Nethercutt Museum - Los Angeles, California - Huge Collection of Vintage Automobiles

The Nethercutt Museum showcases many of the greatest automobiles ever made, representing four distinct eras: antique, vintage, classic and post-war. In total, there are more than 130 vehicles on display, among which are several winners of the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.

As an endowed, not-for-profit education institution and resource for automotive enthusiasts, historians, students, and scholars, the museum also houses the Nethercutt Automotive Research Library and Archives. It is widely recognized as one of the top automotive research facilities in the world.

Complementing the Museum is a separate and adjacent facility called the Nethercutt Collection. It features rare collectibles that range from antique furniture and mechanical musical instruments to an additional 250 American and European automobiles manufactured between 1898 and 1997.

A third component of the Nethercutt complex is dedicated to rail transportation with a perfectly restored steam engine - the 1937 Canadian Pacific Royal Hudson Locomotive. It is accompanied by a 1912 Pullman Private Car that was owned by the eldest daughter of E.J. "Lucky'' Baldwin, founder of the Santa Anita Race Track.

Opened to the public in 1971, these facilities represent a lifetime of collecting by founder J.B. Nethercutt. He purchased his first two cars in 1956 - a 1936 Duesenberg Convertible Roadster for $5,000 and a 1930 DuPont Town Car for $500. Over the next 18 months, at a cost of over $65,000, he completely refurbished the vehicles. The Duesenberg and the DuPont today remain as centerpieces of the Nethercutt Collection.

Before Nethercutt passed away in 2004, he summed up his collection, saying, "The recognition and preservation of beauty has been a major focus of my life. It would suit me well if what people remembered about me was, `Where he went, he left beauty behind.'''

All of the components of the Nethercutt Museum and Collection are open to the public free of charge. Unique among automobile museums, every car on display is drivable, attentively serviced and maintained as if it just came off the showroom floor. Some of the autos were once owned by movie stars, royalty and other notable personalities.

A self-guided tour of the Nethercutt Museum takes about an hour. It is open from Tuesday through Saturday each week from 9am to 4:30pm. An additional 15 minutes is needed to walk through the rail exhibit, open from 12:30pm to 3:45pm, but closed on rainy days. Video recording and flash photography are not allowed.

Extra time should also be set aside to see the Nethercutt Collection, which can only be viewed on tours escorted by staff on Thursday through Saturday between 10am and 1:30pm. Owing to demand for tour space, advance reservations are strongly recommended. Please note that there are no dining or picnic facilities on the premises, and bottled water is not permitted in some areas.

The Nethercutt Museum and Collection are located in the Sylmar area of Los Angeles County near San Fernando, roughly 33 miles north of Los Angeles International Airport. The address is 15151 Bledsoe Street, Sylmar, California 91342. Access is easiest via the I-5 Golden State Freeway North, exiting at Roxford Street. Turn right onto San Fernando Road and continue 0.6 miles to Bledsoe Street. Parking is available on site.