While Chasing Classic Cars IV

           

                                                     “Walt”

While visiting the Carlisle Show over the weekend I enjoyed a pleasant side trip. Friday being cold and miserable so I decided to visit the Antique Auto Museum at Hershey. I have been trying for sometime to encourage the Museum to add the cars they are selling to my web site. Hurray for bad weather!

The Museum is amazing and full of excellent autos. Best of all, I met Walt. Walt Weidner a 93 year old volunteer attendant and car buff aficionado.  

The museum picked the perfect volunteers. Walt and Dennis, another attendant, were not only cordial they were very knowledgeable. Both had been involved with Classic Cars for many years and both were glad to share their knowledge with visitors.

Not only was I able to enjoy some great cars, I got an automotive history lesson as I went along taking pictures and writing notes.

Allow me tell you about Walt.

Walt is 93 years old, lives at an assisted living facility and volunteers at the Museum. Truly he is 93 years young. He brags about being at the Museum before any of the cars. He was there during the building’s construction in year 2000.

Walt has always had a love affair with cars. Over the years, he has restored 4 cars bringing them back to museum quality.

His cars were a 1975 Bricklin. What’s a Bricklin, you ask? Walt informed me that these were Canadian built. The most difficult part of the restoration was the winged Doors. His other beauties are a 1927 Franklin, a 1931 Franklin and a 1938 Graham. Good taste Walt!

Spending time with Walt, you will find out all kinds of Classic Car Historical tidbits.

 For example did you know that:

1. Did you know that the 1931 Cadillac Town Sedan had unique windshield wipers? These wipers were on a cable system and clean the windows in a back and forth motions.

2. Did you know the 1914 Jefferies Truck was the first vehicle with 4wd and 4wheel brake systems? These were highly sought after vehicles by the French and Russian Governments during WWI.

3. Did you know that the 1924 Moon had a hardwired light mounted on its dash board that could be pulled out of the car and it reached all around the vehicle to act as a trouble light?

Walt shared these as well as many other details as we walked the Museum. The coolest thing about Walt is that he has written a book titled “6 Unfamiliar Cars & Their Stories.” He assured me that I would love the book and all proceeds benefit the AACA Museum here at Hershey. Soon, he hopes to have his second book completed. Of course, he teased me a bit by telling me that this book will reveal a very little known fact. It will reveal which car company made a profit during the great depression.

Walt, I am waiting.

While Chasing Classic Cars, I have found another gem. The Hershey AACA Museum and its best antique, Walt Weidner. Do yourself a favor; make time to tour this museum. Oh yes, make sure to say hello to Walt. 

D

1939 Cord L-29http://www.aacamuseum.org/

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