Academy of Art University Automobile Museum

Automobile museum in San Francisco, CA

Academy of Art University Automobile Museum

Location| 1849 Washington Street
San Francisco, CA
Coordinates| 37°47′35″N 122°25′24″W﻿ / ﻿37.793020°N 122.423430°W﻿ / 37.793020; -122.423430
Type| Automobile museum
Website| www.academyautomuseum.org

The Academy of Art University Automobile Museum is a non-profit museum located in San Francisco, California. The museum serves both as a conservator of automotive history and as a tool for students in the industrial design department at the Academy of Art University, particularly those in the Automotive Restoration program.[1]

In 2015, Forbes estimated the value of the museum's collection to be $70 million.[2] With over 42 exhibits on display, the museum is accessible for both AAU students as well as the general public.[3][4]

## History[edit]

A former President of the Academy of Art University, Richard A. Stephens, started the museum and is the proprietor of over half of the cars.[5] The Stephens family—including Richard's daughter and current University President Elisa Stephens[6]—began to seriously collect antique cars in the 1990s. The first car purchased for the collection was a 1929 Packard, which was built the same year that the university was founded.[2]

In 1999, AAU purchased its main showroom at 1849 Washington Street.[7][8]

In 2009, the museum exhibited 30 cars from the 1930s at the 52nd Annual International Auto Show.[9]

In 2013, 34 vehicles were featured at the International Auto Show, presented by Autotrader.com. The vehicles were chosen by AAU's Industrial Design Department Director Tom Matano. Kevin Diamond, director of the show said: "We are proud to be able to exhibit vehicles from the museum that represent the elegance, style, craftsmanship, technology and innovative spirit of automotive designers past and present.”[1]

In 2016, over 30 cars from the museum's collection were displayed at the 59th annual International Auto Show at San Francisco's Moscone Center.[10] Hemmings Motor News’ Dan Stoner described the museum as having “one of the largest collections of antique cars on the West Coast.”[11]

In 2018, Academy of Art University auctioned off 50 cars at Mecum Las Vegas for $3.7 million.[12] Early in 2018, Robert Fisher was announced as the new CEO of the Academy of Art University Automobile Museum.[13]

In May 2019, four cars were sold for $467,500; and 15 more cars were sold in August 2019 for $1.69 million.[12]

## Collection[edit]

The Automobile Museum features 170 vintage vehicles.[12] Notable classic cars include: Duesenberg Model J (1930), Cord L29 Convertible Coupe (1931), Alfa-Romeo 6C 2500 SS Berlinetta Aerodinamica (1939), Tucker 48 (1948), Chrysler Town & Country Convertible Coupe (1948), and Mercedes-Benz 300SL “Gullwing” Coupe (1955).[14]

The museum's Tucker 48 is production car #1003. The car was purchased at auction for $2,035,000[15] from the previous owner, George Lucas. The car has also been exhibited at the San Francisco International Auto Show, among other car shows.[7]

The Mercedes-Benz 300SL was previously owned by Jenny Craig, and has both fitted luggage and strawberry metallic paint. Only 10 Rolls-Royce Phantom 1 Rivieras (1929) were ever made, the museum's car being one of them.[14]

The museum also exhibits the 1933 Pierce-Arrow Silver Arrow, which can reach a speed of 115 mph and was previously owned and restored by William F. Harrah.[7] Only five of these cars were built in total, with and only two others remaining today.

## Automotive Restoration Program[edit]

Students in AAU's industrial design program can get an associate degree in auto restoration. Through a partnership with Stellantis, students can participate in a course where the goal is to design, brand, and build vehicle components that reflect Stellantis. Previous course sponsors have included: Alfa Romeo, Maserati, Jeep, Subaru, Audi, Volkswagen Group, and General Motors.[4]

## Charities[edit]

Proceeds from the museum go to both the Rotary Club and the Boys and Girls Club. Every $10 admission fee received during the hours it is open to the public each week is donated to these charities.[3][16]

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b "Academy of Art University reprises vintage auto exhibit". SFGate. Retrieved 2016-10-30.
2. ^ a b Soppe, Taylor; McClymonds, Chad, Inside A San Francisco Family's $70 Million Car Collection, retrieved 2016-10-30
3. ^ a b "Classic cars go on display at the Academy of Art University". ABC7 San Francisco. Retrieved 2016-10-30.
4. ^ a b "Academy of Art University Offers Brand-New Courses in Auto Restoration". APN News. 6 October 2022.
5. ^ "A day at the Academy of Art University Automobile Museum". NoBraking.com. 2013-06-14. Retrieved 2016-10-30.
6. ^ Magazine, SOMA. "SOMA Magazine » Archive » Elisa Stephens In The Fast Lane". www.somamagazine.com. Retrieved 2016-10-30.
7. ^ a b c Clark, Meaghan (2015-03-12). "Just How Much is Academy of Art's Vintage Car Collection Worth? — The Bold Italic — San Francisco". The Bold Italic. Retrieved 2016-10-30.
8. ^ "Inside the Academy of Art's Private Car Collection". Shawn Clover. Archived from the original on 2016-12-24. Retrieved 2016-10-30.
9. ^ "Academy of Art University to Exhibit Classic Cars". Dexigner. 2009-11-12. Archived from the original on 2016-10-30. Retrieved 2016-10-30.
10. ^ "Academy of Art University will showcase vintage cars". San Francisco Chronicle. 2016-11-21. Retrieved 2016-11-23.
11. ^ Hemmings.com. "The Art Of Restoration. And Vice-Versa: The AAU Restoration Program - Hemmings Motor News". www.hemmings.com. Retrieved 2016-10-30.
12. ^ a b c Eskenazi, Joe (21 October 2019). "The Academy of Art recently unloaded 56 of its classic cars. The millions it received may soon come in handy". Mission Local.
13. ^ Vaughn, Mark (2018-10-24). "Academy of Art University selling 50 cars at Mecum Las Vegas auction; museum coming". Autoweek. Retrieved 2020-06-17.
14. ^ a b Motavalli, Jim (12 August 2022). "San Francisco School Teaches Auto Restoration—And Hosts A Fantastic Car Collection". Auto Week.
15. ^ "1948 Tucker 48". Gooding & Company. Retrieved 2016-10-30.
16. ^ "Academy of Art University Auto Museum". Road & Track. 2012-05-23. Retrieved 2016-10-30.

## External links[edit]

* Academy of Art University Automobile Museum's official website