor over in Mesa

I purchased 'Sheila' from a guy in the seductive & beautiful town of Sedona in Arizona 13-years ago on one of Ken’s ‘Magical Mystery Tours’ with my son Nathaniel , that's when we were on our way for a massive road trip all way up to Alaska in the RV.

As I have mentioned previously 'Sheila' has served me very well in all those years of driving her all over America. I decided it was about time that I spoiled her with a decent face lift. 

I had to re-introduce 'Sheila' again to her other sisters
because they would not have recognised her.

In the past couple of Blogs, I have shown and described to you what my baby looked like when I arrived here 3-weeks ago after a 3.5-year desert hiatus due to many various reasons.

The detailers also cleaned 'Sheila's' engine spotlessly. Now, you could eat your dinner off the mighty 4-cylinder, side-valve, 40hp donk.

Sam senior & I collected a bale of hay out of the ‘31 Model A Ford
pick-up to feed the horses & goats.

I am delighted with the resurrection that they were able to do with the paint work, interior & upholstery.

God forbid, after looking at the old girl today in all its splendor I may have to make a ‘Trailer Queen out of her’ not likely.

The goats on the property also need looking after

at feeding time in the afternoon

I am delighted with the resurrection that they were able to do with the paint work, interior & upholstery.

God forbid, after looking at the old girl today in all its splendor I may have to make a ‘Trailer Queen out of her’ not likely.

Just to keep 'Sheila' happy when I arrived back into the San Tan Trailer Village this morning I had to re-introduce her again to her other sisters (see photo) because they would not have recognised her.

The horses know when it's feeding time here

in the corral

Once that formality was out of the way, I then parked her under the car port at space #93 right next to my permanent trailer home.

Then later this afternoon it was time to stop playing with my toys & do some real work around our surrounding farmland property to help Sam senior out.

It was time to feed my boys. Sam senior & I collected a bale of hay out of the ‘31 Model A Ford pick-up to feed the horses & goats. Let me tell you that here on the farm that word GOAT certainly does not mean ‘Greatest of all Time’.

The detailers also cleaned 'Sheila's' engine spotlessly. Now, you could eat your
dinner off the mighty 4-cylinder, side-valve, 40hp donk.

Tomorrow, I hope to receive my new gear change cable that is being shipped from Virginia, then it is full steam ahead to replace the cable & move onto the emission's test, registration, etc, of the RV.

This coming Friday I will have been here in Phoenix for 4-weeks, I can’t believe where the time has gone to. 

My good 'Shire' friend Steve Core, will be here for 3-weeks at the start of February and we have a few road trips planned in 'Sheila' and I if I know Steve, there will be something to do with planes somewhere along the way.

'Sheila' safely parked under the car port at space #93
right next to my permanent trailer home

Plus Steve loves his photography, so we will draw on his skills to capture 'Sheila' in some all mighty iconic locations before my 90-day US adventure is over in March. You can look forward to seeing those photos in my upcoming blogs.

Then, come March, I will be heading home again before you can say ‘Jack Robinson’ - that’s scary.

That’s all folks for today’s live report from the San Tan (over 55's) Mobile Village here in Arizona.

Looking forward to looking back.

Stay safe, cheers for now.

Warbo

Visit to the Martin Auto Museum

Tuesday 10th January - 2023

It's about time that I sat down to scribe a decent blog to all my loyal followers, it has been quite some time since I have written an informative article on my travels since returning from my 3-month extravaganza in Great Britain last year.

Today is one of those days that I can sit here & tell you all about my visit this week, to the Mel Martin Auto Museum here in Glendale, in Phoenix just a quick hop, skip & a jump from the San Tan Mobile Village here in Chandler, where I live.

Mel Martin's immaculate 1965 Shelby AC Cobra

Today’s tour was brought about by my Model A Ford Restorers Club of Arizona of which I have been a member for 13-years.

It is really great to have a story that I can get my teeth into once again instead of telling you boring old stuff like working on my vehicles for the past 3-weeks preparing them for sale.

The Cobra's dash is personally autographed by legendary
automotive designer and entrepreneur, Carroll Shelby 

Instead of getting grease under my fingernails, skinned & bleeding knuckles. I decided that today was a leisure day, down with the tools off with the overalls & on with the my smart casual clothes that you are all aware of to enjoy a day with twenty of my colleagues from the Arizona Model A Car Club.

Established in 2008, the Martin Auto Museum is the brainchild of owner & founder Mel Martin, an Iowa-born real estate developer, (see photo of Mel & myself). Mel’s passion is sharing his collection that represents significant periods of time in automotive history.

The Museum features more than 170 vehicles, including classic cars, hot rods, customs, imports, & much more. It also has one of the largest collections of auto memorabilia, antique gas pumps, & signage anywhere in the world.

The aptly named

1951 Ford Country “Squire” Wagon

Mel’s goal is to protect & preserve their fine automobiles & collectibles for the enjoyment & education of future generations as is our similar goal with our Sylvanvale Pre-WWll Vintage Car show every year in the Sutherland Shire in Australia.

A trip to the Martin Auto Museum wouldn’t be complete without taking some photos of their vehicles.

Yes, I did just that & was very fortunate to meet the man himself & he was kind enough to spend some time with me to tell me all about the Museum, how he made his fortune & he is a complete petrol head just like the rest of us, only with a lot more of that folding stuff.

Museum owner & founder Mel Martin and myself in
front of his pristine 1965 Shelby AC Cobra

Mel is 92-years old, (see photo above) and he's still as sharp as a razor blade. He made his fortune out of Real Estate, as you do. The Museum recently relocated to an old Supermarket building that works sensationally for a Auto Museum and Event Center.

Mel’s 1965 Shelby AC Cobra if you can believe it, which I do, has the sum total of 6 original miles or 9.6 kms on the clock, the dash is personally autographed (see photo) by none other than the legendary automotive designer and entrepreneur, Carroll Shelby himself. Can you just imagine how much this highly collectable and rare gem would be worth? this vehicle would be priceless.

Mel also told me the story behind his 1917 Douglas Dump Truck (see photo below) he was very amused when I told him that we call these trucks in Australia Tipper Trucks.

Mel's personal 1917 Douglas Dump Truck, the 
first vehicle Mel ever purchased

This Dump Truck was his first vehicle that Mel purchased when he was a hairy arsed kid at 16-years old. The Douglas was a fully workable workhorse when he was a youth, check out the solid rubber tyres. The truck was used in mining Onyx in Arizona.

You know what, I have to try & keep this email short, or else it is going to end up like War & Peace & I sure a hell do not want you to get bored with my ramblings.

There are a couple of other vehicles that I would like to tell you about, however I will start off with the 1930 Duesenberg, Model J Torpedo, Convertible Boat-Tailed Speedster (see photo below). This is one magnificent motor vehicle. 

Back in the ‘30s the Doozy's, as they were nicknamed, were the preferred choice of wheels chosen by all the movie stars in Hollywood & I sure can see why. If you want to make an impression on someone this is definitely the vehicle to do just that.

1930 Duesenberg Model J Torpedo Convertible boat-tailed Speedster
Once the preferred car of the Hollywood jet set

Henry Ford with his 1930 Model A Ford did not cut the ice, trust me.

This next vehicle really tickled my fancy, I wonder if you can work out why! Check out the 1951 Ford Country “Squire” Wagon.

As you can see I have only talked about four motor vehicles in this report, there are another 170 classics on display in this truly sensational Martin Auto Museum, if you are still interested you can always Google martinautomuseum.com & browse through their site, well worth the effort. I am sure that you will find vehicles that turn you on, unfortunately I don’t have the space to cover everything in my blog.

Proudly wearing my Arizona Model name badge on the day.

I have been a member for 13-years.

Tomorrow it looks like I am back on the tools again, there is no rest for the wicked you know. My RV has top priority this week, I am waiting on a gear shift cable that I am having made in Virginia, it won’t arrive here in Arizona until Tuesday or Wednesday this week. 

Until then I really can’t drive it because I cannot select the gears & when you can’t select the transmission into forward or reverse the big V-10 Chevy engine ain’t going anywhere. Once I have the RV mobile l can then drive the old girl to have the emission's test done & then re-register the sucker.

Here in Arizona, testing is required in the Phoenix and Tucson metropolitan areas, where ozone and particulate matter pollution are a problem. You cannot sell a vehicle unless it has passed the emission's test. 

Part of our Arizona Model As group's vehicles outside the

Martin Auto Museum in Glendale, Arizona

Then next week l will be able to display the RV out the front of the San Tan Mobile Village overlooking the very busy Gilbert Road then hopefully jag some passer-byer to purchase my 33ft RV. Please keep your fingers crossed for the 'Squire' from the Shire to sell my RV that I have criss-crossed America in over the past 12-years.

l will keep you all up to date with any developments, for now, that is my live report from Arizona, hope that you have enjoyed the story.

Stay safe and Cheers for now from your wandering 'Squire' in the USA.

Warbo