As we gazed through the double windshield of a 1936 Chrysler Airflow while cruising down the street, we realized the extra dimension that the Automobile Driving Museum of El Segundo brings to the presentation of museum quality cars. Cars bearing some of the great nameplates from the past such as Packard, Studebaker, Kaiser, DeSoto, Durant, Pontiac , Nash, Buick, Ford and MG are on display. Many of these nameplates are now orphans.
We were met at the door by our docent, Andrew, who gave us a tour of the Museum. In the front hall of the Museum sits one of eleven reproductions of an 1886 Benz Motorwagen created for its centennial. Patented by Karl Benz in 1886 this is widely regarded as the first vehicle designed to be propelled by an internal combustion engine.
1886 Benz Motorwagen – this started it all
Andrew was a fount of knowledge pointing out the unique details of each car as well as providing information on the manufacturer. Some of the vehicles had former owners who were famous or infamous.
Andrew points out the kerosene headlights
One Lincoln Continental on display had been owned by Anthony Davis, the former USC running back. Davis added a few custom touches to this car. Another car, a Packard, had once been owned by Howard Hughes. Joseph Stalin’s 1936 Packard was another of the notable cars owned by the Museum. Andrew had just purchased an outstanding 1955 Packard with 35,000+ miles which he drove from San Luis Obispo to the Museum that morning. An exciting trip on the freeways of Los Angeles with drum brakes.
Take a look at some of the nice cars on display.
This museum is unique in that it lets folks walk around the cars, look inside, take photos and even go for a ride. On a recent Sunday the museum had three cars available for rides, a 1936 Chrysler Airflow, a 1952 Kaiser and a 1948 DeSoto. Visitors could ride in one or all three of them. Each car was piloted by a Museum docent who knew everything about the car.
In addition to the main building which holds about 100 cars, two adjacent buildings are being prepared to hold exhibits presented by Hot Rod Magazine and Mattel Hot Wheels. The Hot Rod exhibit will feature some of the cars built on the pages of Hot Rod Magazine such as the Crusher Camaro, a ’67 Camaro first featured in Hot Rod in 1994. The Hot Rod exhibit also includes “Rumble Bee”, a ’70 Super Bee, with a Dick Landy 484 ci Hemi. The Hot Wheels exhibit contains some interesting cars (full size) including a Model T-based drifter and a NASCAR truck.
The Hot Wheels drifter
The Museum also has a 1955 Nash Rambler station wagon built at a Nash plant which was located a few blocks from the Museum. Edna, the hood ornament on this car, looks like it could have been on the front of an old sailing vessel. This Nash was beautifully restored and fitted with a Chevy 350. No doubt this is one Little Nash Rambler that could seriously “beep, beep” a Cadillac.
Edna
1955 Nash Rambler station wagon
The Museum hosts a cruise night on the last Friday of every month from 5-8 PM. The street in front of the Museum is closed off for cars to park. The next cruise night will be April 27, 2012.
For more information about the Museum go to Automobile Driving Museum.
If you want to see more photos taken at the Museum, look here:
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