1954 Olds F-88

This is the car that in 1954 could have "killed" the Corvette. So, Chevrolet, being GM's big sales and profit Division, campaigned to GM to"kill" this car when Chevy was coming out with its 6 cylinder sports car with its two speed Powerglide transmission and side curtains here was a sports car from Olds with a big old V-8 and power windows.

So, GM said no to Oldsmobile on building this car, the world's rarest automobile, a 1954 concept Old's Rocket F88 the only one in existence. John S. Hendricks, (Discovery Communications founder) paid in excess of 3 million to acquire. After spending decades as a collection of parts stuffed into wooden crates the F-88 was reassembled. In 1954 the F-88 was a Motorama Dream Car and was one of only two or an unconfirmed possible three ever created.

The F-88 seen here is literally the only car left of its kind and was sold to John and Maureen Hendricks at the prestigious Barrett-Jackson Auto Auction in Scottsdale, Arizona for an unbelievable $3,240,000. This acquisition made automotive history and is the cornerstone of the Gateway Colorado Automobile Museum in its own special room in a rotating display worthy of the F-88!

1896 Ford Quadricycle

Through steam had really been Henry Ford's first love, he soon decided that the future lay with Gasoline engines. The Quadricycle was his first American Automobile and it can be seen one striking quality which anticipated later Ford practice - it weighed only 500 pounds and was the lightest vehicle of it's type yet produced. Bicycle wheels and steel tube chassis were used. Three years of experimentation preceded the car and it was not until June of 1896 that it was moved out of it's shop at 58 Bagley Ave. for a trial spin.

A four cycle two cylinder engine put together from discarded scrap metal bits and a plumber's pipe generated about 3 to 4 horsepower. Two belt were arranged to transmit the engine's power to the drive wheels. A clutch lever tightened or loosened the belts and gave the drive the choice of 10 or 20 MPH speeds.

The Henry Ford Quadricycle was a crude machine by modern standards, yet it ran and it was soon to be joined by millions of its descendants.

1929 Essex Speedabout

The Essex Motor Car Company was part of the Hudson Motor Car Company. Essex produced small affordable automobiles and is best known for creating a smaller versions of the Hudson super six. The first Essex was shown in 1919 after it had been delayed due to World War 1. The Essex was a vehicle of great quality and durability. They were equipped with a four and six cylinder engine that was quiet and free of vibration. Over the years Essex sales propelled the Hudson motor car company into third place in overall American Automobile sales for 1929.

In 1927 the Essex Motor Car Company offered the first 2 passenger Speedabout. The lightweight construction and aerodynamic design gave the Speedabout a top speed of 70 to 80 MPH. Essex did not offer the speedabout in 1928 but it did reappear in 1929, with just 5 known examples built and were built as show cars by Hudson

The beautiful Boattial design is truly unique, most often you will only find on an American Packard, Auburn or Duesenberg automobiles. Additional features include rear mounted spare, wire wheels, whitewall tires, rumble seat, cycle rear fenders, folding windshield and a diving frog radiator mascot.