Behind the Wheel: Stahls Automotive Collection is quite the ride

CHESTERFIELD TOWNSHIP — Car enthusiasts who have an affection for vintage vehicles might want to race over to Stahls Automotive Collection.

The museum is the creation of businessman Ted Stahl, who — during his childhood — developed an interest in automobiles and who — as an adult — began collecting antique cars. The car buff, whose grandfather once owned a garage, wanted to share his passion with others, so in 2006, he opened Stahls Automotive Collection in St. Clair Shores. Five years later, the museum relocated to Chesterfield Township to accommodate the growing collection.

“He’s always been drawn to mechanical things and loves the artistry and engineering behind these historical vehicles,” General Manager Terri Coppens said via email. “He wants to keep the history alive.”

The Stahls Automotive Foundation is a nonprofit organization designed to preserve, restore and exhibit specific vintage vehicles of the 20th Century.

Stahls Automotive Collection is open from 1 to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the first Saturday of the month. There is no cost to visit, but donations are welcome. Visitors can tour the exhibit at their own pace. Staff members keep everything running smoothly, and there’s a group of volunteer docents who share interesting details about the vehicles.

Every piece inside Stahls Automotive Collection tells a story: the one-of-a-kind cars, roadside memorabilia, historic gasoline pumps and shiny chrome. According to Administrative Assistant Chloe Gieraga, there are approximately 220 cars in the collection, but not all are on the floor at the same time.

“Ted is constantly buying more, so the number changes,” Gieraga said. “We do swap the cars, and some are in storage, so when people come back, they are sure to see some new ones.”

Sometimes, too, the prized possessions are lent out to different car shows.

“Most of the cars do come from auctions, but some come from classic car dealers or even private sellers. Some have been purchased from overseas, but the majority have been in the U.S.,” Coppens said. “For the most part, we look for things that will tell the story of automotive history. Also things that will bring joy to others.”

The temperature and humidity inside the museum are controlled to keep the cars in mint condition.

“Our staff and volunteers do a great job taking care of the cars and making sure they look pristine,” Coppens said.

Early in the tour, visitors view a 1904 Oldsmobile Model 6C Curved-Dash Runabout and a 1910 Buick Model F Touring right next to it. In another spot rests a 1919 Pierce-Arrow Model 66 A-4 Tourer, and spectators also can check out a 1935 Brewster Town Car.

As for Coppens, her favorite car is the 1931 Cord LeGrande Speedster.

“Most people know it because it has a bar in the door,” she said.

Currently, the museum only has a few muscle cars, but plans are in the works to add more.

“We are slowly trying to for the car buffs who like those cars,” Gieraga said.

Staff is trying to add more kid-friendly interactive activities. One example was the Halloween Trunk-Or-Treat last fall.

The building also has a room dedicated to vintage organs — another of Stahls first loves — that play music periodically throughout the day.

 

‘It was fit for a king.’
Other treasures that really attract visitors are the 1948 Tucker sedan and the 1963 Chrysler Turbine car. The Turbine was an experimental two-door hardtop coupe powered by a turbine engine that didn’t catch on in the industry.

Docent Jack Haynes said just 51 Tuckers were made under automobile entrepreneur Preston Tucker and “only 47 survived.” It also gave the Big Three competition.

“It was recognized as a good car. The car is very sturdy, like a tank,” Haynes said. “It’s a rear engine, very roomy, has shatterproof glass and independent four-wheel suspension. There are all kinds of safety features.”

But one safety feature was left out: seatbelts. As Haynes explained, Tucker was told, “If you put in seatbelts, people are going to think this is dangerous.”

Another slice of nostalgia is the 1965 Kirkham AC Cobra, which docent Duane Sabella is knowledgeable about. One plus to volunteering at the museum is hearing the “very interesting stories” of people visiting the museum.

Trey Brand is the museum’s historian and is always glad to share narratives about each car.

“The higher-end cars were built custom for one person,” Brand said.

The purple-blue 1919 “Fatty” Arbuckle Pierce-Arrow, for instance, is a standout and was custom-made for silent film actor Roscoe Conkling Arbuckle, best known as “Fatty.”

“It was fit for a king,” Brand said. “Like a lot of wealthy people at the time, he had a driver.”

The tires on the car are approximately 36 inches in size.

“The wheels are original,” Brand said. “They’ve been restored but they haven’t been replaced.”

The car stayed in top condition. “Because Roscoe lived in Los Angeles, he didn’t have to deal with bad weather,” Brand said.

Constructed from wood with techniques normally used for boats, the 1924 Delage GL Skiff Torpedo is another crown jewel.

“Delage was a French luxury brand in the 1920s, ’30s and ’40s,” Brand said. “It’s essentially a boat. It has three layers of wood in a crisscross pattern. The outer layer is mahogany. Oak is stronger and cheaper, but mahogany looks better. It’s more rich and colorful.”

 

Get ready to cruise
The museum welcomes group tours for schools, Scouts, adult care centers and senior living facilities at no charge. The tours are available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Contact Gieraga at (586) 749-1078 or email chloe.gieraga@stahlsauto.com.

Beginning June 1, Stahls will begin holding its Cruise Nights every Thursday from 4 to 7:30 p.m. with the exception of the third Thursday of the month. On Cruise Night, the museum is open from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

The Stahls Automotive Collection is located at 56516 North Bay Drive. For more information, visit www.stahlsauto.com or call (586) 749-1078.