GALVIN — Richard Busek may never have entertained any notions of being an entertainer himself. But he will see his Galvin mechanic's garage, auto museum and blacksmith shop take supporting roles in "Rain in the Mountains," an independent production from Foxhall Films being shot regionally in early August. And several of his autos will be among the classic and antique cars parked in downtown Centralia this weekend, during the city's Antiques and Art Walk festivities.
Time appears to have stood still for 80 years or so to visitors walking among the more than 30 antique and classic cars, vintage bicycles and early motorcycles that fill the 4,032-square-foot Galvin Museum. A few arrived fully rehabbed, purchased from other prestigious collections. Most have been lovingly restored — mechanically and cosmetically — by the Centralia native.
Busek doesn't remember a time when cars were not important to him. He has collected, he said, "kind of all my life, but the past 10 years big-time."
He scours auto magazines, swap meets, car shows and the countryside in general, always on the lookout for his next purchase, and he loves nothing better than to hear of an old Ford looking for a new home.
"In fact, I have a number in my pocket right now I should call on," Busek mused, strolling among the Model T's and Model A's that bring with them a wealth of local and regional history.
A gleaming 1932 Ford Model A was the first V-8 Ford sold in the city of Tacoma, at what was then known as the Titus Motor Co. The same car recently won honors at a national V-8 Ford event at Hood River, Ore., and was featured in the specialty publication Early Ford Times.
Parked in front of the garage, which Busek calls the Old Galvin Station, is a 1924 Model T touring car. Production on the Model T ended in 1927, Busek said, when the Model A came to the market. With a propensity for Fords, he has plenty of each, and doesn't see any end in sight.
Among the treasures in the museum are two of the cars Busek had in his American Graffiti high school years in the late 1950s and early '60s: a 1929 Model A Roadster and a 1940 two-door Ford DeLuxe sedan. The roadster, Busek said, is a hot rod, outfitted with a 283 tripower Chevrolet engine, and "it can probably go 120. I think there's no limit to it."
Not only do the autos feature sparkling paint jobs and authentically restored detailing, they boast the kind of accessories that Busek takes pride and pleasure in using to add to the period effect. Canvas water bags, vintage copper stills and countless old whiskey barrels make some of the vehicles look as if they came straight out of Al Capone's Chicago.
One car purchased last year, in fact, was used in the 1987 Brian DePalma production of "The Untouchables," starring Sean Connery and Kevin Costner.
For anyone who has seen the film, it doesn't take too much imagination to envision the 1930 Ford 1½ ton truck ferrying barrels of contraband alcohol across the U.S.-Canada border.
Another Model T, referred to as a "depot hack," is also outfitted with an authentic still. It was a vehicle that would have been used around a railroad station, Busek said, to shuttle passengers' bags and belongings to and from the station.
Perhaps the crown jewel in Busek's collection is a 1929 Model A station wagon, which Busek purchased from the collection of Bill Harrah, founder and former owner of Harrah's Club in Las Vegas.
"When he died, they had to sell out to pay the taxes," Busek said.
The '29 Model A is a classic woody, with polished maple sides and top, and even has a gleaming old wooden surfboard to strap to the top for an authentic surfer look. The auto is valued between $25,000 and $30,000, Busek said, considerably higher than most of his cars and trucks.
Although his properties are not listed on any official tourist destination list, a steady stream of car buffs, antiques enthusiasts and the just plain curious somehow find their way to the weathered buildings in Galvin. A guest book bears signatures of visitors from Juneau, Alaska, throughout Canada, and across the nation.
With the cars, bikes and motorcycle lining the museum and the garage catching the overflow, Busek has no plans to put the brakes on acquiring more automobiles. He has owned the garage for about 10 years, and since retiring from Dulin Construction "two or three years ago," has worked on outfitting the blacksmith shop. And as far as the collection goes, he is just not sure when enough is enough.
"It's hard to turn down a good deal," he said.
Judy Marks lives in Centralia. If you or someone you know has an interesting story to tell, contact her by e-mail at mac.marks@comcast.net.
