The building was formerly an active Raytheon missile manufacturing facility.
The collection is intentionally displayed without velvet ropes or barriers to allow 360-degree inspection.
The museum uses a 'black box' lighting strategy to minimize reflections on vehicle surfaces.
The collection includes a dedicated 'Fin Car' exhibit focusing on the extravagant tail-fin designs of the late 1950s.
Several vehicles in the collection, such as the 1965 Shelby Cobra, are rare examples of high-performance racing history.
The museum floor space covers approximately 75,000 square feet.
All vehicles in the museum are kept in running condition and are periodically driven.
The exhibit includes a collection of Mid-Century Modern furniture to complement the automotive design eras of the vehicles.
The Newport Car Museum is located in a former missile manufacturing building in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, housing a private collection of over 95 automobiles. The collection is arranged chronologically and by category, spanning from the 1950s to the present day. Exhibits include distinct galleries dedicated to Ford/Shelby, Corvettes, World Cars, Porsches, and Fin Cars. The facility emphasizes an art-gallery aesthetic, featuring polished concrete floors, black walls, and professional lighting to showcase the vehicle designs. Unlike traditional museums, the cars are displayed without stanchions or barriers, allowing for up-close viewing of the interiors and mechanical details. The collection includes significant racing history and rare automotive milestones. It serves as a permanent home for the collection of Gunther and Maggie Buerman. The museum is climate-controlled to preserve the integrity of the vintage paint and upholstery.
The Ford/Shelby gallery, where the lighting highlights the classic racing stripes and curves of the vehicles.
Download the museum app before arriving for self-guided audio information.
Plan to spend time reading the detailed placards, which provide deep technical and historical context for each car.
The museum is fully accessible and stroller-friendly due to the large, open floor plan.
Do not rush through the galleries; the historical information provided on individual car cards is significant to the experience.
Closed on Mondays.
Do not touch the vehicles; photography is encouraged but tripods are generally restricted.
