Nethercutt Museum

If you enjoy cars like I do than you need to stop in and visit this place. Amazing old cars that you never knew existed. The Collection across the street is even better.

Pretty impressive collection of cars in the main building. I didn’t go into the other buildings across the street for the tour, but I definitely want to go back to check it out.
As amazing as the museum was, it’s hard to believe it’s all free!

As nice of a collection of classic and historical cars and such that I have ever been to.
What a stunning job this organization did and does with the restoration of some of the greatest cars the world has ever built. Even my wife was asking if I could buy her one of them. I told her to keep dreaming. :)
There is a tour of the four-​story building across the street that I will definitely have to tour. It requires a reservation, though, which I will be making hopefully soon.
One other word to describe the cars: breathtaking. If you love cars, go here.

This museum is so cool — you just never know it exists — its tucked away out in Sylmar — and well worth the drive. Great old cars to drool over. It’s a must see of the best of the best.

Great museum and at a very generous price of free! Interesting and large automobile collection, rare musical devices (the Wurlitzer organ is amazing), and a steam train. Didn’t expect those from a cosmetics mogul.

GREAT MUSEUM!!!
We really enjoyed our visit here at the Nethercutt Museum. I first learned of this place on TV watching Huel Howser’s California Gold– we really miss him and his wonderful TV show.
The museum is great and it is free. Part of the museum requires reservations so be sure to check that out online. This really an amazing place.
One side note:
Only downside— which has NOTHING to do with the museum, is that the neighborhood is unfortunately really really bad. So bad in fact that I would recommend for anyone visiting who is not familiar with this part of the San Fernando Valley that they need to be sure not to wander from the main streets. Also be very careful driving in this part of town because it is the ‘hit and run’ capital of California with many, many unlicensed and illegal alien drivers– so be careful.

One of the best museums/​collections I have ever toured, the Louvre of automobile and specialized musical instrument collections. Outstanding!
I thought about this collection as an auto museum, but it is so much more. There are 264 absolutely beautifully restored cars. Several are OVER 100 years old, all of them actually run, and all of them sparkle and shine better than they did when they were new.
But beyond the cars, there are other collections, including some porcelain objects, some gold eating utensils and lots of automobile hood ornaments. Beyond these, however, a fantastic collection of working musical devices, centering around a 5,000 pipe organ, a 97 key piano and some wonderful collection of orchestral players (devices that actually play several musical devices) are demonstrated. Much like old player pianos, these devices use various forms of drivers to cause them to play pre-​selected music independently. The organ is coordinated with the oversized piano and our guide, the museum’s curator, had the two play 3 compositions. Each of the orchestral devices also played for us. One of these devices actually played 4 violins and another played several instruments including even a a bass drum.
This is really one of the most unusual and impressive museums I’ve ever been to. But you won’t get to see it all unless you sign up in advance for one of the guided tours.
And, oh yess, it’s all free!

FANTASTIC place! I could literally spend all day here! If you like classic cars, even the little, then this place is going to be amazing for you. All of the cars are in impeccable condition, and were clearly very well-​loved by true collectors. While smallish, there is a lot to see, and it’s free. Just walk right in. Everyone I’ve taken there has fallen in love, from guys in their 20’s to ladies in their 60’s. Don’t miss the cool train tour in the back. Make sure to check out their website before making plans to visit, as their hours and days are a bit limited, including the train tour. Expect to spend at least 2 hours, because you’re not going to want to leave. Plenty of free parking, too!

The Nethercutt Museum is an absolute diamond in the rough! It is out of the way, on a lonely, non-​descript street off San Fernando Road, in Sylmar. Unless you drive right past it or are intentionally going there, you would probably never find it.
However, drive past it not, young Jedi!
When you enter, you are completely transported to another place and time. This FREE museum is impeccably clean, the layout is easy to navigate, and there is something for everyone to see and enjoy.
The museum consists mostly of classic cars. There are scores of them, all in splendid condition. From extremely rare cars that have won international competitions, to fire engines, to an amazing collection of Rolls Royces, to an original Airstream trailer, to a steam locomotive, to the first electric car. .. too many to mention.
There are also have display cases with dozens of hood ornaments and shifters, a reference library, and a small theater that tells you the history of the place.
If you are one to casually stroll up and down every row and check out all the cars, you can comfortably do it in under an hour. If you are one to read the information card in front of every car, talk to some of the wonderful people who work there to learn about the place, and thoroughly check out everything The Nethercutt has to offer, you can spend an entire day there. It is completely up to you.
Did I mention this place is FREE?

I can’t believe how amazing this place is, they have so many great vintage cars. I can’t believe living all my life in valley and I had missed such a great place.

A must see for out-​of-​towners and car enthusiasts. The museum is open to the public anytime. This is a huge collection of vintage luxury autos, hood ornaments etc.,…and a train out back! The museum is open to the public and takes donations (rather than charge admission).
The Nethercutt Collection is across the street and has even more, nicer exotic vintage autos, hood ornaments, plus antique furniture, porcelain, watches and an entire floor of musical instruments. It’s amazing.
You need reservations for The Collection.
An added plus, there is a Merle Norman Cosmetics Factory outlet store next door — in case the ladies get bored with the cars…

The collection is spectacular (as long as you enjoy vintage, rare automobiles). It’s free, complete with easy parking and in an immaculate setting. The snippets of historical details and interesting memorabilia add cultural context of the periods within these cars existed and the colorful owners. It’s all wonderfully executed. And let me add again, it’s free… Thank you to the Nethercutt Family!

The Nethercutt Museum is a great destination for a day trip. The automobiles on display are beautiful and plentiful. A good place to while a way a few hours daydreaming.

You don’t have to love cars. Do you love art?
You don’t have to love design elegance. Do you love historical trivia?
I’ve been to the Petersen Museum, the Muckenthaler, and other beautiful car museums and shows and will do the Crevier Museum soon, and this is probably the best collection I’ve seen to date.
First of all, half the museum (one entire building) is FREE to the public. (This is the only part I’m reviewing; I will definitely make plans for the guided tour next.) The free building is like new and the building itself is tasteful and elegant in its own right. The free building collection alone would earn 3 stars, even if the cars in it were so-so…meh.
And they are anything but. From the sleek multi-​million-​dollar Talbot Lago dream car to the gleaming 825 cubic inch Pierce Arrows to priceless Bugattis, stately old Lincolns, and the stunning Rolls-​Royce Phantoms, Silver Clouds and Wraiths, these were rare and special creations even when new. Some would have cost the equivalent of a lifetime’s wages for the average American, and are many times more valuable 80 – 120 years later.
The best part — 95% of these rare and historically significant masterpieces on display have now been lovingly restored by artisans and craftsmen to showroom new (if not better — seriously!) condition. You will not believe the condition of these vehicles. Even their tires appear to be new out of the box that morning. There even seems to be no dust on any restored car.
You’ll also see the Great Gatsby movie car, a 1948 Tucker, Rudolph Valentino’s Voisin, a stunning Ferrari California and even some stock Detroit Big3 metal Jay Leno himself would drool over.
I am very grateful that the owners of these fine specimens choose to share them with the general public, free of charge.

This is a wonderful museum. I brought my parents here while they were visiting from out of town. My father loves cars and told me all about different cars throughout the museum. He was especially excited about the Tucker car. He watched a movie about that car company, so he was thrilled to see one. I really loved the fire truck. I wish we had stayed a bit longer so we could have gone inside the train. I can’t wait to schedule a tour for the collection across the street.

I actually have a family member that works for Merle Norman, so I had the pleasure of touring this museum. I was really impressed at the major selection of classic cars in he showroom!
I’m not a car person really, but I spent about two hours here reading, touring, and thoroughly enjoying the afternoon here.
I think even someone quote bored by automobiles would still have a blast here! The place just rocks.

Off the beaten path, in the middle of nowhere, out of LA and up the 5 a few exits, this free museum is worth the drive. On one side of the street is a museum that is only by tour and kids have to be at least 12 years of age. We were there with 9 year old twins, so we went to the other side of the street to the free self guided museum. It is wonderful. We played a game: you have just been awarded a prize, you can take home only one car, which one would it be. All 5 of us chose a different model, but we all agreed that the best in show goes to the car and camper combination! We got there at 11am and stayed until they opened the pullman train car at 12:30.
Not very crowded and who can beat free, it is an incredible collection!

They have an exhaustive collection of cars that are mostly from the 1910’s to the 1950’s. If you are debating on whether it’s worth a visit, GO! It’s great to see all of the old vehicles, the train, and if you are able to reserve a tour you will get an even fuller experience with your guide.
Also: It’s free! (To walk in to the car museum) I had a ton of fun and it really felt like a blast from the past.

First off — there are many reviews for the Nettercutt Museum which are obviously really for the Getty Center. Contrary to those other reviews, there is no charge for parking, there is no tram, there is no art, there are no restaurants, nor cafes, nor gardens, nor views, nor architecture.
What this place DOES have is lots of cars, mostly from 1920 – 1940. It’s free to park and free to get in.
There is also a train that, in theory, can be viewed, but only during two 15-​minute time-​slots each day. We didn’t realize that and missed it.
There is also a «Nethercutt Collection» across the street, but that requires advanced reservations and the minimum age for visitors is 10. It has its own Unilocal listing.
Kids will probably get bored here pretty quickly, but adults should find it entertaining for a while. Your grandparents would probably love it.

Wowww, this place is beyond amazing! It was sooo random of me to come here and bring my son 1^st of all I’m not even into cars that much and Sylmar is not a place I would normally visit however I found this through Unilocal and I’m so glad I did. The Nethercutt Museum was so clean, so nice and very interesting. The cars here are one of a kind, they have the most beautiful classic cars you will ever see, unfortunately you can’t sit in them but you can get pretty close and stand in front of them to take a picture. The Mercedes Benz, the Rolls Royce cars whoooo those were beyond amazing! They even have a trailer that you can go inside and check out that was fun. They also have a steam locomotive which is located outside which they give tours from 1230 – 1245 and another time sorry didn’t pay attention. Unfortunately we didn’t get to tour because we got here early.
I went with a 3 year old so he was really excited at first but his attention went elsewhere after I told him he couldn’t cross the rope and not touch it but all in all we spent a good 30 minutes here.
This place is FREE, FUN and FANTASTIC!
Car buff or not it’s a site to see, no food or drinks, clean bathroom, clean facility and just interesting. It’s so nice that the Nethercutt family to open this for everyone to see.
Highly recommend!