The Classic Motor Museum in St. Michaels is expanding its scope and impact as it hosts its first-ever inaugural car, motorcycle, and equipment auction at the start of Labor Day weekend on August 30. The bulk of the proceeds will help fund a training program to help meet a growing need for auto mechanics on the Mid-Shore.
Held at the museum’s newly acquired 1950s gas station on the outskirts of town, once a Sunoco and now being restored as a vintage Sinclair Oil station known as 906, the event promises to draw car enthusiasts, collectors, and community supporters alike.
Museum founder Tad duPont said the fundraiser will support the revitalization of the historic gas station and sustain its operational and educational missions. The auction, which will take place at 906, will feature an eclectic lineup of vehicles catering to a wide range of tastes.
“There’ll be a little bit of something for everybody,” duPont told The Spy, who said he hopes the auction will raise up to $85,000, which would support the museum’s operations and renovation budget for the 906 site.
Auction highlights include a 1977 Corvette, a 1971 Mercedes 280 SE, a 1987 Porsche 944, and a 1938 Morris convertible. Beyond these classics, bidders can vie for more practical vehicles like Toyota and Ford pickups, a 1995 Chevrolet Silverado, a 1999 Suburban, and even curios like a vintage 1948 9N tractor.
The restored filling station is planned to be a real throwback site to see for visitors coming into St. Michaels from the east. Plans include recreating an old-fashioned island featuring replica antique gas pumps and a period-appropriate light, and eventually a split-rail fence to tie the property aesthetically to the museum’s main site on nearby Marengo Street.
“Every little bit helps,” duPont said. “We’re taking it one step at a time. Since all the projects depend on each other, they have to be strategically laid out in a logical order to allow everything to be completed in stages.”
But the 906 renovation is more than a cool blast of nostalgia for visitors. It will be home to a fully-functioning workshop for the museum’s Automotive Technician Apprenticeship (ATAP) program, which addresses a critical national shortage of skilled automotive technicians.
With more than a quarter-million new automotive technicians needed annually and only about a fifth of that graduating from technical schools nationwide, ATAP offers a lifeline for young adults seeking stable careers, particularly military veterans or those pursuing a career change, duPont said.
The three-year program combines 160 hours of classroom instruction with 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training per year, culminating in certifications from the Maryland Department of Labor and the Automotive Standards of Excellence.
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The museum already supports apprentices with computers for online learning and, after six months, provides $4,500 for tools and toolboxes. Funds from the auction will finance a dedicated training bay at 906 with modern tools, a car lift, welders, and other essentials to ensure students get hands-on experience in a state-of-the-art facility.
DuPont’s vision for the Classic Motor Museum began back in 2008 to help revitalize St. Michaels’ Main Street, which suffered from numerous vacant storefronts. Plans to establish an art gallery gave way to the car museum idea after receiving enthusiastic support from local car enthusiasts willing to share their collections. It opened at its current site, part of the former St. Michaels Milling Company, and opened its doors in 2015.
The museum owned a dozen vehicles, including a 1971 Mercedes, a 1935 Ford Fiat convertible, and a 1948 MG YT with a rare blower engine, alongside loaned classics like a 1956 Ford Thunderbird and a 1957 Chevy Bel Air. These vehicles, rotated seasonally, tell the story of American automotive innovation, central to its nonprofit mission.
“The history of the automobile is the history of America,” duPont said. “Kids marvel at the past, and adults reminisce about the rides of bygone days.”
An auction preview is scheduled for August 29, from 1 to 6 p.m. Bidding opens Saturday at 8 a.m. and concludes at 4 p.m. Successful buyers paying by cash or cleared credit card can take home titles the same day, while check payments will require a Monday clearance.