First of all, it is essential to explain that you should see BOTH the Museum and the Collection. These are two DIFFERENT buildings, across the street from each other. Both are entirely free--and this is awesome! It is important to understand the differences in operation of them. The Museum has regular open hours, and you just walk around by yourself. The Collection is ONLY open by pre-booked guided tour (free). If you only show up on the spur of the moment you will only see the Museum and will miss the more important half of the experience. If you come from the freeway, the (free) parking lot will be beyond the museum and you have to enter it from the side street. The Museum is the 1-story warehouse, while the Collection is the 5-story building.
The Museum is just a museum of vintage cars (plus a tiny exhibit out back of a train locomotive + railcar). But the Collection tour encompasses more than just cars spread out among its 4 floors of exhibits. Mr Nethercutt also had a passion for collecting musical instruments. So the Collection includes one of the world's fanciest theater organs, plus a number of other mechanical instruments, including extremely rare "reproducer pianos." But the prime focus here is ochestrions. Orchestrions, you say? These are mechanically playing organs. They have never been common in the US, but were found in Europe in the 1920s in fancy hotel ballrooms, etc. The tour lasts 2 hours, and we were guided by a wonderfully charming docent for all this. Expect large crowds--around 100 people were on our tour, but the guide manages this very well.
The Collection (not the Museum) is also unique in that there are no velvet ropes around the cars--you can approach them closely, from all sides, though of course you are cautioned not to touch or handle them.
The emphasis in the whole establishment is American family cars. And only cars; you won't find motorcycles, tri-wheelers, amphicars, trucks, etc. here. You also won't find racing cars, hot rods, custom cars, etc. By saying "family" of course one does not mean "affordable". Some of the cars are incredibly rare and expensive. You also won't find much of foreign cars. There is a very large collection of Rolls-Royces, plus a smaller selection of Mercedes. But no Ferraris, Maseratis, Citroens, Aston-Martins, etc. Not even Bentleys, which is curious, since they are so closely related to Rolls.
Let me say again: You have to make sure you book to see the Collection. If you do, you will get a 5-star experience. If you don't, and just pop into the Museum, you will get a bit less. Final note: Lunch can be difficult. There is no food on premises and the local neighborhood consists of truckers and poor Hispanics. So just be prepared for having a very basic lunch. read more