Top 6 Car Museums in the U.S.
Genevieve Fraser
· 4 min read
Not sure what to do on your next
road trip
? How about a stop at an iconic car museum? We've named six of the best and categorized them based on the types of cars they feature: vintage, racing, or offbeat.At these must-see museums, you’ll get the chance to see some incredible pieces of automotive history, including well-known classics, racing icons, and some rare
car brands
from overseas.Since they’re located all over the U.S., we wouldn’t mind betting at least one of them is near your next travel destination. Check out the highlights, according to
Car and Driver
.
Top museums for vintage car lovers
If you're a fan of vintage cars, your first stop should be The Henry Ford in Dearborn, Michigan. According to their website,
The Henry Ford
is comprised of three attractions spread across 250 acres. You can see the famous bus in which Rosa Parks was arrested in 1955, as well as re-creations of Nikola Tesla’s lab and the Wright brothers’ bike shop. And, of course, you can take a ride in a real Ford Model T
.If you’re ever passing through southern California, be sure to check out the Nethercutt Collection in Sylmar. According to
NethercuttCollection.org
, the museum was founded by heirs to the Merle Norman cosmetics company. The museum offers a rare chance to see impeccably preserved antiques such as a 1909 Gobron-Brille, a 1911 Pope-Hartford, and a 1913 Mercedes Double Phaeton-Torpedo.Top car museum picks if you have a need for speed
A list of the top car museums in the U.S. wouldn't be complete without the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. Permanent exhibits include winning cars from throughout the race track's history. According to the
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum
website, some of the exhibits rotate, but you can see a 1911 Marmon Wasp (champion of the inaugural Indy 500) and a 1960 Watson among others in their permanent line-up.If you want to see the
race track
itself, a half-hour tour will guide you through one lap. You can even "kiss the bricks," just like the winners do.The Brumos Collection of
race cars
in Jacksonville, FL is so expansive that it takes up a 35,000-square-foot museum. The collection started as a display in a Porsche dealership, so you'll see plenty of cars from the luxury Italian automaker. The collection also includes several antique open-cockpit race cars, including a 1914 Peugeot L45 and a Porsche 917-10, according to TheBrumosCollection.com
.Museums with unusual car collections
If you're looking for more unconventional car exhibits, you'll want to stop at the Lane Motor Museum in Nashville. This
car museum
gives visitors a chance to see one-of-a-kind vehicles like a three-wheel 1953 Ardex. The Lane Motor Museum
website notes that the French automaker only made a few of these microcars for three short years, so your odds of seeing one in good condition anywhere else are slim to none.The museum is also home to a 1932 Helicron Propeller Car. Another automotive wonder out of France, this particular car was found forgotten in a barn in 2000 and then meticulously restored. While this combined Citroën GS engine and propeller-powered car likely won't leave the museum anytime soon,
Lane Motor Museum
reports that it is actually road-ready and approved for driving, according to France's safety standards.The final stop on our list is the National Automobile Museum in Reno, Nevada. Among the 207 automotive gems on display are an incredible
DeLorean
featuring gold plating and a Beatnik Bandit of custom car designer Ed "Big Daddy" Roth’s creation. If crazy customizations are your thing, this stop is not to be missed!Before you hit the road to check out these museums, make sure you have the right insurance for your car. Get affordable quotes from up to 50 top insurance companies with
Jerry
. Download the app today and you can start saving on coverage that suits your needs and budget.
