The National Model Car Builders’ Museum in Sandy, Utah, and the Museum of American Speed (MAS) in Lincoln, Nebraska, have announced a merger. As part of this transition, the National Model Car Builders’ Museum will relocate to Lincoln, where it will be a leading exhibit within the MAS collection.
The history of scale auto modeling is intertwined with the legacy of the automobile itself. For decades, scale models have been used to test new styling ideas, improve assembly techniques, and explore miniature engineering and aerodynamics. But beyond their technical purpose, these models represent dreams brought to life—expressions of craftsmanship, creativity, and cultural significance.
The National Model Car Builders’ Museum houses the single most comprehensive collection dedicated to the history of scale vehicle building. Highlights include iconic models that have defined and elevated the craft, a scale-accurate diorama of the 1964 Oakland Roadster Show, and exhibits covering legendary contests like the GSL International Model Car Championship and Convention. The collection also honors the heritage of early modeling contests such as the MPC series, the Revell-Pactra National Custom Car Contests, and the Revell-Testors National Customizing Contests.
The museum’s extensive archive includes thousands of magazines, books, newsletters, and manufacturer catalogs, all of which will become part of the expanded research 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 1950s through contemporary events, are being transferred to MAS,” said Mark S. Gustavson, curator and founder of the National Model Car Builders’ Museum. “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.”
“Scale models are precious; they are works of art and culturally important,” said Tim Matthews, Curator of the Museum of American Speed. “The Museum of American Speed is honored to partner with the National Model Car Builders’ Museum to bring these cultural treasures to a wider audience and ensure they are protected for generations to come.”
The formal merger will take place in June 2025, followed by exhibits at MAS opening as soon as possible. The Committee of the National Model Car Builders’ Museum will remain actively involved in the curation and development of exhibits, as well as in future events celebrating the model car hobby.
For more information about this merger and ongoing updates, please visit:
https://themodelcarmuseum.org/museum-news/