Great Garages
Janet Cussler’s classic-car garage is completely novel.
With daughter Whitney, she owns the Janet Cussler Car Collection in north Scottsdale. For the last 11 years of his robust life, she was married to Paradise Valley’s Clive Cussler (1931–2020), who wrote or co-wrote 80-plus adventure/ thriller novels, including bestsellers Gray Ghost and Raise the Titanic!
Their 40 cars represent collectibles from the Brass Era through today, with an emphasis on large, luxurious pre-World War II touring vehicles, Clive’s favorites. Other family members, including three other daughters with his first wife, Barbara, own and manage the Cussler Museum in Arvada, Colorado. The two venues are not associated.
Cussler loved cars throughout his packed life, Janet explains. The collection begins chronologically with an 1880s Concord stage coach. ”You can see John Wayne in it,” Janet says.
Following are cars from the first 20 years of the 20th century: a 1902 Curved Dash Oldsmobile; 1911 Model T, which sold new for around $700; a 1919 Kissel, one of 37 known to exist; a 1907 Mitchell, with its distinctive horn; a running all-original 1914 Pathfinder, one of three known; a 1913 Everett; and a massive 1916 Seven Passenger Pierce Arrow.
Two Cadillacs are a 1917 Cadillac Opera Coupe including spacious seating in the back for the wife, with a wide-ranging dress, and her portly husband, both flourishing their wealth, he in the waistline, she in
