Event Coverage World's largest Car Collection...Lemay's

All the people crying "hoarder" need to realize a lot of these cars probably never would have survived if it wasn't for this guy.

 

wow!

 

The garbage routes taught him about the things people throw away, and he started taking them home. From a small truck operation to most of SW Washington, he collected the garbage everyone else didn't want to handle until they realized the money in the business, and by then Harold had the contracts. He invested in property all over the state to store his cars and parts, lots of it in dry country. There is an auction every year during the show that disposes of the cars that won't make the museum. Like 20 Corvairs in a row, or cars that have been used for parts to restore the others. Great place to buy project cars. If you go, do't miss the Model A coupe that was wrecked harder than I've ever seen in the back of one of the stalls. He bought the turbine powered 32 highboy that an engineer at Boeing built in 62 or so as well as anything else he was struck by. I remember 7 or 8 41 Chev converts sitting in the bleachers at Marymount. A very real, nice guy that was at every swap meet or auction, whether it was on the farm or in Scottsdale. His wife collects Wizard of Oz stuff too. A great place to spend a day.

 

Thanks for the pics,

 

Great post. Thanks for taking the time to put up the pics. Simply amazing.

 

Yum… stuuufff!…

 

wow


I need to check that out one day

 

Not so weird. He also had the HappyDays Cunningham Desoto Wagon, Peter Lawford's(Rat Pack) Prototype Stutz Ghia, many Movie cars, and many Customs, Muscle Cars , and oddball stuff. Truly unbelievable! B

 

There are a few cars in his collection from Harrahs also. Actually stored not far from the pictures above is 1 for sure. In the same room as Nancy's (his wifes) doll collection.

This brings up a good point most won't understand from the pictures. Most of the buildings at his house are 2 stories, with cars stored upstairs also. The Fords are mostly upstairs, that amphicar, ghia posted is basically above the stair well, as you walk up you need to turn around and look behind you.

I remember when the Rodster was still upstairs.

During some of the last years that Harold was around, the rodster was brought downstairs and outside. For sure 1 year the original builder, who had become friends with Harold, was there and personally fired the car up throughout the day.

The rodster deserves a new article written about it, so much history in it. Did you know Preston Tuckers son I believe owned it at one time?

The car set a speed record before the turbine engine.

Turbine engine set an altitude record before the car.

 

Hoarder? please.

This is an amazing collection and sounds like an amazing man with a great story.

I agree that without even setting foot anywhere near there... its going to lose the personal feel of it if the collection goes to an actual building to house it all. Walking from one out building to another... on the property he built... (and like someone said) with cars he probably parked himself...

its not going to be the same.

Cool nonetheless.

 

Thanks for the great pictures

 

Close but not quite. The original builder was Boeing engineer Leonard Williams who lived south of Seattle. I tried to buy it from him in 1968 but he wouldn't even consider selling. Some time after he died the car was sent to auction in AZ, where Harold bought it and brought it back to the NW. And yes it had belonged to Tucker's son.

As for the collection, remember that he started very early when such cars were plentiful and cheap. One year you were allowed to peer into a nearby warehouse which was full of only unrestored convertibles, stacked 3 high on metal shelving. A '31 Olds coupe and convertible I sold in the late 70's were resold to him, but as yet have never been displayed.

One story was that he paid his drivers a bonus to find him old cars, and who gets into more back alleys than a garbage man? Another was that he once went to look at a car a few miles south of his place, and the seller started telling him about this old coot who was on his last legs and had some old cars his widow would surely unload. He was very interested until the guy gave him directions to his own house.

 

Threads like this & lil' tid bits like above make the H.A.M.B. totally worth it! Too cool!!!

 

Threads like this & lil' tid bits like above make the H.A.M.B. totally worth it! Too cool!!!

 

I want the upper lip off that 46 chevy.

 

That is a Great Little Roadster. And yes, it does sound KILLER!