APRIL 8, 2000 --
While the Futurliner is owned by NATMUS, the restoration is taking place nearly 200 miles
distant from Auburn, Indiana, where the National Automotive and Truck Museum of the United
States calls home. So, on April 8, a group of approximately 20 traveled from Auburn,
Indiana to Zeeland, Michigan to check on restoration progress of the Futurliner.
This group photo of the NATMUS tour group was actually shot
through the Futurliner.
In the photo are: Glenn Hunsucker, Sheridan,
IN; Dave Coble, Wabash, IN; Wayne Slaymaker, Warsaw, IN; Diann Slaymaker, Warsaw, IN; John
Wilks, Ft. Wayne, IN; Norma Womack, Auburn, IN; Bob Womack, Sr., Auburn, IN; Dave Forst,
Huntington, IN; Roger Vance, Huntington, IN; Rex LaVine, Huntington, IN; Greg Pettit,
North Manchester, IN; Barbara (Bobbie) Smith, Auburn, IN; John Martin Smith, Auburn, IN;
Warren Johnson, Waterloo, IN; Blake Baughman, Auburn, IN; Gary Broadfoot, North
Manchester, IN; Creager Smith, Ft. Wayne, IN; Kathleen Smith, Ft. Wayne, IN; Leah Smith,
Ft. Wayne, IN; Thompson Smith, Auburn, IN; Conner Smith, Auburn, IN; Wabash, IN. Also, on
the tour but not shown in the photo were John and Darla McCammon; Colleen Coble, Warsaw,
IN; Joan Smith, Ft. Wayne, IN; and Sue Johnson, Waterloo, IN |
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NATMUS Director Emeritus, John Martin Smith expressed his delight with the progress that the
Michigan crew has made on the Futurliner. He lamented over the number of years the
Futurliner had sat out in the weather and how the elements had taken their toil on the
vehicle. He was quick to point out, however, that the crew is making superb progress with
the restoration.
While the Futurliner is far from done, much of
the mechanical work has been done or is in the process of being completed. Attention now
begins to shift towards rebuilding the body. |
From left to right: Jim Baker, Dick Saddler, Ed DeVries, Wayne
Jackson, Don Mayton, Ryan DeVries, Del Carpenter, John Wiltjer, Basil Lewis, and out of
the picture on the right is Wally Snow. |
Michigan volunteers pose for a
group photo. Note that in front of them lie a number of large notebooks. Don is not only
keeping a "running" history of the Futurliner restoration project but he is
compiling a wealth of information on the Parade of Progress and other Futurliners as well. |
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Project Director, Don Mayton,
provides the tour group and volunteers with some background on the project and takes them
around the Futurliner, pointing out many of its unique features. After about 2 hours looking over the Futurliner, it was off to lunch
and then two more stops to see car collections before heading back to Indiana. |
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