The Weekly 3
The word “museum” is thrown around very loosely in the automotive community. Everyone seems to know someone with a “museum.”
I sometimes wonder if the rest of the museum world doesn’t look at car museums as “museums” for this very reason.
When I was trying to figure out how to create Miles Through Time Automotive Museum, I discovered very quickly that the words’ car, motorcycle, truck, automotive, transportation, tractor, etc. were not museum categories in the professional field.
Eventually, I discovered the National Association for Automobile Museums (NAAM), and the World Forum For Motor Museums (WFFMM), of which I am on the board of both, which is pretty cool.
For me, I only have one real requirement for someone to claim they have a museum, which is that they have to be open to the public. There are so many different ways to preserve and share automotive history, that I enjoy seeing how creative people can get.
This Automotive Museum Guide features all kinds of museums, and the one thing they all have in common, is that you can visit them.
Dealerships can get kind of sneaky when it comes to claiming museum title. A building can be full of amazing cars that look like they belong in a museum, but if all those cars are just listed for sale, it is not a museum, it’s a dealership.
Some dealerships are so big or have such cool cars on display that I added a specific section to the guide called Dealerships. Places like Classic Auto Mall, are must-visit places. I wish I had access to take over an entire mall and fill it with cars.
I think it is important to know what you’re walking into. If you think you’re going to a museum, but it turns out to just be a dealership, you may be disappointed. Especially, if you paid something to see the cars.
Conversely, if you visit a museum with a charge to get in and discover nothing is for sale because it is a museum, not a dealership, you might be upset. This still happens at Miles Through Time occasionally.
Like everything in the world, there are always going to be anomalies. There are straight-up dealerships that are also museums. Finding the balance between the two identities can be a challenge, but here are a few examples.
The Museum at Aristocrat Motors is a private collection separated from the cars they have listed for sale. The museum is free to visit and open at the same hours as the dealership.
Vintage Corvettes & Museum is a specialty dealership, that I’m sure you can guess the specialty. Greg is a huge Corvette fan with a lot of memorabilia and transformed his dealership into something more.
Morrison Motor Car Museum is completely separate from Morrison Motor Cars the dealership, but the museum exists because of the dealership.
When visiting all these automotive museums, it is always best to visit with an open mind and a level of appreciation that you’re able to visit. Sometimes, the place may not be your favorite, while others you may leave with new knowledge and wonderful memories.
You’ll never know what it’ll be for you, unless you visit.
If you want to see more, visit the Weekly 3.
WHICH AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM WILL YOU VISIT NEXT?
Plan your next trip, discover your new favorite, or find the nearest museum
Sean Mathis
Creator of Automotive Museum Guide
Founder of Miles Through Time Automotive Museum
P.S. Make sure you follow AMG on Facebook and join the FB Group to see what’s going on at all the museums.
Explore Automotive Museums in
KANSAS
The Museum at Aristocrat Motors
The Museum at Aristocrat Motors is a private collection located inside the Aristocrat Motors dealership. The museum is free for visitors during normal hours.
Explore Automotive Museums in
GEORGIA
Vintage Corvettes and Museum
Greg Wyatt is known for selling high-end, beautiful vintage Corvettes from his dealership. Greg has expanded on his passion and renovated an old dealership to open up Vintage Corvettes and Museum.
Explore Automotive Museums in
NORTH CAROLINA
Morrison Motor Car Museum
When Jimmy Morrison began searching for a property to expand his successful collector car dealership, he had no idea he would wind up in the museum business, but that’s exactly what happened when Morrison Motor Co, Inc. took ownership of Backing Up Classics Motor Car Museum in 2001.
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Big Car Shows and Museums
Whether it’s a show to raise funds for a specific family in need, a church, a charity, or a museum, the proceeds raised help make a difference, and you have to spend a few hours having a good time.
Incubators for automotive interests
Just about every museum’s mission is some version of preserving and sharing automotive history, which is true and necessary.
Museums that help keep brands alive
Some of the very niche automotive museums you can visit may have it a little more difficult to capture a broader interest. Or perhaps because they are so niche, they have the ability to be hyper-focused on what they specialize in.
History Museum, Art Museum or Car Museum
I would argue that sometimes a car museum is just a car museum, but the best are all 3.
How many wheels do you prefer?
If you need an excuse to ride or drive somewhere, just open up the MAP and find a museum to visit.
This guy bought the entire museum
Visit as many museums as you can. Volunteer if possible. Become an advocate. If you have a collection or even just one car or priceless knowledge, share it.