Crawford Auto - Aviation Museum Auction

[John H.]

Sad day here in Cleveland as the Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum is auctioning off some of their most valuable specimens to try and offset a $5 million debt.Among the 19 assets are a 1963 Corvette SWC, 1956 300 SL Gullwing and a one of a kind 1930 Bugatti Type 44 phaeton touring car.Every year The Museum would bring some of the collection to the I-X center when the new car show would come to town.The Museum is at least partially the reason I am in this hobby today. I remember going there as a young child and looking at all the old cars and planes. What a place that was for a young kid.So sad to see some of the good stuff go. As a side note, they had,or still have a fine restoration shop that also taught some of the craft on rare occasions.

[Dick W.]

Re: Crawford Auto - Aviation Museum Auction

Unfortunately museums around the world are deaccessioning collections in order to survive. Without serious contributions from supporters, which have dropped of considerably during these economic times, most museums would have to close, or sell off assets.

Very sad time indeed

[Chuck W.]

Re: Crawford Auto - Aviation Museum Auction

The Crawford, over the past 10+ years, has sold off many of its fine cars much to the chagrin of many prominent, local collectors. This action has contributed to a significant number of collectors leaving many fine cars to other museums rather than the Crawford. The Crawfords financial plight is a direct result of their own doing for the past few decades and is not a recent phenomena. I had heard that they were selling nearly 40 cars from their inventory to raise cash.

Note that local collector and grandson-in-law to Frank B Stearns, Patterson Barnes recently donated 4 outstanding Stearns automobiles (Cleveland headquartered) to the AACA Museum rather than the Crawford. I believe that speaks for itself.

Cleveland's Al Ferrara, who just recently past away, was a good friend of Fred Crawford. His passing did not include any additions to the Crawford's inventory from his exceptional collection of Duesenbergs, Pierce Arrows, Sterns Knight, Packard, Isotta-Franscini, Locomobile, etc.

The shame is that a once well respected, well run, world leading automotive museum has become nothing more than a poorly run clearing house division of the Historical Society. Recently, the Crawford had a series of roundtable discussions in a attempt to re-connect to the hobby and its collectors. Alot of words exchanged but little evidence of any significant listening occurred. Who would donate or will their vehicle to a museum that has earned the reputation of selling off their assets to cover their operating overhead and expenses rather than change their method of doing business?

I also remember many years ago visiting the Crawford during the summer. It makes me sick to my stomach to see what the museum has become today. I had a lengthly discussion about 10 years ago with the Al Unrien, the Crawford's Director, when he had a fine <g> example of a late '70s Honda at the I-X center. The car was a high mileage poor driver with a ton of added junk like mud flaps, extra mirrors, dents, scratches, etc. Unrien's response to my questioning the car's significance was that it represented how people "lived through cars". I guess I just didn't get it. Chances are that car won't be one of the big sale items to raise cash now.

If the Crawford isn't going to significantly change their course, then they would be better off selling their inventory completely and just shutting down. Dragging out a slow painful death is hard to watch.

[John H.]

Re: Crawford Auto - Aviation Museum Auction

There was a move to relocate the museum to the lake front and make it a complement to the science museum and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. That deal did not materialize. As you said, it really falls mostly to the management with some help from the situation here in Cleveland. At it's best, it was a neat place to go to and look at the old cars and planes.