Event Coverage What a PERFECT day thanks to Richard Munz

WOW, what a perfect day to be a hotrodder!

last night I drove the 56 Buick Super Riviera to a local Cruise Night.

I left home with it this morning at 5:30, in the fog.

I arrived at the shop after a ten mile drive, then grabbed my newest little hotrod and headed for the Madison suburb of McFarland.

A group of Madison area hotrodders typically meet each Friday for breakfast and BS at the Green Lantern.

Today was going to be a special day.

 

I arrived just before 7AM and my pal and retired banker, Al Miller (aka Evil Clown) pulled in shortly. He was driving his very nice Willys pickup. He keeps telling me he wants to change it. I agree, change the title to ME!

I guess he has been retired long enough to forget what banker's hours are.

There were many nice hotrods in the parking lot along Lake Waubesa.

Soon there were a good 50 hotrodders enjoying breakfast and BS.

I had the priviledge of sitting across from Al and the guest of honor, Richard Munz.

Richard is a life-long hotrodder that likely needs no introduction. He has a keen eye for a high-quality car, knows the right folks to hear about special cars being for sale and has the means and the confidence to quickly step to the plate when opportunity presents itself.

Today, we were going to be treated to an open house at his shop.

 

RVM Classics is near downtown Madison. It is located in an eclectic area that is mostly apartments occupied by UW College students.

The building has been superbly restored by Richard. In the "day" it functioned as a Taxicab company. It is a concrete building two stories tall, plus the basement. There are circular ramps that allow cars to be driven both up and down from the main level.

As you enter, it is evident that Richard is a detail-oriented person. The ambience is perfect. There are many displays and they are well thought out and organized. There is artwork and significant photos everywhere.

The atmosphere is bright and airy. Music from a player-piano provided a great background.

Richard and his partner Jim Busby, along with Richard's grandsons are accomplished Bonneville Salt racers. His record holding roadster was not present, but a nice tribute to it addresses visitors when they cross the threshold. BTW, the re-established their record again this year. I believe this is the third time they bumped their own record.

 

Everything is JUST SO. Obviously, Richard is a very detail-oriented person.

There are some offices in front, all very nicely done.

The work area is arranged perfectly and there is nary a drop of spilled fluid to be found.

Rows of vintage engines, mostly flatheads are on stands awaiting installation.

The shelves are full of rare vintage speed parts, all cleaned/polished and organized.

The player-piano sounded fabulous.

 

As I mentioned, Richard has a keen eye for a great hotrod.

Many of his cars have great history, great fabrication and vintage powertrains.

He has commissioned construction of some wonderful models of his cars. Or in this case, the car was built to look like the model. He treated us to a couple of "cackles". WOW!

Millers are special in Wisconsin. These two were like jewelry.

I was impressed by the circular ramps leading up and down. They were beautifully adorned with murals depicting cars that were significant to Richard.

 

Upstairs was more the "stock" collection.

He is a Mercury lover and certainly had some great examples.

How can you not like a fat-fender Ford?

There were guys sporting Woodies

He had a VERY stock and original 32 three window coupe.

Each and every car was a masterpiece in itself. Seeing them all together in one setting was just incredible.

 

The lower level contained some very significant cars, including numerous examples of the 75 Significant Cars. I have a hunch there is not another collection in the world that can outdo Richard's collection of Significant Cars.

The Foster car is my favorite. It was a champion at the very first Detroit Autorama in 1953. At that time is sported a jeweled flathead. Today is caught my eye with a nicely dressed early Cadillac overhead valve engine. The mechanical tach drive was a crowd favorite.

Each and every one of these cars is simply a rockstar.

 

Each vehicle had a professionally prepared sign telling of its significance. It will take me many more visits to be able to comprehend and digest this much information.

The quality of the display and the presentation are outstanding. They almost overshadow the cars themselves.

but no, the cars are the stars.

 

Many of these cars are famous, award-winning and magazine depicted. Richard has collected many of those awards and they are prominantly displayed.

There are enlarged magazine covers and articles that are professionally framed providing background for these wonderful cars.

The thought, effort, energy and expense to construct such as display must have been monumental.

 

This collection of speed parts was discovered in a garage in California. It seems Richard was in the process of buying a car from a widow and he stumbled upon this collection of "scrap iron"

 

Richard sure did enjoy himself. He was always smiling and was a very gracious host.

Can you imagine the challenge of maintaining such a collection? Top it off with the burden of maintaining such an outstanding facility.

 

This is a private collection

It is not a museum.

Visiting is by invitation only.

What an honor and a priviledge to be welcomed to such a wonderful exhibit of American hotrodding

 

I especially enjoyed the chance to meet like-minded folks.

Many I met came from long distances to enjoy this opportunity.

It was great to see Aboner for the third time in just over a week.

Curt R showed up just as I was preparing to exit. We certainly appreciate his old photos and his constant effort to waylay the restrictive laws being proposed at the Capitol.

Evil Clown was a great companion all day. Too bad his summer didn't go as planned. I had hoped to see him out and about more often. Seeing him today, in this setting, was special.

 

Alas, the office was calling and there was work to be done.

I was more than humbled when Richard extended his goodbye by offering me an open invitation to visit again. He even suggested I bring along some friends. That certainly gave me a feeling of power.

Maybe now I will become a "best friend" to some of you!

The forty mile trip home was a great one. With the windshield open at the bottom, the cowl vent offering fresh air to my big feet and my head stuffed into the headliner of the 5" chopped roof, I was off and hustling back to the shop.

Thank you, Richard, for a PERFECT DAY!

 

Bob, are you trying to boost your post count hahaha



President US Chapters Goldchainers C C
Dallas, Texas Chapter

 

no, I am trying to put together a nice chain of posts with photos. Come back later.

 

So THAT'S how you do it without interuptions.

Oops.

 

The suspense is killin me!!

 

Wow what an awesome collection and shop!

 

Wow, very nice indeed. Richard has the cleanest collection around! I also like Evil Clown's truck and your 32 is very cool Bob! Looks like a great day to be in WI. Someday I am moving up there.

 

Oh my! That is amazing.

Note to self, must win lottery!

 

Doesn't get much better than that.....thanks for sharing!

 

Bob, those are awesome pictures, I would love to visit that place.

 

Bob, it sure was a perfect day.....I didn't make it to the L.A. Roadster show this year, but this day sure made up for it. What a super collection.....and Richard, what a great guy! Thanks for all the pic's.
-Denny

 

I can bear witness to the fact that the Tommy Foster roadster was at the first Autorama, because I couldn't decide whether I liked this new style hotrod or the more traditional Frank Mack roadster. I still can't decide.
Thanks for the pictures and thanks to Mr. Munz for preserving this great collection.
I think that is the Gray Baskerville roadster in that one line up.

 

Richard is a great guy and a true hot rodder. It is indeed a privilege to view his amazing collection. The historic cars represented are mind boggling, each one more amazing than the last.

Bob, you left early! A bunch of us went to lunch, and then to check out the progress on Glenn's '40 convertible project at his place. I left home before 6:30 AM, and got home about 4:30 PM. Sometimes breakfast turns into all day!

It was good to see you, and everyone else today. It was really a great day!

Al

PS - I thought you were going to crop out my OT wheels on the Willys.

 

always great to see you Al. Best wishes to the family

 

wow. Wow. WOW! Had no idea a collection like that is nearby. Thanks bobwop.

 

Nice, Bob, thanks for sharing. That cat has my kind of stuff! Real tasty eye candy. Maybe I should come up there and be your new best friend

 

The 40 Merc(Sweeter Than Wine) with the Carson top is one of my alltime favorite customs. Used to see it all the time when I was a kid. I had to check this Thread out because I knew he owned it. The 48 Ford sitting next to it still has an original Carson Top tag on the header bow.