For someone who dislikes driving as much as I do — it’s rather odd that I have a lively interest in touring museums and events about cars, but it’s the history of them, the amazing stories about them, and their status of supreme importance in our society that really captivates me. With that said, auto related events are a big past-time in the Phoenix area and especially at this time of the year when the weather is picture perfect for hosting them! I wrote about my first visit to the Martin Auto Museum in a previous Armchair Travelogues post back in June, 2022. On a return visit this November I went to see the newest displayed vehicles on the Martin property.
Being that I’m fascinated with all types of vintage vehicles, this latest visit to Martin Museum did not disappoint me! My favorite vehicle this time around is a likeness of “The Mystery Machine”, a circa-1969 minivan from the much loved original cartoon series Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! Which aired on CBS for two seasons during 1969-70, and was later revived again for three more seasons during 1976-78 on ABC. Yes! for anyone who might be speculating…I do remember the cartoon during its original airing — but only the second time around! Anyways, for those not familiar with it, Scooby-Doo follows the adventures of four cool-cat teenagers and their huge Great Dane as they solve all manner of mysteries they stumble upon. The Scooby-Doo gang are like a groovier animated version of the Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew.
They accomplish all of this traveling in their funky little van called “The Mystery Machine” (although the biggest mystery after all these years is whether or not it’s a Chevy or a Dodge they’re driving!) Continuing with television program themed cars, another one that drew my attention was a late 1960’s Dodge with a strong resemblance to the “General Lee” from the popular 1980s comedy show The Dukes Of Hazard. It featured two moonshine-running southern “good old boys” who were constantly getting into scrapes with the local nincompoop law enforcement officers – with lots of back road car chases thrown in for good measure. Like Scooby-Do the Dukes show also spawned a popular movie version years later, long after its television run was finished.
One of the biggest vehicles on display was a gas guzzling Buick Electra 225 from 1964. This one strongly resembles the 1966 model version that actress Jayne Mansfield, her driver, and lawyer were killed in from a tragic crash on June 29, 1967. In any case, these land yachts are intriguing relics from an era when bigger was always better and few people were concerned about the present anxieties like volatile gas prices or global warming from excessive fossil fuel use. With those thoughts in mind, I still enjoyed making my rounds of the car show. Another model that I was impressed with was the Mercury Montclair (1956) which is an excellent example of the 1950s styling I’ve always grooved on with two-toned paint jobs in Easter egg colors and dressy white wall tires.
I was pleased to examine this model up close since I’d only seen it in books or online photos. Although the Mercury’s are not considered classic models in the sense that some of the Chevy’s are from this period, overall I like the design and styling touches more on the Mercury cars – like the chrome placing that give the Monterey an extra touch of pizzazz! In any event, I hope anyone who loves vintage autos enjoyed this little return tour to Martin Auto Museum & Event Center!
For more information ℹ️ about the Martin Auto Museum & Event Center, check out the following website:
