Somehow, this is the third week in a row of automotive museum auctions. The good news is they are all for different reasons.

Klairmont Kollections Automotive Museum is going to auction and sadly closing for good. Rodz & Bodz Movie Cars & More Museum is going to auction, but this museum has every intention of reopening in a new location with the proceeds raised from selling the cars.

Going on right now is the Nethercutt Collection auction. Don’t worry, though; this museum isn’t closing. They are only auctioning off 43 of their vehicles on Hagerty Marketplace.

I have not had an opportunity to visit Nethercutt yet, but I do know that if the museum was to actually close, it would be a major loss. Luckily, it is just a few vehicles, which does have to happen from time to time with museums. 

The Academy of Art University Automobile Museum recently went through a similar process. However, I believe they sold the majority of their collection to completely change what they have on display.

I would much rather see automotive museum collections go to auction so they can change up their inventory and shuffle what is available in the market. As opposed to going to auction because the museum is no more, for one reason or another.

I have seen museum collections get absorbed by other museums, which is great. This allows the collection to stay together the way it was originally intended and remain accessible to the public.

The strange thing I have never seen from a 501c3 nonprofit museum closure after auction is any funds getting redistributed to another automotive museum or multiple museums.

Too often, after a founder passes away, the car museum can become a burden to whoever is left to take the reins. This, combined with perhaps a lower level of passion, financial status, or just less time, makes liquidating the museum pretty appealing.

If done properly, and the museum is not heavily in debt, there should be some money raised after selling everything in a museum. Whatever funds are left in the non-profit when it is all said and done are then redistributed to other charities.

I’ve seen some funds go towards scholarships specifically for the automotive industry, which is great, but for the most part, the museum’s founder’s passion, vision and legacy is gone. 

Speaking as a living automotive museum founder, if Miles Through Time Automotive Museum was no longer able to remain open and everything had to be liquidated, I would want whatever funds were left to go to one or more other automotive museums.

I would want anything super special that needs to remain accessible to the public to be given to another museum. It’s possible the funds raised could enable a museum to add a new wing, or perhaps a new building. Maybe the funds given could just replace a leaking roof or upgrade an HVAC system.

The point is that the original intention of Miles Through Time would live on in other automotive museums. Three museums that have done really well with this is the Petersen Automotive Museum, the Museum of American Speed and Gilmore Car Museum.

These museums are massively impressive and have absorbed numerous collections. Gilmore went a slightly different direction than the other two, but all three museums are world-class destinations that will be around for generations. This is what their founders wanted.

Despite all the auction talk, a new museum was recently added to the guide. Mittelhof Gallery of Transportation. This is a free museum you can visit by appointment. This is your typical museum. It was designed to be like a Kid’s Imaginarium, but for adults.

Automotive museums are great to visit. They open the door to our past, and give our younger generation an opportunity to look through the window of our future. I can’t tell you how many visitors I talk to are amazed at what technology has existed for decades, and they assumed it was recent.

Auto-dimming lights, air suspension, power windows, even car navigation are all things some people have no idea existed for as long as they have, but after visiting the museum, they now know.

Museums like Wills Saint Claire Auto Museum may be someone’s only opportunity to learn about that vehicle manufacturer, which then may inspire them to do something great. 

Use the MAP to find the closest automotive museum to where you are. If you find yourself outside of North America, there are other maps for you so you can still discover the closest automotive museum to you.

I hope you find the Automotive Museum Guide helpful. Visit as many as you can.

Have a great week!

SCROLL DOWN TO CHECK OUT THIS WEEK’S 3 AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUMS.

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.