10 great places to get revved up again about cars - USA Today's article

The USA TODAY has this in todays LIFE section.... the picture in the paper is a nice shot of one of the 68 Mustangs used in the movie Bullitt. Kind of cool if you can find a copy of todays issue....
Dan


10 great places to get revved up again about cars

USA TODAY 10/28/05

These days, do you see dollar signs just looking at your car? If high gas prices have you down about your beloved vehicle, then perhaps it's time to be reminded how influential and exciting the automobile can be, says Thomas L. Bryant, editor in chief of Road & Track magazine. "Americans have always loved their cars because they provide freedom of mobility and, for some, image enhancement," Bryant says. If you need to be reminded why you spend $50 to fill up the tank, "come see some of the most fabulous cars ever built, housed in museums across America." He shares with USA TODAY's Shawn Sell some fascinating pit stops.

Henry Ford Museum: Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on this bus in 1955.
Henry Ford Museum

Petersen Automotive Museum
Los Angeles

"This museum, dedicated to the 'interpretive study of the auto and its influence on our culture and lives,' offers a fabulous collection of cars displayed against backgrounds of early motoring scenes of L.A.," Bryant says. Current featured exhibits include "Cars of Heads of State" and "Hollywood Star Cars." 323-964-6331; petersen.org


©1978 Sid Avery/MPTV


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STEVE McQUEEN: THE LEGEND AND THE CARS
September 24, 2005 through April 16, 2006
Gordon R. Howard Gallery

One of the most highly regarded figures in entertainment, actor Steve McQueen was also one of the most respected auto sportsmen of his day. He was not content to merely observe auto races from a distance; he applied his innate talent to competition racing and performed a large number of his own movie stunts . When not racing, h e enjoyed driving fast on his days off and had a well-known appreciation for exotic high performance cars . When McQueen died a tragic and untimely death from cancer in 1980, he left behind a legacy that included some of the finest movies of their time and a vast collection of automobiles, trucks and motorcycles. The Petersen Automotive Museum exhibition "Steve McQueen: The Legend and the Cars" will feature his 1957 Chevrolet Convertible with factory fuel injection, ultra high performance 1956 Jaguar XKSS roadster, and more than a dozen other vehicles of all types. Together they tell the story of one man's passion for all things automotive that has captivated enthusiasts to this day.








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National Automobile Museum
Reno

"Pared down in size from the original Harrah Collection, this remains a treasured assortment of automobiles, featuring antique, classic and one-of-a-kind wonders," Bryant says. More than 200 vehicles, dating from 1892, are tucked into changing exhibits and historical street scenes, complete with time lines and artifacts. 775-333-9300; automuseum.org

Harold E. LeMay Museum
Tacoma, Wash.

"The late Harold LeMay bought cars by the thousands, and America's Car Museum is world-class in scope and quality," Bryant says. Listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as "the largest privately owned collection in the world," the museum offers docent-guided educational tours daily. 877-902-8490; lemaymuseum.org

Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village
Dearborn, Mich.

The "Automobile in American Life" is just one exhibit in this sprawling complex, Bryant says, featuring "remarkable automobiles and replicas of famous workshops where history was made." Exhibit highlights include the 15 millionth Model T, a 999 Racer, a 1948 Tucker and a Bugatti Royale. 313-271-1620; www.hfmgv.org

Montana Auto Museum
Deer Lodge, Mont.

"The unique setting - the building once housed the Old Montana Prison - shows off the 120-vehicle collection, featuring muscle cars of the 1950s, '60s, '70s," Bryant says. Not to miss: a 1903 Ford with tonneau and wicker side baskets, a DeSoto Airflow and a Seagrave firetruck. 406-846-3111; pcmaf.org/auto.htm

Auto Collection, Museum of Science & Industry
Chicago

The Windy City "hosts a wonderful display of vehicles through the years, in just the proper setting" of the immense Museum of Science & Industry, Bryant says. The exhibit includes an 1896 Benz Velo, a 1927 Rolls Royce Phantom I and the Spirit of America, in which Craig Breedlove set a land-speed record in 1964. 773-684-1414; msichicago.org

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum
Speedway, Ind.

"The site of the 'Greatest Spectacle in Racing' - the museum is on the grounds of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, both of which have been designated together as a National Historic Landmark - offers close-up looks at some of the fabled cars that won the Indy 500," Bryant says. Check out: A.J. Foyt's four victory cars and Dale Evans' No. 8 Cummins Diesel Special. 317-492-6784; indianapolismotorspeedway.com/museum

The National Corvette Museum
Bowling Green, Ky.

"The Chevrolet Corvette has been known as 'America's Sports Car' for more than 50 years, and this is the place to see them all," Bryant says. Celebrating all things Corvette, the NCM also offers tours of the assembly plant, which is across the street. 800-538-3883; corvettemuseum.com

Eastern Museum of Motor Racing
York Springs, Pa.

Located on a hillside overlooking the restored Latimore Valley Fairgrounds & Racetrack, "here's one of the automotive world's little jewels," Bryant says. Although "this collection focuses heavily on oval-track racing cars," visitors also will find a vintage assortment of sprint cars, midgets, motorcycles, stock cars, drag racers and Indy cars. 717-528-8279; emmr.org

The Owls Head Transportation Museum
Owls Head, Maine

"This unique museum, celebrating transportation history, features pioneer-era autos (and aircraft) in a wonderful setting that is open 361 days of the year," Bryant says. Be sure to see the 1963 prototype Mustang and a 1953 Stout Scarab (one of only six manufactured), called the world's first minivan. 207-594-4418; ohtm.org