EXHIBITS

NOW SHOWING AT LEMAY - AMERICA'S CAR MUSEUM

In the earliest days of the automobile, a great debate stirred: were these new contraptions toys for the rich or a means to move the masses? For James Packard, Henry Leland, Charles Rolls, Henry Royce and others, the truth was found in the former. Others like Henry Ford, brothers John and Horace Dodge and Ransom E. Olds, fought for the latter. Could it be both?

Through the first decades of the 20th century, automobile manufacturers carved out their own vision, giving mobility to the general population like never before, while others focused on opulence and sophistication. In the 1920s, it became clear that the automobile was here to stay and it fit into the lives of many, not the few. While Ford churned out Model Ts, luxury automakers like Pierce-Arrow, Rolls-Royce, Cadillac, Packard, and Duesenberg built cars nearly 20 times the value of a Tin Lizzy.

Welcome to Rare & Luxurious at LeMay - America's Car Museum, an intimate exhibition that highlights those exceptional and expensive cars. In this display we will explore the evolution of luxury in the automotive marketplace and inspect the makes and models that graced the driveways of oil barons, movie stars and other ultra-wealthy people. From the earliest days of Cadillac to modern supercars, and everything in between, rare examples of the finest vehicles to ever grace the roadway will be found in our Showcase Gallery. Our carefully curated exhibit will be updated regularly throughout its course, bringing in new vehicles that highlight the apogee of luxury automobiles.

A black and white photo of the steering wheel and dashboard of an old car.

A black and white photo of a hood ornament on a car.

A black and white photo of an old car with a tire that says continental

A black and white photo of an old car with white tires

A black and white photo of a car wheel with white tires

A black and white photo of a pierce car emblem

A black and white photo of the dashboard of an old car

A black and white photo of a car hood ornament

A close up of a car wheel with chrome rims

A black and white photo of an old car in a garage.

What cars are on display at LeMay during Rare & Luxurious? Incredible examples of fine automobiles, including a Duesenberg Model J, BMW 507, and a Mercedes-Benz 300SL, will be prominently displayed With vehicles from the likes of Packard, Lamborghini, Cadillac, Ferrari, Shelby, Maserati, and others, expect the unexpected.

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Permanent Exhibits

A row of old cars are parked in a garage.

Custom coachwork

Opulence and luxury abound in this exhibit highlighting amazing cars from the 1930s. During an era when high end vehicles were built as a “rolling chassis” and then sent out to a custom coachbuilder for the body and interior, this exhibit highlights some of the best custom coachwork in the world. You'll find Duesenbergs, Packards, Lincolns and more bodied by Darrin, Erdman & Rossi, Dietrich, and Derham, among other fantastic coachbuilders.

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An old car is being worked on in a garage.

Lucky's Garage

Lucky's Garage is a tribute Museum namesake and founder Harold E. "Lucky" LeMay. He intuitively knew the power of his collection through the experiences he shared with family and friends at car shows and swap meets across the nation. Lucky's Garage will stand as a fitting tribute to Harold’s life and passion for collecting. America’s Car Museum is honored to be a part of Harold’s legacy and it is our great pleasure to carry forward his love affair with the automobile.

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A black car is parked in a garage next to a wall.

BRITISH INVASION

The British Invasion exhibit covers both the British cars and the memorable culture that invaded the United States between the end of WWII and on through the 1960s. From the rock and roll of The Beatles and the famous Cavern Club, to the sporty and rugged cars from the UK, you'll find it here. The conic vehicles displayed in this exhibit include models from Jaguar, Mini, Austin-Healey, Morgan, Lotus and even an original London Taxi.

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Route 66: See the USA

The "Dream of the Mother Road" is alive and well in this exhibit. Route 66, aka the Mother Road, ushered in a new era of motoring the USA. Connecting Chicago to the Pacific Ocean near Los Angeles, the “road to riches” was traveled by millions of American families on a hopeful path to a brighter future, especially during the Great Depression. A road so quintessentially American, Route 66 has become a permanent part of our cultural memory. In this exhibit you can explore the cars that one rode atop its pavement and check out the incredible roadside attractions along the way!

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A row of race cars are on display in a museum

Legends of Motorsports

From farmers and moonshiners racing “strictly stock” family sedans on treacherous dirt tracks, to a high-tech, high-stakes sport with 70 million fans, the story of NASCAR is a uniquely American tale of ambition, vision, and fast cars. Whether you’re a seasoned fan or a raw rookie, you’ll discover the colorful characters that have dominated NASCAR tracks over the years, see the technology that lets drivers walk away from 200 MPH crashes unscathed, and meet the fans for whom it is as much a lifestyle as a sport. “Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines” this is the story of NASCAR!

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Master Collector

Current Master Collector: Steve Rimmer

A row of cars and motorcycles are on display in a museum

Mr. Rimmer is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Altavair L.P. and has been involved in the commercial aviation industry including world-wide aircraft and engine trading activities for over 35 years. Mr. Rimmer co-founded Altavair in 2003 as a joint venture with Guggenheim Partners and remains responsible for its overall strategy and management of over $3.0 billion of Boeing and Airbus aircrafts. Following the purchase of the Guggenheim interest in Altavair back in 2016, Altavair entered a strategic partnership with KKR providing for joint ownership of Altavair and a $2.15 billion commitment of KKR fund capital for building out a commercial aircraft portfolio. With this dedicated capital and KKR world wide resources, Altavair has the ability to invest in all parts of the market. Prior to Altavair LLC, Mr. Rimmer founded XS Aviation Ltd., a commercial aircraft investment management and advisory company in 2000.

Before XS, he co-founded Curtis & Company, a boutique aviation lease and finance arranging company, where he remained a principal in charge of its London office from 1991 through 1999. During this same time, Mr. Rimmer founded Curtis Power Company, an early commercial engine leasing company, which he later sold to General Electric in 2001. At its height, Curtis Power Company managed and leased over 90 engines to airlines aroundthe globe. Mr. Rimmer has held senior management positions with several prominent firms in the commercial aviation industry, including Security Pacific. Mr. Rimmer also founded DirtFish Rally School in Snoqualmie, WA. Based around his love for rally and his desire to see the sport grow in the US, the school now sees an average of 3,000 students per year and is partnered with Subaru who outfits the DirtFish fleet.

A white car is parked in a garage next to a yellow wall.

A blue race car is on display in a museum.

ABout Master Collectors

In recognition of the importance of preserving these icons of automobile heritage, America’s Automotive Trust annually confers the ‘Master Collector Award’ on individual(s) who have exhibited a sustained commitment to preserving vintage and collectible vehicles, but more than that, have also been generous and thoughtful in their efforts to share their collections for the public’s enjoyment.

The Master Collector Award is presented by the Trust’s Chairman and its CEO at the annual Wheels and Heels Gala at LeMay—America’s Car Museum. At the ceremony, a major exhibition of the honoree’s collection is opened for public enjoyment for one year and the honoree receives permanent recognition in the Museum.

Master Collectors:

2012: Nicola Bulgari
2013: Ken & Patty McBride
2014: Peter Hageman, Al McEwan, and Glenn Mounger
2015: Stephen Plaster
2016 – 17: Peter Gleeson

2018: Master Collector Retrospective
2019: Brown M. Maloney
2020 & 2021: Alex & Amy Haugland
2022: Bruce Wanta
2023: Denny Aker
2024: Steve Rimmer

Powering the Future

Learning Lab

ACM’s hands-on educational Learning Lab, Powering the Future, is the perfect vehicle to drive home one of the most important questions of our time, “How will we power our future?” Powering the Future immerses students and visitors in the complexities of our transportation choices, shows the real world impacts of our energy needs and inspires solutions for a sustainable, energy independent future. This interactive learning lab will have lasting impact for our region and nation, helping to equip all ages with basic energy literacy and a better understanding of the scientific and technological thinking transforming our mobility in a fun and engaging environment.

As students and visitors enter the Learning Lab, the following interactive areas will engage them:

Powering the Past, where early vehicles ignite discussion of the fuel and technology choices offered in the first automobiles.
Fueling Stations providing hands-on exploration of energy sources and technologies while sharing accounts of innovative vehicle and power solutions iterated by scientists, inventors and engineers.
Driving Forces that place the need for sustainable solutions into context, highlighting the impacts of our transportation choices on the economy, environment and society.
Investigation Stations offering a digital platform for visitors to weigh the potential impacts of their personal vehicle choices.
Visitor feedback area that invites collaborative discussion to spark ideas for a sustainable future and to encourage visitors to offer their vote for winning solutions.