By NATE KING
Salina Post
The Garage Automotive Museum, located at 134 S. Fourth Street in Salina, Kansas, has unveiled a holiday display that’s stealing the show—literally. A custom-built replica of the Grinch’s sleigh from Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas! is now on display.
The 2000 Grinchworks Christmas Sleigh, created by Russ Soupene of Manhattan, Kans., was built from repurposed materials, including junkyard parts and truck shop scraps. It features twin turbo jets, retrofitted truck air tanks, and vibrant decorations inspired by the whimsical world of Whoville. The sleigh also has disco-ball flames and a distinctive custom shifter.
Soupene said the sleigh began as a creative project born from his experience decorating a 1930 Model-A Ford wrecker truck for Manhattan Christmas parades with Manhattan Wrecking Service's Todd Gillmore.
"We needed to change the decorations on it, and I was home sick with COVID and nothing to do so I was thinking, 'Well, you know if I could make a sleigh and then we could tow up behind the record track, and then that would be real good for the museum and the parade,'" Soupene said. "I said, 'Well, if I can come up with stuff to make the jet engines out, well then the rest of it'll be easy.'"
Soupene went to his junk pile at his Manhattan Sure truck repair shop and dug around until he found every part he needed to make the sleigh.
"I dug around out there for just a few minutes and had everything to make it. I probably could've made two of them," Soupene said.
Soupene constructed the Grinch's sleigh in October 2022, completing it in less than two months. He started the project about one to two weeks into October and had to finish it by the end of November for the Christmas parade in Manhattan.
"I would always drive it[the Model A] in the parades and then I wanted my granddaughters to ride with me, and so, so that was the big reason was so they could ride in the sleigh," Soupene said. "It's all to have a good time and enjoy Christmas."
The sleigh, made entirely from repurposed materials and inspired by the iconic Dr. Seuss story, blends holiday charm with mischievous engineering. The sleigh’s design incorporates numerous thoughtful details from the movie How the Grinch Stole Christmas, such as buttons, switches, a radar panel, the iconic stolen "Mayor of Whoville," and more.
"Christmas is always a fun time, and the sleigh is about spreading Christmas cheer," Soupene said.
After its time at The Garage Automotive Museum, the sleigh will return to Manhattan, where Soupene plans to store it and potentially auction it off in the future, with proceeds benefiting a charitable cause like St. Jude’s Children's Research Hospital.
Michelle Peck, the Museum's executive director, said the display is a great photo backdrop and an opportunity to learn how "junk" can be repurposed into something magical.
"It is a great photo opportunity to bring your family in and take your photo with the Grinch. Also, check out the Oddities exhibit on display at The Garage," Peck said. "We have a lot of oddly fantastic cars and vehicles on display right now you won't want to miss."
Plan Your Visit
The Grinch's sleigh will remain displayed throughout the 2024-2025 holiday season. Visitors are encouraged to stop by the museum to experience this festive marvel, take photos, and explore the creativity behind its construction.
For more information about The Garage Automotive Museum and its exhibits, visit the museum’s website or stop by during operating hours.