If you’re a car enthusiast, you’ll probably visit an American auto show or museum this summer. Whether a sleek roadster or a vintage Chevy, automotive museums have something for everybody. But are you interested in seeing some of the rarest and most valuable cars ever made? Here is a little information about a small fraction of the priceless vehicles on display in auto museums nationwide.
The Best American Automobile Museums to Visit
Cabriolet Weinberger 1931 Bugatti Type 41 Royal
Henry Ford Museum
www.thehenryford.org
Dearborn, Michigan
Produced between 1927-1933, Bugatti Type 41 is among the world’s most valuable cars. Indeed, as the most luxurious of its era, it was the world’s largest at 21 feet long and weighing 7,000 lbs. Moreover, the beautiful convertible features one of the most significant auto engines at 12.7 liters and 300 hp. The Henry Ford Museum holds several other rare cars, including the Presidential Lincoln Continental limo ridden by John F. Kennedy. Of course, there are many other rare cars at the Henry Ford, including Model Ts.
Cobra Daytona Coupe No. CSX2287
Simeon Foundation Automotive Museum
www.simeonemuseum.org
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
This priceless Cobra was the first Daytona prototype built by American racing legend Carroll Shelby. Designed to compete against the Ferrari 250 GTO, only six of these prototypes were made. This original concept led to the development of the GT40, the first American car to win at Le Mans in 1966. Furthermore, in 2014, No. CSX2287 became the first car listed on the National Historic Vehicle Register. With this in mind, you won’t find many cars rarer than this one.
Duesenberg Model SJ (The Twenty Grand)
Nethercutt Museum
www.nethercuttcollection.org
Sylmar, California
Built in 1933, the Duesenberg Model SJ is considered to be the most famous of all Duesenberg automobiles. Furthermore, it’s also one of the world’s most valuable autos, with a value of over $40 million. You can see this car also know as the Twenty Grand at the Nethercutt Collection. The most valued section of the Nethercutt Museum, the Collection can be only viewed by guided tour and requires advance reservation.
GT40 Mark II
Simeon Foundation Automotive Museum
www.simeonemuseum.org
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The legendary GT40 Mark II that won the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans is displayed at the Simeone Museum. Both e Shelby race cars were highlighted in the Oscar-winning 2019 movie Ford vs. Ferrari, starring Matt Damon and Christian Bale. If you haven’t seen this movie, put it on your bucket list.
Elvis Presley’s 1973 Stutz Blackhawk III
Presley Motors Automobile Museum, Graceland
www.graceland.com
Memphis, Tennessee
Several of the approximately 200 cars Elvis Presley owned are on public display at Graceland. Examples are his Pink Cadillac, Dino Ferrari, and Cadillac Eldorado. In 1970, El purchased the first Stutz Blackhawk ever manufactured. Subsequently, he purchased three more of these luxury cars. But his 197 Stutz Blackhawk was the last car he drove before he died on August 16, 1977. The image behind the ’73 model is the previous photo of Elvis before his death, taken by a fan.
First Built 1964 Ford Mustang
Henry Ford Museum
www.thehenryford.org
Dearborn, Michigan
The first Ford Mustang is easily one of the rarest cars at the Henry Ford Museum. Marked with the serial number 5F08F100001, the original owner acquired the convertible in 1966. Oddly enough, the owner purchased the first Mustang at a dealership in Canada. Can you explain to me what this rare Mustang is worth today?
Henry Ford Museum Collection
Early model Fords, presidential limousines, and the historic Rosa Parks bus are among the vehicles in the museum collection. Additionally, the museum is home to the only operational Ford Mustang I concept car, unveiled in 1962. If time permits, you also might want to visit the Gilmore Car Museum near Kalamazoo. It’s reportedly the most prominent American auto museum, but not nearly as famous as the Henry Ford.
Isaac Hayes’ 1972 Gold Plated Cadillac Eldorado
Stax Museum
Memphis, Tennessee
Legendary soul singer-songwriter Isaac Hayes reached the pinnacle of his career in the 1970s. For instance, his signature song, Theme from Shaft, went to No. 1 in 1971. What’s more, he won an Oscar the following year. It was around this time that Stax Records gifted Hayes this stunning Cadillac Eldorado. Lined with a fur interior and 24-karat gold-trimmed body, it’s affectionately known as Super Fly.
Stax Museum
Stax Museum resides on the grounds of the legendary Stax Records. During the 0s and ’70s, Stax Records was among America’s premier record studios. Known for its Memphis soul, several iconic songs were recorded here. For example, Green Onions, Dock of the Bay, In the Midnight Hour, and Hold On were recorded at Stax. Among its artists were Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, and Booker T. and the M.G.’s.
Marmon Wasp
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum
www.imsmuseum.org
Indianapolis, Indiana
Built by a mid-19th century company, the Marmon Wasp is possibly the most valuable car at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. That’s because this racer has the distinction of winning the first Indianapolis 500 in 1911. Built-in 199 as a Model 32, the Marmon Wasp is immortalized as the world’s first rearview mirror.
IMS Museum Collection
The Marmon Wasp and Boyle Special are listed on the National Historic Vehicle Register. The Boyle S ecial is a 1938 Maserati 8CTF and the winningest vehicle at the Indianapolis 500. Indeed, it was on two consecutive Indy 500 races in 1939-1940. Additionally, the Boyle Special took third place twice and fourth place in the Indy 500. The IMS effectively holds an impressive collection of race cars and memorabilia. This year, the museum unveiled a basement tour, which allowed visitors to see some of its rarest automobiles.
Related: Family Friendly Attractions In Indianapolis
Oldsmobile 1954 F-88
Gateway Canyons Auto Museum
www.gatewaycanyons.com
Gateway, Colorado
Set in its magnificent display, the 1954 Oldsmobile F-88 is a priceless piece of the Gateway Auto Museum. Built on a corvette chassis, the F-88 features a fiberglass body and a Rocket 88 V8 engine. Also known as the Rocket 88, it was never put into production as it would have competed against the new Corvette. Open to the public, the museum showcases the private collection of founder and former Discovery Channel CEO John Hendricks. The museum resides on the namesake luxury resort Hendricks, which opened in 2005. Other highlights in the exceptional museum are Model Ts, hot rods, vintage Corvettes, and Camaros.
Related: Suggested Stops Along The Mesa Fresh Foodie Trail
Phantom Corsair
National Automobile Museum
www.facebook.com/automuseum
Reno, Nevada
Designed by a member of the H.J. Heinz family, the 1938 Phantom Corsair was the only one of its kind. The prototype was built by Bohman & Schwartz coachbuilders and was equipped with a 190hp V8 engine. The Art Dec car was initially intended to go into production. Unfortunately, designer Rust Heinz died in a car accident in 1939, which ended those plans. The Nationa Automobile Museum is also known as the Harrah’s Car Collection, named after the founder of Harrah’s Hotels and Casinos. Other notable cars at the museum are John Wayne’s 1953 Corvette, a gold-plated DeLorean, and a very rare Dymaxion.
Stainless Steel 1960 Ford Thunderbird
Crawford Auto & Aviation Museum
www.wrhs.org
Cleveland, Ohio
Stainless steel cars came well before the DeLorean DMC-12 in 1981. The first was unveiled in 1936 to promote the use of stainless steel in American automobiles. Only six of these Ford Model 68s were built featuring an eel from Allegheny Ludlum. Later, during the 1960s, Allegheny Ludlum and Ford produced two more stainless steel car models that were even rarer. Two 1960 Ford Thunderbirds were made, and three 1967 Lincoln Continentals. Each of the e-vehicles is at the Crawford Auto & Aviation Museum.
Steve McQueen’s 1956 Jaguar XKSS
Petersen Automobile Museum
www.petesen.org
Los Angeles, California
Among the signature pieces at this enormous car museum is Steve McQueen’s 1956 XKSS. The XKSS was the road version of the Jaguar D-Type race car built to compete at Le Mans.
Petersen Automotive Museum
One of the world’s largest, the Petersen features several rare cars, like a 1939 Porsche 64 and a 1967 Ford MKIII GT40. Also on display is the original DeLorean from Back to the Future and a Batmobile. A previous temporary exhibition featured rare cars and vehicles from James Bond movies. The museum was founded in 1994 by Robert Petersen, publisher of magazines like Hot Rod and Motor Trend.
Related: American Music Museums To Visit
About The Author:
Randy Yagi is an award-winning freelance writer who served as the National Travel Writer for CBS Local from 2012 to 2019. More than 9 0 of his stories still appear in syndication across 23 CBS websites, including CBS New York, CBS Los Angeles, CBS Chicago, and CBS San Francisco. During his ak years with CBS, Randy had a reported digital audience reach of 489 million and 5.5 million monthly visitors. His other stories have appeared in the Daily Meal, CBS News, CBS Radio, Engadget, NBC.com, NJ.com, OWC.com, and Radio.com. He is a Media Fellow of Stanford University.