Wheels 3 30 2017

& TRAVEL

© Berthoud Weekly Surveyor

March 30, 2017

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March 30, 2017 Berthoud Weekly Surveyor

Cussler Museum of antique and classic cars A

nytime I hear about old cars or car museums/ collections, I pay attention. I love old cars, so when I heard of one I did not know of, I was interested.

I drove on down to the Cussler Museum, located at 14959 W. 69th Ave. in Arvada, to have a look. The name may be plain, but the contents of the museum are far from ordinary.

Finding the museum is a Surveyor bit of a challenge, and getting Columnist to the Cussler Museum took a while, since it seems to be out in the middle of nowhere.

Even with my car’s GPS mapping I almost missed it. Be alert for the old green pickup Photo by Bob McDonnell indicating the museum is to the west on a short stretch of One of the most unusual cars in the Cussler Museum is a 1956 Mercury Monterey “woodie” 69th Avenue. station wagon.

At times, as we drove, I wondered if the GPS was the Cussler Museum display one if his books, since playing a trick on me. Modthose cars were part of the story. ern technology prevailed — Bob Cussler, now in his 80s, seldom visits the muwe made it.

McDonnell seum, according to one of the docents I chatted with.

As many fiction readers She said Cussler lived in the Arvada and Golden know, Cussler is an advenarea at one point, so that is how the museum ended ture writer whose thriller novels feature the characup where it is. ter, Dirk Pitt. Cussler’s books have hit the New York The museum is a large, well-lit storage building.

Times best-seller list more than 20 times. He is the Row after row of cars are on display in two rooms. sole or lead author on 70 books.

Additionally, the walls are adorned with old auto On the museum’s website — www.cusslermuand gasoline signs. A sprinkling of gasoline pumps seum.com — Cussler explains his early love for and automobilia are placed around the room. automobiles and how writing books helped him start The cars are neatly lined up. For most of them, his fabulous collection. Some of the cars shown at it is possible to view all sides, staying behind the

velvet-like ropes that guard the treasures.

The cars shown are too numerous to mention.

They run the gamut from old Cords, Rolls-Royces, etc. to some from the ’40s, ‘50s and ‘60s. Also, I saw rare cars such as a Bugatti, Auburn and Stanley.

I particularly liked a grouping of cars with continental kits. Standing behind them and seeing all the metal and how far the spare tire stuck out was a reminder of the past.

A couple of glass cases show finished model cars, along with their boxes. It brought back memories of buying and building plastic model cars when I was in junior high school.

This would be a good time to mark a trip to the Cussler Museum on your calendar. Be aware it is only open from May to September. When open, the hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday through Thursday. The cost is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors over 65 and $5 for those 12 and younger. Photographs are allowed but no tripods.

The good news is that the collection of cars is only part of Cussler’s stash. A nearby building used for maintaining the cars also contains a whole other group of classic autos. Each season, some of the ones on display the prior year are swapped out for different ones.

As an aside, a few blocks south of the museum there is a shopping center. In addition to retail, it contains some restaurants. We ate at, and I would recommend, Malone’s Clubhouse Grill for a sandwich. Malone’s address is 14455 W. 64th Avenue, Arvada.

Enjoy your road trip.

Berthoud Weekly Surveyor

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Rows and rows of unique old cars fill the Cussler Museum in Arvada.

Did you know?

Special to the Surveyor When shopping for auto loans, prospective car buyers should limit their loan shopping to a twoweek period. Many auto buyers now shop for auto

loans separately from shopping for cars, first arranging financing via a bank, credit union or other lender, and then beginning their search for their next car or truck.

While that can help buyers secure low interest rates and borrower-friendly loan terms, buyers should know that each time they apply for loans their credit scores dip. The lower a prospective borrower’s credit score, the harder it becomes for that person to secure the best loan rate.

However, according to the online financial resource Bankrate.com, applicants who can file all

of their loan applications within a two-week period will only have those applications count as one credit inquiry. That means applicants’ credit scores will only fall once as opposed to several times for prospective buyers who apply for loans sporadically over the course of several weeks ormonths.

Potential borrowers also should know that once they have prequalified for loans and found a car or truck they want to buy, they can then present their loans terms to the dealership and ask if the dealer can beat the terms, potentially saving them more money over the life of the loan.

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March 30, 2017 Berthoud Weekly Surveyor