Muscle Car Museum Heaven: Check Out This Insane Collection

One of the most gratifying feelings any automotive aficionado with a love of muscle cars happens when walking through a car show and finding a historical icon of the ’60s and early ’70s sitting proudly among rows of classic hot rods and custom street machines.

‘Cuda lovers will marvel at the long row of iconic Plymouths on display at the Brothers museum. (Photo by Bruce W. Smith)

Now imagine walking through a door into a private collector’s museum that has not one, two, or a dozen such history-making performance icons, but rather several hundred of the rarest of the rare, grouped by manufacturer and model, shining under the lights.

That’s The Brothers Collection.

In mid-August 1971, Ford assembled the last Mustang built with the Super Cobra Jet 429cid “Big Block.” This Silver Blue Metallic J-code Mach 1 “429 SCJ” is that car. It’s just one of many rare and/or historic Mustangs on display at the Brothers Collection museum. (Photo by Bruce W. Smith)

This muscle car lover’s dream is located in a non-descript warehouse-turned museum in Salem, Oregon. The “Collection,” which has been compiled over the past 50 years by a very wealthy local businessman and his two sons, is considered the largest private car collection of muscle cars in the world.

(Editor’s Note: The family that owns this collection is intensely private and did not want their names revealed.)

This is the sign that greet visitors who walk in the front door of the non-descript warehouse that is cover for The Brothers Collection of historic muscle cars from 1964 through 1974. (Photo by Bruce W. Smith)

An Early Start Collecting Muscle Cars

The family patriarch had a love for Fords and in the early ’70s he started investing in marquee Mustangs, Comets, Galaxies, Rancheros, Torinos and Fairlanes. Over the ensuing years, his two sons caught the muscle car collector bug. The rest is, as they say, is history.

Walking the Brothers Collection museum is jaw-dropping. Here’s probably the world’s largest display of rare Chrysler E-bodies under one roof and owned by the same family. Along one area of the museum is an unmatched assembly of Mopar “E-body” cars that includes eight out of only 26 built 1970–71 Hemi ‘Cuda convertibles, each worth millions. (Photos by Bruce W. Smith)

Their collection of more than a hundred of the rarest of American automotive manufacturers’ performance icons was basically kept hidden away in Washington State until 2016 when the brothers purchased a 117,000 square-foot building in Salem, Oregon, that was formerly an electronics manufacturing plant.

This blue ’69 Camaro is a very rare ZL1—and the brothers’ favorite of all the collection. Not only is it the 55th of 69 built, it’s only one of two ZL1s ordered with the Rally Sport package that year. The survivor car’s odo shows a mere 7,700 miles. Of more than 1,000 ’69 Camaros ordered with the 425hp 427, this Daytona Yellow Yenko is one of the 22 supercars that had the special options installed at Jack Douglas Chevrolet in Chicago (under the guidance of Don Yenko). (Photos by Bruce W. Smith)

As all car collectors know, protecting the paint and shine on the outside is as important as preserving what’s under the hood. So the brothers spent about five years and millions of dollars turning this massive warehouse into the penultimate muscle car museum, complete with special structural upgrades to protect against earthquakes.

This is the 400-plus horsepower 289 cid V8 under the hood of this supercharged ’65 Shelby GT350 Mustang, a survivor car that was the first and only one that year delivered with the Paxton supercharger.

While the building’s extensive renovations were underway to make it into a beautiful showcase of automotive history, the collection kept growing. Today, inside the two-plus acre enclosure are about 350 unique examples of automotive performance history from muscle cars and Corvettes to European exotics, with a few other interesting nostalgic collectables on display for added color.

It’s one thing to have a ’69 Hurst Olds in your collection, but to have a one-of-two convertible and the ’69 prototype also? Tucked along the museum’s back wall is this ’69 Hurst/Old pre-production prototype that Oldsmobile affectionately deemed the Gentleman’s Muscle Car. This car had the 455cid warmed up with numerous factory performance upgrades. It’s literally one of a kind. (Photos by Bruce W. Smith)

Suspended above it all is an extensive collection of automotive manufacturer’s neon signs from the muscle car era hanging from the rafters and mounted along the walls.

Among the collector cars sitting in the shop warehouse across from the museum is this trio of Pontiac Trans Am Firebirds. The one with the Flying Bird on the hood is the highly prized 1974 “X”-Code version with A/C and just 12K on the odo. The ’73-’74 X-code cars are the last true muscle cars. In the museum are three more of these SD-455 Trans Ams sitting in a row—all red, all unrestored. (Photo by Bruce W. Smith)

Getting Inside The Brothers Collection

In 2020, after all the renovations, Brothers opened the door for the first time for the outside world to enjoy slices of automotive history on wheels. But even then only on a limited basis.

Among the rows and rows of rare muscle cars is this ’63 Pontiac Tempest Le Mans Super Duty A/FX race car — one of only six built. It holds the title of “The World’s Fastest Tempest,” thanks to a dual-quad 421cid Super Duty V8 under its hood. The ’64 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt next to it is another factory race car. With a 427 and dual quads, it was built to race Super Stock, while the 427 Comets next to it were built for A/FX. (Photos by Bruce W. Smith)

Getting the opportunity to walk among the massive display of prime examples of American automotive manufacturing’s performance heyday requires a ticket, acquiring one of which can be almost as rare as the cars themselves.

This Spanish Red B-body ’65 Plymouth Satellite is a rare breed being one of just 21convertibles built with the 365hp 426cid Wedge. The original owner ordered it with every option box checked!This Spanish Red B-body ’65 Plymouth Satellite is a rare breed being one of just 21 convertibles built with the 365hp 426cid Wedge. What muscle car collection would be complete without an iconic ’70 Plymouth Road Runner Superbird on full display. The Brothers info board says this is one of 77 built with the 425hp 426 Hemi. Today this NASCAR-inspired muscle car can easily command $500K-plus in collector circles (center). The iconic ’69 Dodge Charger Daytona is undoubtedly the wildest of muscle cars ever produced. This one is a rare bird with the 426cid Hemi backed by a TorqueFlite automatic. This car’s history says it was first owned by a drug dealer who put it in a ditch and was found dead nearby. (Photos by Bruce W. Smith)

“We open the doors to the public, for one day, four or five times a year for guests to walk the museum,” says Doug Dwyer, the mechanic, spokesperson and historian who has been looking after this world-class collection of historical automotive rolling stock for the past 17 years. ”We typically limit 2,000 tickets to each of these events, and they sell out quickly. The brothers give all of the proceeds from these events, large or small, public or private, to Oregon charities including those for First Responders and law enforcement.”

Vertical racks of 1970 Plymouth AAR ‘Cudas are on display at the back of the museum, looking more like a Hot Wheels collection than an exhibit of rare muscle cars. AAR stands for Dan Gurney’s All American Racers Trans-Am team. (Photo by Bruce W. Smith)

Each month The Brothers Collection also hosts a handful of private tours for car clubs and special events during the year. (Dwyer says to get on their notification list or to book a special tour, go to www.thebrotherscollection.com to sign up for their newsletter.)

A Walk Down Muscle Car Memory Lane

Walking the museum, which takes several hours, is a jaw-dropping experience for those who appreciate what the automotive version of the gun-slinging Wild West in its heyday.

The ’71 GTOs with the RPO332 box checked were known as The Judge (right). The 374 that went out the door were a force to reckon with having a 335hp 455 H.O. shoehorned under the hood. Of the 17 1971 convertibles built, this ultra-rare goat has the honor of being the last one built.

There are row upon row of impeccably kept, better-than-showroom-quality muscle cars parked side-by-side, on racks, perched on angled pedestals, or atop rotating mirrored displays. Each one has a sign displayed on the floor in front explaining the significance and brief history of that particular vehicle.

All of the GM brands were building muscle cars in 1970, including Buick. This GSX Stage 1 on display at the The Brothers Collection museum is one of 118 that had the four-speed backing the potent 455 cid big-block V8. The GSX option was $1,195.87. Of course, the GS ragtop at left is no slouch, either. (Photos by Bruce W. Smith)

This collection of rare ‘Cudas, Camaros, Mustangs, Fairlanes, Firebirds, Shelby Mustangs, Yenkos, GTOs, SS Chevelles and El Caminos, GSXs, Road Runners, Corvettes, Challengers and Chargers, and other muscle cars is a kaleidoscope of engineering excellence, innovation, color and performance. There are even a few famous drag race cars mixed in.

The Brothers Collection also has special sections dedicated to exotic European sports cars and an area that pays homage to Shelby’s famous AC Cobras.

A Variety Of Displays

One display that brings a smile is how the brothers presented their impressive collection of SCCA Trans-Am series Plymouth AAR ’Cuda’s (All American Racers). There are 20 AARs on a rack along the back wall, parked three-high, one above the other like a kid’s bedroom collection of Hot Wheels.

No collection is complete without an LS6 Chevelle or two, but this one has this ’67 Camaro show car, too! (Photos by Bruce W. Smith)

But what really impressed me on my first visit to this incredible Oregon muscle car museum is the scope of these rare collectibles. For example, if you are a Mopar fan, the rows and multiple displays of Plymouth and Dodge muscle cars include the first and last Hemi ’Cuda convertibles off the assembly line, plus an ultra-rare Hemi-powered Daytona.

Factory sunroofs were rare in the late 1960s and early 1970s. These two Dodges are so equipped. (Photos by Bruce W. Smith)

When it comes to GM and Ford brands, name a muscle car that rolled out of Dearborn or Detroit, The Brothers Collection has the rarest of them on display, too.

Maintenance Matters

To keep all of these classics in top shape, the brothers own an adjacent warehouse to do repairs and maintenance on an estimated 120 or so vehicles awaiting their turn to shine, says Dwyer. The museum is well sealed against dust intrusion and is a great environment for preservation purposes. The vehicles are started up to keep fluids lubricants doing their job.

Factory Duster show car. (Photo by Bruce W. Smith)

Dwyer, along with another of the two full-time employees at The Brothers Collection museum, make sure the vehicles are kept spotless — and any mechanical issues that arise, such as fuel systems and brakes, are addressed.

The Brothers’ Favorite

So which muscle car is the brothers’ favorite out of the hundreds they own? It’s the unrestored, LeMans Blue ’69 Camaro ZL1 that anchors a long display of rare Camaros near the center of the museum.

The only odd duck in the museum’s vast array of muscle cars is this Wild Plum ’72 American Motors Gremlin X with the 304cid V8 and three-speed manual. It weighed just 2,800 pounds, so its performance made it fun to drive, if not truly muscular. (Photo by Bruce W. Smith)

This beautiful ZL1 has the all-aluminum 500-plus horsepower 427 under its hood and a nicely optioned RS package. What really makes this particular car very unusual is it’s number 55 of 69 built, and only one of two ZL1s ordered with the Rally Sport package that year. The survivor car’s odometer shows a mere 7,700 miles.

Dwyer says The Brothers Collection continues to evolve and expand. ”As the years go by, the museum gets better and better examples of the muscle car era,” Dwyer said. ”This collection is constantly evolving as the brothers continue to work with private collectors and keep a close eye on auctions. Their goal: Better. Best. More unique. More rare. More historical.”

Seeing The Collection

Taking a tour of The Brothers Collection museum should be on the To-Do bucket list of anyone who has a passion for muscle cars — and America’s golden age of automotive performance and glamour.

Getting inside the museum means staying on top of what events are in the works. They send out a newsletter several times a year with the dates the doors open to the public (via ticket purchase) and a brief description of what attendees will be treated to at the Salem venue.

The A12 ’69 Road Runner with the lift-off fiberglass hood, three-deuce 440, and black steel wheels was a world beater when new. (Photo by Bruce W. Smith)

To get on the mailing list, go to www.thebrotherscollection.com and sign up. Or, check out their Instagram account (www.instagram.com/brotherscollectionmuseum/) to stay abreast of the latest news.