Search
Design

The 10 Best Car Museums in the U.S.

Auto enthusiast Ken Gross shares his must-see list

By Jill Brooke
Collection of vintage Bugatti cars on display in a museum showroom with elegant lighting and classic design elements.
The Mullin Automobile Museum Photo: Courtesy of the Mullin Automobile Museum

Respected author and automotive enthusiast Ken Gross, who’s been a judge at the esteemed Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance for a quarter century, divulges his list of must-see car museums across America.

1) Petersen Automotive Museum | Los Angeles, California

Exterior of the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles featuring modern red and white wave-like design
Recently revamped by Manhattan architecture firm Kohn Pedersen Fox, the Petersen is a state-of-the-art mechanical marvel with frequently changing exhibits. (Gross is the former executive director of the institution.) Wikimedia Commons

2) Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum | Indianapolis, Indiana

Exterior view of Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum with fountain and American flag in foreground.
Home to the Indianapolis Indy 500 race, adjacent to the track, the museum boasts one of the world’s premiere collections of race cars. Courtesy of crossroadsfb.com

3) Mullin Automotive Museum | Oxnard, California

Collection of vintage Bugatti cars on display in a museum showroom with elegant lighting and classic design elements.
Designed after the 1930s Paris Automobile Salon, the museum features the largest collection of Bugattis outside of France along with a host of other French classics. Courtesy of the Mullin Automobile Museum

4) The Revs Institute | Naples, Florida

Vintage racing car with number 36 on display in a museum, black and white racing scene in the background.
The museum boasts 100 cars from Miles Collier’s famed collection. Also on show is a parade of Porches (including Gary Cooper’s,) one of two short-wheelbase Duisenbergs, plus every Post-War Cunningham ever made. Courtesy of the Revs Institute

5) National Automobile Museum | Reno, Nevada

Vintage race car with worn-out tires, red seats, and a flag, showcasing an early automotive design.
This Nevada-based museum has a fabulous collection of models owned by the late Bill Harrah, with rarities such as the only pancake-engine Julian Automobile. National Automobile Museum

6) Nethercutt Collection | Sylmar, California

A large collection of vintage cars displayed in a spacious indoor museum, showcasing various classic models and colors.
The late J. B. Nethercutt amassed an impressive classic-car collection including six Best of Show winners at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. And the family-operated museum’s restoration shop is second to none. Nethercutt Collection

7) Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum | Auburn, Indiana

Museum exhibit featuring an automotive design model in a glass case, surrounded by informational displays on walls.
Housed in the old Auburn Cord Duesenberg administration building, it’s an Art-Deco triumph with a striking presentation of rare prototypes. Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum

8) Blackhawk Automotive Museum | Danville, California

Modern building with reflective glass facade at sunset surrounded by trees and columns.
Rare classics and sports cars, including three uncommon Alfa B.A.Ts, are gathered in a breathtaking setting. Blackhawk Automotive Museum

9) The Henry Ford | Dearborn, Michigan

White vintage car displayed in a museum with classic designs in the background.
The Henry Ford museum includes a rare, unrestored Vanderbilt Cup-winning “Old 16,” and the ill-fated 1961 Lincoln Continental Presidential Limousine. Courtesy of the Henry Ford museum

10) Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum | Pomona, California

Exterior view of the NHRA Motorsports Museum with vintage car in front, surrounded by flags, palm trees, and a statue.
At this Californian gem, visitors will find an incredible assemblage of noteworthy Dragsters, Dry Lakes Racers, and Bonneville cars. Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum