Nethercutt Collection: A Car Lover’s Photo Tour

We went to the Nethercutt Collection in Sylmar, California to do what gearheads do first—photograph the cars. The gallery below is all vehicles: concours-level restorations and coachbuilt icons that explain why the Nethercutt name carries serious weight on the show field.

Even if you’re here strictly for chrome and coachwork, the museum experience goes beyond sheetmetal. The Music Room showcases a world-class lineup of mechanical instruments—reproducing pianos, orchestrions, and a mighty Wurlitzer theatre pipe organ—and they actually demonstrate them during tours. It’s part gallery, part concert, and it adds a surprising soundtrack to all that polished nickel.

A quick bit of context: the Collection was founded by cosmetics magnate J.B. Nethercutt (Merle Norman family), and its cars have collected serious silverware—think Pebble Beach class wins and specials like the famed “Twenty Grand” Duesenberg SJ. That standard of finish shows in person.

What to look for

• Coachwork lines & panel fit — concours restores are unforgiving up close. nethercuttcollection.org
• Period details — badges, lamps, knobs; the kind of authenticity judges love.
• Drivetrain jewelry — polished linkages and castings on open cars.
• Reflections — use the museum’s glass and floors for creative symmetry.

Beyond the cars: The site spans two buildings with over 250 American & European automobiles, plus antique furniture and even a steam locomotive. If you have extra time, the guided Collection tour adds multiple floors of instruments and cars (ticketed, reservations required).

“If You Go”

• Location: Nethercutt Museum 15151 Bledsoe St, Sylmar, CA 91342
• Hours (Museum): Thu–Sat, 9:00am–4:30pm
• Guided Collection Tour: ~2 hours, ticketed, advance reservations required (Thu–Sat time slots)
• Transit: Metrolink Sylmar station ≈1.5 miles; Metro bus stop one block away.