#337 Rolling Through Time: Inside the Martin Auto Museum with Rick DeBruhl
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Car
Honda Civic
The Civic is a small, practical car that many people use for daily driving. It’s known for being cheap to run and easy to fix.
Term
air induction system
The air induction system is the part of a car that lets fresh air into the engine so it can run. It has things like an intake tube and a filter.
Term
battery
A car battery is like a big rechargeable pack that gives power to start the engine and run lights. If it dies, the car won't start.
Concept
hydro lock
Hydro lock happens when water or another liquid gets into the engine's cylinders and stops the pistons from moving. It can break parts inside the engine.
Term
recall
A recall means the car company is telling owners to bring their cars back so they can fix something that might be unsafe or not working right.
Part
instrument panel display
It’s the screen in your car that shows you how fast you’re going, where you are on a map, and other useful info while driving.
Part
instrument cluster
It’s the screen on the dash that tells you things like how fast you’re going and how much gas you have left.
Term
over-the-air update
It’s like getting an app update on your phone, but for the car’s computer. You can get new functions or bug fixes without going to a service center.
Car
Chevrolet Corvette
The Corvette is a fast, American sports car that people love for its speed and looks.
Part
fuel filler pocket
It’s the spot in a car where you put the fuel cap; it helps keep spilled gas from spreading.
Part
floor jack
A floor jack is a machine that lifts a car off the ground so you can work underneath it.
Part
lug wrench
A lug wrench is a tool that helps you tighten or loosen the bolts that hold a wheel on a car.
Car
Porsche 911
The 911 is a famous German sports car that’s known for being fast and handling well.
Term
used cars
A used car is one that someone else has driven before. It’s usually cheaper than a brand‑new car, but you should check its condition carefully.
Company
Pronto National Association
Pronto is an organization that helps people who sell or work with car parts by giving them training and information.
Company
Parts Authority
Parts Authority is a store that sells car parts, tools, and accessories for people who fix cars or enjoy working on them.
Brand
AC Delco
AC Delco makes replacement parts for cars, like batteries and brakes. They sell parts that fit many different car models.
Concept
Indy 500
The Indy 500 is a famous car race that happens every year in Indianapolis. Drivers race around a track for 500 miles, and it’s very popular in the U.S.
Concept
Formula One
Formula One is the top level of car racing in the world. Teams build very fast cars and race on tracks around different countries.
Concept
Martin Auto Museum
The Martin Auto Museum is a place where people can see many different cars, from very old ones to newer models. It’s like a big car gallery.
Car
Ford Thunderbird
The Thunderbird is a fancy, two‑seat car made by Ford that’s meant for comfortable driving.
Concept
dune buggy
A dune buggy is a small, open car that’s great for driving on sand or rough ground. It usually has big wheels and a simple body.
Car
Meyers Manx
The Meyers Manx is a small, open‑sided car that was built for off‑road fun. It’s famous for being fast and lightweight.
Car
Mercedes-Benz SL
The SL is a fancy German car that’s open on the top and very comfortable to drive.
Concept
cutaway
A cutaway car is one where the outside shell is taken off so you can see all the parts inside, like a car that’s been opened up for a look at how it works.
Part
exhaust system
The exhaust system is the part of a car that carries away the hot gases from the engine. It helps keep the car quiet and clean.
Term
internal combustion powered motor car
An internal combustion engine is the kind of engine that runs on gasoline or diesel. It burns fuel inside the car to make it move, which is how most cars work today.
Brand
Duesenberg
Duesenberg made very fancy and fast cars a long time ago. They were famous for being the best in speed and style.
Car
Tesla Roadster
The Roadster is a fast electric car made by Tesla that can go from 0 to 60 mph in just a few seconds.
Brand
Cadillac
Cadillac makes fancy cars that are often expensive and have lots of features, like a big car with shiny lights and comfy seats.
Car
Audi 100S
The Audi 100 is a mid‑size German car that was popular in the past for its comfortable ride and good handling.
Car
Ford At Mustang
The Mustang GT is a faster version of the regular Mustang, with a bigger engine that makes it even quicker.
Car
Dodge Challengers
The Challenger is a big, powerful American car that’s similar to the Mustang but with its own look.
Company
Sears Automotive
Sears Automotive was a part of the big Sears department store chain that sold cars and car parts. It closed many years ago, but it was a well-known name for buying vehicles.
Brand
Smart
Smart is a brand that makes very small cars, usually only one or two seats. They’re designed for city driving and are easy to park.
LIVE
Welcome back Ranch Nation, always an honor to hang out with you from the renowned East
Valley Institute of Technology, but right now you need a little trombone brass and some
Some of you are complaining about that big daddy monsoon and white you winch
I see some of you out of town people driving the 101 some of you came in from Chicago
I'm not sure why coming to the desert maybe you had family you had emergency you had to see that cousin
You didn't want to see but you had to see him and bam the Haboobie. Here you go. You got hit
Right when you drove in welcome back ranch nation you mechanical maniacs wrench nation dot TV for all of our
Family that dips in and out of the show some of y'all in the way to school late school
Whatever work wherever you're going know that we have the podcast in a big shout out to our high desert
Familia out there in California. We appreciate you
But yeah, we got caught in it man. My daughter first time driving. How many just first time in that Haboob
She calls me up. She's driving a little like a skateboard little small car
Probably blew her over but she was very cautious. Okay, and she said dad. I'm going slow
I said honey just head up to the high spot of the road, right?
She's in central Phoenix somewhere and for those of you that don't know Haboob is it's like your
Wild
Mother-in-law coming to town like you didn't expect it
It's Gumi
Clouds changed scary. Yeah, my first time seeing it a didn't get on the mic. Did you survive?
The Haboob I did I was actually working at Walmart while that happened
Everybody stayed inside for the most part a lot of our a lot of our online order delivery people like myself
We're walking out into it, which was interesting
So it wasn't really drama for you. Uh, mr. Greg ovist with G w e w z up. Yes, sir
Where were you at in Haboob? I was on the 10 freeway. It was in my roof of a mirror fortunately
So you saw it coming like a bad movie like
But I ran out ran it truck stayed clean. I'm good. Yeah, you know, I'm honored to work with the
Channel 3 doing some segments automotive wise and it's not pretty
I'm gonna tell you cuz we may not be done with the Haboob in the monsoons. No, not at all
I don't know. Hey, you know, you're tired to say but this is the season for those of you that think you're evil
Knievel in your little Honda Civic
Mainly passenger car, but I've seen trucks you will swallow with a whole fish tank of water on the ground
You don't think so and if your air induction system that air box
Some of you have the can and to get fancy you want to put it low by the bumper
Yeah, I've seen you down towards the ground. You call me at the garage. Hey Frank
I think I just need a battery. I won't start yeah, and then we find usually I get I get mom and dad calling
And mom and dad will be like yeah, my son was out last night. He got off of work
And we don't know what happened, but we think the battery needs it and it's it's a bad
It's a bad hair day for that engine because you can hydro lock an engine. So do yourself a favor
Stop getting in a rush. You can call people and just wait it out because these I've seen it one-year union school
And I think it was 19th Avenue. It was some years ago people out there with their canoes
That water comes fast
You're not ready you got to watch out if you're not ready man
So just take your time like I tell my daughter go stop by get a sloppy cheeseburger and a parking lot and just wait it out and
Yeah, and especially if you're up north you guys can get those flash floods
Don't be don't be the champion because first responders man. It's also dangerous for them
And now they have that dumb law. I think it is where I think so
Barricades why I mean why not to pay for the cost money? Yeah, you know my my aunt's having a heart attack
She needs a call. Do we get like we got to get over here to the aunt to revive to save her right?
Meanwhile, this knucklehead is
Rocking the mud in the mud like you know, and he's
So just be cautious. I don't mean to preach on that
Got some recalls. I want to share real quick. We're gonna get to Greg. You have a fascinating story about what you did
Let me introduce this show. I should probably do that. You guys know we work really hard
to premiere
Some great folks and talents not only from the United States of the medecas the north of medecas the Mexico and Canada north of medecas
But all over the world and we're honored
Mel Martin Greg. I know you're good friends with Mel
Martin Auto Museum in fact we got Rick De Brule who's a veteran motorsports broadcaster and automotive journalists
with
Smorgasbord of experience decades of experience covering in the 500 formula one Barrett Jackson
We're gonna have Rick come on and I don't know what happened to Mel Mel was probably buying a few cards as but Rick
Rick sits on the board and if we're gonna represent the Martin Auto Museum
We've got Rick is gonna share some fascinating stories. They're walking a cyclopedia is incredible
In fact, I tell you we've had Craig Jackson on the show if you guys are out at the fall auctions
You'll you'll see Rick out there and he's just a plethora. It's an honor to have Rick Rick will be joining us here shortly
I want to share with you a recall. I think these two recalls may affect some of you
Are they EV related? No, I try to stay away from that, but most your EVs anyway
People are gonna be over the air software updates, but Ford is recalling right now
355,000 roughly
Trucks over software issue causing instrument panel display. Look the gist of this is
That the panel the instrument cluster. This is gonna sit there and flicker upon startup
Okay, now which vehicles this would be pertinent
This is
Like I said, 355,000. Let me get it straight here. It's a can wake up that controlled area network. We see this in the garage
See a lot of it. In fact, we got some big training next week
We try to train once a quarter you guys. I'll send the guys and the crew out
But NHTSA is it enforced this because this could be a problem if your cluster is not lit up and so on and so forth
Vistion is behind the manufacturer that's behind that now the good news is oh
I'm trying to get the year
Hang on guys this f5 50. There's about 49,000
Look bottom line is if you drive a newer f1 50 550 afford in general pick up
Okay, cuz I can't find the year. I'll have it in show notes
But the nice thing is it's an over-the-air update. Now, that's cool. We've seen that evolve
So you don't have to trip it into the dealership
That can be done remotely, right, you know, which is fascinating
we get to program vehicles sometimes we have to replace modules and
We have to reprogram and so they're changing the parameters of how all that works and operates
So that's something to be aware of and real quick
We also have another GM recall 23,000 or so of these Corvette the zero six and zero one
Potential fire risk. Oh, I love that bet. Oh man
23,000 is not a big number. It's not but I know I have a lot of my vet enthusiasts and drivers
I see you running down 101
So what what is the fire 13 13 to 26? I got the model years on this one 23 to 26
X-R1 X is not affected and it goes on to say
to prevent excess
gasoline from spilling into the fuel filler pocket
They've been instructed to install a simple shield that diverts it all go figure people
We just went from this 70 million lines of code
type of recall to get Charlie to put a shield in that one
So just be aware of it
And again when you call your dealerships, don't beat them up
They you know, they're always tell you people be kind
none of these
Could be immediate dangerous not like to tell you to accelerate a pedal where you could be me or neighbor's bedroom
Problem although that was the carpets. Yeah
That was kind of goofy. So there's your recalls Greg overs you did something special man every time you come in
It's an honor really and I mean that you're a great friend
But you you're surrounded with a big heart and charitable you inspire a lot of people talk to us about what you did recently share with the people
Well, you know, I'm always about charity events
sponsoring certain things that benefit or have a bigger cause a bigger value and a cause
But I had this idea I spoke to Brian Benedict
He's the head designer of Hot Wheels and Mattel and this was at the Benedict Castle
So, you know, there's no there's no relation to Benedict Benedict last name Benedict
Sure, sure, but big that's a big charity charity
I'm very McGuire sponsors it his family's been doing it's in remembrance of his daughter Nicole
Well, I found out they made a braille hot wheel and this hot wheel. No, that's cool. Yeah, it really is
Had they always been no, they had made it a few years ago
But on the packaging is braille and then on the bottom of the car
There's also braille and they come in white silver and I think a green so when I found that out
I asked to kind of get a few of them. So
What he did is for that next six months
He sent me every braille car that came across his desk
So he sent me almost 90 of them within, you know, not 30 days
That's incredible and what I was able to do with that is I was able to reach out to the
Foundation for blind children here in Phoenix off northern and I 17 and I sponsored a day with the kids
That's amazing. It really was what I was able to put together with the support of a lot of people is
All the kids came in at first of all, I brought the Porsche my Magnus Walker tribute for beautiful car
Yeah, they allowed me to park it in the almost the atrium of the facility right in front by the front door
And I was able to talk to probably 20 30 people or kids
About cars now, these are kids that have never driven a car probably will never drive a car
Well technology who knows you never know never know yeah, but I basically just taught a class and what I did is I I
Brought a tire that was not mounted. I brought a rim. I brought a floor jack
I brought valve stems and lug nuts and a lug wrench Wow
That's the whole class really was a touch and feel because you could get away with that
Yeah, so I was after we did this question and answer with all these kids
It had great questions on how how tall my car is how long it is how fast it goes
You see them get you light up because oh, I'd imagine they come out to the parking lot. Absolutely and they were like, okay
All right, they telling us what to do and then here's Greg with the Magnus Walker
Well, we got him excited. Oh, it was it was definitely a profound morning for me as well
What I was able to put together with help of Jared the director of the school is he made labels in braille
And I applied them to magnets so I had magnets all over the Porsche rock star right there
So the kids were able to go out and read like left front fender and the color and you know, this is the light
This is the wheel. This is the glass. This is the trunk and they were able to get inside now
You know the Porsches are not very big on interior. There was nine kids on the inside of that car
Oh, wait a little to door 9-11 a little to door and there was nine kids and they're just loving it touching and jumping and playing and you know
Maneuvering parts and steering wheel and it was just a great day
So at the end of all that, you know the support of Brian at Mattel
I was able to give all the kids and the teachers a braille hot wheel on the way out and
One little profound moment is whether this girl little girl. I think her name was Olivia
She was like maybe six or seven she comes up says can I take some of those lug nuts home?
I said absolutely. So this little girl walks out with like ten lug nuts in her pockets
That's all jiggling on their way out. She come home and yeah, I'm mom and dad
Yeah, what do you got lug nuts? What do you betcha? Yeah, like what but a job at this company?
What are you doing? But no, it was a great day. It was absolutely. I'm looking forward to doing it again
Yeah, and it was a day where the the students were able to
Bring their parents and their siblings now
You got to think about if you're visually impaired and you go to event do your family and siblings usually go with you
Probably not because it's visually impaired specific
So it was a day where the children and the students were able to bring their parents their relatives their siblings
And it just was a great family thing and it's just
Exceptional community and a lot of you a lot of you no matter what you do how young you are early in your career
I always use this story. My brother hates me that I bring it up
But he's always doom and gloom and I said brother go and help go to the Red Cross
Go go somewhere where people need help and you'll humble yourself remember that we we got to keep it centered and a lot of you think
Oh, I gotta throw a lot of money at it. I don't just spend some time and yeah
Whatever you do if you basket weave for a living
There's a way to do the baskets to make people happy man
But no, it was it was a great day and handbump right in the middle of
On the top of you know profound things that I've been involved with or have the pleasure be involved
It's definitely that's top. Yeah, I'm gonna switch it over to Aiden. Aiden is a former student
Aiden I always agree for you can meet this show you you like clockwork you here and keep it happy
We got about two minutes before we bring Rick take a quick break. I want to hear some funky town weird auto mode of news
Baby, this one's an extension of one of our automotive news that we did last time you remember the the Amazon
Selling used cars now, but for some reason it was only Hyundai so in LA
Amazon is using as the mascot car a Volkswagen Lada
Wow, yeah, but now that brings up a whole new set of questions for me
And it's art is Volkswagen gonna get their feet wet with this
I don't know. I just tried it right now if you know reach out to us
Maybe we're just a bunch of knuckleheads here, but I go on to Amazon use cars and there's the Hyundai
It's like they have this arrangement. You're saying in California. They're highlighting the Volkswagen in
Yeah, in Los Angeles. They're doing that highlighting the Volkswagen is their sponsor car
Yeah, I think they're gonna grow it, but
It's hard to say would you buy
Somebody don't want to just go to the dealer at all. I
Get it. I'll be honest with you. I went to a dealer
I'm not gonna mention names bought my daughter a car was in and out in an hour and a half
Now some of that was I wasn't when I was younger that would have been I've been begging for credit and things like that
but it was a little different but
Do you want to just do the whole full deal? I got to say that probably that percentage Greg's got to be 30% of compute consumers
Actually do that. Absolutely. Maybe even more maybe more when it came out. We're like now. Yeah
But I find that interesting make a note. We'll follow up and see how this grows, but that's Amazon
Used vehicles. Well, right on we're gonna take a short break from rare classics to iconic race
Machines people the Martin Auto Museum is just about chrome
It's just an about the chrome and horse part. Are you gonna get the chrome and horse power?
But it's really about preserving history Mel Martin has done an incredible job with his team over there
And we're honored to have automotive broadcaster and storyteller. Can we call him a storyteller? He's such a great guy
Rick De Brule who represents
Mel's Martin Auto Museum. Yep, we're gonna talk about the history. They were on I-17 now
They're on the West Side. So I want you to stay tuned
We're gonna dive in to the Martin Auto Museum right here in our backyard people Martin Auto Museum. Stay tuned next
I
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Welcome back wrench nation an honor to spend it with you. We've got eight more Greg
Over's insprudia remind you same a fast
2025 out in Vegas people that's coming up
Check out the recent interview with Tom
Tiso running the VP of events for Seema
They have a whole slew of musicians hanging they always bring game from an entertainment perspective Queens of Stone Age
Oh, wow in house black crow
In-house and hey, don't forget the week before Seema is Stuart storebacks, right?
Stuart so so back so back. Yeah, it's concourse Vegas concourse
I remember when he started that I know he actually came out here to the concourse in the hills
Yes, he's kind of perusing and we met it was really good time
So Vegas look the falls come in people so line up your calendars this particular Friday night November 7th
Seema Fest is open to everybody. Yeah, you know Seema's an industry thing
But that night you can come in and enjoy that and then I might add last week
We had Jim Liao co-founder of a formula drift
Who is now with PR I?
body on dread he's gonna be open and that's in
December and of course that's Indianapolis so lots of stuff
We'll have it on a website wrench nation dot TV
But in the meantime, we got a storyteller automotive broadcaster local. I got a drum roll. Let's drum roll
Wait, I did that banged it now. We got feedback. What's the heck do you hear that?
Anyway, let's bring mr. Rick in representing Martin order music
I think we there's something going on with our board hang tight Rick
I'm not sure Rick. Oh, thank you. I got some feedback you guys got feedback in the deal
This is live radio. This is how we were Ricky or a member live TV locally
I
Said way too much of my life for hanging around live TV. I know I know it's but it's an honor to have you on and
You've been around for quite some time covering
Indy 500 formula one bear jacks and it goes on and on
In fact, I'd like to jump right to it. I think can I reveal what Rick's doing over at the Martin order museum by way of?
Okay, so Rick
Before we get into the backstory
Currently your project that you're working on is to actually film up
The smorgasbord of cars that you so you're narrating that story. Tell us about that. That's like brand new for you
So the Martin Auto Museum you talked a little bit about it, but it's a great facility
It's a 43rd Avenue with Thunderbird on the northwest side of Phoenix
We'll talk more about melon a minute, but we got more than a hundred and seventy cars
And it's the full automotive spectrum
I mean from the earliest days of the automobile to our newest cars a 2020 Corvette and you know a lot of people come in
They have a lot of questions
And so what I've done is I started creating a series of I call them automotive evolution profiles of the cars
I have a YouTube channel. It's just called Victor Bull cars and I go through each car
Individually and I spent about 10 or 15 minutes
Looking at the history of that car and it's really fun to dive into them
It's also interesting to see what cars people are interested in and you know what things people interested in
But the point is you get a great deep dive into the history of one particular car
You've been doing a preview of cars and with with many in the industry from many events
Sorry rick we're having some uh technical are you there rick? I'm here my apologies. Okay
What is you've been around what is the vehicle that like eludes you what have you not like what what is that car
Like as you've seen a lot what vehicle is uh, man, that's on my list and I
And then the follow-up would be would be would martin auto museum
Be that spot to get that eclectic ride
possibly, you know
You know first off martin auto museum doesn't sell anything
So there's a lot of places around the country that call themselves museums and they're really just showrooms
We are a real live honest to good enthusiasm. We don't sell anything
I mean, you know if we we may reach a point where we don't we have too many cars
And we want to get rid of something for a particular reason
But the cars that are there aren't for sale as for me what eludes me
Well, you know the list is a mile long and my problem is everything I see I like just today
I was driving down the street and I saw a classic meyers manc style dune buggy pull in front of me
And I thought I really want one of those things
I mean, it's just crazy to think but I mean, you know the classic old school dune buggy vw engine
Meyers manc style
I'd love to have one of those and then you know the other end of the spectrum is you know
I mean who wouldn't want a Mercedes 300 sl it now that felt probably a little further out of my price range in the meyers manc
I hear you uh martin auto museum give us the address for folks that may have to dip out
Maybe they're on their way. They're gonna catch a podcast later. Let's get a location in a phone number if we can rick
So it's 43rd avenue and thunderbird. So it's right there on the uh, northwest corner
There's a mcdonald on the corner. You can't miss that. We have 150 foot tall flagpole
So you can't miss it when you're driving by
Um, it I don't think if you've lived in the valley long enough, you might remember gemco remember the store is gemco
Oh, yeah, um, this is basically an old gemco and for those of you who don't know what gemco is
Gemco was kind of like a uh, you know a target
And so mel acquired this shopping center and he stripped it out
just completely renovated the inside of it and made himself a made a museum that is
spectacular more than 170 cars
Technically we have a mailing address in glendale, but we're in the city of phoenix
So we're right on the edge and the phone number if you have any questions. It's 602
298
2377 so 602
298 2377 before we dive into some of the deep history and mel martin's addiction to these cars
That is true, uh, which feeds us all because uh, let's face it if you're listening you you as an enthusiast
There's an addiction there and it's a comfortable safe addiction. It's very healthy and you can spread that with your family
I want to let folks know as well. It's not just like
I mean the museum is amazing
But it's it's really an event center because that is bigger than what was on i17 i17 was great
Could you talk to folks that may be looking in the fall?
What is uh, what are some of the events that you guys can hold out there and how is that all practical with the car collection?
So let's give a little bit of history
So you mentioned the i that we used to be up on i17 used to be just north of bell road
People always remember there was a fire engine by the side of the road that said martin on a museum
That opened in 2008 in 2022 that's when we bought the new facility
And whereas you could put about 50 cars in the old place now
We've got more than 170 and to your point, you know mel's a businessman. He's a pretty smart guy now
I should point out mel is 95 years old and he is still cranking. He goes into the office every day
He is a busy being he's always wheeling and dealing but but 95 years old still cranking
And his idea was that you need more than just a museum
You need a way to fund the museum so in addition to some other things he's done
He built in two great event centers
So we have a 150 seat meeting room
So if you're having a corporate meeting you just you know, I mean how many times you've been to a boring hotel
For a you know a boring corporate meeting
You know you can have a corporate meeting in a in a facility that has 170 amazing vehicles
And we also have a 400 feet ballroom
And and I mean we've held high school proms there
We've held just amazing events there and and and it's it's a once again
It's a rent it's an event center
But we don't like to say why go to a boring event center when you go to an event center that's got something cool
And I'll tell you what when we have high school proms there
It is a blast hanging out with these high school kids who are walking around some of them are
Crazy smart about these old cars. They may not know all of them
But they know a lot and others even though they don't know them
They're fascinated by them and it's great seeing that young generation
You know be interested in all these classic cars. Yeah, there's no doubt about it
There is one particular vehicle and greg help me out. I've seen it over at barrett jackson. It is kind of a
dissected
Oh, yeah corvette which which really you get to see all of the system sort of yeah
It's called a cutaway and what it what it is the whole car is basically expanded up and risen off the frame
And every piece of that motor a drivetrain chassis brakes
steering components are all visible
Um to anyone that wants to observe the cars
But it's it's a great thing to see all the inner workings of it and it's in the back corner of mel's corvette section
Yeah, it's it's a 67
So it's you know the last of the mid-year corvettes that great body style and not only did they raise it up
But what they've done is they they painted it in such a way
That you can look they've got a little little um, you know guide that tells you you know if it's blue
It's part of the exhaust system. It's yellow. It's part of the electrical system or whatever
And so the great thing is you you can look at the car and actually start to understand even the engine has been cut away
So you can see the pistons. It's really an amazing amazing piece
You know, there's a lot of museums greg you've been involved. We've had a few other folks on
Uh peterson museum and such here's a jewel in our backyard
And I got to ask you rick because let's say we've had we have some hardcore enthusiasts and uh, I've I've seen one museum
I've seen them all and all right, whatever rick straighten it out straighten it straighten the people out mr rick
Why martin otter museum?
For anybody a that's right here in our backyard throughout the whole valley state of arizona and maybe just all over the country
What makes one?
Come out to the martin otter museum
Well, first off, there are a lot of great auto museums in this country
And and you know, I can't go to enough of them to be honest with you
But you know a lot of them have specialties
You know the either special era of the car that they're looking at a special type of car or your race cars or whatever it may be
Um, and the other thing is that a lot a lot of these museums
Really are are almost all about celebrating the art of the automobile. Don't get me wrong. I love that because I I love the curves of steel
What there's a couple things that make the mel martin otter museum
Different and the first thing I'll talk about is the collection as I said more than 170 cars and it spans the full automotive spectrum
We've got a replica of an 1886
Ben's which is the first production motor car ever made first internal combustion powered motor car ever made
Now it's just a replica, but we have a 1905 catalytic
It's a real production car from 1905
And then as I mentioned the other one is back and we have a 2020 corvette c8 the modern stuff
Um, and so so that's cool in itself. It really tells the full automotive story
It goes from from the earliest days to the modern portion
But then the other thing that thing that makes it so special is all the cars are lined up
We've got we've got some of them that are cordoned off and you can't touch them because they're we have three and a half million dollar
Duesenberg, you know
But but most of the cars you can get right up close to and I want to say more than half of the cars
We actually let you get into the car what museum around the country
Let's you go up and touch the artwork, right?
We let people get in and see what it was like to remember what it was like to be behind the wheel of a 1963
Chevrolet 409 or a
Vto I mean that's what's so amazing about the museum is it's not just a great place to come and look at the cars
It's a great place to come and experience this automotive history
Yeah, I couldn't agree more with you rick
I think it's one of the the best parts about mel's museum is the interaction that he allows people to have with the cars
Even more so with the kids. Yeah, that's uh, so it leads me to this point
I mean like mel's been doing this for some time
How does he make a decision rick on what gets into this collection and
And I mean, I mean, I know that rick answer that but I know that one
Well rick, I know it's a large question
But in general some people want to know like well, how
How does one I mean you got to be methodic I guess you can't just uh
Willy-nilly spend money mel is it mel's interest in cars is huge from one end of the spectrum to the other
So it's not just you know one particular type of car
I mean and you know the other day and and that's one of the great another great thing about the the museum
Just we're constantly adding new things some come in some go out just the other day. He picked up a 1905
brush
Never even in my entire life if I heard of a 1905 brush
I just actually shot a video on it the other day so now I know a lot more about it
I'll put that one out soon
You got a Franklin from the 1930s and he just recently picked up a split window corvette
You know the thing about mel is mel just loves cars
So he'll see something and go well, that's pretty cool
Or he'll hear about somebody who's maybe liquidating a collection and go
You know what maybe I can make a deal and pick up some of these cars
So I wish I could tell you that there was there was a particular rhyme and reason that he he wants this type of car or
You know something but but mel's
mel's
Interest in automotive everything automotive is incredibly wide
So sooner or later just about everything falls into what the museum can have
Yeah, I mean, you know mel and hopefully mel whether he's listening live or whether he hears this in the end
We thank mel. He's 95. I mean he's got the kutz but he gets any
Is mel the kind of guy picks up his feet on the table is tonight. What am I I want that one?
I mean give us a give us an idea of the man behind this wonderful museum
I want people to understand mel's personality. I mean they already have an idea rick. He's 95
But he's a vibrant strong
Then he's got tenacity. He's got the courage to pick things out
He moved to arizona when he was in his mid-king. He was actually living up by cottonwood and mayor
You know and and he started a a repair business and a towing business eventually moved down to phoenix and got more involved in
automotive related repairs towing companies
He had a an auction at one point he ended up buying manzanita raceway
If you remember manzanita, you know the old dirt track on the west side
But he always got he got involved in a number of other businesses that started to make him a fair amount of money
And and he's decided that he wants his legacy
To be this museum he loves cars and he wants other people to get the chance to
Get up close with the kind of thing that he's loved his whole life
And so once again, he's decided this museum will be his legacy and the thing to remember is
When you look at car museums around the country, they are closing right and left and you got some special ones like the
Why is this rick? I gotta ask because I've heard of this
Um, we've seen a bigger uptick. Let's just call it post covet. Um, is this a phenomenon?
Is this something we should be worried about what's going on there with it?
You know why you know so many museums are started by
Mel the classic example, right?
They're started by somebody who's older who has an interesting car
Maybe he's developed a collection over a period of time
There was just a museum over in california that that they had quite a collection
And then when when the the gentleman who owned the collection and he passed away
The kids were like, you know, this was bad thing. It's not my thing
We don't have a big desire to keep running this museum
So on one level you have you have the next generation going. I'm not that interested in it
And then the reality is keeping a museum running is not an inexpensive thing to do
I mean, you know, you think about it when we charge people $15 ahead to come in the door
$15 a person is does not cover all of the expenses that it's going to take to pay for the museum in a year
That's the great thing about mel. You know mel has created a situation where he has a funding source in addition to
You know having the the event space that we can rent out
But he's got some other
Trust money that he's leaving for the museum. So before we ever have somebody walk in the door
We already have revenue that we can count on and and that's where I go back to mel is an amazing person
His ability not just to have the foresight to put together a museum
But to have the foresight to put together a funding source for the museum
So as we move forward we're not dependent on whether you know that the next generation is going to go
Yeah, that was that was mel's thing. We're moving on
Speaking of next generation and if you just joining us, we got rick de brul, martin auto museum
Located in glendale, arizona. It's featuring a huge collection of classic and historically significant automobiles
I think that that's a phrase in itself
I think I think I think mel does a really good job with the whole idea of significant automobiles
Along with and this is really what gets me jazzed up and this speaks on the whole event
So it's not just pay the ticket get in look at a bunch of cars
It is an educational exhibit as much as programs that are designed to share the industry
With all ages. Let's talk future. You mentioned it
You know, we want to keep this legacy running into the future. I have two questions rick a lot of folks listening
I got my youngsters. I got my tesla mafia. Oh, they're all evade out there. Just ice is not me
I'm not into the internal combustion. I like my evv
Yeah, I like some of the old history of cars
Is this even a question? Is there a way to incorporate anything electric? Does mel have his eye on anything in that arena?
um
To sort of supplement what's what's already there and that would be maybe based on some of the uh future that is now
Is there any evs that we could perhaps like a uh a tesla roadster or anything?
If that's a question I can even ask for the future
Well, actually we already have two ev type cars. The first we do have a tesla
tesla s
I would love to see a tesla roadster in there since that was the beginning of tesla
But one of the awesome cars that we have in there is a bmw
I hate
You know a basically a plug-in hybrid from the early days
And I don't know if you remember what the the bmw. I it looks like
Holy one of the most cutting-edge designs on planet very progressive
I feel kind of bad. I wish they had waited to come out with that car because the the technology in that car
Let's you down a little bit in terms of modern stuff. You know the car you look at it today that looks so beautiful
And it's not bad. It's pretty quick enough and it works great
But I'd love to see it with some modern technology in there the stuff we have today
I wish they'd waited, you know just a little bit longer quite a bit longer to bring out that body style with the
Kind of you know EV technology we have available today
But but the point being we've already got a couple of electrics in there and I you know
If that's what people want to see and we're into getting more of them
That's awesome. Uh, greg you've been out to that establishment many times you go back to that 17 days
I remember I 17 location with the fire truck and we had a bunch of our association meetings there
It was always nice after a long days of work
We get in there and have a little pizza and do our little training and look at some beautiful cars
We never tired of it because you know, it doesn't it was a fraction of the size of a facility
Greg you've known mel for a long time
I'm going to ask greg and rick. I'd like to parlay this to you too. What makes one
Jump because that's a leap now granted mel's been around
Got a ton of wisdom. He's an astute businessman. He makes great decisions. He's he's learned a lot over so many years
What what made mel say? Hey, I'm going to leave I 17
I have this opportunity over here because he's what was he in his 80s at that time
Right. Well, what I know is mel was always trying to get and rick you can correct me if I'm wrong
He was always had his eye on that jolt jemco
He was trying to get it for many many years
There's a target. Yep. And I know he had cars in multiple locations and warehouses and he just it just
Bothered him immensely that he did not have them all under one roof
I know he had a couple, you know conflicts with the transaction trying, you know, compete with other bidders and buyers
Uh, I knew he was not going to lose out on that property when it was available
So I think mel finally getting it all under one roof and one location
It's just the best feeling for him probably because rick I got to ask you because like you and I both greg
Aiden someday you got to waste some more time as a young 20-something, but
Someday we'll be in our 90s. And what will we do mr. Rick?
Like that is that is incredible to think that
He he made that transition mel did and uh rick
That's a that's a testament to uh his vision and his love of cars and community
Yes, community is really a big deal. I hope first up. I hope I'm half as active as he is at 95
I just hope I make it to 95
But you know that the greg's right, you know, I mean
Mel had a lot of these cars he collected
And and he just decided he you know, he needed the right facility for it
And once he looked around a number of places and but another thing too is he's a believer in the west side
You know, I mean he could have bought a priest property in scott's dale
He could have bought a piece of property someplace else and he wanted to bring something to that area
So that that area had had kind of a focal point
And i'm really glad he did because I think putting that there is just an absolute great thing to do
But I mean he's you know, like I said, I you know, I I think
What i'm hoping for is when I get into into that that age of where i'm not, you know as active as I am today
My plan is to be a volunteer at the museum
We've got about 50 volunteers right now docents. These are car guys
They've been car guys their whole life and and they're great when you're out there touring the museum
All these volunteers are walking around asking asking quest or asking you questions
Helping giving you answers there to answer questions. It's it's a great group of volunteers
We've got about 50 and we're always open for more if you if you you know if you're listening to this
Anything I'd like to do that boy. We're always looking for more volunteers
Yeah, and I gotta mention friends of martin auto museum is well worth just looking at the website here rick
Haggerty great friends of the martin auto museum uj wittman and jackson
Arrowhead Cadillac, you know what a Berkshire Hathaway company and I I find that the
When you mentioned museums are starting a kind of hopefully it's not a complete downward slope and it's going to be a rarity
But you're right. It does take it takes a mighty business plan to keep it sustained
Talk to us about the educational side here. We are on eve. It's campus one of the renowned nationally ranked
trade schools with
A smorgasbord of programs that we have here including of course, we're biased to the automotive
Which does very well skilled trades is coming back label. I'm telling you get in there
That under her vibe and love that that's definitely a future for many of you listening
Rick talk to us about how important it is that
That not only is we showcasing a great collection and we've got some great community vibes, but
Education is key. Can you give us some insight as to what?
What the museum's position is and maybe some of the programs that's happening right now that we can share with the folks
Well, one of the things that mel is a huge proponent of is training that next generation of people to work on cars
And he hasn't been able to achieve his primary goal yet
He you know, he actually has a room inside the museum that's a we call it the classroom
And it was actually designed and built for the specific purpose of doing automotive training in there
And yet he hasn't found quite the right partner
We're still looking for the idea of who we could bring in and just hasn't quite worked out
But eventually the goal is to have some type of program that works out of the museum
And trains people how to work on collector cars classic cars because you know
It's kind of like being you know a sale maker, right?
I mean sooner or later the sale makers started to go away
Who does that anymore?
And so now it becomes okay
Who's going to be left to work on these collector cars as as a deal our generation
Ages out of this stuff and I mean it's not you know
I mean every every everything about a car is complicated in one way or another
But at the same time, you know, it's not so complicated
He couldn't learn in a classroom is a great way and having that hands-on ability to work on these cars is a great thing
Yeah, like the preservation trying to figure out how to ramp that up. We haven't achieved that yet
That's one of those goals. We just haven't gotten there. Yeah, I know
Greg and it's it's hard to remember all the last 10 years of what we've done
But I I think we had the folks from rpm, which is restoration. They're a 501c
I love that because I tell you what we we mentor students in the garage
You know throughout the year and as we're settling in almost three years at our newer location in cave greek
You know, there is an interest some, you know, and we have like we I got the 40 plus out
I've got the 56 bends pontoon 220 s that we're working on
We've got a smorgasbord of vehicles and you know, I am seeing I can definitely say rick like post covet
I think there was maybe some time
Um to dive into newer things and I think some of these kids that were coming up
They have an interest for that
I hope to see you succeed with that the whole organization there and I will just throw this out there
We'd love to have some sort of partnership to where there's some in-class
restoration
I know joe ritz as well joe ritz would love to do that joe ritz
out of tempi does a lot of the
restoration primarily a lot of the british
Classics we do as well
um
Muffy Bennett, you know, she's another she sits on the board as well, right rick and I think I think there's resources
But it's really like landing something consistently so it has sustenance because I think rick that's what you're talking about
They can come and go. Yeah, I'm gonna do anything halfway. We're gonna do it. We're gonna do it
Right and so it hasn't been the case of you know, we're gonna grab the first thing comes along
It's doing it in the right way
And the other thing is we also have a lot of a lot of things on our plate right now trying to figure how to
You know, we can prove the collective collection. We've been improving the event center
So, you know, you got to wait for the right moment and the right partner, but we're absolutely open to that concept
All right, listen, we got to mention this because this is pretty cool. My first time out there. Oh, no, your voice is changing
Tell us about we talked about all things wheels, but we got to talk about all things hoof
Uh, is there a carousel on premise?
There is a carousel. That's another one of the fun things
You know mel found this carousel. It's a running joke. He got in trouble for playing on one a long time ago
So he just bought his own. Yeah, um
Did mel sneak on a carousel and he was like
I heard that same story. He he wasn't able to ride one at one point in his life
And he just said a goal. I'm gonna buy one and he bought one so he could write it whenever he wants
Well, I gotta know more about that rick. Do you know that story? I gotta know more about that rick
Hang on before we get deeper on that. Why did me? What was what happened with mel? He couldn't get on a carousel
I don't know. Oh, we got to find out. I can't remember the full story. I think he got in trouble for playing
Oh, he got kicked off and he didn't mess them up. He said, you know what? I'm buying some day. I'm gonna buy one
Yeah, exactly
But you know the great thing is it's it's in one quarter of the museum
And whenever this kid's in the museum one of the volunteers will go over the kids get to ride around
We get and it's not like there's a ride time
We kind of play with it when the kids get bored then we turn it off
So it it's a great thing for the kids to be able to play on the carousel
And it's not on all the time to be honest with you
You know, just when kids come in and want to do it. We also I should point out
We also have a really cool game room with a tons of video
Games and pinball machines
And it's all free once you walk in the door
Once you paid your admission you get to play the video games you play pinball all for free
Rick you stuck in the 80s like me with space invaders and all the
Pinball machines pack man glass pack man weed. That's what we got like a that's coming back
You know, I unfortunately I'm a little older than you so
I'm
Kind of pre-ponged, you know
Come on Rick back in the 40s
Rick
De Brule, I got to ask you
What drives you because you you do
Many things not only in the industry you help a lot of companies
become better
As one that would consult in their presence. We all know that
As a part of brand presentation is key sometimes we take that for granted
Some companies will start flatlining and they they're trying to squeeze the juice in all the wrong ways
I want to be able to give you a floor rick until we have a lot of small business
Folks and we you know, we have a few you know fortune 100s that listen as well
You decided to segue from traditional news broadcasting and a your love and passion for automotive
But helping folks in general
Talk to us about some of the things that you're doing with corporate america or just small business corner corner company
Yeah, so in addition to my tv work and once again, I've been doing tv since I really got out of college
I also got into communication world
So I do consulting over the years and a lot of consulting for various companies
And then one of the things I do is I have a keynote presentation that I do for
groups conferences businesses
And it's all about how to improve communication at your organization
But you know, that's a really boring concept right just to come in and tell you how to improve communication
And I do it through telling the story of the 2016
Indy 500 how a rookie alexander rossi won the race that day not because he was the fastest car
But because they communicated with so much better and that's exactly what the team owner brian herda told me
After the race is over. I'm like, how did you win this thing? He goes because we communicated so well like, okay
That's not normally how people in races
But it's a fun fun story to tell about how alexander rossi was who's the first american rookie
Since 1928 to win the indy 500 and and i mean there's no way he could have won it and he did so it was it's a great story
I like to think I have people on the edge of their seat trying to figure out what was going to happen at the end
But it's a fun story and gorg's back to you know, it just gives you advice for any company
On how they can they can incorporate better communication into what they do
You know, there's a struggle
I i'm going to speak for the independent aftermarket automotive service operators throughout the country
Having worked the the country working with a lot of these folks doing training sessions and so on
One thing that is a communication for sure. We can always do better with communication, but you mentioned something
Brand voice sometimes companies will actually
Hire out describe what they're looking for brand voice and and maybe
um
I'm not knocking madison avenue pr
But they sometimes get a twist it. Hey, I'll tell you what i'll use as an example cracker barrel
Cracker i'm gonna say it. I can cracker barrel
It seems like in the middle of the night
We're gonna change the logo and the consumer spoke
And they decided I think as of this morning now we're going back
How important is is it really?
To not get like we're always trying to get brand voice right
What is what is some advice would you give to small business that may not have a big budget?
I'm trying to get my voice out to the consumer now. They see my print media. They may have seen some things here and there
What advice would you give a small corner store business?
About brand voice
Again, it's all about communication right and and and the reality is every business has to change strategies at some point in time
Right, but there's changing a logo changing a focus of what you do
And and the secret is how do you communicate?
How do you communicate the strategy going back to that indy 500 race now?
They changed their strategy in the middle of the race
But what was critical was they not just that they changed their strategy
But the way they communicated that strategy changed within the team and to the driver
And I think that's where so many businesses fall down
You know, it's like oh, we come up with a new idea
The c-suite comes up with a new idea and it doesn't get properly passed down
I mean, I the cracker barrel logo the new logo didn't bother me. Yeah, that was fine
I mean every big company needs to change and look at look at all the companies have changed their logos over the years
Well, I gotta ask you what about jaguar jaguar communicating it over time rick. I gotta ask you jaguar hated
Love it didn't care impartial because uh, you know what their sales were back in april
It really hurt jaguar did it say oh, yes
Absolutely and never saw dad on that trying to completely change the focus of who and what it is and and you know
So here's the thing 10 years from now
We're going to be looking back on what's happened with jaguar over the past 18 months and we're going to say
Man, were they really stupid or what or we're going to be saying, you know what that was a brilliant move
They decided they had to go up market with a different image and they pulled it off now. Here's the problem
And we can't predict the future right the the difficulty is how do you change a company like jaguar?
In and go in a totally new direction without supporting the product that got you there
That's the thing. I think I worry a lot about with jaguar and what they're trying to do
It's kind of like saying oh, we're just gonna get what why even have a jaguar just call it a new name and go in a different direction
Um, but like like the emock the emock must say would you say I mean that alienated a lot when that came out
It alienated quite a few traditionalists of the mustang brand
Yeah, but I tell you what?
They built a great product. I mean that is a great car and and so while you know the mustangs here is and and I will tell you
I'm a mustang guy. I have a mustang right now. I've had mustangs for years
Uh, I'm a mustang fan
Doesn't bother me at all. You know at some point we have to accept the realities of what the new world order is
I mean you have to look at I mean look at mustang sales, right?
I mean because camaro's gone the challenger's gone mustang sales
I'm really like 130,000 a year or something like that now
I mean, it's unfortunate that mustangs aren't selling the way I'd like them to sell
But at some point you got to go, you know, if this is what the market's doing then we got to follow the market
Yeah, sometimes they could feel like it's a shock and awe but there should be a transition
I love your point about not totally alienating and ripping a band-aid off if you will like jaguar would be maybe an example
I think the emuq mustang you you made that point years later
They're gonna you know, I think most kind of got over that and the brand is surviving. They're selling emuqs
Not a bad car, but you're right. We got a transition and of course, you know, they're gonna be consumers studies surveys
Snapshots are not just blindly sitting up having drinks to decide. I mean they're they're really
working
A multitude of teams to decide a brand shift
As consumers sometimes we wonder i.e. bud light. Maybe the bud light was very controversial and of course this crack a barrel
But I I think you're right
Rick you you got to evolve as something I even in a small
Business operation is we're always looking to to keep up and be methodic and try to be strategic
And sometimes you just got to make the decision you cannot be stale
And I speak to the small business in general not just in the automotive genre rick. Was there a brand that you ever saw?
Since we're on that topic. I'd like to pick your brain. We got a few minutes
um
That you never thought
The brand change over
And it doesn't have to be in your lifetime. It could be just historically if we can just say
history proved
Everybody hated it
Couldn't believe it
The industry the sector consumers never never gonna make it
Is there a brand happening right now?
That you say proved it all wrong. I can think of a few but I want to hear I want to hear what you have to say about that
Well, I'll give you what I consider to be the most epic
Brand failure of all time. Uh-oh. I I worked my way through college. I was I was a car guy, right?
I had two hours of auto shop in high school. I worked my way through college working at sears automotive
I started off as a tire buster ended up as a service writer
Sears is one of it was one of the most innovative and creative companies
Over the long haul first they got into the smart which have catalogs then they got into the big box store
And then they managed to take what was one of consider one of the brands of the world
And drive it right into the ground. It's it's just a bismuth
I think we may have lost rick. We lost the connection, but he does make a good point sears
They were full. Well, I can think of a bunch but on the other side
A company that maybe those said would never make it. I gotta give props to elan musk right across the board like space x and
Obviously tesla and everything so uh, do apologize. We lost rick de brul
I'll make sure to have rick's bio in our show notes for all my podcast family
male martin
males
Males just incredible. In fact rick may be calling. Let's give them. We got a quick minute. Well, let's give them the respect
Live radio people. It's the way it goes
rick, are you are you there to apologize?
Uh, see what happened. You mentioned sears and and oh, there you go. Rick. Are you there?
I heard automotive
Tirebuster service advisors and I can't believe sears. We got less than 30 seconds rick. Let's bundle it up
Where can people find the martin auto museum?
Well, 43rd avenue in thunderbird really easy to get off i-17 go west on thunderbird
Look for that massive flag in the sky. You can't miss it. There's a McDonald on the corner
We're open six days a week Tuesday through sunday not open on monday
15 bucks to get in the door for adults. I think it's five for kids and
Like our next event. We have a car show on september 12th
So come on up and you'll enjoy that and come into the museum as well rick. Hope to meet up soon an honor to have you on
Thank you so much. Yes. Thank you rick
Yeah, this is it martin auto museum. It's a good time out there if you're planning a wedding or something like that
You know anything
Or no matter I just go by
But miss. Yeah, just go buy and take a look at cars at least there you go
Uh, I appreciate you guys hanging out with wrench nation as I tell you every week be safe
Hug each other and never forget the hug of mccanon
So
Oh
Oh
Everything
Girl, I love you
About this episode
Rick DeBruhl joins Wrench Nation to discuss the Martin Auto Museum, sharing insights into its extensive collection of over 170 cars, ranging from historical models to modern classics. He highlights the museum's unique approach to education and community engagement, including hands-on experiences for visitors. DeBruhl also reflects on the importance of preserving automotive history and the challenges faced by car museums today. The episode features stories about Mel Martin's passion for cars and the museum's role in fostering the next generation of automotive enthusiasts.
Original notes
This week on Wrench Nation, we welcome motorsports broadcaster and automotive storyteller Rick DeBruhl, representing the incredible Martin Auto Museum. From rare classics to iconic race machines, the Martin Auto Museum isn’t just about chrome and horsepower—it’s about preserving history, inspiring the next generation, and celebrating the stories behind the sheet metal. Rick takes us behind the scenes with museum favorites, upcoming events, and why this destination is a true gem for car culture !
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