Museums And Collections To See

[larryconnors]

In the past few years I have been to the Springfield Ma transportation museum, the Collings foundation in Stow Ma., and today I saw Robert Bahre's collection at Paris Hill Me. These contain many large and exotic automobiles from the thirties as well as earlier and later cars with the ability to wow anyone. What I would like to see now is a collection of everyday cars that a working man could have owned.I'd like to see Plymouths and Fords and Nashs and Chevys etc. Does anyone have recommendations for where to see such a collection?

[knuckleharley]

Well,the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn would be a good place to start,providing it hasn't already been looted.

 

One museum I recommend highly is the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Museum in Ft.Wayne,Indiana. Hard to believe it,but the 3 most beautiful cars ever built in the whole world were all designed and built in the very buildings that house the collection. When you walk in the front door you are literally stepping into a 1935 A-C-D new car showroom.

 

Yeah,we have all seen photos of these cars. That's not the same thing as looking at them while standing a few feet away. Turst me on this.

 

And yes,there are a few non-A-C-D cars there on the 3rd floor to look at. One was a orginal Shelby AC Cobra with the dual quad 427 that had less than 500 miles on it and had never even been painted.

 

FWIW,there is a Transportation Museum right across the street that I am assuming houses trucks and buses. I didn't have time to see it after visiting the A-C-D museum because it took me hours to go through it,and it would have mean another night in a motel and on the road.

[1940plymouth]

Being that you are from Mass, you could hop on the Mass Pike head west to NY, get on the thruway and head towards Utica, NY get off and head south on RT 12 to Norwich, NY to visit the Northeast Classic Car Museum.  You won't be disappointed.

 

Right now they have an exhibit of Woodie cars, along with the regular ones that always there.

 

My wife is from up in that neck of the woods, we were up there to visit her 95 year old Father last month and stopped in the museum on the way home after our visit.  This Buick was in the lobby and the '57 was parked outside on display.  The '57 is owned by a local up there

[greg g]

While not specifically Automotive related, if you have an appreciation for precision items, and how they get made, you probably want to have this one on your list; http://www.americanprecision.org/ located in Vermont.  There is also the Automobile Museum in Saratoga Springs, NY. In the Saratoga area are also the Museum of Horse racing, and the Saratoga Battlefield national site.

 

If you are in the Central NY area, there is the Erie Canal Museum, and the Salt Museum in Syracuse. 

 

In the Finger Lakes Region in Hammondsport, NY is the Glenn Curtiss Museum of Aviation and local history,  featuring early aviation and motorcycling items, as well as items contemporary to the mid 1900's.  Also worth the trip is the Baseball Hall of Fame, and the New York farmers Museum in Cooperstown, NY,

 

Adirondack Museum in Blue Lake, NY is worth the stop if your are visiting the area. 

[desoto1939]

The Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles located in Boyertown PA. They are located between Pottstown and Allentown PA on route 100 and PA 73.  The building is the site of the old Bouyertown body works.  This museum traces the history of vehicle transportation and car builders that centered around the greater Philadelphia, Delaware, Montogomery, Chester and Berks Country in Pa.

 

The museum has one of the original Dureaya cars and lots of cars that were built in the are. There is a 33 Ford that was produced inthe Chester PA plant.  The muesum hosts the Dureya DAsy car show every year.

 

This is a great place to visti if you are in the Allentown PA area.  My loacl club has even had catered diners in the main gallery as an event.

 

Link: http://boyertownmuseum.org/

 

Rich Hartung

desoto1939@aol.com

[pflaming]

Drive out to Freeport, ME to Goldenrod Garage. He is a trader and his garages are open. One garage is a double decker and will have some 60 + cars all original most of which will be in the 40's and 50's. His second garage is climate controlled and those cars are either for sale or in storage. These are later model cars most of which are show caliber and 60/70 speciallty cars. 

 

You can walk through unattended at your own pace. Check out their You Tube walk through. 

Edited July 22, 2013 by pflaming

[TodFitch]

Well,the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn would be a good place to start,providing it hasn't already been looted. . .

Looted? What is happening at that museum?

 

Only been there once about 10 years ago and found it a very good museum. It would be a shame if it wasn't being kept up.

[knuckleharley]

Looted? What is happening at that museum?

 

Only been there once about 10 years ago and found it a very good museum. It would be a shame if it wasn't being kept up.

It's close to Detroit,so I wouldn't be surprised if it were to get looted so people could sell the restored cars for scrap.

 

I once had a retard stop at my house a few years ago when I still had he 48 coupe on the road

 

 

And offer to haul it off for me for free. I declined his gracious offer.

[mayflower48]

If anyone is in the Reno, Navada part of the world, you will want to check this one out.  Been there a number of times. http://www.automuseum.org/

[White Spyder]

Being that you are from Mass, you could hop on the Mass Pike head west to NY, get on the thruway and head towards Utica, NY get off and head south on RT 12 to Norwich, NY to visit the Northeast Classic Car Museum.  You won't be disappointed.

 

Right now they have an exhibit of Woodie cars, along with the regular ones that always there.

 

My wife is from up in that neck of the woods, we were up there to visit her 95 year old Father last month and stopped in the museum on the way home after our visit.  This Buick was in the lobby and the '57 was parked outside on display.  The '57 is owned by a local up there

I agree on this one. They have the largest collection of Franklins there as well. The history of the man who started it is also very interesting. I wrote an artical about this museum for our local club newsletter.

[Captain Neon]

I visited the AACA's museum in Hershey PA about a month ago, and I think it will fit the bill quite nicely.

[randroid]

Ben,

 

Haven't heard from you for a while, glad you're still around. You still pushing poultry?

 

-Randy

[Captain Neon]

My wife and I had our firstborn in May, and he has been occupying a lot of our time.  Actually, I'm making dry dog food and semi-moist pet treats these days.  I could tell you more, but we make most of the stuff the big boys put their names on.  I've got my feelers out on a couple opportunities, but this is what I am doing right now.

[White Spyder]

Tucked away in quietLouisville Mississippi is a Fire truck museum. This place is unbelievable! The Taylor Fire Truck Museum is open to the public but you must call first to let them know you are coming.

Edited July 25, 2013 by White Spyder

[Don Coatney]

My wife and I had our firstborn in May, and he has been occupying a lot of our time.  Actually, I'm making dry dog food and semi-moist pet treats these days.  I could tell you more, but we make most of the stuff the big boys put their names on.  I've got my feelers out on a couple opportunities, but this is what I am doing right now.

 

Congrats on a young Capt, and gainful employment. Where are you located?

[larryconnors]

I have been to the goldenrod garage which is about an hour and a half from me. My neighbor, who no longer drives, had me drive his 1989 mustang convertible  there because he wanted them to sell it for him. The car didn't make the cut, but we toured the entire inventory which is housed in three large buildings and contains a large variety of cars. they even gave us the combination to the locked building so we could go through the cars in it. It's a good take.  I have been thinking of doing some vacation travel in the US and Canada and I want to see some collections as part of my travel plans, so the information you folks have given will be put to good use.

[greg g]

Will you be touring in your Plymouth?

[Captain Neon]

I'm living in Hiawatha KS.  We were going to bring Nathaniel home from the hospital in my '46 more door, but decided against it when the snow started falling.  He has been for a few rides already and loves the P15.

[larryconnors]

I  won't be doing long distance touring in my P15 until it's  had it's heart transplant. Until then it's a local daily driver.

[Mark D]

Gotta add a few from my Los Angeles travels... The Nethercutt Collection in Sylmar is a must see, and the mainstay off LaBrea is the Petersen. Both great takes and ive been back repeatedly to kill time at both. The Nethercutt also has a private garage collection that will open if you schedule ahead of time. Best of all the Nethercutt is free! JB was an heir to the Merle Norman cosmetics fortune and guaranteed anyone could see his cars just for the asking.

And while your in Sylmar... Head over to the Regan presidential library. Some great 80's time capsules encased over there. Going there made me think it was a lot like king tuts tomb in that he had all of his earthly junk in his grave with him.