After 24 years, Snook’s Dream Cars, a classic car museum in Bowling Green, Ohio, is closing its doors. The reason? A lack of skilled mechanics who can maintain the museum’s eclectic collection of vintage vehicles.
A Skilled Mechanic’s Retirement Sparks Closure
The museum’s resident mechanic, Terry Stetler, is retiring, and owner Jeff Snook has been unable to find a suitable replacement. Stetler, who also worked on privately owned classic cars in the area, maintained the museum’s fleet of American, European, and Japanese vehicles from past decades.
In an interview with the Toledo Blade, Snook expressed his concern: “Kids that come out of auto trade school, they don’t know about carburetors and old car stuff.” He believes the lack of knowledge among younger mechanics is making it increasingly difficult to keep old cars on the road.
The Challenges of Maintaining Classic Cars
The auto mechanic profession itself poses another hurdle. Jobs focusing on classic car maintenance are rare, and working at a small museum may not be as financially rewarding as commercial service bay work, where demand is high.
The Art of Old Car Maintenance
Old cars often have simpler designs, making them conceptually easier to work on. Fewer parts mean less to remove for access, and troubleshooting can be more straightforward. Some components can even be recreated with basic hardware.
However, practical challenges arise. Long-unused bolts may be difficult to loosen, and carburetor tuning requires a skilled touch. This “feel” for maintenance is hard to master without extensive experience.
A Diverse Collection Heads to Auction
Snook’s Dream Cars will auction its collection through Hagerty this month. The lineup includes a WWII Jeep, a Jag XKE, an early Datsun Z, and several streamliner-style American cars. The auction is set for Monday, September 28, at 2:45 p.m. Eastern, with the museum closing the following week, on October 11.
For those unable to visit Bowling Green, a free virtual tour of the museum is available online. The museum’s memorabilia and oddities are just as fascinating as the cars themselves.
