Assiter Auctioneers of Canyon, Texas, scheduled two sales this month to liquidate part of the memorabilia and vehicle collection of the former Russell’s Truck & Travel Center near Endee, New Mexico.
The first online-only auction, which is ongoing, closes the morning of Oct. 10. It includes dozens of classic cars and pickup trucks, motorcycles, gas pumps, neon signs and porcelain signs.
All vehicles were moved to the auction company’s facility months ago. Previews are being held on today and Friday before the auction ends.
The second auction that ends on Oct. 20 includes vintage Coca-Cola machines, jukeboxes, dentist chairs and other items from the museum. That auction will be both online and on-site.
Assiter stated that it will schedule two other auctions to sell off Russell’s memorabilia.
For years, Russell’s Truck & Travel Center featured a free, Route 66-themed car museum. The cars were removed from the museum earlier this summer.
The imminent closure of the museum follows the 2023 sale of Russell’s to TravelCenters of America due to the Russell family’s wish to retire. Founders Emory and Barbara Russell both are in their 80s.
At the time of the sale, TA agreed to keep the family name on the business and keep the museum going for three years.
Russell’s opened in 2010 over the ruins of the long-closed Longhorn II restaurant along Interstate 40 and a 1952-1980 alignment of Route 66. It quickly became a popular stop.
The Longhorn II, owned by Homer Ehresman, opened shortly after I-40 bypassed nearby Glenrio. Ehresman had owned the Texas Longhorn Motel, cafe and service station in Glenrio for many years.
(Archived image of the free museum inside the Russell’s Travel Center near Endee, New Mexico)