VANCOUVER – A Lower Mainland museum which displays vintage trucks dating back to 1913 has to close by the end of the year.

The 12-year-old Teamsters Freight Transportation Museum & Archives in Port Coquitlam is one of the few places in North America where truck enthusiasts were still able to see nameplates like Hayes Anderson, Federal and Indiana.

According to The Vancouver Sun, the society that operates the museum-warehouse previously paid the rent with a tax receipt, but now it’s going up and the landlord wants full cash payment. The Harmonized Sales Tax, which added seven percent to the rent, was the tipping point.

"These vehicles will be homeless and people should care about this because it’s our transportation history," says Museum curator Norm Lynch, who heavy-hauled low-bed trailers all over Western Canada and Alaska before retiring and volunteering for the museum since its opening.

Memorabilia is already being packed up boxes and the display cases are ready to move.

The trucks, which at this point have nowhere to go after Dec. 31, are often rented out for films, appear at local historical vehicle shows, and the Santa Claus Parade in Burnaby.

A few of the fully restored trucks include:

A British-built 1914 Four Wheel Drive, which was brought to Canada to haul coal after WW1; a 1927 Hayes Anderson; a 1929 White fuel hauler; a 1935 Dodge Airflow — reportedly the only one sold in Canada; a 1937 Indiana purchased new by the late Andy Craig who operated Inland Motor Freight; a 1943 Maple Leaf tractor; and a1946 Fargo tractor.