| What's
Happening |
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| Amelia
Island Concours d'Elegance |
- The first major show for the completed
vehicle was in March at the prestigious Amelia Island (Florida)
show. Several photos of the vehicle leaving Michigan in the snow and
at the beautiful site at the Ritz Carlton Hotel are are the web
site.
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| 2006
Schedule |
- The group and NATMUS continue to get
many requests to have the Futurliner at various shows around the
country. However, this is not easy to do. Although we have our own
special "low-boy" trailer, we need a tractor to pull it,
at least 4 of the volunteers present anytime it is moved (driver,
mechanic and 2 for show setup), other volunteers present to answer
questions, set up display materials and to generally oversee the
vehicle and exhibits. The display trailer is designed to be pulled
with most any truck with towing capability of 5000#.
- Consequently, guidelines have been set
up for each of these events and basically require the show to
provide a donation to NATMUS, trucking services, expenses for the
crew, etc. Neither NATMUS nor the project can finance these requests
in our present financial situation.
- Plans for 2006 include the following
shows:
- March 12 - Amelia Island, Florida (completed)
- May 13 - Tulip Time in Holland, MI
- June 14 - AACA Millennium Show in Grand Rapids, MI
- July 6-9 - Iola Wisconsin
- August 6 - Meadowbrook show in Rochester, MI
- Sept 1-3 - Labor Day parade in Auburn, Indiana
- Sept 17 - Glenmoor Gathering near Canton, OH
- Oct 2-7 - AACA swap meet & show at Hershey, PA
- Show requests are coming in for 2007
and 2008 already. Decisions on these will be done at a later date.
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| Financial
status: Poster, Hats, "T" Shirts & now a Video: |
- We continue to have a number of
interesting items for sale thru NATMUS as fund raising activities for
the project. The video includes 5 min. of original movie footage from
the early 50's with many photos and movies of Futurliners in action
and the rest of the 40 min video covers this restoration project. It
is titled "Miracle at Beaverdam", is available on either VHS
or DVD and can be ordered from NATMUS for $25 (including S&H).
- Posters and hats are available thru
NATMUS for $10 each plus $3 shipping. You can also see the poster
(along with its history) and the hat on the web site (http://www.futurliner.com/poster.htm).
- "T" shirts are available for
$20 with a color photo of the Futurliner and the words "Miracle
at Beaverdam".
- The Futurliner model built by John Betts
from Retro 123 is a large-scale model (33" long) with excellent
detail including all doors and the top light bar that operate. They
have obtained a licensing agreement with GM for its production and a
portion of the proceeds will go to NATMUS to support this project.
Cost is $1845 + shipping and handling. Photos are on our web. To
purchase one, contact Retro at 815-338-7693 (in IL) or check out their
web site at www.retro1-2-3.com. They are nearly SOLD OUT so hurry if
you are interested.
- Donations are still required to close
out this project and to cover the outstanding loan on the special
trailer that was purchased. Many people have been very generous in
their financial support of the project and all donations are deeply
appreciated. You can be proud to be a part of this very special and
unique restoration project.
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| Barrett
Jackson |
- The Futurliner that was restored by the
FIDO Company in Canada (and as shown on our web site) was sold at the
Barrett Jackson Auction in Scottsdale, Arizona in January. This group
in Canada provided much needed assistance to Don and our project
several years ago that is very much appreciated.
- Don and I received numerous call in
January about why we were selling our Futurliner. They were relieved
to learn it as not ours of course but all were amazed at what the
selling price was - $4,000,000.
- Our web site was a key source of info
for people learning about the Futurliners and the Parade of Progress
in the 1940's and 1950's.
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