End of the road for car museum

Whether to satisfy their curiosity or add to their collection, people came from all over to Dick’s Classic Car Garage on Friday and Saturday for a preview and auction of items from the collection of the late entrepreneur, philanthropist and classic car aficionado Richard Burdick. 

“It seemed like just a good day trip to come down and see them because when they’re gone, they’re gone,” said Jerry McReynolds, who came down from Fort Worth to look over the classic cars and memorabilia at the museum. 

A display of antique hood ornaments from various car manufacturers line a glass case at the entrance to the main showroom.

Several cars and more than one room’s worth of memorabilia from Burdick’s collection went on the auction block on Saturday, Jan. 12. A total of 446 lots went to auction to raise funds for the  Richard L. Burdick Foundation, a nonprofit that Burdick’s family announced they would form to carry out Burdick’s wishes of contributing to the community and supporting values-based leadership through character-based educational programs.

Among the cars auctioned were a 1929 Stutz Model M LeBaron Dual Cowl Phaeton, a 1956 Ford Fairlane Crown Victoria, a 1941 Ford, a 1940 Chevrolet Special Deluxe, a 1957 Hudson Hornet and a 1943 Ford World War II Navy Jeep with a history tied to Corpus Christi. Memorabilia included gas pumps, vintage vending machines, antique toys, license plates, spark plugs, a set of Duesenberg plates, vintage auto mechanics’ machines, gas and oil signs, tools and more. Burley Auction Group handled the auction. 

A row of antique vehicles from the collection at Dick’s Classic Car Museum up for auction are displayed behind a barrier for car enthusiasts to peruse in the main showroom.

Business partners Mel Martin and Betty Pritchard drove in from San Antonio to peruse the items offered for auction. 

“We’re antique dealers, to begin with,” Martin said. He owns Mel’s Mantiques, and Pritchard owns Betty’s Reminisce. Martin said that they had sold cars before and have a lot of automotive-related items in their shops, so they came up to see what they might find for both personal reasons and possibly “to make a buck.”

Doyle and Marilyn Marshall walk through the Mercury Room as they look through automobile memorabilia.

Gary Perser drove in from New Braunfels and walked around the auction preview making what he called his “Santa list.” One of the items on his list he was particularly passionate about was the 1962 Austin Healey 3000 that was for sale. 

“This is a prime color combination for these cars,” he said, noting that the shade of blue on the blue and ivory car is known as “Healey Blue.”

Perser said that although he has bought Austin Healeys and other classic cars before, he does not consider himself a collector.

“I just tend to buy cars and not sell them,” he said.

As for the collection on offer at the auction, he said, “I’m sure everything will be in good hands and go to good homes.”

A pair of Texas vanity license plates from 1984 asks readers the eternal question and answer.

As of press time, the auction house did not have a final total for how much money was raised at Saturday’s auction.

Dick’s Classic Car Garage closed at the end of 2018. The museum’s board of directors announced last year that the museum would transition into a private, nonprofit grant-making foundation focusing on financial support for charities and individual scholarships.

The board of directors of Dick’s Classic Car Garage told the public over the summer that the museum would close at the end of the year and become a private, nonprofit grant-making foundation. The foundation will focus on providing financial support for charities and individual scholarships.

An array of vintage spark plugs are displayed with some packaging.