Dream of Your Next Car at the Newport Car Museum

Have you ever dreamt of owning a Lamborghini? How about a 2014 BMW i8? Or perhaps you’d prefer one of the classics, such as a 1963 Jaguar XKE Convertible or a 1958 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Convertible?

No matter your taste in automobiles, the Newport Car Museum will feed your imagination. You’ll envision yourself speeding down the highway in that Corvette you’ve always wanted, or you’ll fantasize about meandering through New England back country roads in a classic Road Runner Superbird.

My father-in-law is a big car guy. So what better gift for his birthday than to bring him to the Newport Car Museum? On a cool, early December day, we gathered in my humble Honda Civic and made the trek to Portsmouth, Rhode Island. (Yes, Portsmouth, not Newport. I was confused at first too!)

There are five different car galleries, and an area where you can virtually race.

If you want a good laugh, watch the video of me “driving” in the last section!

The World Car Gallery

This gallery has cars from, well, all over the world. Most of the cars I wouldn’t be able to afford. Actually, none of these cars. But they’re very cool to look at. This area showcased Lamborghini, BMW, and Porsche models.

The Fin Cars

Fin cars were popular after World War II. Unlike cars produced during the war, they came in various colors. The fins at the back imitated the fins on aircraft of the day.

These are the cars that were taken to diners and their drivers were served by bellhops.

For some reason, when I see these cars, I think about going to a diner and getting a cheeseburger, a Coke, and a shake. Maybe it’s because these cars are so entrenched in Americana that I think of the quintessential American meal when I see one.

Or maybe I just want an excuse to eat. Either way, there are some nice-looking fin cars in the museum’s collection.

The Muscle Cars

Have you ever heard of a car being banned from NASCAR because it’s too fast? Neither had I, until I saw the 1970 Plymouth Superbird Six Pack. Chrysler Corporation’s “Muscle Cars” are powerful and fast.

These are the best cars for drag racing. I’m pretty sure my wife wouldn’t let me get one.

Oh well. I can dream.

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The Plymouth Superbird was so large that I couldn’t get it all in one shot!

2008 Dodge Viper Convertible

The Corvette Gallery

Corvettes, also known as America’s Sports Car, look like they’re the most fun to drive. Models from 1954 to 2019 are displayed. The Corvette’s lost some horsepower during the Oil Embargo, but post-1990 designs regained the power of its predecessors with its new small block engine.

The Shelby Gallery

Carroll Hall Shelby is best known for his work with Ford Motor Company. He designed high-performing cars.

In the gallery is an informative video on the life and work of Mr. Shelby.

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Virtual Reality Racing

The museum also has an area where you can virtually race many different cars. This was, by far, my favorite part of the visit.

I didn’t crash too many times. Only five or six…that you can see on camera.

I’m better in real life. Really.

But, I guess I can’t blame them for not letting me test drive the Dodge Demon.

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The Newport Car Museum is located at 1947 West Main Road in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. You’ll have to turn at the lights (right if you’re heading to Newport, left if you’re coming from Newport).

You’ll pass a guard shack. Take the first left. If you ended up going straight, you’d end up at Raytheon.

For more information on the Newport Car Museum, check out their official website. 

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Disclaimer:

I had a good time at the museum. However, I’m not by nature a car person. Even though I double- and tripled-checked my info, it’s possible that something slipped by me. Maybe I spelled something wrong, or maybe I put a picture of a car in the wrong gallery. If I did, let me know and I’ll fix it.

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