---
title: "An Entire Museum of Pristine Vintage Trucks Is for Sale"
description: "In Moline Illinois, an entire museum of pristine vintage trucks is for sale. Trucks from 1906 to 1953, including a one-off 1915 Breeding 5-ton Steam-Powered Chassis, are in the catalog."
date: "2022-02-20"
modified: "2022-02-20"
authors:
  - name: "Kristin V. Shaw"
    job_title: "Contributor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/kristin-shaw"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/44368/an-entire-museum-of-pristine-vintage-trucks-is-for-sale"
categories:
  - "Culture"
  - "For Sale"
  - "News"
---

# An Entire Museum of Pristine Vintage Trucks Is for Sale

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2022/02/Vintage-HERO.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

In the [heart of the Midwest](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/43542/semi-trucks-toppled-across-midwest-by-rare-hurricane-force-winds>), 37 museum-quality vintage trucks have been meticulously dusted, shined up, and prepped for sale after decades on display. At the end of March, buyers from all over will have the chance to bid on these vehicles in the same city where [John Deere is headquartered](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/43744/john-deeres-fully-autonomous-tractor-takes-the-work-out-of-tilling>). Marrying truck culture, history, and farming, the collection includes trucks from as early as a [1906 Packet Open-Cab Express](<https://www.mecum.com/lots/GA0322-496997/1906-packet-open-cab-express/>) up to the only [1953 Sterling White Cabover](<https://www.mecum.com/lots/GA0322-496981/1953-sterling-white-model-tg6104-coe-three-axle-truck/>) truck known to exist. [They’ll all be sold, one by one, on the auction block through Mecum Auctions](<https://www.mecum.com/auctions/east-moline-tractor-2022/collections/hays-museum-antique-truck-collection/>).

All of these vehicles were originally restored by retired trucker A.W. “Pop” Hays, who built his own truck-related Field of Dreams in Woodland, California. More than four decades ago, Hays started to collect and restore old trucks as a hobby to pass the time. Once he had amassed several examples, he opened a museum called the Hays Antique Truck Museum and people came from all over the country to see them

![message-editor%2F1645326861009-6.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1645326861009-6.jpg>)
**Mecum Auctions**

In 2013, a portion of the museum was relocated to the [National Automobile Museum](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/42333/nevada-automobile-museum-is-saluting-100-years-of-motorcycles>) in “The Biggest Little City in the World:” Reno, Nevada. Another segment of those original vehicles are the ones for sale. I’m particularly fascinated by the [1910 Reliance Model G3 2.5-Ton Stake Truck](<https://www.mecum.com/lots/GA0322-496998/1910-reliance-model-g3-25-ton-stake-truck/>), which is an ancestor several times removed to modern GMC trucks. Its massive radiator and International Harvester 135 cubic-inch (2.2-liter) four-cylinder engine are hallmarks, and it lived an easy life in its later years as a parade vehicle. Now it will be sold with no reserve.

Even before the Reliance, the [1909 Sears Model K Runabout](<https://www.mecum.com/lots/GA0322-496975/1909-sears-model-k-2-passenger-runabout/>) was available through Sears-Roebuck mail-order catalogs. Those of a certain age will remember circling the Christmas presents they wanted in Sears catalogs but may not recall seeing a car as an option. The Runabout was delivered as a crate full of parts, all assembly required, batteries not included.

![message-editor%2F1645369216240-2.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1645369216240-2.jpg>)
*Mecum Auctions*

![message-editor%2F1645369223598-3.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1645369223598-3.jpg>)
*Mecum Auctions*

![message-editor%2F1645369257565-5.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1645369257565-5.jpg>)
*Mecum Auctions*

![message-editor%2F1645369299124-7.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1645369299124-7.jpg>)
*Mecum Auctions*

![message-editor%2F1645369313584-4.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1645369313584-4.jpg>)
*Mecum Auctions*

![message-editor%2F1645369326198-9.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1645369326198-9.jpg>)
*Mecum Auctions*

![message-editor%2F1645374077552-2.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1645374077552-2.jpg>)
*Mecum Auctions*

![message-editor%2F1645374085252-3.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1645374085252-3.jpg>)
*Mecum Auctions*

The [1930 Chevrolet Universal Roadster Pickup](<https://www.mecum.com/lots/GA0322-496967/1930-chevrolet-model-ad-half-ton-roadster-pickup/>) has me completely besotted, though. Finished in a vibrant blue with black fenders, the Roadster Pickup has a tan soft top, wooden steering wheel, and a Boyce Moto-Meter. Under the hood, a 194 cubic-inch (3.2-liter) Stovebolt six-cylinder engine is mated to a three-speed manual transmission. Interestingly, while it’s styled as a convertible, the top doesn’t fold down. That’s a mystery.

It's hard to say how much cash these will fetch when the gavel strikes for the final time, but you can be sure that these are going to end up in the hands of serious collectors who are likely to take great care of their investments. Each one of these examples is a valuable slice of American history that show not just how far we’ve come but how creative these automakers were even then.

*Got a tip? Leave a comment or send a note to kristin.shaw@thedrive.com.*

## Author
Kristin Shaw is the former Weekend Editor for The Drive and a current freelancer in both the automotive and aviation worlds. She’s a big fan of anything car-related and calls on her technology background on the corporate side to explain engineering and high-tech concepts. Now living in her sixth state (New Jersey, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Georgia, and now Texas), she is thrilled that working from home is now mainstream.

### Author social links  
[Facebook](<https://facebook.com/DriveModeShow>)  
[Instagram](<https://instagram.com/KristinVShaw>)  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/KristinVShaw>)