ON PARTS SAFARI Story and Photos by John Gunnell Mericans Still Love Old Cars

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CLASSICS TURN UP ON PARTS SAFARI Story and photos by John Gunnell mericans still love old cars. That’s In addition to his pair of full-size Cords, a fact that became clear to me Geisler owns a unique Cord child’s car when I traveled halfway across that’s part of his massive antique toy col- Harold Warp’s Pioneer Village Athe country to pick up some vin- lection. The toy — technically a roadster Museum in Minden, Neb., has tage MG Magnette parts in Oregon. Old — is about 4-1/2-feet long and fi nished two Cords among its 350-ve- cars were everywhere — driving, riding on in white, with red disc wheels and balloon hicle collection including a very trailers, sitting in fi elds, for sale in dealer- tires. The sides of the hood are decorated well-preseved L-29. ships, parked in storage yards, decorating with ribbed metal plates that approximate antique shops, perched on poles and exhib- the horizontal air louvers that wrap around ited in museums. a real Cord’s nose. The toy car also has route home after picking up the parts in Or- antique tractors. Among the museum cars were several bright metal accessories including external egon. This took me through southern Idaho, There are actually two Cords in the mu- “big-C” Classic cars. When Classic Car exhaust pipes, bumpers and a windshield. Wyoming and Nebraska. In Minden, Neb., seum, one of which is an 810/812 sedan. Club of America (CCCA) members talk A red steering wheel lets the child driver I ran into another coffi n-nose Cord at Har- The others is a 1931 L-29. Most cars in of a “Classic car,” they are using the term turn the front wheels. Of course, the stan- old Warp’s Pioneer Village Museum. the museum have the appearance that they to identify specifi c vehicles which they de- dard pedal-drive mechanism makes this Warp is a man who grew up on a Ne- were driven in years ago, parked and not fi ne as “fi ne or unusual foreign or domestic compact Classic car the only rear-wheel- braska farm in the 1920s. After inventing used again. The old paint job on the L-29 motor cars built between the years 1925- drive Cord! a plastic-type window material to use on imparts this same impression of long-term 1948 and distinguished for their respective Geisler has several other genuine Clas- chicken coops, he patented it, raised $800 preservation. Many of the placards describ- fi ne design, high engineering standard and sic cars in his museum, with a headline and drove his Model T Ford to Chicago ing the cars to visitors include copies of old superior workmanship.” Most of us would attraction being cowboy actor Tom Mix’s to promote it. Eventually, his efforts paid vehicle titles and information on when the think of these vehicles as “big, fancy, luxu- 1931 Packard dual-cowl sport phaeton. off and he formed Warp Brothers, a com- car was purchased by Warp, how much he ry cars of (basically) the Great Depression This car is exhibited in a special alcove pany that grew to become a major player paid for it, where it came from and who era.” along with related memorabilia. in the plastics sheeting industry. Warp was sold it back then. I have to admit that I did not see lots of Geisler also owns a 1931 Pierce-Ar- fascinated by man’s progress through his- Pioneer Village is located at 138 East these cars on my trip, but I did see enough row convertible coupe with the trumpet tory and created his museum to honor that Highway 6, Minden, NE 68959. For in- to realize that the great Classics are never headlights that were a characteristic of this achievement. formation, call 800-445-4447 or 308- going to fade away, despite the continuing marque. Like many Classics, the Pierce has Today, Warp’s Pioneer Village complex 832-1181. It is open every day of the trend towards collecting 1950s cars, mus- a huge engine (a 385-cid straight eight). comprises 28 buildings on 20 acres and year, including all major holidays except cle cars, vintage sports cars, hot rods and The engine is fi tted with a dual ignition houses more than 350 vehicles and 50,000 Christmas. The winter hours are 9 a.m.- trucks. system and develops 132 hp. That doesn’t items of historical value. Many of the ar- 4:30 p.m., seven days a week. Visitors who Of all the Classics I encountered on the sound like a lot today, but it was among the tifacts are arranged in groups and in the stay overnight at the Pioneer Village Motel 4,700-mile journey, the coffi n-nose Cord hottest cars around in 1932. chronological order of their development. qualify for free second-day admission to was the hands-down winner in terms of Geisler’s Pioneer Auto Show is located There are 12 historic buildings around a the museum. frequency of sightings. I fi rst ran into a along I-90 at Exit 192 in Murdo, S.D. Win- circular “green.” There’s a frontier fort, From Nebraska, it didn’t take very long pair of 1937 Cords at Pioneer Auto Show, ter hours are 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday to Sat- real Pony Express station, Iron Horse lo- to get home. The nine-day trip covered 10 a large and diverse tribute to American his- urday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. He can comotive, a home built of sod, a general states in which I saw more than 1,000 cars. tory located in Murdo, S.D. The two sedans be reached at 605-669-2691. store and a toy store. An original art col- Of these, less than 10 were “big-C” Clas- — one cream colored and one fi nished in After leaving Murdo, I encountered lection includes 25 Currier & Ives prints, sics. I guess that explains why such mod- maroon — were among the 250 cars that some snow in Montana. The TV weather- 23 Jackson paintings and the largest single els are the ultimate prize when it comes to Dave Geisler displays in his museum. He men were predicting more for the following collection of Rogers statues. You can ride collecting vintage cars — only a relatively parks them together in one of the 39 build- week when I would be returning. To avoid the oldest operating steam carousel, see 17 small number of people are able to say they ings housing the collection. problems, I followed the longer Southern historic fl ying machines and marvel at 100 have a Classic car in their garage.

Another Classic ragtop housed in one of the 39 car-packed buildings at A pair of front-wheel-drive 1937 Cords cater to the interests of Pioneer Auto Show is this 1931 Pierce-Arrow that was once a Ringling Classic car fans at the Pioneer Auto Show in Murdo, S.D. Here’s a postcard shot of the Tom Mix Cord in its special setting. Bros. Circus parade car.