Visit the Nelson Classic Car Museum

Like many of the vehicles on display at the Nelson Classic Car Museum, one of the latest arrivals – a pristine 1903 Model A Cadillac – has a fascinating story.

Its engine and transmission were found on a farm driving a water pump, while the chassis and axles were located beneath an orchard trailer. It took three years to rebuild and restore, with the aid of original drawings obtained from Cadillac in the USA.

“It’s got none of the comforts we’re used to these days, like squishy tyres and steering that actually goes in the direction you want, but I hear it’s a pretty exciting car to drive!” says Mike Wilson, Designer and Marketing Coordinator at the museum.

Just as the Cadillac has had a makeover, broader changes have recently been wheeled out at the museum. As well as new sets inside, a new addition in the carpark is an over-sized Matchbox-style exhibit containing a striking two-tone pink 1956 Desoto Firedome. 

This new feature symbolises the museum’s evolution since the closure of the World of Wearable Arts, which previously shared the property. Rather than putting a brake on the attraction, the museum has revved up a gear.

The collection is almost wholly owned by a prominent local family and now includes nearly 200 treasured vehicles, around 160 of which are on display at any one time.

Part of the museum’s collection is housed on what was formerly Nelson’s car assembly plant, and a special exhibit celebrates this history, including a 2L 1980 Austin Princess with a backdrop of photos and video from the era.

“We’re quite unique here since very few vehicles have ropes around them, so visitors can get up close,” Mike says. “We also always have several cars that visitors can hop in.”

Another museum highlight is the world’s fastest mini. “I was lucky enough to go with this vehicle to the Bonneville Salt Flats in 2012 and 2016. Original Minis were about 35 horsepower – this, at its peak on methanol, had about 350.”

Around a third of the vehicles on display are roadworthy. One of the many to have recently taken part in a rally is the 1916 Locomobile Speedster with an 8,600cc, six-cylinder engine. The member of the Vintage Car Club driving it described it as “like riding a wild horse”.

Plaques tell the unique history of each vehicle. One with a mysterious past is the Chevy Impala that was found in two parts in a Louisiana swamp full of bullet holes.

“The family that owns the collection’s got a real liking for Jaguars, hence our section The Cat Cage,” Mike says. Within this rests a veritable prowl of the coveted marque, from classic saloons to sports cars.

The museum’s collection also includes hot hatches, modern limos, roadsters and models many will recognise from movies and TV, such as the 1981 DeLorean with its gull-wing doors, familiar to fans of Back to the Future.

“If you were Elon Musk in the 1920s, this is what you might have been driven in,” says Mike, pointing out the grandiose 1926 Packard touring seven-seater with a Straight 8 engine and ornate Lalique crystal eagle radiator cap.

The museum also holds popular ‘Hoods Up!’ events during which all bonnets are raised and doors unlocked to give the chance to sit behind any wheel. There are also free rides on the night in selected vehicles. For some it’s an opportunity to tune in to treasured memories of vehicles from their past, while for others it’s chance to dream big and sink into a luxury they might otherwise never experience.