Bob’s Highway Garage

Story by Bob Clarke Photos by Gary Krueger

It seems I’ve always had an interest in cars. Cars and traveling in them have been on my mind ever since I can remember. Like many in my “baby boom” generation, I was fortunate to have lived through some of the “golden age” of automobiles and road transportation. These memories have guided my motivation to collect and preserve symbols from an earlier era.

What I have collected in the last approximately twenty years is a variety of gas, oil, and automotive memorabilia acquired by traveling to various areas and swap meets. Most of these objects were found on various road trips with other like-minded friends, which made the journeys more fun and memorable. All of this has been a worthwhile hobby.

I also have an interest in working on classic cars and restoring some of them. Past car projects have been Chevys from the ‘50s through ‘70s. In the last few years, I’ve been most interested in older Porsches. Currently, I’m restoring the 1972 911 T coupe pictured here. It’s being painted in its original color, Tangerine Orange, at Blue Kollar Auto Body and Restoration in Camarillo.

The shop in which my collection is housed and displayed is in an industrial condominium complex. I’m fortunate that I own my units and can change the interior as I like. What I now enjoy, besides working on my ‘72 Porsche project, is visiting friends at my “highway garage,” sharing my collection, and talking about the cars we admire.

I add thanks to PCA member and photographer Gary Krueger for his great photographic eye and help with putting this story together.

Top: View of the shop Right: The author with his 1972 Porsche project

Top center: Fuel pumps and outside of the office Above left: Neon signs and 1930s clock-face fuel pump Above right: Inside of the office Above bottom: 1934 porcelain Shell Oil Company sign

Right: Sunoco and other neon signs Bottom left: 1957 Chevy Bel Air Bottom right: 50th Anniversary Edition 911