Motorama Auto Museum - Week Ending December 12, 2025

Welcome to the first Motorama Minutes! Here you'll find museum updates and various news articles of interest to automotive and military vehicle enthusiasts. We hope you enjoy this inaugural issue.

Happy Holidays,
LTZ

MUSEUM NEWS: Valentine's Day Boneyard Tour

Rebuilt and Expanded After July Tornado

Last July, a tornado cut a devastating path through the museum grounds, heavily damaging our beloved boneyard display. While the destruction was heartbreaking, it gave us the opportunity we'd been waiting for—a chance to expand and reimagine this unique outdoor exhibition.

We moved hundreds of vehicles, landscaped several acres, and transformed the space into automotive art. The south yard has been completely rebuilt and expanded, featuring more vintage cars displayed throughout a beautiful wooded setting. New themed sections include Ralph Nader Way, Alfa Parking Only, and the dramatic Vette Pile.

Join us Saturday, February 14th from 9am to 5pm for a special Valentine's Day tour of the boneyard in all its winter splendor. Wander the trails, capture stunning photographs, and enjoy nature alongside automotive history. When you need to warm up, stop in the main hall where we'll have hot chocolate and refreshments available in the Motorsports Bar. You can also check out our latest restoration projects. This is a free event open to all ages—bring your loved ones and your camera!

FEATURED: Phil Hill

From World Champion to Master Restorer

Phil Hill (1927–2008) was an American racing driver who became the first U.S. Formula 1 world champion in 1961, but his second act in the car world is just as fascinating. After retiring from top-level racing, he partnered with collector Ken Vaughn to create Hill & Vaughn, one of the first ground-up classic-car restoration shops in the United States. Based in California, the shop became known for tackling ultra-rare cars with exacting historical detail, often under tight deadlines for shows like Pebble Beach.

One early project was the restoration of a unique 1905 American Mercedes, believed to be the only example built, which had to be ready for Pebble Beach in just three months. Hill's team recreated its intricate honeycomb radiator cell by cell and had new transmission gears forged, ultimately fabricating thousands of individual parts to bring the car back to life. Another epic effort was a 1922 Hispano-Suiza skiff-bodied car that had been abandoned on a mountaintop since 1950; after two years of work, Hill's colleague called it the most beautiful car ever to leave their shop, with silver-plated trim, elaborate woodwork, and an ostrich-patterned interior. [Source]

THIS WEEK IN AUTOMOTIVE & MILITARY VEHICLE HISTORY

Historic Dates: December 16-23 • Visit Motorama to Explore These Milestones!

Dec 16, 1949 - The first Saab production car, the aerodynamic front-wheel-drive Saab 92, leaves the factory in Trollhättan, using surplus military green paint [Source]
Dec 17, 1947 - Promoters and drivers meet at the Streamline Hotel in Daytona Beach to formally organize NASCAR, creating stock-car racing's governing body [Source]
Dec 18, 1957 - The U.S. Army's Redstone Arsenal tests Chrysler-built Redstone missile hardware, showcasing Detroit's growing Cold War military engineering role [Source]
Dec 19, 1924 - The final Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, long promoted as "the best car in the world," is sold, ending a legendary luxury run [Source]
Dec 20, 1963 - Studebaker closes its historic South Bend, Indiana assembly plant, marking the effective end of large-scale Studebaker car production in the U.S. [Source]

Dec 21, 1963 - The film "The Lively Set," featuring Mickey Thompson's land-speed-inspired Challenger I, helps bring hot-rod culture and racing tech to mainstream movie audiences [Source]
Dec 21, 1970 - The U.S. Congress approves the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's expanded authority, strengthening federal oversight of vehicle safety and crash-testing standards [Source]
Dec 22, 1944 - Allied forces in WWII intensify use of Jeep-based reconnaissance units during the Battle of the Bulge, cementing the Jeep's reputation as an indispensable military vehicle [Source]
Dec 23, 1986 - The final Chevrolet Chevette is produced as the Voyager aircraft lands after the first nonstop, unrefueled flight around the world, capping an era of small economy cars and extreme aviation endurance [Source]

THE 1908 NEW YORK-TO-PARIS RACE: AROUND THE WORLD ON FOUR WHEELS

In 1908, six teams from France, Italy, Germany, and the United States set out on the New York-to-Paris Race, the longest automobile competition in history at roughly 22,000 miles. The American entry, a Thomas Flyer driven by George Schuster, battled snowbound U.S. roads, Siberian mud, and European highways before reaching Paris in 169 days. Although a German car arrived in Paris first, penalties for skipping parts of the route gave the victory to the Thomas Flyer. This epic event proved that early automobiles could cross continents, boosting public confidence in the motorcar. [Source]

"BIRTH OF THE AMERICAN SUPERCAR" OPENS AT LEMAY MUSEUM

LeMay – America's Car Museum in Tacoma, Washington, has launched a major new exhibit titled "The Birth of the American Supercar," running from late October 2025 into 2026. Guest-curated by performance-car builder Steve Saleen, the exhibition traces the evolution of American supercars from early high-speed pioneers to today's carbon-fiber hypercars. Visitors can see rare examples from makers such as Ford, Chevrolet, Dodge, Saleen, Vector, Cunningham, and Hennessey, many of which are seldom displayed together under one roof. [Source]

MILITARY VEHICLE PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION

Do you like old military jeeps, trucks, and tracks?

Join 3,400+ members in the Military Vehicle Preservation Association (MVPA) and help keep military vehicle history rolling!

Membership Benefits:

6 issues of glossy, perfect-bound History in Motion magazine
Biweekly History in Motion e-news updates
5% discount on insurance through Hagerty
Access to annual Convention
Voice in shaping the organization's direction
Vehicle technical advisors and expert advice
Official MVPA merchandise from online shop
2 free classified ads in History in Motion
Member-only Facebook group access
Eligibility for prestigious MVPA Awards
Help preserve military vehicle history

Don't put it off. Join today!
www.MVPA.org/join

UPCOMING EVENTS

🎉 January 2 – After, After New Year's Eve Party
Kick off 2026 with our community celebration! Join fellow automotive enthusiasts as we toast to the new year and share stories from the road. Light refreshments and good company await.

💕 February 14 – Valentine's Day Boneyard Tour
Love classic cars? Join us for a romantic stroll through our legendary boneyard where hundreds of vintage vehicles rest. Perfect for couples and enthusiasts alike—bring your camera and discover automotive treasures waiting to be restored.

🧹 April 24-26 – Spring Cleanup Weekend
Help us prepare for the 2026 season! Volunteers are welcome to join us for grounds maintenance, vehicle preservation, and facility improvements. Community workday includes lunch, museum access, and the satisfaction of preserving automotive history together.

🏁 May 1 – Museum Opens for 2026 Season
The wait is over! We officially open our doors for the 2026 season. Come explore over 500 vehicles spanning automotive history, from brass-era classics to modern muscle. Opening day features special exhibits and extended hours.

Aug 14-15 - Central WI 4x4 and Military Show
Our signature summer event! Two days of military vehicles, off-road rigs, live demonstrations, vendors, and family fun. Join hundreds of enthusiasts for Wisconsin's premier military and 4x4 gathering.