Messages

1

General Discussion / Re: Museum Closing

« on: February 20, 2018, 12:51:53 PM »

Hello Roadmaster:

You are absolutely right that the city did not have to sell the Town Center Building.  Why they did is anyone's guess.

I can tell you from running an automotive museum it does not cost $700,000 per year to run.  That $700,000 figure was an estimate by the city as to how much they would have to contribute over a 5 year period - another estimate was as high as $1,700,000 the city would have to kick in over 5 years.

Problem is that museum admissions were only $17,000 in 2017 and $23,000 in 2016.  Heat, A/C, insurance (cars & building) and other utilities could be easily be $50,000 per year.  And that would be before any staffing fees or the rent of $154,000 per year.

I attend the national meetings of the National Assn of Automobile Museums and I don't know of a single auto museum that can survive from museum admission fees alone.  You either need a "sugar daddy," a large endowment to fund the losses.  I guess the city was not in a position to fund the losses.

Sad to say, but it was a rather poorly structured agreement on a lot of points that allowed this to happen.

 

2

Willys Forum / Re: Willys Aero at Packard Proving Grounds

« on: October 30, 2017, 09:37:41 AM »

Hello Rick:

That would be wonderful if you could contact that author and retrieve those missing documents for our non-profit Foundation.

Yes, and we are well aware of the "Johnny Dark" movie and the connection with the Packard Proving Grounds,  Next year is our 90th anniversary and we are planning some special events, especially for our "Cars-R-Stars" Show on Sunday, June 10th.

Meanwhile, our crew is busy scanning documents and should be working on Clyde's library over the winter - stay tuned.

Roger Luksik
rluksik@comcast.net

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Willys Forum / Re: Willys Aero at Packard Proving Grounds

« on: October 17, 2017, 10:07:27 AM »

Yes, it would be fun to get as many Aeros as possible in one display.  What is the record number from 6 years ago we would have to break?

Regarding Clyde's documents.  We have all of the records that were in Eleanor's possession.  She did complain to me once that she had loaned out some documents to a guy (she could not remember his name) who was going to write a book (don't know if it was ever published) and the documents were never returned.

Meanwhile, we have started digitizing all of the Packard documents we own - some 40,000 images and countless documents.  I don't know where Clyde's documents fall in the queue.  We also received the library from Marsten Ware - the fellow that designed many marine engines, including the PT Boat engine and the non-magnetic turbo diesel for minesweepers.  All that needs to be digitized also.  We will be digitizing for a long time, unless we find more volunteers to donate their time. 

4

Willys Forum / Re: Willys Aero at Packard Proving Grounds

« on: October 12, 2017, 08:15:38 AM »

Hello Vettelang:

It is the same, exact model car, because it was donated to the PPG by Eleanor Paton. 

First, thank you for being a judge and for helping us to have our best Cars-R-Stars show ever.  We had 325+ cars on the show field and nearly 3,000 people in attendance.  You should have sought out any of our volunteer staff (in the green shirts) or me and we could have explained it to you.

Back to why we have it.  As most of you know, Clyde R. Paton, was the Chief Engineer of Packard from 1932 to 1942 before he moved onto Willys.  His only child, Eleanor, was a member of the local Packard Club and a supporter of the Packard Motor Car Foundation.  The PMCF is a separate, non-profit group, a 501c3, established to preserve the PPG.

When Eleanor passed away on July 1, 2016 she willed all of her estate to the PMCF to honor to her father.  This included ALL of Clyde's possessions.  We are very grateful to her for this donation.

If you have ever been to the PPG. then you will know we are very much a work-in-progress restoring all of the Albert Kahn designed buildings on our 17 acre campus.  The model of the Aero is on temporary display until we can assemble and curate a display to highlight Clyde's achievements throughout his entire career and not just at Packard. 

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could have a ring of Willys Aero cars and maybe even a Woodill Wildfire at next years Cars-R-Stars?

Any Aero owners interested in making this happen?

Meanwhile, the PPG is holding its annual Open House (FREE) this Sunday, October 15th from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM.   We will have a live band, Johnny Trudell, playing swing music, a bake sale, food trucks and a lot of fun.   Last year we had 40 Packards on display, 250+ collector cars cruised on in and 2,400+ people passed through the gates.  Of course, attendance is weather dependent.  If you are in the area, you are welcome to attend.

All the best,  --Roger--