The InstaGRAM Report: Austin Clark Jr.‘s ‘Silent’ 1963 Long Island Automotive Museum Auction Part 2
This auction was a first for the Long Island Automotive Museum. It was an attempt to increase profits and make up for lost revenue. Henry Austin Clark, Jr. explained the purpose of the auction in the catalog: “After fifteen years of operation of the museum, it has become obvious that the displaying of cars to the public is a losing proposition. Therefore, it is planned to discontinue operation of the museum after the 1963 season, unless some sort of miracle occurs.”
A look at the auction vehicles found in the LIAM postcard archives in Part 2. For those who missed Part 1 of the story, click the link before reading any further. All caught up? Great! Let’s turn to page 5 of the auction catalog...
By Gram Spina
Page 5
Lot #20: 1911 Stanley Steam Touring Car - Sold for $3,700
“Model 63, 2 cyl, 10 H.P. Selling this means we are really intending to get out of the auto museum Dodge because it is number one on the hit parade.”
A photo taken on July 4th, 1960, by Irving Fitzig with the 1911 Stanley Steamer (second car in the row). The little boy looks like he is fascinated by this “certified steamer” on display at the museum
Today, this Stanley Steamer is surrounded by other historic automobiles in the private collection of William Parfet.
Lot #23: 1912 Renault Berline - Sold for $2,800
“4 cyl, 35 H.P. Once the conveyance of the mistress of a tobacco tycoon, she carried us on the first Glidden Tour revival to Detroit and back in 1946.” The car on the postcard differs from the one sold at auction. It is possible that this Renault did not have a postcard, and it could have been a typo that referred to this Renault that sold in the 1955 Carnival of Cars Auction. Today’s location of the 1963 auctioned-off Renault is unknown.
Lot #25: 1914 Isotta Fraschini Racing Runabout - Sold for $5,250
“4 cyl, 120 H.P. This is our largest four-cylinder car, and it combines most of the desirable features of a high-powered gentleman mount. From the Cameron Peck Collection.” This sporty Isotta photographed on the postcard is the same one sold at this auction. It is still being determined if this truly unique and rare Isotta is around today; only a small handful exist today, and hopefully, among them is this Racing Runabout.
Lot #26: 1914 Pierce-Arrow 7 passenger Touring - Sold for $7,750
“6 cyl, 48 H.P. A fine restored example of the favorite American touring car. Paint and leather by Reuter; engine restored by the Antique Auto Shop.” The Pierce-Arrow featured on the postcard is the same one sold at the auction. Today’s whereabouts of this exact 1914 Pierce-Arrow are unknown.
Page 6
Lot #28: 1915 Ford Model T Touring Car - Sold for $1,500
“4 cyl, 22.5 H.P. Last of the brass radiator model Ts. This one was put in the barn when its owner went off to WWI and left there when he didn’t come back. A low mileage clean original car with new paint and top.”
As seen in the postcard, the Model T is the same car sold at this auction. This postcard is a later release that includes relevant information on where this Ford Model T can be found. This Model T is proudly displayed at the Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum in Cleveland, Ohio.
Lot #31: 1916 Milburn Electric Brougham - Sold for $800
“One of the last two electric cars to be run by their original owners on Long Island, or anywhere else for that matter.” There was no postcard for this electric car, however, there is a New York Daily News clipping from October 1956 that discusses the fantastic story of the original owners of the 1916 Milburn Electric car and the selling of their car to Henry Austin Clark for the price of $150.00. Today’s whereabouts of this old-school electric Milburn have yet to be publicly documented.
Daily News Oct. 5th, 1956
Page 7
Lot #40: 1923 Pierce Arrow Coupe Sedan - Sold for $2,750
“6 cyl, 38 H.P. Dual valve. Was the property of Augustus Stuyvesant and was kept in the carriage house on 57th Street between Lexington and Third.” This elegant, but brick-like design Pierce Arrow is the same one that is showcased on the postcard. The location of this historic car is unknown as of today.
Page 8
Lot #47: 1933 Pierce Arrow Silver Arrow - Sold for $7,000
“12 cyl, 175 H.P. Built for the 1933 Chicago Worlds Fair and the Auto Shows of that year. Streamlined design, power brakes, concealed spare tires on each side, curly and birdies maple wood interior trim.” The postcard showcases the same Silver Arrow that was sold at the auction. The Vanderbilt Cup Races website featured a deep dive involving the history of this Silver Arrow in a previous article. Thankfully, this Silver Arrow is preserved in the private collection of the Richard H. Driehaus Collection in Chicago
Lot #48: 1935 Hispano Suiza Convertible Coupe - Sold for $4,000
“6 cyl push rods, K-6. Beautiful smaller version of the finest of French classic cars. Body ID beloved to be by Ferndez.” This magnificent Hispano on the postcard is the same one that was sold at the auction. Hopefully, this French convertible is inside a private collection; no confirmed connections were found in publicly accessible information.
Lot #50: 1939 Packard Twelve Bruno Cabriolet - Sold for $3,200 ( with a starting reserve price of $950)
“V-12, 175 H.P. No other car has as much feel as driving a destroyer. You keep watching for bell buoys.” As seen on the postcard, this incredible Packard is the same one sold at the auction.
Here is a photograph taken at the auction when this 1939 Packard was auctioned off to the O’Connor family. It is unknown where this vehicle is today. Hopefully, it is well-loved and cared for.
If you or someone you know have attended or bought a car(s) from the 1963 Long Island Automotive Museum, we would love to hear your story and see your photos in the comments below!
Comments
Loved reading this. Sure hope the “whereabouts unknown” cars are somewhere safe and are being well cared for.
Let the Automotive Detective work begin! The search to find the whereabouts of so many of these cars will be as fascinating as their contributions to the history of automobiles as a mainstay of popular culture. My love for all things auto-related was fueled by my initial visit to the Clark museum and this terrific deep dive into the cars and the auction and the treasured postcards is a giant step in reviving ournation’s historic love of car-culture. Very proud of you Gram… Keep it going!
The InstaGRAM series on Henry Austin Clark and the LIAM have been most enjoyable.
I hope there are more to come. It is interesting to read about the cars that were there before my visits. Finding each of the cars today would be great.
I just discovered the location of the 1902 curved dash Olds that hung from the ceiling of the museum in a garage in Hauppauge last week. I found it by fate. I saw a ‘28 Model A roadster in a driveway 2 miles from my home. I stopped to see it and to introduce myself. After a discussion, the owner took me into the garage and showed me the Olds stored in the corner surrounded by stuff. I was totally amazed at the discovery, as I had been to the museum In Southampton a few times as a young boy.
Great discovery, Wayne! Below is a screenshot of a blog here from 2010. If you enter -.1902 Oldsmobile - in the Search option here, it’ll lead to the 2010 blog. Definitely a mystery for a long time.
Wondering if some of these cars went to the Gilmore auto museum in MIchigan.