What happens when a successful businessman with a serious car crush decides to finally consolidate all of his toys in one building? You get Steve Duncan’s awesome and impressive Car Cave. The “cave”, as he and his wife Janney refer to it, began about a year ago in a warehouse on their business property where they run SD Engineering in Topeka.
The first thing you see when you walk in the door to the warehouse is the front half of a 1930 Ford Model A Roadster busting through the wall above you. “I got that one as part of a package deal with another 1930 Ford. The barn they were in had fallen in and damaged the back half of the car,” Steve explains. “So, I thought, ‘What the heck can you do with half a car?’ and we came up with this idea,” he says, motioning above his head.
Steve has been a car fanatic for years. In 1965, at the age of 11 he raced slot cars with his dad. “My dad was good with electronics and we were dominating the competition,” he says. “So they changed the rules and said kids couldn’t compete,” he grins. No matter. He has traveled the country trailering cars and showing them in car competitions and by the look of his trophy case, he’s won his fair share. From NSRA (National Street Rod Association) to Goodguys Rod and Custom Association to local and national car shows, the awards are a testament to his lifelong passion.
It stands to reason that a car guy’s “cave” would have an overarching automobile theme, and Steve’s cave does not disappoint. Guests are greeted by a one-of-a-kind car bar. You heard that right. It’s part car, part bar. This wrap-around bar was custom made from a 1951 Pontiac Tin Woody. “The car bar was actually Janney’s idea,” Steve shared. The entire front end and driver’s side make up the front and side of the bar. Even the dashboard is integrated into the curve of the wooden bar and it features working headlights and a horn just for fun.
Venture deeper into the cave and you’ll find Steve’s double-decker collection of cars, with some parked on the floor and others on hydraulic lifts above creating the feel of a life-sized Matchbox 20 case. Walking along the colorful row of cars, you see a shiny red 1934 Ford with suicide doors flanked by a royal blue ‘32 Ford Roadster. Next to it sits a yellow 1930 Ford with a beautiful beige Learjet leather interior, followed by a sleek jet black 1966 Impala. Seemingly floating above, you’ll find a candy blue Ford Roadster with yellow flames on the side, a silver ‘69 Z28 Camaro, and a ‘95 Corvette Indy Pace Car. And those are just the really fun ones!
The rest of the room is adorned with interesting finds like a set of Harley Davidson bar height tables and matching chairs, a 1951 regulation size shuffleboard table from the Moose Lodge in Dodge City, a coat rack fashioned from gleaming chrome gear shifters, and four “chandeliers” made from the aforementioned 1930 Ford Model A Roadster’s wheels. Even the bathroom mirrors are made from antique Ford grilles. Everywhere you look you see a unique item, and Steve has a story for just about every one.
While Steve enjoys his testosterone-infused car cave, there is a section just for Janney. We followed him up a set of stairs to the loft and discovered a dance studio where Janney can practice her traditional Chinese dances with her dance troupe. It features mirrored walls, a wall-mounted TV, a stereo system, and a walk-in dressing room where she can store her large collection of colorful dance costumes. “She’s had a lot of great input every step of the way,” he said. “She’s the planner...I’m the doer.”
Every good man cave has a home theater system. Steve and Janney’s features a 4K Sony projector with a 180-inch drop down screen and 14 speakers for a serious surround- sound experience. With an integrated karaoke system, the good times are sure to roll. “I want this to be a place for the whole family to enjoy,” Steve said. That family includes the talented management team at SD Engineering, who helped put the ‘cave’ together within a year’s time while still keeping the business running. “I’m looking forward to hosting some fun parties, poker nights, and big-screen bashes here,” Steve said with a smile. “It’s gonna be great!”
*Hot Rod Hangout Highlights
*Car Bar
*Home Theater
*Classic Cars
*Shuffleboard Table
*Sports Memorbilia
*Dance Studio