Get your motor running

Michael Ventre

To some, a car is simply a means of transportation. To others, it’s a way of life.

And to others, it’s a vacation destination.

Automobile enthusiasts come in all shapes, sizes, colors and genders. That mild-mannered account executive in the next cubicle could be a secret horsepower junkie. That Sunday school teacher who drives a Ford Escort to church might have a souped-up ’66 Corvette in her garage.

Just about everybody likes a hot car. Just about everybody appreciates something smoking under the hood. There’s a little bit of the adventurous “American Graffiti” spirit in all of us.

Fortunately, dotted across the landscape of the U.S. are many institutions whose purpose is to celebrate the automobile and everything it stands for. Car museums are an ideal vehicle (ahem) for education and enjoyment for all things automotive. History and technology are available for chassis chasers to examine and marvel at, and in a variety of presentations.

Here are 10 car museums that all car nuts should visit at least once. These are not necessarily the biggest or the most famous; many of those places probably have already been visited by the casual fan who gets out to maybe one auto museum per lifetime.

These are 10 that a devoted car devotee should steer toward if he or she is ever in that particular part of the country. Some have different areas of emphasis. Some are large and raucous, while others are quaint and quiet. But they all have one thing in common: a love for cars:

The Nethercutt Collection: This is a rather low-key private collection nestled in a quiet patch of land off the freeway in Sylmar, Calif. It was the creation of J.B. Nethercutt, one of the co-founders of Merle Norman Cosmetics. So naturally, he has a taste for beauty. This collection is spread over 60,000 square feet and includes impeccably restored cars dating back to 1898 — including such cherry selections as a ’36 Duesenberg SJN and a ’32 Maybach — all of which are in fine running condition. This was conceived as a not-for-profit venture, and it continues in that spirit today, because there is no charge to the public. It’s not only a marvel for the auto enthusiast’s eyes, it’s also a terrific educational experience, including a library and a restoration shop. The Nethercutt offers personal tours, but it does require advanced reservations.

Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum Indiana's not-for-profit Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum has about 100 cars and puts an emphasis on education.

Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum: Before Michigan became known as the hub of all American automobile manufacturing, the state of Indiana was cranking out motor cars of exceptional quality and style. While it includes other classics, this Indiana landmark, which opened to the public in 1974, specializes in the Auburn, Cord and Duesenberg models. It, too, is not-for-profit and emphasizes education, although there is an $8 charge for adults and $5 for students. It is located in a 1930s Art Deco building on the site of the former Auburn Automobile Company in Auburn, Ind. The museum has about 100 cars and houses several galleries, including those devoted to the craftsmanship of World War I-era autos as they progressed from their “horseless carriage” identities to the relatively high-tech progeny of the 1930s.

Saratoga Automobile Museum: There is a 1931 Pierce Arrow seven-passenger convertible, and a 1927 Franklin Airman that was once given to Charles Lindbergh. And that’s about it for the permanent collection. But what sets this charming and vibrant auto shrine apart — it is housed in an old bottling plant, the kind of re-use that makes architectural preservationists swoon — is its rotating series of exhibits. About every three months a new showcase exhibit takes over. A while back it was a spectacular private collection of Buggatis. Lately the theme has been “Barn Finds” — quite literally vintage cars that were abandoned in old barns. Ensconced in beautiful Saratoga Spa State Park, it sponsors lots of events, lectures and workshops as well. It’s a tranquil destination to enjoy both picnics and pistons.

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Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum: Sometimes a devoted gearhead simply needs to satisfy his need for speed, even if it means looking at parked hot rods and imagining them going really fast. This facility is sponsored by the National Hot Rod Association, presented by the Auto Club of Southern California, and overseen by NHRA founder Parks, who is 94 years young. Situated in a 28,500-square-foot building at the Los Angeles Fairplex in Pomona, it houses hot rods, street rods, muscle cars, customs, classics, racers and a variety of speed-related paraphernalia. The museum also sponsors educational seminars to discuss — what else? — speed, and how to achieve it through advanced automotive technology. If you have an interest in the history of people obsessed with putting their pedals to the metal, this is the place for you.

Volo Auto Museum Volo Auto Museum visitors take a close-up look at one of the many classic cars just north of Chicago.

Volo Auto Museum: Located about 50 miles north of Chicago, the Volo is like a classic car theme park. It contains over 300 antique and classic cars. Among the attractions on the sprawling complex is the George Barris TV and Movie Car Collection, which has the original Batmobile, the Ferrari from “Miami Vice” and a lot more. Besides the museum itself, which has five large showrooms, the Volo also has three big antique malls where auto buffs can show off their wares, plus two other malls with gifts, collectibles, home furnishings and art. The grounds of the Volo, filled with shade trees, flower gardens, fountains, brick pathways and benches, are ideal for picnicking and hanging out. There is also a campground. But the cars, of course, are king, and the unique aspect of the Volo is that practically all the vehicles are for sale. So you can come in with the family, eat a nice basket lunch, browse the museum and malls, and drive home in a vintage Shelby Cobra.

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