“He won’t say that he’s retired,” says Dan Heldenbrand, event coordinator of Martin Auto Museum, when asked about founder Mel Martin’s commitment to the facility and its operations. Even into his 90s, Mel remains a near-daily fixture at the 107-square-foot-facility at 43rd Avenue and Thunderbird in Phoenix. Mel’s love for automobiles – and the people who surround them – are what drove him to give public access to his collection back in 2005. And, 20 years later, the scope has grown immensely.
Thanks to its year-round sunshine, Arizona has always been a (literal) hotbed of activity for the collector-car community. Mel Martin’s Museum has evolved in phases; his initial site operated near Interstate 17. We introduced the museum to our readers in 2015. In 2022, the operation moved its still-growing collection to an even larger location in Glendale, and David Castro brought us a glimpse of that facility in March of that year.
Background
Mel Martin was a car enthusiast from a young age and later became known in the Arizona real estate industry. One of his first jobs was working at a service station, and eventually he emerged as an entrepreneur in the towing business. One thing led to another, and he began collecting cars in the 1960s.
Today, Mel’s collection spans over 170 cars and a wide range of makes, models, years and body styles. The Martin Auto Museum is likely to have “something for everyone,” no matter the genre of interest. It operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and offers an immersive experience that includes event space, a gift shop, a room of scale-model diecast cars, interpretive placards, television-based trivia and even a circus carousel.
I caught up with Heldenbrand and General Manager Joe Bridgewater to discuss a few specific topics during my recent visit.
Standout Vehicles
The museum considers three vehicles in particular among its current “crown jewels”:
1948 Tucker 48: This black beauty is number 21 of only 51 ever manufactured. It was featured in the movie “Tucker: The Man and His Dream,” starring Jeff Bridges. Power comes from a 335ci air-cooled flat-six mated to a four-speed pre-selector transmission.
1965 Shelby AC Cobra Mk III: Showing just six miles on the odometer, this legendary roadster was designed by Carroll Shelby and the dash bears his signature. Power comes from a 427ci Ford V8 mated to a four-speed manual transmission.
1930 Deusenberg Model J Torpedo: When sold new, the Model J was the most expensive car in America. This example was once owned by the owner of the Stardust Casino in Las Vegas. It is powered by a 420ci inline-eight mated to a three-speed transmission.
Even though these three are pretty incredible, owner Mel’s favorite in the entire collection is a 1930 Cadillac LaSalle 340 Fleetlands. He reportedly had the car out just a few weeks ago for a club event.
Space Enhancements
In the three years since MAM has been at its current location, a great deal of architectural work has made it a more usable and attractive space. The ballroom features sound-deadening, elegant lighting, a dance floor and audio-visual capabilities that make it a prime venue for automotive clubs and events.
Maintenance Cadence
As one would imagine, it is a daunting task to keep over 150 vehicles in mechanical order, but the Martin team is organized in its approach. Each vehicle is regularly taken offsite for maintenance – usually from one to three vehicles are serviced each week. Fuel systems are closely monitored, and aviation gas is used in some instances to prolong shelf life.
Curation – Adding and Subtracting
Despite receiving frequent offers to take on additional cars, Mel and his team are discretionary about vehicles they are interested in. At the present time, nothing in the collection is for sale, and the museum is not actively looking for any vehicles.
Future Plans
The museum’s leadership team wants the automotive hobby to interest future generations. There have been discussions of offering classroom-type educational sessions on car mechanics, restoration and training. In addition, the curators would like to eventually incorporate special exhibits. One example might be “Cadillac lineage.”
Advice for Young Collectors
Heldenbrand and Bridgewater encourage people to take an interest in their family’s automotive heritage, pointing out that there are some great stories to be uncovered in talking about the cars your parents and grandparents used to drive. The automotive collector hobby, after all, is centered around the experiences that people remember having with their cars. Preserving the historical significance of cars is a way to spark interest in cars for those around us and to meet like-minded people. Learn about the unique car features from eras throughout automotive history.
My Fave
Of everything in the museum, one land yacht in particular swept me off my feet. It was a 466-mile light green 1977 Lincoln Continental Mark V. My great-uncle Victor had a very similar car 30 years ago, and when I poked my nose into the one at Martin Auto Museum, I got waves of flashbacks from sitting in his as a young teenager. The green leather interior was so period-correct, and so perfect!
Thanks, Dan and Joe, for the warm welcome and for the tour of “100 years of automotive history.” To our readers, if you are located in (or ever plan to visit) the Phoenix area, the Martin Auto Museum is a must-see. You can sign up for the monthly newsletter for current events and updates.
Contact/Visitor Information
- Tickets: $15 General Admission, $12 Seniors, $5 Kids
- Phone: (602) 298-2377
- Address: 4320 West Thunderbird Road, Glendale, AZ 85306
- Hours: Tuesday through Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Closed Mondays)
- Website: MartinAutoMuseum.org
