Academy of Art University Automobile Museum
Location1849 Washington Street
San Francisco, CA
Coordinates37°47′35″N 122°25′24″W / 37.793020°N 122.423430°W / 37.793020; -122.423430
TypeAutomobile museum
Websitewww.academyautomuseum.org

The Academy of Art University Automobile Museum is a non-profit museum located in San Francisco, California. The museum serves both as a conservator of automotive history and as a tool for students in the industrial design department at the Academy of Art University, particularly those in the Automotive Restoration program.[1]

In 2015, Forbes estimated the value of the museum's collection to be $70 million.[2] With over 42 exhibits on display, the museum is accessible for both AAU students as well as the general public.[3][4]

History

A former President of the Academy of Art University, Richard A. Stephens, started the museum and is the proprietor of over half of the cars.[5] The Stephens family—including Richard's daughter and current University President Elisa Stephens[6]—began to seriously collect antique cars in the 1990s. The first car purchased for the collection was a 1929 Packard, which was built the same year that the university was founded.[2]

In 1999, AAU purchased its main showroom at 1849 Washington Street.[7][8]

In 2009, the museum exhibited 30 cars from the 1930s at the 52nd Annual International Auto Show.[9]

In 2013, 34 vehicles were featured at the International Auto Show, presented by Autotrader.com. The vehicles were chosen by AAU's Industrial Design Department Director Tom Matano. Kevin Diamond, director of the show said: "We are proud to be able to exhibit vehicles from the museum that represent the elegance, style, craftsmanship, technology and innovative spirit of automotive designers past and present.”[1]

In 2016, over 30 cars from the museum's collection were displayed at the 59th annual International Auto Show at San Francisco's Moscone Center.[10] Hemmings Motor News’ Dan Stoner described the museum as having “one of the largest collections of antique cars on the West Coast.”[11]

In 2018, Academy of Art University auctioned off 50 cars at Mecum Las Vegas for $3.7 million.[12] Early in 2018, Robert Fisher was announced as the new CEO of the Academy of Art University Automobile Museum.[13]

In May 2019, four cars were sold for $467,500; and 15 more cars were sold in August 2019 for $1.69 million.[12]

Collection

The Automobile Museum features 170 vintage vehicles.[12] Notable classic cars include: Duesenberg Model J (1930), Cord L29 Convertible Coupe (1931), Alfa-Romeo 6C 2500 SS Berlinetta Aerodinamica (1939), Tucker 48 (1948), Chrysler Town & Country Convertible Coupe (1948), and Mercedes-Benz 300SL “Gullwing” Coupe (1955).[14]

The museum's Tucker 48 is production car #1003. The car was purchased at auction for $2,035,000[15] from the previous owner, George Lucas. The car has also been exhibited at the San Francisco International Auto Show, among other car shows.[7]

The Mercedes-Benz 300SL was previously owned by Jenny Craig, and has both fitted luggage and strawberry metallic paint. Only 10 Rolls-Royce Phantom 1 Rivieras (1929) were ever made, the museum's car being one of them.[14]

The museum also exhibits the 1933 Pierce-Arrow Silver Arrow, which can reach a speed of 115 mph and was previously owned and restored by William F. Harrah.[7] Only five of these cars were built in total, with and only two others remaining today.

Automotive Restoration Program

Students in AAU's industrial design program can get an associate degree in auto restoration. Through a partnership with Stellantis, students can participate in a course where the goal is to design, brand, and build vehicle components that reflect Stellantis. Previous course sponsors have included: Alfa Romeo, Maserati, Jeep, Subaru, Audi, Volkswagen Group, and General Motors.[4]

Charities

Proceeds from the museum go to both the Rotary Club and the Boys and Girls Club. Every $10 admission fee received during the hours it is open to the public each week is donated to these charities.[3][16]

References

  1. 1 2 "Academy of Art University reprises vintage auto exhibit". SFGate. Retrieved 2016-10-30.
  2. 1 2 Soppe, Taylor; McClymonds, Chad, Inside A San Francisco Family's $70 Million Car Collection, retrieved 2016-10-30
  3. 1 2 "Classic cars go on display at the Academy of Art University". ABC7 San Francisco. Retrieved 2016-10-30.
  4. 1 2 "Academy of Art University Offers Brand-New Courses in Auto Restoration". APN News. 6 October 2022.
  5. ↑ "A day at the Academy of Art University Automobile Museum". NoBraking.com. 2013-06-14. Retrieved 2016-10-30.
  6. ↑ Magazine, SOMA. "SOMA Magazine » Archive » Elisa Stephens In The Fast Lane". www.somamagazine.com. Retrieved 2016-10-30.
  7. 1 2 3 Clark, Meaghan (2015-03-12). "Just How Much is Academy of Art's Vintage Car Collection Worth? — The Bold Italic — San Francisco". The Bold Italic. Retrieved 2016-10-30.
  8. ↑ "Inside the Academy of Art's Private Car Collection". Shawn Clover. Archived from the original on 2016-12-24. Retrieved 2016-10-30.
  9. ↑ "Academy of Art University to Exhibit Classic Cars". Dexigner. 2009-11-12. Archived from the original on 2016-10-30. Retrieved 2016-10-30.
  10. ↑ "Academy of Art University will showcase vintage cars". San Francisco Chronicle. 2016-11-21. Retrieved 2016-11-23.
  11. ↑ Hemmings.com. "The Art Of Restoration. And Vice-Versa: The AAU Restoration Program - Hemmings Motor News". www.hemmings.com. Retrieved 2016-10-30.
  12. 1 2 3 Eskenazi, Joe (21 October 2019). "The Academy of Art recently unloaded 56 of its classic cars. The millions it received may soon come in handy". Mission Local.
  13. ↑ Vaughn, Mark (2018-10-24). "Academy of Art University selling 50 cars at Mecum Las Vegas auction; museum coming". Autoweek. Retrieved 2020-06-17.
  14. 1 2 Motavalli, Jim (12 August 2022). "San Francisco School Teaches Auto Restoration—And Hosts A Fantastic Car Collection". Auto Week.
  15. ↑ "1948 Tucker 48". Gooding & Company. Retrieved 2016-10-30.
  16. ↑ "Academy of Art University Auto Museum". Road & Track. 2012-05-23. Retrieved 2016-10-30.
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