What automotive museums are worth the visit?
#3038913
05/01/22 09:43 PM
05/01/22 09:43 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,813 Between Houston & Galveston TX
SattyNoCar
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Smarter than no class Flappergass by a mile
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Between Houston & Galveston TX
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Sitting here a little board on a Sunday night, the Volo thread got me wondering, what Automotive Museums are worth visiting? Doesn't have to be Mopar specific or even just automotive really. Where have you been or would like to go? Any hole in the wall kinda places that are under the radar? I went to the Henry Ford Museum a long time ago. I got to Floyd Garretts Muscle Car Museum several years ago. I want to go to the Tim Wellborn Museum. From casual observation, seems a majority are in the Mid-West? What say you? Just curious.
John
The dream is dead, long live the dream.......😥
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Re: What automotive museums are worth the visit?
[Re: Rhinodart]
#3038936
05/01/22 10:55 PM
05/01/22 10:55 PM
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Joined: Nov 2006
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furious70
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this one was nifty. Quiet. Went there on a trip with my wife to the Falls. It's got a lot of old choch, bikes, early stuff. Lots of little stuff to look at and read. Definitely not full of shiny muscle cars. https://www.pierce-arrow.com/
70 Sport Fury 68 Charger 69 Coronet 72 RR
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Re: What automotive museums are worth the visit?
[Re: SattyNoCar]
#3038937
05/01/22 10:58 PM
05/01/22 10:58 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,714 Moved to N.E. Tennessee
GomangoCuda
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Garret closed last year. Have you been to the Garlits Museum in Florida?
In north east Ohio Doc Snyder in New Springfield and Flynn Auto Group in Columbiana both have large collections of Muscle and race cars. Neither is Mopar specific and both only have a few Mopars. Doc has more race cars than Flynn and Flynn has mostly original Muscle cars. Both are very worth seeing if you will be in the area. They are only a few miles apart so it's easy to see both in a day. They are both private collections that require appointments to see as they are not located at their businesses. I don't think either of these is advertised or well known. I was shocked when I found out about these less than 45 minutes from where I had lived all my life and had no idea they existed. I no longer live in Ohio and do not have contact info or addresses for either collection but I bet a few members here know.
In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice, there is.
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Re: What automotive museums are worth the visit?
[Re: Rhinodart]
#3038948
05/01/22 11:29 PM
05/01/22 11:29 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,813 Between Houston & Galveston TX
SattyNoCar
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Smarter than no class Flappergass by a mile
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OP
Smarter than no class Flappergass by a mile
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Between Houston & Galveston TX
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I forgot about Garlits, I was there back about '95 or so. I was in Ocala for work and happened upon it. I got there maybe 25 minutes before closing, but they gave me an hour to look around. It was about the time the 4dr Hemi Coronets became known and the white one was parked in a back room off the main floor. I probably could have stayed longer than the hour, but I didn't want to take advantage of their offer to stay late for me.
Thanks for the suggestions so far!
John
The dream is dead, long live the dream.......😥
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Re: What automotive museums are worth the visit?
[Re: SattyNoCar]
#3038959
05/02/22 12:05 AM
05/02/22 12:05 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,489 Minnesota
Hemi_Joel
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What others have said, plus:
The Speedway Museum, Nebraska. The collection of vintage speed parts and rare engines is unparalleled ! The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum in Auburn India will blow you away. Classics galore. The Brumos Collection in Jacksonville Florida is home to a bunch of vintage Millers, and the Revs institute in Naples Florida if you like vintage race cars. The Tallahassee Auto Museum is really good. The Justice Brothers Museum in California is cool. The NHRA museum at Pomona. The museum at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is essential. The National Packard Museum in Ft. Lauderdale Florida is really good. The Wheels through time museum in Maggie Valley, NC is really interesting, but is mostly vintage motorcycles. But the way they are displayed is so cool.
[img]http://i.imgur.com/boeexFms.jpg[/img]31 Plymouth Coupe, 392 Hemi, T56 magnum RS23J71 RS27J77 RP23J71 RO23J71 WM21J8A I don't regret the things I've done. I only regret the things I didn't do. "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something. ~ Plato"
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Re: What automotive museums are worth the visit?
[Re: abodyjoe]
#3039019
05/02/22 09:21 AM
05/02/22 09:21 AM
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,378 St. Charles, MO
wingman
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x2 for the Auburn Cord Dusenberg in Auburn IN.
Went there years ago when we lived in Ft. Wayne. Wasn't expecting much as those era cars aren't really my cup of tea, but it turned out to be awesome!
1969 Dodge Coronet Super Bee 383 A4 1970 Plymouth Road Runner 440 FC7 (sold)
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Re: What automotive museums are worth the visit?
[Re: SattyNoCar]
#3039033
05/02/22 10:27 AM
05/02/22 10:27 AM
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Joined: Sep 2003
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68SportFury
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I like the AACA Museum in Hershey, PA. They have a pretty impressive collection, and they have new exhibits two or three times a year. I go up for each new exhibit, so I bought a membership a few years back.
They don't have enough space to display their entire collection, so cars are rotated in and out. The featured exhibits are mostly cars loaned by collectors, with the rest from the museum's collection. They also have a small gallery right off the main lobby that usually features a specific manufacturer, organized by a club.
The Simeone Museum in Philadelphia has a really nice collection of vintage racers in as-raced condition, and displays pretty much all of them all the time. I can also recommend the Eastern Museum of Motor Racing in PA.
I'm waiting to hear back from another museum in Philadelphia that suspended tours due to COVID.
Paul 68 Sport Fury ragtop 67 Fury III 4-dr HT 11 Charger Rallye 17 Challenger SXT Plus
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Re: What automotive museums are worth the visit?
[Re: not_a_charger]
#3039052
05/02/22 12:05 PM
05/02/22 12:05 PM
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 4,672 Wichita
GY3
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Hajek Motorsports Museum in Ames, OK.
It's in the middle of nowhere but has amazing cars from drag racing and NASCAR history!
Hot Rod did a story a few years back on his collection.
'63 Dodge 330 11.19 @ 121 mph Pump gas, n/a, through the mufflers on street tires with 3.54's. 3,600 lbs. 10.01 @ 133mph with a 250 shot of nitrous an a splash of race gas. 1.36 60 ft. 3,700 lbs.
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Re: What automotive museums are worth the visit?
[Re: GY3]
#3039073
05/02/22 12:40 PM
05/02/22 12:40 PM
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 946 Carlisle, PA
cudaboy340
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The short answer is, ALL OF THEM!! I've been lucky to visit many and enjoyed all of them. Here are some I recommend:
Hershey AACA (many exhibits are ongoing but they change the theme about every 6 months) EMMR (Eastern Museum of Motorsports Racing) Simeone Museum in Philly Petersen in CA Garlits Petty Wellborn The Henry Ford (but it's not really automotive) Walter P Chrysler (if it reopens) Barber Motorsports Museum in Alabama (do that and Wellborn in one trip) Keystone Antique Truck & Tractor Museum in VA Swigert in Huntingdon, PA (OLD school place) Ford Piquette Plant in Detroit (Ford's first plant) GM Heritage Center McCandless Museum once he opens it to the public
These are the ones that stand out the most to me.
Ed
Last edited by cudaboy340; 05/02/22 12:41 PM.
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Re: What automotive museums are worth the visit?
[Re: topside]
#3039169
05/02/22 06:27 PM
05/02/22 06:27 PM
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Joined: Feb 2005
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HemiSportFury
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Indianapolis Speedway museum is definitely worth a visit. They probably have one of the most valuable collections anywhere. What is the value of the first car to win the 500, or the second, etc? Or the first American car to win a gran prix race? Or any of the Miller front drives? Very impressive collection.
'64 Sport Fury, 528 Hemi, FiTech EFI, 4-speed, 4.10 Dana 60 '57 Belvedere 2dr sedan, current project in process '19 Cherokee Trail Hawk Elite '03 Ram 2500 CTD HO, 6-speed 214,000 miles and still going strong
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Re: What automotive museums are worth the visit?
[Re: HemiSportFury]
#3039184
05/02/22 08:00 PM
05/02/22 08:00 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 175 Cleveland, Ohio
71VBEE
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The Gilmore Museum in Western Michigan is fantastic. The cars, the buildings, the atmosphere and the depth and breath of the displays place this museum at the top of my list. If you choose to see it during the Mopars at Red Barn show then you will have hit a home run. I have been to many listed above and the Gilmore always comes out a winner for me. But if Muscle cars are your (only) thing then you must go to MCACN.
1971 Superbee 440-6 auto dana airgrabber The resto started: Nov 2004, now its 2024 and its 95% finished. I can't believe it is the same car I started with. 1964 Corvette coupe...always gets more attention than the Bee from the general public.
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Re: What automotive museums are worth the visit?
[Re: nutso suave]
#3045352
05/26/22 01:35 PM
05/26/22 01:35 PM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,918 Calgary, Alberta Canada
a12rag
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- Reynolds Museum in Wetaskiwin, Alberta, Canada - Lemay Museum in Tacoma, WA. - Blackhawk Museum in Davnille, CA. - WOW !! - Walter P. Chrysler in Auburn Hills, MI - was there many many moons ago, just when opened - Studebaker Museum, Southbend IN. - amazing ! - Henry Ford Museum, Dearborn MI - simply awesome !!
- Ferrari Museum - Maranello, Italy - a must see if you are over there !! And soooo many "non car" museums/places to see - Enzo Ferrari Museum - Modena, Italy - where it all started.
Wow - didn't think I had been to many, put I look at the list and think, yup I have travelled ! All great experiences with car friends and all well worth going to have a look around !!
Cheers . . .
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Re: What automotive museums are worth the visit?
[Re: a12rag]
#3045393
05/26/22 03:37 PM
05/26/22 03:37 PM
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 2,415 Connecticut
Ron_M
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My favorite (so far) is the Richard Petty Museum.
Common sense is a flower that does not grow in everybody's garden
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Re: What automotive museums are worth the visit?
[Re: McCandlessboy]
#3045777
05/28/22 07:01 AM
05/28/22 07:01 AM
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Joined: Feb 2007
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oldjonny
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Nice write up. For sure if I head in your direction I would be honored to take a look at what you and your Dad have put together.
Never, ever argue with an IDIOT. They will drag you to their level and then beat you with their years of experience
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Re: What automotive museums are worth the visit?
[Re: 65pacecar]
#3090547
10/30/22 08:24 PM
10/30/22 08:24 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
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71VBEE
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The Newport Rhode Island auto museum is worth a visit. For what its worth, I have been to a lot of automotive museums, and find them all worth while, but this is a top 5. https://newportcarmuseum.org/Steve
1971 Superbee 440-6 auto dana airgrabber The resto started: Nov 2004, now its 2024 and its 95% finished. I can't believe it is the same car I started with. 1964 Corvette coupe...always gets more attention than the Bee from the general public.
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Re: What automotive museums are worth the visit?
[Re: SattyNoCar]
#3090604
10/31/22 07:03 AM
10/31/22 07:03 AM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 19,889 Puttin' on the foil in Charles...
not_a_charger
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Mr. Big Shot Moparts Moderator
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Puttin' on the foil in Charles...
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Crawford Auto and Aviation Museum in Cleveland Shelby Museum in Vegas (Free? I think?) Count's Custom's showroom in Vegas (free) There's a cool little car museum in Put In Bay on South Bass Island in Lake Erie
Earning every penny of that moderator paycheck.
DBAP
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Re: What automotive museums are worth the visit?
[Re: IMGTX]
#3090655
10/31/22 11:00 AM
10/31/22 11:00 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,232 Chicago, IL
PLUM_72
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The NASCAR museum or NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, NC is a very cool experience! Even if you're not into the roundy-round, its a cool automotive history experience with a lot of well known names. https://www.nascarhall.com/
1972 Dodge Challenger
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Re: What automotive museums are worth the visit?
[Re: SattyNoCar]
#3091035
11/01/22 10:13 PM
11/01/22 10:13 PM
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Joined: Sep 2003
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68SportFury
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I was just looking at this thread, came across my reply from six months ago, and remembered another museum worth checking out: The Owls Head Transportation Museum in Owls Head, ME. I've visited a couple of times while in ME visiting family, but didn't make it the last time I was up there in 2017. From the website: OHTM is a nonprofit educational organization. Its mission is to collect, preserve, exhibit and operate pre-1940 aircraft, ground vehicles, engines and related technologies significant to the evolution of transportation for the purpose of education.
Paul 68 Sport Fury ragtop 67 Fury III 4-dr HT 11 Charger Rallye 17 Challenger SXT Plus
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Re: What automotive museums are worth the visit?
[Re: Moparnut426]
#3091498
11/03/22 09:49 PM
11/03/22 09:49 PM
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mr_340
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The Speedway race museum in Lincoln Nebraska, WILL NOT DISSAPOINT!!!! Plan on half a day atleast! I would plan on the full day. They open around noon and close at 4:30PM. It's not enough time for me. My stupid friend dicked around and we lost an hour to start. I never made it to the third floor. A wall of Flathead Ford intakes, Weslake 318 Plymouth engines, Miller/Offy engines, custom cars, etc.
Floyd Lippencott IV
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