Blackhawk Auto Museum and the "Rat Fink"

24 Feb Sunday

Greg and his father, Ray.

A rainy day calls for indoor activities so we went to the Blackhawk Auto Museum in Danville. Gramma opted out and stayed home with Kai.

The view from the steps of the museum overlooks the plaza of restaurants and retail stores.

A Healey.

'61 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato

'54 Rolls-Royce with "caning" artwork on the side panels (as seen below). The artisan would apply a steady and even bead of paint alongside the car panel much like a cake decorator with a tube of icing applied with a narrow hollow tip.

'62 Lincoln Continental

Used by the John F Kennedy administration. Shortly after President Kennedy's assassination, the vehicle was used by Lyndon B. Johnson. The flags and motorcade lights indicate that it carries a person of power and distinction.

'63 Mesarati 5000 GT Frua. '50 Ferrari 166 Berlinetta with straps on hood.

We also attended a presentation on Ed "Big Daddy" Roth, who was known for "The Rat Fink". He started the era of "pin-striping" cars and using fiberglass to make some interesting and original works of car art here on exhibit for a few more days. I could have sworn I had seen my father work with this car model kit at one time as he used to be big in model planes, etc.

Roth painted on the rat's belly.

The first car in the 50's to have a bubble top.

More Rat Finks- his famous trademark.

'64 Surfite. With 50 miles to a gallon, and with an Austin Mini Cooper platform, this one-person car was designed to carry a surfboard efficiently to and from the beach. The Surfite was featured in Life Magazine.

'26 Daimler Snake Horn, Duessenberg Hood Ornament.

'24 Hispano Suiza Dubonnet Tulipwood.

This car was commissioned for André Dubonet, an aviator and race car driver who was rich from his family's business in aperitifs and cognacs, had an aviator company build this 160-pound car body made of tulipwood that were fastened to the 1/8 inch veneer underneath it by brass rivets. This car was used for long distance racing with its 46 -gallon gas tank.

Spirit of the Wind Lalique Crystal

Ray and Greg on the main floor of the auto museum.

One of my favorites, the '53 Alfa-Romeo B.A.T. 5. Makes me think of a whale shark! This car was built as part of an exercise in aerodynamics in the 1950's.

Greg in his sweet ride on Mt. Diablo.

Then there was Greg's 911 Porsche that we flew to Colorado to bring home to CA in 2002. This car should have been in the museum! But we sold it in 2005.

Taken in our backyard, Sobrante Ridge Park.