Business Details
38 Years
experience
Preserving Model Car History Since 1988
Founded in 1988, the International Model Car Builders Museum is dedicated to preserving the history and craftsmanship of the model car hobby. Our mission focuses on chronicling the evolution of scale vehicle building through curated displays of historic models, competition artifacts, and rare publications. We actively acquire and restore influential models while digitizing vintage magazines to safeguard the hobby's written legacy.Our exhibits showcase works from legendary builders like John Estlow and Bob Peeples, alongside programs like Clone the Past and Scan the Past that ensure generational knowledge transfer. Governed by a steering committee of industry experts, we maintain a 3,000+ magazine library and host appointment-only tours to educate both seasoned enthusiasts and newcomers about this specialized art form.
Services
Museum Tours
Historical Preservation
Digital Archiving
Educational Programs
Artifact Restoration
Details
- Year established: 1988
Highlights and features
- We have preserved over 30 years of model car competition history
- Our collection includes original models from Revell-Pactra contest winners
- We operate the largest digital archive of vintage model car magazines
- Our Clone the Past program replicates historically significant scale vehicles
- We offer accessible educational resources for both novice and expert builders
Services
Museum Tours
Explore our extensive collection through appointment-only guided tours featuring historic model car displays and competition artifacts. Visitors experience curated exhibits showcasing craftsmanship evolution from the 1960s to present day. Donations support ongoing preservation efforts while providing access to rare automotive modeling history.
Historical Preservation
Our team professionally preserves significant scale models, competition trophies, and printed materials using museum-grade techniques. This includes climate-controlled storage for physical artifacts and digital restoration of deteriorating publications. We maintain original display cases and presentation materials from historic contests.
Digital Archiving
The Scan the Past program converts fragile print media into digital formats, preserving content from Model Car Science and Car Modeler magazines. We create searchable archives of competition results, builder profiles, and technical articles. This ensures long-term accessibility of critical hobby documentation for researchers worldwide.
Educational Programs
We offer resources for model builders at all skill levels through our library materials and replicated master projects. The Clone the Past initiative provides detailed construction references while historical displays demonstrate evolving techniques. Educational seminars cover both traditional and modern modeling methodologies.
Artifact Restoration
Specialized restoration services revive damaged or incomplete historic models using period-accurate materials and techniques. Our conservators work with original builder documentation when available, maintaining authenticity while stabilizing fragile components. This includes reassembly of contest-winning displays and trophy restoration.
Questions
Can I visit the museum without an appointment?
No, all tours require advance appointments Monday through Saturday.
What collections are currently on display?
Featured exhibits include Revell-Pactra contest winners, Oakland Roadster Show dioramas, and the unfinished works of Bob Peeples.
How can I contribute to preservation efforts?
Donations support artifact acquisition, digital archiving, and educational programs.
Are there research resources available?
Our library contains over 3,000 vintage model car publications accessible for research purposes.
Does the museum accept artifact donations?
Yes, we consider donations of historically significant models and related materials.