California Automobile Museum

The California Automobile Museum was the first automobile museum in the west to be established in perpetuity. Founded in 1983 as the California Vehicle Foundation, the museum opened to the public in 1987 as the Towe Ford Museum, displaying the largest collection of Fords in the world, courtesy of Edward Towe, a Montana banker. Karen McClaflin is the executive director of the museum. The first car to be donated to the California Automobile Museum was a restored 1938 Buick sedan, a gift from John Joyce, president of the Golden One Credit Union, which is still on display at the museum. In 1997, the museum was renamed the Towe Auto Museum, as they began displaying vehicles of all makes and models. In 2009, the Board of Directors officially changed the name of the museum to the California Automobile Museum, reflecting the expanded mission it has grown into over the last 25 years. ==Exhibits and attractions==

Approximately 40% of the 150 vehicles are owned by the California Vehicle Foundation, while the remainder are on loan from private exhibitors. The cars on display represent a cross-section of cars driven in California over the last 120 years and are arranged in chronological order. In addition to the static displays, the museum also has "rolling exhibits" which change frequently and display specific types of automobiles like Japanese or micro cars. While the museum can be experienced alone, docents are available to offer personalized tours free of charge. The museum also offers "Sunday Drives", an opportunity to receive a ride in a museum car free with admission every third Sunday of the month along with five cars to sit in on everyday basis. Some of the notable cars on display include: • One of the 40 surviving 1997 General Motors EV1 • A 1982 Porsche 911 SC Targa formerly owned by singer Linda Ronstadt • A 1978 Kawasaki KZ1000C CHP used in the “CHiPs” TV series • A 1974 Plymouth Satellite formerly owned by Gov. Jerry Brown • A 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 formerly owned by Road & Track editor Tony Hogg • The 1963 Shelby Cobra Replica used in the movie Ford v Ferrari • A 1956 Cadillac Eldorado formerly owned by actress Rita Hayworth • A 1951 Nash Rambler Convertible used by Marilyn Monroe to promote her movie "Monkey Business" • A 1940 Lincoln Town Car formerly owned by Henry Ford's wife Clara Ford • A 1933 Lincoln KB formerly owned by Bank of America founder A.P. Giannini • An 1896 Ford Quadricycle Replica • An 1886 Benz Patent-Motorwagen Replica • 1909 Model T touring car ==External links==