The Newport Car Museum’s mission is to spread the car lover’s enthusiasm for automotive design, history, technology and culture to all. The Newport Car Museum first launched with 50 cars in June 2017 and by its one-year anniversary had added another 20 cars before introducing eight more on its second anniversary in June 2019. Presented as proudly as if they were in the MOMA, the immaculately kept cars are displayed in six galleries, using low-rise platforms and turntables, theatrical lighting, specially commissioned large-format artwork and award-winning videos to tell the story of Ford/Shelby, Corvettes, World Cars, Fin Cars, Mopars and American Muscle Cars. There are no ropes around the cars, and an impressive collection of Mid-Century modern furniture provides comfortable, fun places to sit and contemplate the cars as works of art. Instead of audio tours, docents – and many times the founders themselves – ignite lively exchanges of information and recollections, while eight driving simulators and a fascinating gift shop round out the Newport Car Museum experience, which can take anywhere from 90 minutes to several hours, depending on how long one decides to spend admiring any given car.
