I suspect Pete Holt and Ron Sturgeon would have a lot to talk about. They obviously share two great passions: vintage automobiles and the joy of collecting.
Pete has been collecting automobile memorabilia for 30 years and at last has opened a 5000 square foot showroom at 1110 3rd Avenue North in Humbolt, IA.
He will have classic cars on display, but he specializes in vintage gas pumps, and he must have one of the world’s largest collections. He has accumulated them at farm actions, online auctions and by attending sales by Barrett Jackson. He has more than 30 vintage gas pumps dated from 1910 to the 1950s.
Holt says that unique items are becoming harder to find and that gas pumps are getting popular with vintage car owners who like to have them in their garages next to the cars.
According to a fine article by Josh Sandin in the Messenger, one of the rarest pumps that Pete Holt has in his collection is a Cowart Dart pump that was made in Waterloo. It is unusual in that it was one of the first to allow motorists to see that they were getting their money’s worth. The pump has a glass bowl with gallon markers that measures out the products as it is pumped.
The showroom is open every day except Sunday and is still being stocked as Holt experiences the special joy of a collector unpacking forgotten treasures.
He should have everything the way he wants it in about two months. Just like our toy museum in Fort Worth, admission is free.
As the proprietor of Petrol Pete’s says, “If you like what you see, you can leave a donation. If you don’t, you can’t say I overcharged.†Five to seven of Petrol Pete’s classic cars will be on display at the showroom. He will rotate them from his collection of 20 vintage automobiles.
Sounds like a fun destination for car enthusiasts. I’d love to drive one of my favorite Dallas classic car rentals (our 1955 Mercedes 300SC Cabriolet) over for a quick fill up at the showroom!
