Today is Classic Car Collector Day and what could be more exciting than that? Nothing! Today we’re going to take a look at some of the great automotive museums you can visit on Long Island and across New York State to get in touch with automotive history! Gearheads of all ages will appreciate the incredible history, culture, and design as well as the memorabilia and collectibles on display at these museums and galleries.
The Classic Car Club of America states that a “full classic” car is built between 1915 through 1948. Vintage cars are considered as being manufactured between 1919 and 1930. The collectible car auction industry began to take hold in the early 1970s, and the demand for prewar cars increased in popularity through the late 90s, and has become a beloved American pastime for automotive enthusiasts. It’s always fascinating to see where our industry began, how cars evolved with society’s needs along with environmental challenges, and the evolution of industrial design. Today we’re going to highlight some of the best local places to visit and get in touch with cars of yesteryear!
Notice that we’ve missed your favourite local NY State auto museum or show room?Let us know in the comments on our social media, and we might just feature your picks in an upcoming blog!
Great Local Automotive Museums
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Himes Museum of Motor Racing Nostalgia in Bay Shore is the museum every kid dreams of: no ropes, no cases, no signs saying “don’t touch!” No sirree, in this wonderful museum, everything is interactive and hands-on! Marty’s collection of memorabilia and automobiles is an unconventional exhibition full of history and personal joy. The museum is always open, but it’s recommended you give a call ahead of time and see if Marty himself is available to give you a tour (it’s a one of a kind experience.) And best of all, it’s a great budget friendly option for families because it’s free admission.
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The Carriage Museum in the Long Island Museum had eight newly renovated galleries chronicling the history of transportation up through the automobile. Current exhibits include: “The Going Places Gallery”, “The Carriage Exposition Gallery”, “Making CArriages: From Hometown Shop to Factory.” Most recently the museum has added an exhibit called “Streets of New York” and “Driving for Sport and PLeasure.” Many of the displays are interactive, and include video and audio displays as well as physical vehicles and photography collections.
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Saratoga Automobile Museum in Saratoga Springs is located at Saratoga Spa State Park, and aims to highlight the role and influence of automotive history in New York State! It’s current rotation of exhibitions includes “Radwood Saratoga: A celebration of 80s and 90s cars and culture” on display through October 2022; The New York State Stock Car Hall of Fame display, “East of Detroit” chronicling the history of vehicle manufacturing in New York, and much more! There are also numerous permanent collections on display.
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Northeast Classic Car Museum in Norwich NY is a non-profit educational museum and facility dedicated to preserving automotive history and encourage tourism in Chenango County. Visitors will find more than 200 vehicles on display in each of the 5 connected buildings. Admission is a nominal fee, or you can purchase a membership and visit often! You’ll find historic exhibits with pre-war vehicles, and postwar cars from the 50s through the 70s, as well as cars made in New York State. It also has exhibits with period fashion, WWI and WWII airplane engines, a rotating series of new exhibits on loan, workshops, and lectures. It’s also wheelchair accessible and they have free electric scooters for those who need it, which is a wonderful feature.
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CCS Motors in Oyster Bay is not just a retail storefront, it’s also a wonderful collection and showcase of classic cars from local collectors and from owner David Jacobson. From hot rods to muscle cars to classic and vintage, this showroom has got it all! It’s a wonderful overview of historic cars and childhood dreams come to life.