LOCATION – NETHERCUTT MUSEUM, LOS ANGELES

I LOVE classic cars. Ever since I was a kid and built my first model car kits of the 1961 Jaguar e-type and the 1957 Chevy Bel-Air, I was hooked. There are not a lot of old cars in Australia where I grew up, so moving to the US and living at ground zero of the classic car culture – LA – I am very much spoilt for choice.

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The Nethercutt Collection is a massive car collection located in Slymar, California, about 30 minutes outside of Los Angeles. It was founded by J.B. Nethercutt in 1971, the co-founder of Marle Norman Cosmetics who originally purchased two cars to start his collection; a 1936 Duesenberg Convertible Roadster and a 1930 DuPont Town car.

This was very much at a time when these older 1930’s car were not popular, so finding them and let alone restoring them to the level he did, was very rare. The DuPont restoration was believed to only need a few weeks to restore, but instead took 18 months and $65,000 – something totally unheard of at the time.

But, this car went on to win the Best in show at the 1958 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance – the most prestigious car show in the world. Nethercutt was hooked, and he continued to purchase and restore many of the cars that make up the collection today.

In the 1960’s J/B. Nethercutt decided to build a massive home and warehouse for his collection which is where the cars and museum reside today. It is still considered the largest house in the US at 60,000 square feet! Housed over a six floor, ten story Art Deco penthouse palace that would serve the dual purpose of museum and home!

The first two stories feature most of the vehicle collection, with a closed off workshop in the lower floor where all the work and restoration continues on the cars today. The third floor houses an awards room and cafeteria for the collection employees The fourth is a music room and massive dining room with a large private kitchen. The fifth floor a theater and the final story a private penthouse that was used as his residence.

All the cars are in full running order and are driven today along with continually taking awards at all the major car shows around the world. What is amazing is that the museum is totally free of charge to enter!

There are a number of great locations for seeing cars both in museums and on the street in LA – but this collection is especially unique due to the early 1900’s to 1940’s cars with some incredible 1950’s and 60’s cars within the 250 car collection.

I would highly recommend a visit next time you are in LA!