International Model Car Builder's Museum?

[Snake45]

What's the deal with the International Model Car Builder's Museum? Is it still in bidness and a going concern? The website is a mess with many broken links and the latest date I could see on anything there was 2010, with most of it dating to 2007 or before. 

I googled the address, which seems to be a strip mall (in Sandy, UT). Is this the case? 

[jas1957]

I believe it is still a going concern & it is in a strip mall in Sandy, UT.

[Russell C]

8 hours ago, Snake45 said:

... the International Model Car Builder's Museum? Is it still in bidness and a going concern? The website is a mess with many broken links ...

During the GSL contests, I've visited the Museum pretty much every time since it opened. The thing to keep in mind is that the operation of it is a 100% volunteer effort, with more of it going toward receiving & maintaining its content, and unfortunately a lot less toward the website. The stripmall location happens to be a least cost alternative to a much more expensive one, and due to the shortage of available volunteers overall in the immediate area, it's open on a reservation-only, call-way-in-advance basis. Trust me on this, though, if anybody who loves the history of model vehicles has a chance to visit the place, they won't be disappointed. What our hobby needs is a mega-bucks lottery winner who could cover the expense of a much more centrally located larger building and the salaries of museum guides who are absolute model vehicle enthusiasts. Poor as I am, I can't donate money, so I donate services such as helping the Nordberg collection get transferred to the Museum.

Edited March 30, 2019 by Russell C
typos

[tim boyd]

What Russell said.....also extensive photo coverage of the museum (from a few years back) here.....TIM  

[Scott Colmer]

Thanks for posting that link, Tim. I've been to the museum once. It was good to see it all again. 

[sfhess]

The Museum is located in a small industrial park in Sandy, which is in the south end of the Salt Lake Valley.

Museum trustees have been trying for years to get some sort of dedicated building and funding to acquire and support it.  There have been pleas for modelers to contribute to the Museum to help support it financially.  Most of the funding comes from the pockets of a few donors and the trustees.

The latest email sent regarding this year's GSL show describes the seminars to be held and includes the following:

"Status Report of the International Model Car Builders’ Museum.   In anticipation of the Museum tours the following morning, please gather with others on Friday night to enjoy a presentation of the latest Museum acquisitions, including our recent acquisition of an important collection of models and ephemera from the famed Fisher Body Craftsman's Guild. We’ll also talk about Museum and programs and the need for your help in preserving this unique repository of our hobby’s history.  A “contingent matching grant” offer will be unveiled which can lead to us acquiring a permanent building."

[Oldcarfan27]

I remember this Museum was put together and operated back in the 80s and 90s by Mark Gustafson, who also lived in Sandy, Utah. Does anybody know whatever happened to him? He was a great promoter and enthusiast of the hobby.

[peter31a]

He is still going. He is very involved in the museum and the running of the Great Salt Lake Model Car Championship. That said, like many others he is getting older and the last GSL will be in 2022.

[Russell C]

22 hours ago, Oldcarfan27 said:

... Mark Gustafson .... He was a great promoter and enthusiast of the hobby.

Gustavson, and "is," present tense.  You have just under 4 weeks if you want to see him in person at this year's GSL:  http://www.gslchampionship.org/

[Howard Cohen]

Follow up...I just came from the 'museum' webpage and there is very little information there, the last date being December 2019. There are pictures of 3 cars and an engine, no other pictures. The only words are telling about setting up a webpage.

Does it still exist? Where are the models? The books? The magazines? The History? Will I ever get a 'thank you' for the contributions that I made 10 and 15 years ago? Will the 'museum' ever tell us about the models in the 'Oakland Roadster Show Display'? 

FYI...'Museum' is in quotation marks as it is not listed on the State of Utah museum register nor the United States museum register. Too bad, it had so much potential and may still have if it is ever updated.