Poll: What would you like to see in a car museum?

A good outdoor area for car-shows would be a great attention getter as well.
A nice restaurant to sit down and eat good quality food and drink.
Theme rooms for racing vehicles; 50's era drive inn's.
70's era muscle cars, a traditional car area, maybe a vintage gas station.

 

A drag strip simulation area for kids to "feel" real horsepower and a quarter mile run.

 

A historical do***entation area for us Historians to research vehicles and have meetings in a nice meeting area.

 

A well funded library for just vintage vehicle information.

 

A good meeting room for societys and organizations to meet in.

 

A theatre area for watching vintage car-guy movies.

 

Most of all,...Great employee's that smile, greet, and know what's going on.

 

How about one's you can actually go up to and look in and touch. That would be cars not Linda's bra. Or maybe that would be a good thing as well. Except filled!!!

 

We do have a Tucker, # 50 of 51. I love the ideas..... please keep 'em coming.

 

some old A/FX cars, funny cars, dragsters, bonneville cars/motorcycles, tom daniels type creations, some barris rides, roth cars...that sort of stuff is always cool to look at. Maybe a section with rare or vintage high performance motors,,,,uh, I don't know, that about covers it!

 

Any history about the life of the car itself. From where it was first bought, to how it came to be in the museum. Obviously most of this will be unknown, but whatever you do know, tell.
I saw the article in the Austin paper, looking forward to coming down.

 

None, all car should be driven.

 

You're sure to get a pretty narrow response from this board considering the main subject. Some good points are educated staffers to explain correctly the significance instead of decades old cliche's. Hot rods and racers are quite significant and should be included. Offer private parties for reasonable rates. Have a selection of cars that can be rented (your drivers only) for weddings, grads, parties and the like. Have a monthly drawing for a ride in the car of the winner's choice with no exclusions. Set up some significant rooms that might have old offices from auto execs, old timing equipment from race tracks, maybe a selection of kool auto parts. Radiator ornaments have been done but they always work. Automotive art is extremely important so old designer drawings and prints. Set up a research library (admittedly easier if you were brand/style/era specific). Promote youth education by inviting school outings.

It's really all about the cars but the cars take so much to become product. Nostalgia rules and bringing out memories is what a museum should be about. You have a chance to create new memories. Many of these ideas are not new or original but they work. I work closely with a museum in the midwest and some of this has been very good for them. Good luck and thanks for keeping the flames lit.

 

Two story exhibits. On the top floor, you can walk around the car, as in an ordinary museum. Bottom floor, you look up at the belly of the beast. Hell, maybe just cars on hoists. I just think it is a shame that gear heads have to be satisfied looking at sheet metal.

Bill

 

An empty building...

 

Here is a picture of our Tucker. #50 of 51.

 

The engineers that originally designed the cars explaining the how's and why's of their designs.

 

"A well funded library for just vintage vehicle information"

This is a very Kool comment ....... what a great invite for all ages, from school trips to full grown gearheads ......

 

I would only add.............
........with all of the cars displayed on (very short term) loan from the owners, that is, cars that are driven a lot.

 

A mix of all kinds of cars,custom cars ,art deco,hot rods,drag cars,powerfull performance street cl***ics but not too many of the same thing.Starbird custom car hall of fame has owners temporally display there cars so the collection doesn't get same old same old to look at.It looks like you have a awesome collection started.Your Tucker is a piece of american history of the underdog trying to compete with the big boys,nice.Good luck with your meuseum.