Missoula Hellgate Auto Club
One of the oldest car clubs in Missoula, we provided one of the founding fathers for the Montana Pioneer and Classic Auto Club (MPACAC), Wes Stranahan, dating back to the 1960’s. We value the social aspects of our club as much as the old cars. The below photograph shows some club members at Seeley Lake with “Gus” the largest Western Larch in America.
We meet on the 3rd Monday of each month (except June/July) at 6:00 pm. We meet at the American Legion Hall at 825 Ronan Street. Our monthly meeting is usually preceded by a pot luck dinner.
During the summer months we attempt to have as many tours as we can squeeze in, usually one a month. We welcome old cars and motor cycles and even modern cars if your classic is down for repairs. Our tours are usually within a days drive from Missoula and we are always looking for new places to go.
Join the Club
Becoming a member of the Montana Pioneer and Classic Auto Club and its Missoula Hellgate chapter is easy!
Complete the linked form and mail it to the address below, along with appropriate membership dues. A chapter member will be in touch.
Membership dues: $40 annually
($30 for the Montana Pioneer and Classic Auto Club plus $10 chapter fees for the Missoula Hellgate Auto Club.)
Mail your completed form and a $40 check payable to Missoula Hellgate Auto Club to:
Missoula Hellgate Auto Club
c/o Karen Winz
3218 S. 7th St. W.
Missoula, MT 59804
For more information, please contact Doug Winz, chapter president, at dw172911@gmail.com or (406) 240-0851.
President: Doug Winz
Vice President: Stan Cohen
Secretary: Cathy Smyers
Treasurer: Karen Winz
Reporter: Perry Francis
Little English cars on our tour to the Big Hole Battlefield National Park.
Jim Valeo and Stan Cohen by Jim's 1955 Jaguar XK-140.
Doug Ruffatto's 1959 Corvette
Rick Nash, at Zip Auto, tells us about this Boat Tail Bentley. This car raced in the famous 24 hour Le Mans, France race,
Harvey Olson leads the Arlee Fourth of July parade in his brass era model T.
On our Zip Auto tour in Missoula this 1925 Duesenberg was another car on display.
Jeff Stevens drives Miss Montana (Haley Joy Tate) in the 2026 UM Homecoming Parade.
Dave Ault gets his old shot gun appraised at Fort Connah--site of oldest wood building in Montana (1841-1842).
Fred Williams and Burnie Wryn at Earl's Tool Farm in Saint Regis.
Some club cars at Garnet Days, an annual celebration at this restored ghost town.
The club visits "Miss Montana" the official state airplane at the Museum of Mountain Flying, Missoula airport.
We toured Travelers Rest State Park where one of the two signs of physical evidence remain from the Lewis and Clark expedition.
Jim Valeo's 1936 Ford
Everybody loves a TR3
We bought gas from these pumps at Shoup, Idaho. This service has been discontinued.
On our Mission Valley Back Roads tour we wqtched the former Kerr dam spilling 50,000 c.f.s.
We visited the shop in Helena where this rare Powell pickup is being restored. Only about 150 are believed to exist,
