This 1931 Packard Roadster is among about 60 classic automobiles to be displayed at Dick’s Classic Garage, which will open Saturday at Stagecoach Trail and Hunter Road.

STAFF REPORT

Dick’s Classic Garage, where ground broke last October to much celebration from San Marcos officials, is set to open on Saturday.

The first doors will swing open at 10 a.m., with the first day closing at 8 p.m. A special grand opening celebration will run from 1-3 p.m., with the ribbon cutting at 2 p.m.

Opening day admission is $8 for adults and $5 for children aged five years and older. Children younger than five are admitted for free. Proceeds from the non-profit museum are dedicated to the preservation of the vintage automobiles.

The new 43,000-square-foot museum is located at 120 Stagecoach Trail, on the corner of Hunter Road in San Marcos. The facility will feature about 60 of retired industrialist Dick Burdick’s collection of classic cars built from 1929 to 1959.

“This fascinating museum features the most beautiful and unique automobiles ever made in America,” said Mayor Susan Narvaiz. “I know it will quickly become one of the must-see attractions in San Marcos.”

Narvaiz and San Marcos City Manager Rick Menchaca were among the local officials who attended the ground breaking more than eight month ago. On that occasion, Burdick said he would have built his museum in Arizona were it not for Narvaiz’ efforts.

The classic car museum in San Marcos adds to historic automobile exhibits in the Central Texas Museum of Automotive History, founded by the Burdick family in Rosanky, TX, as a non-profit, educational foundation in 1980.

The Burdick family and the city council will participate in the ribbon cutting.

Burdick is the founder and former CEO of Thermon Industries, a manufacturer of heat tracing technologies. A classic car collector for many years, Burdick competed successfully in the Great American Race, a cross-country transcontinental antique car rally.

“Anyone who is at all interested in the history of our country and its people will have a natural fascination with the automobile, not only for its mechanical development, but also for the men and women who had the foresight and ingenuity to begin its development,” Burdick said.  “Just look at the impact the automobile has had on society, not only in our country but around the world. This is why we find the preservation of the automobile so important to this and future generations.”

The museum collection contains dozens of unique automobiles including:

* 1948 Tucker, number 48 of only 51 futuristic cars built by Preston Tucker
* 1929 Duesenberg, made for the president of Coca Cola
* 1948 Buick Roadmaster
* 1956 Corvette

Dick’s Classic Garage will open six days per week, including 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays, and noon-5 p.m. on Sundays. The museum will be closed on Tuesdays.

Admission on weekdays will be $10 for adults and $5 for children. Saturday and Sunday admission is $12 for adults and $5 for children. Children younger than five are admitted for free.

For more information, call Dick’s Classic Garage at (512) 878-2406.

The 1929 Duesenberg.

The 1931 Auburn.

The 1949 Packard Damin.