Great Hudson Promo display at Gilmore

Park_W
Park_W Senior Contributor
edited September 2013 in HUDSON
Anyone within practical driving distance from the Gilmore CCCA museum complex (near Hickory Corners, MI), you've gotta see the great tribute to the Hostetlers and Hudsons. If Hudson were still in business, they couldn't create a better display. And it's in the most prominent place in the main building. Wow!

For those familiar with the Herbert Bell collection, the last photo is Herb's former red and black '27 roadster, purchased by Eldon Hostetler three years ago and magnificently finished out by Levine Restoration.

Comments

  • ESSX28-1
    ESSX28-1 Senior Contributor
    Thanks for the pics espec from those of us who can't get there!!
  • hudsonsplasher1
    hudsonsplasher1 Senior Contributor
    Gilmore's is one of the top 10 museums in the country. Like Park says,a must see if you're in the area. Also, it would be a great place for the Hudson museum.
  • hudsonsplasher1
    hudsonsplasher1 Senior Contributor
    edited September 2013
    Gilmore's is one of the top 10 museums in the country. Like Park says,a must see if you're in the area. Also, it would be a great place for the Hudson museum.
  • Nevada Hudson
    Nevada Hudson Senior Contributor
    What ever happened to Gilmore? Did it go out of business or did some other company buy it up?
  • Richard E.
    Richard E. Senior Contributor
    Gilmore is very much in business. They did a major expansion that was completed about 4 years ago. Go on there website and look around. I was there in June and saw Eldon's cars. The Gilmore is a very impressive automobile museum.
  • hudsontech
    hudsontech Senior Contributor
    Check out the museum web site @ http://www.gilmorecarmuseum.org/

    Hudsonly,
    Alex Burr
    Memphis, TN
  • Park_W
    Park_W Senior Contributor
    Richard, Nevada was asking about the oil company. I don't recall if there's a connection with the Mr. Gilmore who started the Hickory Corners facility.
  • Nevada Hudson
    Nevada Hudson Senior Contributor
    Yes, the oil company. Might not be any connection to the museum.
  • hudsontech
    hudsontech Senior Contributor
    The Gilmore Oil Company of California in 1936 was purchased by Socony-Vacuum in 1940.
    One of the stunts to endorse Gilmore oil, which sponsored, him was Roscoe Turner (in the 30's) flying around with a live lion cub - complete with cub sized parachute. The lion was later stuffed after it died and put on display at Roscoes home.

    Hudsonly,
    Alex Burr
    Memphis, TN
  • SamJ
    SamJ Senior Contributor
    Participation with Hudson...
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    Gilmore Oil Company, in another stunt, remodeled the famous Topper (movie) car and used it to promote their wares. That car is still around, but has been through many alterations.
  • Trevor J
    Trevor J Expert Adviser
    I was in the States last month and visited this Museum. I spent most of the day there and had lunch at their 50s Diner. It was fantastic. I went on to the Hudson Museum in Indiana also a great visit.
    Trevor New Zealand
  • oldhudsons
    oldhudsons Senior Contributor
    As for the quality of restorations, diversity, and displays themselves I've not seen a museum that can top, or maybe even approach, the Merle Norman Collection or Nethercutt Museum (not sure of exact name) in Sylmar, Calif.
    I think they have 2 Hudsons, a step-down conv. & a model 6-54.
  • Park_W
    Park_W Senior Contributor
    edited September 2013
    Couldn't agree more. Visited both facilities in 2005. The San Sylmar building main room (photos) is simply fantastic. What a setting for some really high-end classics. Like a European palace!
  • oldhudsons
    oldhudsons Senior Contributor
    Right. No entry charge either but usually have to have a reservation to get in.
    They do their own restorations & I was told whenever they have entered a car at Pebble Beach, probably the #1 concours in the world, they have always come in 1st.
    If you expand the photo you can see several of the Collection's Duesenbergs on display in this pic.
  • Park_W
    Park_W Senior Contributor
    As I recall, the main building is open without a reservation; it's the San Sylmar building acress the street where you have take the guided tour, with reservation required. They mentioned the need for enlarging the main building. They had quite a few cars beyond the current (2005) capacity, so were preparing plans for an expansion. Do you know if that's been done?
  • oldhudsons
    oldhudsons Senior Contributor
    I know they finished the bldg. across the street, had some incredible cars in it! I was not aware of expansion beyond that but haven't been there for some years.
  • SamJ
    SamJ Senior Contributor
    Behind the Museum they have the ultimate Hudson on display...a Hudson locomotive, one of the largest ever used in North America. I believe it came from the CPR transcontinental route in Canada. I forget the tech specs, but it is huge. Also has the tender and a private car attached. I know they went to a heckof a lot of trouble and expense to move the thing there.

    In the main building they have "air jacks"...like a hovercraft... to move the cars over the marble floors. Upstairs is a world-renowned display of self-playing musical instruments. They have a giant pipe organ from a Los Angeles silent movie house that was restored over many months by Hudson Club Member Ken Crome of Reno, Nevada. He did a wonderful job on it...
  • Park_W
    Park_W Senior Contributor
    Folks definitely need to take the guided tour of the San Sylmar bldg, which includes the tour of the music machines and a demo of many of them, including the pipe organ. Loved it!
  • SamJ
    SamJ Senior Contributor
    This is the Royal Hudson locomotive at the Nethercutt in Sylmar. It was built in Montreal and ran coast-to-coast on the Canadian Pacific route.
  • hudsontech
    hudsontech Senior Contributor
    What!!!!!! No Lockheed A-29 Hudson bomber from WWII!!!! :D


    Hudsonly,
    Alex Burr
    Memphis, TN
This discussion has been closed.