Just got back from a trip to the midwest and we stopped in Auburn Indiana. There are at least three car museums there-we only did two, but wow! The National Automobile and Truck Museum is in two buildings of the old Auburn automobile ***embly plant. Not air-conditioned but a lot of neat old cars, lots of toys and memorabilia displays and quite a few trucks, including a big display by Navistar/Inetrnational. It included a diesel truck that ran about 236 at Bonneville. For $6 (AAA discount) it was worth the price and enjoyable. I'll post pictures soon. However, you absolutely MUST see the Auburn,Cord Deusenburg museum located nest door in the Auburn/Cord administration building. The building itself is a grand art deco masterpiece and the cars are fantastic.Lots of tech displays and a phenomenal ***emblage of great cars from the 20's and 30's. These are works of art and technical magic . A car from the twenties with a third headlight that turned with the wheels-a display of twin cam Deusenburg motors,etc. Probably one of the best laid out and explained museums I have ever been in. Again,the cost was only $6 with a AAA card,but I could have spent $50 and not been disappointed. We drove 450 miles home afterwards and it was worth the trip.
5Window, The NAt'l auto and truck museum owns the Futureliner that was at Hershey last year. It was restored with an ALL volunteer crew. Let's see some pics.
I went there about 12 years ago and remember seeing the Futureliner sitting in the back lot....it was unrestored...and I thought it was the koolest thing there.
Was up there on an old car tour 2 weeks ago. Your right the ADC museum is something to see. We also went through the Kruse museum, they have alot of WWII vehicles along with race cars and customs. Both are well worth the visit.
Don't forget to visit these either: Indianapolis Motor Speeway Museums - Great ***embly of vintage race cars and a little bit of everything! Very impressive! Also, stop by Union Jack's down the road for some great pizza and to see some cool racing items. James Dean Historical Museurms - Downtown Fairmount. Cool artifacts he actually owned, wore, his motorcycles, etc... Only $1 admission. Always fun to visit during the James Dean run, but busy!
I've also been to the ACD and Kruse Museums. The beautiful art deco factory at ACD is awesome and the boat tail speedster Auburns were the most beautiful cars I have seen in person.
There is a new race museum along with the military one now in aburn too. I heard or saw a sign rather that the james dean museum was closed and i ***ume for lack of interest.. Acd is nice.. I just did knoxville iowa raceway hall of fame museum and speedway motors museum in nebraska. Id rate these at the top of the list also if your in the area. Oh... being from michigan the henry ford museum is a must see too. I have been to indy many times and have yet to go to the indy 500 museum.. Dave
Heres a couple shots of the FutureLiner, last year at the ACD show, the same week as the Auction at Kruse..Great Place, good time,,,good weekend to be there.. Bill j.
After I went to ACD Museum I went north to MI not too far and enjoyed the Gilmore Museum near Kalamazoo at Hickory Corners. It was a great weekend trip.
You GOTTA go to the Speedway Museum...the BEST in the world if you are a gearhead and especially if you are a race buff. You can take the kids around the track in a bus, too. E
Tierod, at Hershey I think it cost me a buck to sit in the driver's seat. I also bought a shirt that went toward repaying the restoration costs. Coker made the tires. Did you count how many it had??
I will have to make the trip up there. I have been by it, but never visited. The original and family owned James Dean mueseum is still in Fairmount and open throughout most of the year. The small individual owned one that was in Fairmount and later moved to I69 Gas City is the one you now see in Auburn. The really cool Dean items are still in Fairmount and in possession of the Dean family.
Here's what a loser i am: I've lived in or around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and have never set foot in the museum. That will soon change. I'm planning on setting up a museum run with my buds about every other weekend during the winter. Looks as if theres plenty to see here in the Hoosier state! I'm almost looking forward to the winter!
I ran across this thread searching around and thought I'd post a link to pictures I took last fall (07) in Auburn. Best damn museum trip I ever made. If you've never been you gottta do it. I have some pictures I'll add later of the Frank Kleptz museum here in Terre Haute. He has a great collection in a former Packard dealership that includes a Chrysler Turbine car, a Duesenberg and several Chryslers. Hope you like the pix. Later, Phil http://www.flickr.com/photos/48076624@N00/sets/
Nice pics. If I lived in Terre Haute,I'd be in that museum once a month! I was particularly intrigued that the main, beautiful floor (Italian Terrazo) of the ACD museum once was used as a machine shop after they went out of business and that when they created the museum, people gave back the huge Art Deco chandeliers to help out the museum. Those are good, solid Indiana folk.
The Kleptz museum here in Terre Haute I have been to a couple of times. Everytime I go, I see new stuff. The guy that owns it will walk around with the group and tell little stories about every car and how he bought it or restored it. How a guy in his 80's remembers all those details is incredible. I can't remember where I peed last! The neatest car (to me) he has is the Turbine car. I remember those when I was a 10 year old, but I had never seen a REAL one till I saw him driving it in town a few years ago. I nearly flipped out. My wife thought I was nuts. Whenever he takes it out people think it's some kind of T-bird from the 60's. They have no idea. I have a bunch of pix from there but can't put them on on that site till later. The A-C-D and NATMUS museum up in Auburn are both worth a return trip. You're right, just the building is great to look at for all the detail. The great cars make it even better. Those little milk trucks I took a picture of were unique but I didn't know it at the time. A guy named Jay Crist in PA has a museum for gas/electric delivery trucks, and after he saw those pictures I got him in touch with a friend at the museum and was able to get one to restore. I'd never seen one till I went there. He tells me he's taking it to Hershey next fall. Later, Phil http://www.jcristmuseum.org/phase1.SHTML
I forgot, I had those Kleptz pictures up somewhere else. Here's a link. Phil http://www.flickr.com/photos/48076624@N00/sets/72157623544818041/
Thanks for all the pics and links. The Hayes Apperson museum is in Kokomo, I plan to see it this summer.
Along with your tour of Car museums in Auburn it's worth a few minutes to check out the Auburn courthouse too. " is described as a "beautiful Ionic Greek architecturally designed Courthouse" Marble, stained gl***, ornate walnut, etc. http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM1VNF Ol Blue
Yes! We did that too, while walking around at the Festival. We could not get over how nice it looked along with the grounds. It was as well manicured as Disneyworld. The whole place just looked perfect. I live close to Parke county where they have the Covered Bridge Festival every year and it is HUGE! In all the years going to it I have never seen the downtown areas look as clean and well kept as Auburns was. Later, Phil
the funny thing is that i live down the street from the haynes museum and never been in it my entire life. everytime i walk by, i see those cars and say to myself that i should check it out. not to mention last time i checked the admission was free.
Phil, thanks for posting the link to the pics. My name is in his guest book also! When I went, it was in 97, I believe. I was with the late Tom McRae in Paris Ill. working on finishing up a car for him for the Great Race, and Frank gave us the personal tour. What an honor to see his collection. He has a whole lot of neat stuff. To really see this place would take about 2 days! Tim @ www.irrationalmetalworks.com
The last time I went was during the Cl***ic Car Club of America’s visit last summer. The parking lot was full of DRIVEN cl***ics, Lincolns, Duesys, Packards Caddys. It was worth it to drive over just to see a these cars covered with road grime. He really rolls out the red carpet for the club tours. Phil http://www.tribstar.com/local/local_story_180002921.html
Phil, I too live in Terre Haute, but a new guy, I have only lived here a couple years... Another great private collection is the Don Smith Collection here in Terre Haute, I visited it last winter with the local car club.. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=163095&highlight=smith+collection Don Smith is a local and national collector of some fame... Indy and Open wheel stuff.
Thanx for that link. I know about that collection, but Iv'e never been in it. I'm working with a friend of ours to get a tour soon. It looks like his "little" musuem downtown is coming along nicely. There use to be a large museum in town called "Early Wheels". I think it belonged to him or his bank and/or the Hulman family. I don't know where all those cars went when they repurposed that building. Probably in Smith's collection. Some of them are over at the Indy Speedway Museum and some still here at the Hulman & Co. bldgs. Later, Phil
Skincat, over July 4th the Dodge Brothers Club will be in Kokomo. That's when I plan to be there. The Hayes Apperson museum has a special event planned for Sat. I'm told it's an excellant museum.
I have seen Kleptz's turbine car on the street too about 12-13 years ago. Sweet. There is supposed to be a small privately owned collection in Frankfort,IN as well that includes a Tucker Torpedo a**** other things. The guy who owns it runs a funeral home. Supposed to be a real nice guy. Can't remember his name.
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