In depth - A Visit to the International Model Car Builders's Museum in 190 pictures

[tim boyd]

A Visit to the International Model Car Builder's Museum

There's only one place like it in the entire world. The International Model Car Builder's Museum is located in Sandy, Utah (a suburb of Salt Lake City), and features a spectacular collection of the best historic model cars created by such world famous builders as Augie Hiscano, Dave Shuklis, Jim Keeler, Don Emmons, Phil Jensen, and many, many others. Special attention has been paid to collecting the winners from the national model car contests of the 1960's. More recently, winners from the Greater Salt Lake Model Car Contest, considered today to be the world's most difficult and presitigious model car competiion, are also displayed.

In addition, there is a priceless collection of artifacts from the world of model cars, including one-off manufacturer castings of tool masters for kits that were never produced. Finally, the Museum houses the 1/25th scale Oakland Roadster Show diorama, the most ambitious group modeling project ever undertaken my members of our hobby, which replicates in precise detail the Oakland, California Roadster Show circa 1963, including replicas of the cars in the show. Even replicas of the T-shirt booths and signs hanging from the rafters of the old Oakland Coliseum building can be seen in the diorama.

Quite a few of these pictures were taken looking through the glass of the display cases, so sometimes the focus and depth of field is compromised. But for sake of completeness, I've posted all the photos from my visit.

In all, I can't recommend highly enough that all model car builders make the pilgrimmage to Sandy, Utah, at least once during your model building career. For more details on the International Model Car Builder's Museum, see http://www.themodelcarmuseum.org/

(This is the source file from which I drew the photography for my article on the International Model Car Builder's Museum that appeared in Model Cars Magazine a couple of years ago.) Thanks for looking....TIM

Here's the link: http://public.fotki....national-model/

Edited August 19, 2012 by tim boyd

[Dr. Cranky]

Thanks for sharing the eye candy, Tim. One day perhaps I will be able to visit the museum and see all the great work housed there.

[Deathgoblin]

Now my question is, do they sell models in the gift shop?

[Miatatom]

A Visit to the International Model Car Builder's Museum

Finally, the Museum houses the 1/25th scale Oakland Roadster Show diorama, the most ambitious group modeling project ever undertaken my members of our hobby, which replicates in precise detail the Oakland, California Roadster Show circa 1963, including replicas of the cars in the show. Even replicas of the T-shirt booths and signs hanging from the rafters of the old Oakland Coliseum building can be seen in the diorama.

I actually attended the 1963 Oakland roadster Show. I was in the US Navy and attending Radar School on Treasure Island, between San Fran and Oakland during that time. Bought a sweatshirt from Ed Roth with "Mother's Worry" on the front. He autographed it. I had a bunch of pictures but 50 years later, they're in a land fill somewhere with the sweatshirt. Can't attest to the accuracy of the diorama but it does seem familiar. I especially remember the red Merc. I think Roth's booth was on the left but then, it could just be my imagination.

Edited August 20, 2012 by Miatatom

[tim boyd]

Tom....I can't recall the exact date of the ORS diorama...it was either 1963, 64 or 65. So it's just possible your memory is correct and mine is wrong! I do vaguely recall a T-shirt booth somewhere in the diorama, and there's even a 1/25th scale (let's see, 25 x 25 = 1/625th scale in real life!) slot car racing track along the back wall. The detail is just astounding....and that's not even mentioning all the precise model replicas of the real cars at the show. Truly a great model car building team effort. TIM

[440 Dakota]

Tim thanks for posting,that is incredible

[cobraman]

Wow ! Talk about a trip down memory lane.

[darquewanderer]

That was great Tim, thanks for the link.

[Greg Pugh]

I will go someday! I've been promising myself that for about 10 years now it seems.

[Modelmartin]

I have been there during the GSLIMCC and it is well worth it. I would urge everyone to attend the GSL and the Museum in one shot. It is worth it. They run shuttle buses from the show to the museum to make it easy. Don't say someday or one day I will. Just do it. 2013 is coming up.

[Scott Colmer]

Exactly what Andy said. Seeing the pictures was great. Thanks Tim!

[Von Don Koolkat]

Tim, the last year for the model car contest (run by Bob Paeth) for the Oakland Roadster Show at the old Exposition Building was 1963. Having just moved from Lincoln, Nebraska, the first year I attended the Oakland Roadster Show was 1964, There was no model car contest at the 1964 show. I remember being disappointed in there not being a model contest, and frankly was highly disappointed in the change in style of the full size hot rods and customs. Although they were very well built, they didn't look like the ones I had seen in Car Craft and Rod & Custom magazines.

From my recollections, Mark Gustavson had told me the project was based upon the 1960-63 shows, allowing replica models of rods and customs that 'could' have conceivably been at the ORS. In this way, the choices of models to be built was wider.

At that time of the project, documentation and photos of this building (which had been torn down) were sparse. I think they (mostly Ken Hamilton) did an awesome job on this. I wanted to participate in the project, but it wasn't meant to be. The completion of the Oakland Roadster Show Diorama and subsequent article inspired me to build my own version of the show. Ken Hamilton graciously furnished me with information on the structure that he had. I decided on a different view of the show. I also chose to omit the elaborate roof superstructure but retain the columns, catwalks, and walls.

The finished diorama of mine is 6 ft x 30 inches - just the right size for a folding table. I was assisted in this project by Bob Karoll, Dan Morris, Robert Blanco, and Fred Huff. My project was finished just in time for the fiftieth anniversary Grand National Roadster Show in 1999 at the Cow Palace in San Francisco. Due to it's size, I've only shown my diorama at 2 other shows - one local one, and once at West Coast Kustoms Paso Robles car show. The late Eric Rickman recognized the show diorama right away.

With the internet today, there's a lot more photos and information available on the Oakland Roadster Show.

About six years ago, Mark gave me a tour of the Museum - the ORS diorama there is very impressive! I also have the six foot tall Budd 'The Kat' Anderson Memorial on temporary loan to the Museum so more modelers can see it.