Terrill Antique Car Museum - De Leon, TX
Posted by: 
WalksfarTX
N 32° 06.805 W 098° 32.184
14S E 543734 N 3553101
Each car in the museum is in exceptional condition. Some have been restored by the Terrill team; others remain as they were the day they were purchased. All but one run, and Terrill Jr. does occasionally take them out for a spin.
Waymark Code: WMYQFR
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 07/11/2018
Views: 1
Texas Electric Co-Op
Terrill Antique Car Museum, on Highway 16 in De Leon, is the product of Feltz Terrill Sr. and his son Feltz Jr.'s love for old-model cars. The pair had been collecting cars for several years, storing them in an old warehouse. Local resident Hiram Smith was a longtime friend of Feltz Terrill Sr. and was a member of Develop De Leon Today, a group dedicated to improving the economy of the small community. During the Thanksgiving holiday in 2002, Smith contacted Terrill and asked to bring his grandchildren over to see the old cars.
That visit resulted in a conversation between Terrill and Smith about the possibility of turning the warehouse into a museum. The warehouse was not an option as it was being used otherwise, but Terrill had another building on Highway 16 that was available and much more accessible than the old warehouse. With the help of some excellent volunteers, along with a little carpentry work, the building was soon renovated and retrofitted to suit the needs of the newly organized Terrill Antique Car Museum, which opened its doors in 2003.
The Terrills knew they would not be able to have a large museum. However, they did know they could do something unique. They chose to specialize in pre-World War vintage vehicles, something few museums do. Of special interest is the one-of-a-kind Coffin Steam Carriage. Built by Howard Coffin in 1901 as a prototype, this steam-powered vehicle was the only one of its kind ever manufactured.
The Terrill Antique Museum is staffed by volunteers, and no admission is charged. If you live nearby, it would make an excellent day trip. Perhaps you could plan to come in August and make a weekend of it while attending the De Leon Peach and Melon Festival.