Early Ford V-8 Museum — Attraction in Indiana

Any vintage automobile lover knows that Auburn, Indiana is significant both historically as well as in the present day. Auburn is home today to a cluster of significant auto museum diamonds! I’ve visited the Auburn, Cord, Duesenberg Museum and NATMUS many times. We were in Auburn this past weekend for the Central National Meet of the Antique Automobile Club of America. On Saturday afternoon I was determined to get away for a tour of the Early Ford V-8 Foundation Museum just on the west side of I-69 opposite the RM Auburn Auction Park. As you pull up to the museum your eye is immediately drawn to the foundations architectural tribute to the historic Ford Rotunda building that was destroyed by fire in the early 1960’s. I’m not from a Ford family. I don’t own any vintage Fords, but as a general student of automotive history I couldn’t help but be grateful that I made time for the museum. The foundation has an impressive lineup of automobiles from the 1932 beginning of the famous Ford flat-head V-8, straight through to the mid 1950s. Their impressive lineup tribute to the 1936 model year simply has to be unparalleled. They even have one of the four remaining 1936 Allegheny Stainless Steel cars. Very impressive. Really glad we made time for this latest diamond to be discovered your next time through or...

My friend and I had the opportunity to visit this museum in June and were delightfully surprised. We were greeted by a very friendly and knowledgeable gentleman who we probably could have spent the whole day speaking to about vintage automobiles and car culture. The museum was nice and new. Very clean and well organized. Many of the vehicles were displayed in such a manner that it would have been a photographer’s dream. I especially liked the concept of a 1930’s era dealership/showroom. It was a hot day and the air conditioned climate was a welcomed relief. We are looking forward to visiting again as and seeing the progress of the additional building that was under construction...

Update: I went back and the museum is remodeled beautifully. All is the information cards are in place and there is a wing with a fully restored 1936 Ford lineup. An incredible collection of cars in this building. Anyone with even a passing interest in Ford flathead V8s will be drooling from the entry hall to the book store (which, to be fair, is the other end of the entry hall; a circle of salivation, if you will).

A lot of automotive history in this place. I can't wait to go back once it's put back together and there is more information on...