Harold LeMay, a Tacoma businessman, loved cars and managed to collect more than 3,000 automobiles, trucks, and motorcycles over forty years of collecting. A number of the vehicles from his collection form the nucleus of the LeMay—America’s Car Museum. This collection of more than 300 cars, motorcycles, and trucks is displayed in a four-level building in Tacoma, Washington. A special display—Celebrating the Passion and Vision of Harold & Nancy LeMay—highlighted some of the cars in their personal collection. Shown below are some of the cars in the LeMay Collection from the 1950s.
1950 Oldsmobile Futuramic 88 Station Wagon
Oldsmobile styling included an aircraft-inspired design theme. The Oldsmobile engine, a V8 called “the Rocket,” was one of the first overhead-valve small-block V8s used by an American automaker. Only 2,383 of these cars were built and they sold for $2,585.
1953 Kaiser Dragon
The 1953 Kaiser Dragon was the most luxurious car the company built. It was priced at $3,924, just $250 more than a Cadillac. A total of 1,277 were built.
1958 Dual Ghia Coupe
Dual-Motors Corporation was an American automaker that lasted only eight years. This is a four-passenger sport convertible. Only 117 were built as the cost to build one exceeded the selling price of $7,646. Peter Lawford was the original owner of this vehicle.
1959 Chrysler 300E
The 300 model referred to 300 horsepower. The 413 cubic inch Wedge V8 actually produced 380 horsepower.
More Cars
WAAAM: Automobiles of the 1950s (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: Porsche automobiles, 1955-1969 (photo diary)
LeMay Family Collection: Some European cars from the 1950s (photo diary)
Packard Museum: Concept cars of the 1950s (photo diary)
Packard Museum: the 1950s (photo diary)
Packard Museum: The Caribbean (photo diary)
Museums 101: Some Fords from the 1950s (photo diary)
Museums 101: 1950s Fords in the Classic Auto Museum (photo diary)