More than 800 classic cars and street rods have crossed Dan Martin’s path over the years. Throughout the Inland Northwest—and beyond—few people have provided a bigger impact in knowledge and sheer volume of cars than he.

Martin grew up in North Spokane. His passion for motorsports—fueled by his father—became apparent in his early teens as he raced his midget around the sidewalks of Shadle Park. Martin’s first car was a 1949 Ford in 1953, when he was 13, that he bought with his paper route money. That car had previously been stolen, so Martin purchased it without an engine or transmission. Throughout the following two years, Martin and his dad put it back together. At the age of 16, while attending North Central High School, he had his first 1934 Ford. His love of motorsports and the automobile have not dimmed, and have blazed on in his two older children.

Martin joined The Dukes Auto Club in 1958 and 60 years later is still a member. He has watched the club membership dwindle to a low of six in the early 1970s, and grow to its current high of 140 members.  He has been the club President seven times.

In his early adult years, he and his wife Marilyn owned a few gas stations and sold used cars from the gas station lots on Division. He bought a car hauler that kept them quite busy as well.  Eventually, Martin was hired on at the Spokane International Airport Fire Station where he later became a captain. The fire station provided him the freedom to continue to pursue his motorsports passion.

Over the years, Martin has been involved with circle track racing (primarily at the Spokane Fairgrounds), drag racing, fast boats, car shows, rod runs and swap meets. His broad knowledge of classic cars has made him an important resource as an expert on the subject. Over the years, many insurance companies have consulted with him to determine a classic car’s value.

Now in his mid-70s, Martin is still a regular at rod runs, swap meets and duke events. He sells cars every January at the famed Barrett Jackson Classic Car Auction in Scottsdale. He made his most well-known sale in 2004 when he and a few partners sold a 1938 Lincoln Zephyr Coupe for $440,000, a world record for a street rod sold at auction at that time.

His favorite car? A rare 1936 Ford. Another favorite—the one he has owned the most times, buying and selling it five different times to buyers as far away as Houston, Texas—is a 1933 Willys Sedan Delivery which has changed appearance several times through the years. His long and illustrious love affair with the automobile shows no sign of slowing down and is proudly displayed all over the walls of his immaculate shop in North Spokane where he and Marilyn have resided since the early 1970s.

Michele Martin is a Motorsports Photographer and enthusiast.

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