Welcome to our first feature in a series of features on automotive museums across the United States. Time and time again, we’ve come across some really impressive museums dedicated to celebrating the history, technology, inspiration, and excitement that is America’s automotive heritage. We look forward to sharing them with you!
(Have a favorite auto museum you’d like to see featured? Submit it for consideration! Email Rebecca.Fischer@moderndealership.com.)
Kansas City Automotive Museum
15095 W. 116th St.
Olathe, KS 66062
913-322-4227 info@KCAutoMuseum.com
www.KansasCityAutoMuseum.com
The nation’s heartland has played a key role in automotive’s history. We talked with Chip Ashby, Community Projects and Resource Coordinator of the KC Auto Museum, to learn more.
MD: How was your interest in cars sparked?
CA: I grew up surrounded by gearheads. Weekends were often spent at the drag strip or going to car shows.
MD: How did you get involved with the Kansas City Automotive Museum?
CA: While earning my undergrad in history, I started as an intern during the spring of 2019. For me, being able to somehow work in both the historical and automotive realm is a dream come true.
MD: You guys opened in 2014 – can you tell us a little about how the museum came about?
CA: What began as an idea by a group of car enthusiasts soon turned into a reality for the Kansas City car community. Two years of grassroots marketing, and four awards later, the Kansas City Automotive Museum received its first major donation from a private donor that made the long-awaited museum a reality.
The Kansas City area is home to major automotive and motorcycle manufacturing, racing, and a vibrant collector community. We have a long, storied, and proud automotive heritage that needs to be preserved and celebrated. The Kansas City Automotive Museum is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, charitable corporation currently located in Olathe. Our interim museum features more than 30 cars, trucks, and motorcycles on display.
Future plans for the Kansas City Automotive Museum include a much larger facility equipped with a full working restoration shop, gift shop, library, interactive area for kids of all ages, and displays showcasing how Kansas City contributed to the automotive industry.
MD: We love the museum’s mission: “To entertain and educate all generations through the preservation, promotion, and display of Kansas City’s rich automotive heritage.” How is Kansas City relevant to automotive?
CA: In Kansas City, there is such a rich automotive story and heritage that needs to be documented and preserved. The museum highlights significant Kansas City automotive histories such as 1965 Le Mans winner Masten Gregory (the “Kansas City Flash”), the Ford Winchester Plant, and Greenlease Cadillac, among others. Kansas City has an incredibly vibrant and diverse automotive culture with a history of award-winning clubs, builders, and enthusiasts. As a museum, we exist to stoke the fires of passion and enthusiasm in the area where we are located. Doesn’t matter if it is new and foreign, or vintage and American, if a vehicle makes you smile it has a value worth documenting and sharing.
MD: Do you have a favorite Kansas City car-related story?
CA: In the 1910s-1920s, there used to be a mile-and-a-half, pinewood, oval racetrack just off 95th Street. When it was open, the drivers were able to achieve a faster average top speed than at the Indianapolis 500 of the same year. There are a handful of other former racetracks around the city that are now either industrial or suburban areas.
MD: That is way cool! What’s your favorite thing about the museum?
CA: The Drive-In exhibit that we change every month. Butch, our Collections Curator, keeps it fresh and unique every month. It’s an amazing opportunity to meet and work with all of the different automotive communities in Kansas City. The exhibit creates the opportunity to experience the passion that goes into the variety of vehicles we display at the museum.
Here is the schedule for this year …
February: Fieros
March: Muscle Cars
April: Porsche
May: Lowriders
June: Early Chevys
July: Military Vehicles
August: Classic Cars
September: British Cars
October: Exotics and Supercars
November: Motorcycles
December: Mercedes-Benz
The cars are all owned by private collectors in the area. We are so lucky to have such a wonderful and supportive community.
MD: What’s your favorite car you’ve seen come through?
CA: The 2020 Ford GT that the museum received February 19. Because it’s derived from the GT40, it has such an interesting pedigree and the modern interpretation is a spectacle to witness. It is hard not to be impressed with the power Ford is able to get from a 3.5L V6 nowadays (660hp / 550lb-ft). The performance numbers on that thing are ridiculous.
MD: Nice. What’s your favorite car you’ve owned?
CA: As both a car and motorcycle enthusiast, it’s hard for me to pick. Both of these are fun and make me laugh for completely different reasons.
Motorcycle: 1984 Honda CB-125S. It is “slow car fast” on two wheels. Currently, a beer can is making up a significant portion of the exhaust system. It sounds like a fart at wide open throttle.
Car: 2000 Roush Stage II F-150. Short Bed, Regular Cab. It was Gold (technically “Harvest Wheat”), had a bench seat, and would run in the low 13s on slicks and skinnies.
MD: Any not-to-miss events coming up?
CA: Our biggest event of the year is our Great Car Show. It’s held at the Liberty Memorial and we have around 450 cars.
April 4. Grandview, MO: Dancing with the Cars “Fabulous Fifties.” Armacost Museum, 4200 E 135th St Grandview, Missouri 64030. More information at KansasCityAutoMuseum.com or 913-422-4227.
May 9. Olathe, KS: Scavenger Cruise. Kansas City Automotive Museum, 15095 West 116th Street in Olathe, KS 66062. More information at KansasCityAutoMuseum.com or 913-422-4227.
May 10. Olathe, KS: Mother’s Day – Free Admission for Mom. Kansas City Automotive Museum, 15095 West 116th Street in Olathe, KS 66062. More information at KansasCityAutoMuseum.com or 913-422-4227.
June 13. Olathe, KS: Oddballs & Obscurities Car Show. Kansas City Automotive Museum, 15095 West 116th Street in Olathe, KS 66062. More information at KansasCityAutoMuseum.com or 913-422-4227.
June 20. Olathe, KS: Cars, Coffee, and Pancakes. Kansas City Automotive Museum, 15095 West 116th Street in Olathe, KS 66062. More information at KansasCityAutoMuseum.com or 913-422-4227.
June 21. Olathe, KS: Father’s Day – Free Admission for Dad. Kansas City Automotive Museum, 15095 West 116th Street in Olathe, KS 66062. More information at KansasCityAutoMuseum.com or 913-422-4227.
July 19. Kansas City, MO: The Great Car Show @ WWI Museum & Memorial, 2 Memorial Dr., Kansas City, MO 64108. More information at KansasCityAutoMuseum.com or 913-422-4227.
Aug 7. Kansas City, MO: Kansas City Automotive Museum Members ONLY Happy Hour during First Fridays in the Crossroads. 122 Southwest Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64108. To purchase museum membership, or for more information, visit KansasCityAutoMuseum.com. 913-322-4227.
Aug 23. Olathe, KS: Teacher Appreciation. Kansas City Automotive Museum, 15095 West 116th Street in Olathe, KS 66062. More information at KansasCityAutoMuseum.com or 913-422-4227.
Oct 24. Kansas City Automotive Museum Members ONLY Road Rally. 15095 West 116th Street in Olathe, KS 66062. To purchase museum membership, or for more information, visit KansasCityAutoMuseum.com. 913-322-4227.
Nov 11. Olathe, KS: Veterans Day – Free Admission for Veterans. Kansas City Automotive Museum, 15095 West 116th Street in Olathe, KS 66062. More information at KansasCityAutoMuseum.com or 913-422-4227.
Dec 5. Olathe, KS: Breakfast with Santa. Kansas City Automotive Museum, 15095 West 116th Street in Olathe, KS 66062. More information at KansasCityAutoMuseum.com or 913-422-4227.
A huge thank you from Modern Dealership to the entire team at KC Automotive Museum!
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