For Immediate Release
April 14, 2025
Great Automotive Merger!
Scale Model Cars and Full-size Vehicles!
The National Model Car Builders’ Museum in Sandy, Utah and the Museum of American Speed (MAS), located in Lincoln, Nebraska have announced their merger. Consequently, the National Model Car Builders’ Museum will be relocated to Lincoln where it will be become a leading exhibit in the MAS collection.
The history of scale auto modeling is intertwined with the rich history of the automobile itself. Scale model cars have always been used to test new styling ideas, assembly and technical skills, as well as ideas in miniature styling and aerodynamics. Scale models are also a die from which dreams are cast as countless people have honed and used their skills to build their dreams in miniature.
The National Model Car Builders’ Museum is a gathering of the single greatest collection of the history of scale vehicle building, including many famous models that advanced the level of craftsmanship. It includes numerous special exhibits, such as a scale-accurate diorama of the 1964 Oakland Roadster Show, and coverage of famed contests like the GSL International Model Car Championship and Convention. Additionally, it has exhibits recognizing and preserving the earlier MPC contest series, the historic Revell-Pactra National Custom Car Contests, and the Revell-Testors National Customizing contests. The Museum also is home to thousands of magazines, books, newsletters, and manufacturer’s catalogs that will become part of the library at the Museum of American Speed.
“We are so pleased that the National Model Car Builders Museum’s collection of thousands of items, ranging from the early 1950’s through contemporary events, are being transferred to MAS. Through the generous adoption of our collection by the Museum of American Speed, the assembled history of the scale vehicle hobby will be preserved in perpetuity,” said Mark S. Gustavson, curator and founder of the National Model Car Builders’ Museum.
“Scale models are precious; they are works of art and they are culturally important. The Museum of American Speed is honored to partner with the National Model Car Builders’ Museum to bring their cultural treasures to a wider audience and ensure they are protected for generations to come,” observed Tim Matthews, the Curator of the Museum of American Speed.
The formal merger will occur in June of 2025, with exhibits at MAS following as soon as possible thereafter.
Please check the National Model Car Builders’ Museum’s website at https://themodelcarmuseum.org/ for further information on this incredible merger!
The Committee of the National Model Car Builders’ Museum is pleased to remain active in the presentation and growth of key exhibits that will be on display, as well as those future events that will focus on the model car hobby.
The formal merger will occur in June of 2025, with exhibits at MAS following as soon as possible thereafter. Please check at the model car museum’s website at https://themodelcarmuseum.org/ for further information on this incredible merger!
Download/View Press Release in pdf format
April 25,2024
Flyers distributed at NNL East
April 23, 2024
The Museum is currently prospering under the direction of a 12-person the Steering Committee. This group has been assembled to better organize the collection, and to focus the highest profile elements in the collection in a way to catch the attention of a major auto museum, and to be the governing board for all future Museum decisions. .
In the near future, a full description of our plans and expectations will be described here.
There’s a lot of news that will be uploaded in the near future. Please check back by May 10, 2024 – we know you’ll be excited and pleased).