By SALINA POST
What do a hotel in Phoenix, a Salina dealership, RM Sotheby’s, and a 2021 Shelby GT500 Mustang have in common? All were a part of a fundraising effort for The Garage Car Museum in Salina!
On Thursday evening, the Mustang, donated by Long McArthur Ford in Salina, was auctioned off by RM Sotheby's at the Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix. The auction raised $125,000, all of which will go to The Garage, a world-class automotive museum at 134 S. Fourth Street that is scheduled to open to the public at 10 a.m. Feb. 11.
"I’m so happy that we are able to support the Salina community. This community has supported us for over 70 years," said Long McArthur Ford President North McArthur. "The Garage Car Museum will be an incredible addition to Salina, Kansas, and will bring in tens of thousands of people from all over the nation."
"The funds donated by the Long McArthur family will allow our team of professionals to educate people from all over the world through interactive and entertaining simulators, to create a gathering place for automotive enthusiasts, and to encourage the restoration and preservation of automotive treasures,” said Michelle Peck, the executive director of The Garage.
There also was another Salina connection that was integral to the auction happening. Salina native Thatcher Keast is an auction coordinator and car specialist for RM Sotheby’s and coordinates automotive auctions all over the world.
"I'm excited to be a part of bringing a world class automotive museum to Salina," Thatcher said.
The auction "would not have been possible without the assistance of Thatcher Keast and the team at RM Sotheby’s," said Ashley McArthur, director of advertising and public relations for Long McArthur Ford.
About The Garage
The Garage Automotive Museum, located at 134 S. Fourth Street, will be Salina’s newest addition to the downtown revitalization project. The Garage is a $7 million, 40,000 square foot, world-class automotive museum. The museum is home to the KKOA Hall of Fame and the Salina Cross Roads Car Experience.
For more information on The Garage Car Museum, visit www.thegaragesalina.org.