The LeMay Family Collection of about 1,900 antique and vintage automobiles has been recognized as the world’s largest automobile collection. About 500 vehicles from this collection are on display at the Marymount Event Center (a former Catholic Military Academy) in Tacoma, Washington. Shown below are some of the vehicles which can be seen in the White Building. (Note: cars from the 1920s and 1930s have their own photo diary).
1955 Chevrolet Nomad Wagon “Playbunny Coach”
This was created by Eric Medeiros in the late 1960s.
1983 Dusenburg II S
This hand-built replica is on a 1983 Ford truck chassis with a 460 cid Lincoln engine. It cost $225,000 new.
1963 Imperial Crown Convertible
This car sold new for $5,762 and 531 were manufactured.
1951 Nash Rambler Custom Convertible
In 1890, Charles Nash, a former farm hand and shepherd, went to work for William C. Durant at the Durant-Dort Carriage Company. He became intrigued with the potential of automobiles after driving an electric automobile in 1897. Together with David Buick and William Durant, he helped co-found the Buick Motor Company and in 1908 became president and general manager of the company.
In 1916, Nash bought the Jeffery Motor Company and changed its name to Nash Motors. In 1936, Charles Nash retired.
There were 15,259 of the Nash Rambler Custom Convertibles produced; the new price was $1,933.
1962 Gaz 69M Military Utility Vehicle
The Gaz was widely used by Iron Curtain military. The insignia on the door identified Czech military.
1957 Pontiac Super Chief Catalina
General Motors (GM) established the Pontiac brand in 1926 as a companion brand for GM’s Oakland automobiles. The Pontiac was named for the Ottawa chief and was manufactured in Pontiac, Michigan. Within a few months of its introduction, Pontiac was outselling Oakland.
The Pontiac Super Chief Catalina shown below sold new for $2,735.
1975 Bricklin SV-1 Sports Coupe
Built in St. John, New Brunswick, there were 2,100 built. It sold new for $9,780. It was based on the AMC Javelin.
1955 Studebaker President Speedster
In 1852, the brothers Henry and Clement Studebaker opened their blacksmith shop in South Bend, Indiana. Operating initially under the name H & C Studebaker, the business would eventually evolve into the Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company, the world’s largest manufacturer of wagons and buggies. Studebaker began making gasoline powered cars in 1904. At this time, the company offered both horse drawn and self-propelled vehicles. In 1911, the company became The Studebaker Corporation. Production of horse drawn carriages stopped in 1920. In 1954, Studebaker merged with the Packard Motor Car Company.
The Studebaker President Speedster shown below was only built during the 1955 model year and 2,215 were produced. It had a new price of $3,253.
1947 Cadillac Pickup Truck
This was modified from a special-bodied florist car or hearse.
1983 Porsche 928S Coupe
This car was originally owned by Bill Cosby.
One of the first American companies to manufacture and sell automobiles was the Winton Motor Carriage Company. By 1899, mechanical engineer James Packard was convinced that he could build a better car than the Winton. Packard had offered suggestions for improving the Winton to Alexander Winton, but these suggestions were ignored.
James Packard, together with his brother William Packard and George Lewis Wiess (a stockholder in the Winton company), built a factory in Warren, Ohio and produced the first Packard on November 6, 1899. In 1900, the Ohio Automobile Company was founded to produce Packard automobiles and in 1902 the name was changed to the Packard Motor Car Company with James Packard as president.
With regard to marketing, Packards were an automobile for the wealthy.
1958 was the last year for the Packard marque. Only 1,200 were made. It sold for $3,212,
1974 Gaz Chaika Model 13 Limousine next to a 1955 Packard Clipper Constellation
The Gaz Chaika was a clone of the 1955 Packard Patrician. It was built in the Soviet Union from 1959 to 1981. It was used by KGB and Communist Party officials. The total production was 3,100. Next to the Gaz Chaika is a 1955 Packard Clipper Constellation. Notice the similarity in style.
1957 Austin Princess A135 MK IV DS7
Only 200 Princess IV’s were built between 1956 and 1959. They included Mohair rugs, polished wood, and a radio.
1987 Alfa Romeo Type 75 Milano Sedan
This car had the first digital dash with dashboard diagnostics. A total of 387,000 were produced.
1917 Dort Fleur de Lys Roadster
In 1917, 9,300 Dorts were sold.
1913 REO The 5th
In 1913, 7,467 were produced with a new price of $1,095.
1951 Mercury 4-Door Sedan
This custom has been chopped, chrome removed, and given a custom paint job.