Warbirds and Wheels Museum

Warbirds & Wheels in Wānaka, New Zealand was a museum displaying military aircraft and early 20th century classic and vintage automobiles and motorcycles. It opened in 2011 and operated for ten years from premises located at Wānaka Airport on State Highway 6.

Warbirds and Wheels
EstablishedDecember 2011 (2011-12)
DissolvedSeptember 2021 (2021-09)
LocationWānaka Airport
TypeAerospace museum, automotive museum
Website(archived)

The museum was opened in December 2011 under an initiative by the Warbirds Over Wanaka Community Trust and three local businessmen to replace the former New Zealand Fighter Pilots Museum.[1] After the death of one of the owners and the drop in international tourism as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the museum closed in September 2021.[2]

Collection

The museum had several military aircraft on static display, including a Douglas A-4 Skyhawk, a BAC Strikemaster Mk 88, a de Havilland Vampire FB5, a Hawker Hurricane Mk IIA (in airworthy condition),[3] and a replica Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a.

Over time the emphasis shifted more towards classic and vintage automobiles and motorcycles. The museum was managed by a consortium of private car collectors from Wanaka and focused mainly on vehicles from the 1930s to 1950s. Specifically, the collection included several rare cars and examples of automobiles from before World War II, such as a meticulously restored 1934 Duesenberg Model J - the only one in the southern hemisphere,[4] a 1935 Auburn Speedster 851 SC, a "one of two" 1918 Packard semi-collapsible Landaulet Fleetwood model from New York,[3] and a handful of pre-World War I vehicles such as a 1907 Ford Model K.

Almost all of the cars were in working order and had current registrations and Warrants of Fitness, with some of them on loan by their private owners and used for rides. The displays were complemented by equipment and paraphernalia from the respective time periods, such as old petrol pumps and signs, and listed details and stories about the individual cars.

References
  1. "Sir Tim honoured to open Warbirds and Wheels". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 2015-03-27.
  2. O'Regan, Tony (15 October 2021). "Warbirds and Wheels Museum closes after ten years". The Wānaka App. Wānaka, New Zealand: Schistrockmedia Limited. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  3. Lucy Ibbotson (28 Dec 2011). "Warbirds, wheels to fascinate all". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 2015-03-27.
  4. "Vintage beauty a real star". The Napier Mail. Retrieved 2015-03-27.

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