This place deserves special attention. JB Nethercutt was a nephew of the Merle-Norman cosmetic company (still operational), took over the business and made a great deal of money. He became quite the collector of autos, furniture and antique music players (big ones and small ones). His auto collection has grown to 250+ cars, and they have 15 full time people on staff taking care of them, restoring them etc. The results are spectacular.
In Sylmar, CA, just north of LA, next to the Merle Norman buildings are two large buildings that hold the collection. On the ground floor of the first building are the 20+ "fully functional fine art" autos; enclosed here a couple of examples, the 1904 Cameron, the 1955 Austin Healey and the 1918 Rauch and Lang electric car. I tried to match up the labels with the cars, but need additional learning on blog composition.
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This floor of the original building houses 30 bueauties, including the most expensive car in the collection, a 1933 Dusenberg (it's the grey one), only one of its model in the world, current value roughly $12million.
In the other building are the balance of their current collection (about 200 cars), including this 1937 French Talbot Lago (the two tone one), which has won a ton of awards. Also, a 1925 steam powered Doble, purchased by Howard Hughes and a 1928 Bugati, shown unrestored, with the cab and part of the hood covered in an impressed fabric, appearing much like leather.
Believe it or not, the 1 1/2 hour tour was free, as was the main collection. Oh, among other things, they have a wurlitzer theater 5000 pipe organ with all the features that allowed the organist to make the sounds to accompany the silent movies. It was truly amazing. If you ever get out this way, make a point of seeing this place; you won't regret it.
The main floor of the original building has be built to resemble the fancy auto showrooms of the early 1900s, high ornate ceilings, magnificent beveled mirrors, all the while a player piano playing Gershwin tunes. The two audio clips at the end of this entry are attempts to capture the atmosphere, but, truthfully, you have to see it to believe it.
This floor of the original building houses 30 bueauties, including the most expensive car in the collection, a 1933 Dusenberg (it's the grey one), only one of its model in the world, current value roughly $12million.
Among others, this 1928 Isotta-Fraschini, built in Milano, Italy. Marlene loved it, said it reminded her of our friend Flavio, another Italian masterpiece.
In the other building are the balance of their current collection (about 200 cars), including this 1937 French Talbot Lago (the two tone one), which has won a ton of awards. Also, a 1925 steam powered Doble, purchased by Howard Hughes and a 1928 Bugati, shown unrestored, with the cab and part of the hood covered in an impressed fabric, appearing much like leather.
Believe it or not, the 1 1/2 hour tour was free, as was the main collection. Oh, among other things, they have a wurlitzer theater 5000 pipe organ with all the features that allowed the organist to make the sounds to accompany the silent movies. It was truly amazing. If you ever get out this way, make a point of seeing this place; you won't regret it.
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