Story and images by John Grafman
Scattered about the greater Los Angeles area are unbelievable gems and points of interest. Million pass by these each day, and most hardly recognize these exist or the significance. Ah, if they only knew!
The savvy Angelinos in Beverly Hills find refugee from the hustle and bustle at the elegant Greystone Mansion. 16 acres of calm and relief, and an occasional concours, willed to the city by the Doheny family.
Traversing the western edge on PCH in Malibu one can spot a sprawling, almost James Bondish, mid-century modern, hillside facility just up the road from Pepperdine University. This is the famed Hughes Research Lab, or HRL as it’s known, developed by none other than Howard Hughes. Even 007 would be stunned to know that the first laser was developed in such a picturesque setting, which GM owns a slice of.
Out of sight and out of mind, or so we thought, are vast, buried stockpiles of energy. Along the San Gabriel Mountains not too far from the 405 Freeway lays the second largest underground natural gas fields in the country. Perhaps no one would have cared until the leaks at the Aliso Canyon field began to drift onto Porter Ranch residents. Oops!
Then there is the Santa Suzanna Field Lab, which is just about ten miles further north along the same hillside. Honestly, those that were around these parts a several decades ago would have a hard time forgetting the rocket engine testing that would light up the night sky. Few residents were around a few decades before the rocket testing, let alone privy to the first nuclear reactors that were nestled just a stones throw from Chatsworth, Simi Valley, and what’s now the Ronald Regan Library and Museum. Also, this coincidentally was home of the first nuclear accidents as well. Brilliant!
But, to those that love cars, the best well-kept secret happens to be a bit further north, and just a block or so from BMW’s headquarters in Newbury Park. Behind the walls of a nondescript building is a car collection featuring design icons that rivals many of the best. And, you could say this is hiding in plain sight.
The Malamut Museum isn’t like the Petersen. There’s no constant flow of visitors. This is an invite only affair. The owners, Mike Malamut and his wife, like to keep it personal. The couple, a few hired helpers, and their large and all-observing German shepherd graciously welcome small groups a few times a year to enjoy the grounds.
Mr. Malamut had a successful career in the automotive world with Autoland and Internet Brands (CarsDirect.com). So when he cashed out, he took his chips and began furthering his personal collection of cars. This is the dream that so many have, but Mike Malamut and his wife, Barbara, get to live it! However, he’s happy to share the experience in a most generous way.
The core of the collection spans the 50s and 60s, with an exceptional selection of American, European, and Japanese cars. It’s easy to say that the Malamut Museum houses what could be termed as an “Essential Collection”. Ask yourself, what would you want in a car collection? Chances are the Malamut Museum has it, and then some.
The Malamuts have a slightly different take on which cars make the cut for the collection. Mike leans towards cars with significant history or rarity, while Barbara gravitates to those based more on aesthetics. Between the two, this is a substantial effort. Almost all of the cars are concours ready. And, good luck has shined upon the couple, as the collector car field has been growing in value, albeit that wasn’t the purpose of this museum.
The vast assortment of cars and other vehicles, and artifacts are crammed into three building. More elbowroom between all of this metal would be appreciated, but if the museum featured more space, Mike would probably get more cars.
The décor in two of the buildings reminds us of Jay Leno’s Big Dog Garage with an impressive display of signage. Plus, the other memorabilia can keep even the most jaded occupied for hours, along with a bevy of vintage motorcycles.
There are several assemblages among the nearly two hundred car collection (not all are on display). As homage to his start in the auto industry, VW and Porsches take up a good third of one building. Flawless examples of Beetles and Micro Buses reside both on ground level and on hoists. A multitude of 911 variants fan out right across the walkway.
A nifty grouping of Fiats show how Europe was producing small, practical cars while here in the USA we were building heavy metal. The collection even has one of the few factory tour cars with a clear Plexiglas-like top that allows of unrestricted gawking. It is easy to see that most of these Fiats lean towards a practical and affordable product; the design aspect of many still shines brightly, even after decades. A few flawless examples include a 1951 Fiat Topolino Pickup Truck, a ’61 Jolly, and clean ’58 Multipla.
Another aisle sits numerous tiny, micro cars that represent the limited resources Germany faced after World War II. The colorful and unique BMW Isetta as well as Messerschmitt cars are a delight for the imagination. Unlike most other museums, this showcases several variations of these cars. It’s a delight to compare and contrast the model changes over time.
The second showroom has several other groupings that are equally fantastic. The gathering of early imported cars from Datsun, Honda, Toyota (Toyopets), Mazda, and Subaru, as well as Japanese domestic market products that few on these shores have seen. On one hand, there’s a stunningly restored 1967 Mazda Cosmo Sport. On the other is an equally cherry Mazda R360. The R360 is a precursor to today’s A Class, just big enough to transport two people and not much more. Then there’s an uncommon 1968 Honda S 800, a 1960 Datsun 221 Pickup, and even a 1973 Toyota Land Cruiser. Of course, there’s also an equally tasty 1968 Toyota 2000 GT, and a Honda 600 Coupe (the roller skate).
A further bit down is a row of Woodies and similar products, all with a high-degree of finish. The gathering features a ’47 Mercury, a ’41 Chrysler Town and Country, and a 1947 Pontiac Streamliner. There’s even a 1956 Volvo 445 Wagon alongside the woodies. No trees are gracing the outside of the Volvo, but you can certainly see how the design was inspired by the American family haulers of the time.
The Woodie experience is punctuated with outdoor paraphernalia like canoes and outboard boat motors. The contrast between the massive SUVs of their day and the diminutive Asian products is impressive. Both had design considerations that were at the opposite end of the spectrum.
Opposing that row is a selection of more utilitarian products from a wide range of manufacturers from DKW to Jeep. On the flip side of that row are several dynamic muscle cars, including a trio of ’63 Corvettes that capture the feel of the era perfectly. These are nestled into a backdrop straight out of the sixties, including mini-bikes! Not to be overshadowed, there are wonderful European cars that range from a red Mini Cooper to a fantastic XKE Jaguar Convertible Series 1. And rounding the bend are a few Alfa Romeos and a beckoning 1955 silver Mercedes 300 SL Gullwing.
In another building, just outside of the other two, could aptly be called “Storage”. Several dozen cars are crammed into this concrete box, bumper to bumper with barely a couple feet on each side. There only enough room to open the driver’s door and enter for those of slender frame.
This building is a bit like the warehouse at the end of Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark. A fine layer of dust reminds us that this isn’t regularly on display. But, the fabulous treasures housed within are captivating. While we travel through history, these are history, at least in automotive terms.
Many of these are European models, and less common to America, and we’re not talking the trillion-dollar cars that one all too regularly finds on the green at a concours.
The products housed in this camp are more along the lines of cool cars that one longs for that might have been somewhat less than fantastic in their time, but now are like lost and found jewels that bring us back to our youth. The range covers Auto-Union to Saab, Citroen to Chevrolet, and countless other gems quietly sit like that crates in Indiana Jones, just waiting to be unearthed and brought out into the light of day.
While it is easy to be blown away by all of the auto-mania, the metal and memorabilia are really the by-products of passion. The Malamuts are the keepers of the flame that’s within us all. It’s that love that they share with us that gets our motors running.
Find out more at http://malamutautomuseum.com/index.htm
