Six not-to-be-missed auto museums

PETER BLEAKNEY FOR THE TORONTO STAR

The Hot Wheels Hall of Fame at the Petersen Automotive Museum on L.A., is a hoot.

Peter Bleakney

SPECIAL TO THE STAR

Although I've visited a fair number of auto museums over the years, I've barely scratched the surface of what's out there. Nonetheless, here's a list of those automotive assemblages that have turned my crank well past top dead centre.

A key point to remember when visiting these places is to take your time. It can be overwhelming to be confronted with dozens of automotive marvels that, if seen on their own, would each hold our attention for a good half-hour.

Galleria Ferrari, Maranello, Italy:

This is an essential pilgrimage for those who worship at the altar of this most storied and mythical automaker.

Just down the road from the Ferrari factory, Galleria Ferrari is divided into four main areas: the first floor is dedicated to F1 cars, the second-floor gallery houses temporary displays, the third floor features Gran-turismo (road) cars and technical exhibits, and another gallery on this floor exhibits automotive art.

With a core of permanent historical vehicles, many displays are dynamic, drawing on vehicles owned by Ferrari, private collectors and other museums. You can count on the whole experience being bookended by an exact reproduction of Ferrari's first car – the 1947 1.5-litre 12-cylinder 125 S – and the latest production model from the nearby factory.

Petersen Automotive Museum, Los Angeles:

This is probably the best-known auto museum in North America. It has an impressive permanent collection of classics, cars of film and television (Hollywood Gallery), alternative-fuel vehicles and a number of displays that trace the history of the California hot rod and custom culture.

Currently running is a special exhibit, What Were They Thinking? The Misfits of Motordom, that features the Ford Edsel and some other surprises. The Hot Wheels Hall of Fame is a hoot, featuring a few full-sized versions of some of the more extreme tiny toys.

Porsche Museum, Stuttgart, Germany:

Completed last December, the Porsche Museum takes visitors on a fascinating journey that follows the automotive legacy created by Ferdinand Porsche. Eighty vehicles encompassing street cars, race cars, prototypes and the world's first hybrid are exhibited in a modern, sweeping structure.

I found the magnesium-bodied 1947 Porsche Type 360 Cisitalia truly fascinating. Porsche's first postwar commission, this Grand Prix car (never raced) is powered by a mid-mounted supercharged 1.5 L V12 engine producing 380 hp. Porsche engineering indeed.

Henry Ford Museum, Dearborn, Mich.:

Twelve acres under one roof is hard to imagine, but that is the vastness of the Henry Ford Museum, which Ford founded in 1929 to celebrate the traditions of ingenuity, resourcefulness and innovation. The 600-tonne Allegheny Locomotive, one of the largest ever built, does not suffer for elbow room here.

About a quarter of the floor space is devoted to "The Automobile in American Life," which is divided into eight exhibits: The Evolution of the Automobile, The Car as a Symbol, The Automotive Landscape, Designing the Automobile, Advertising and Promotion, Driving for Fun, Getting Away From It All, and Bicycles and Motorcycles.

Gotta love the 1967 Ford GT Mark IV that Dan Gurney and A.J. Foyt drove to victory in the Le Mans 24 Hours race, beating the second place Ferrari by 51 km.

National Auto Museum, Reno, Nev.:

Casino magnate William F. Harrah is considered one of the greatest automobile collectors of our time. When he died in 1978, he had amassed more than 1,400 vehicles but left no instructions in his will as to their disposition. When Holiday Inn bought Harrah's hotels in 1980, they donated 175 cars to the William F. Harrah Foundation – the rest were auctioned off.

The National Automobile Museum opened in 1989 and shows this spectacular assemblage in four galleries, each connected by a realistic "period" street scene. There are more than 220 cars on display, ranging from classics to historical race cars. My fave is a boat-tail 1921 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost with a solid copper body.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum:

Opened in 1976 and located in the infield of this famed raceway, the museum houses about 75 cars that trace the history of racing at Indy.

Probably the most significant car here is the winner of the inaugural 1911 Indy 500: the No. 32 Marmon "Wasp" driven by Ray Harroun. Harroun was the only driver in the race without a riding mechanic, so he fashioned what is believed to be the first rear-view mirror ever installed on an automobile.

Of particular interest to Canadians will be the Players Reynard/Ford that Jacques Villeneuve drove to victory in 1995, making him the first Canadian Indy 500 winner. Interestingly, another Canadian, Scott Goodyear, had that race in the bag until he inadvertently passed the pace car during a caution period with only a handful of laps to go. Ouch.

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