Canadian Automotive Museum facts for kids
Entrance on Simcoe Street
|
|
| Established | 1962 |
|---|---|
| Location | 99 Simcoe Street South Oshawa, Ontario L1H 4G7 |
| Type | Automobile museum |
| Collection size | 65+ cars |
The Canadian Automotive Museum is a super interesting place in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. It's a special museum all about cars! You can see many cars that were made right here in Canada. This is because Oshawa has always been a big center for making cars, especially with General Motors Canada being a major part of the city's history.
The museum was started in 1962 by a group of business people from Oshawa. They wanted to save and share Canada's amazing car history in a fun and educational way. The Canadian Automotive Museum is a charity, and it has been open since 1963, teaching people about cars for over 60 years!
The museum is located in a large building in downtown Oshawa. It's about 25,000 square feet (2,322 square meters). This building used to be a car dealership called Ontario Motor Sales back in the 1920s. It still looks much like it did then, even keeping the original elevator that was used to move cars to the second floor!
The museum works with other important groups like the CMA, the CHIN, and the Virtual Museum of Canada.
Contents
Exploring the Cool Cars on Display
The museum has two floors filled with awesome cars. On the ground floor, you'll find cars from all over the world. But the upstairs is extra special because it has an exhibit called "Made in Canada," showing off cars built right here!
Cars from Different Eras
The museum's collection shows how cars have changed over time. You can see vehicles from the early 1900s all the way up to more recent models.
Early Cars: Before 1910
Imagine cars from over 100 years ago! The museum has some really old ones, like a 1902 Orient and a 1903 Redpath Messenger. You can also see a 1905 McLaughlin Carriage, which shows how cars evolved from horse-drawn carriages. A 1909 Model T is also on display, and it was even built in Canada!
Cars from the 1910s
This decade brought more variety. You might spot a 1910 McKay Roadster or a 1911 International Harvester Commercial Car. A very special car from this time is the 1912 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, which used to belong to a famous person named Lady Eaton! There's also a 1918 Chevrolet 490 Snowmobile, which is a car designed to drive on snow!
Cars from the 1920s
The 1920s were a time of exciting changes for cars. You can see unique vehicles like a 1921 Kissel Gold Bug Speedster or a 1923 Rauch & Lang Electric Brougham, which was an electric car long before they became popular again! There's also a 1926 Ahrens Fox Pumper, which is a classic fire truck.
Cars from the 1930s
In the 1930s, cars started to look more modern. The museum has a 1931 Alfa Romeo 6C with a special Zagato body, which is very stylish. You can also see different McLaughlin-Buick models and even some motorcycles from this era, like a 1930 Henderson 4 Cyl motorcycle.
Cars from the 1940s and 1950s
After World War II, car designs continued to evolve. The museum features a 1949 Allard Roadster and a 1949 Meteor. From the 1950s, you can see a 1950 Oldsmobile Futuramic and a 1957 Dodge Regent.
Cars from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s
As time went on, cars became even more diverse. The museum has a fancy 1960 Rolls-Royce Phantom V Limousine. For something sportier, check out the 1962 Lotus Formula Junior. From the 1970s, there's a 1971 Manic GT, a unique Canadian sports car. And from the 1980s, you can see a 1981 Plymouth Reliant and even a 1983 DMC DeLorean, which is famous for its cool design and appearance in movies!
See also
- Manitoba Antique Automobile Museum
- McLaughlin Carriage Company
