Volo Auto Museum: TV Show Cars

Volo Auto Museum Features Famous Cars from Movies, TV Shows

When the Volo Auto Museum sells, it’s because it’s about to buy – maintaining an ever-changing collection that offers something new to see even for those who visit often, the museum says.

This Bugs Bunny carrot car is one of the 30-plus rare finds up for sale in an upcoming no-reserve Volo Auto Museum eBay auction.

When the Volo Auto Museum sells some of its famous TV and movie cars and other novelties this month, it won’t be because the museum is downsizing or cutting its losses.

Rather, it will be the continuation of a winning strategy that has helped the increasingly eclectic museum located in a small northern Illinois town to buck the trend that has been closing the doors of other auto museums nationwide.

When the Volo Auto Museum sells, it’s because it’s about to buy – maintaining an ever-changing collection that offers something new to see even for those who visit often, the museum says.

“While museums like Hostetler’s Hudson in Indiana, the Walter Chrysler Museum outside Detroit and the Riverside International in California have been shuttered due to dwindling interest over the last couple of years, our foot traffic has been increasing,” says Brian Grams, director of the museum. “We saw growing interest in famous or celebrity-connected cars, and we have steadily increased the number of these kinds of vehicles in our collection.”

Grams notes that roughly 25 percent of the 400 cars typically on view are film-related or have celebrity pedigrees. There’s the General Lee and the “Dark Knight” Tumbler, to name a few.

Grams said the value of film-related and screen-used cars has skyrocketed in recent years. A few years ago, he sold a “Fast and Furious” Eclipse driven by Paul Walker for $21,000.

“Today that car would bring closer to the $200,000 mark,” Grams says. “I recently sold a replica of that car for what I got for the original. Movie cars and the unusual have become increasingly attractive to collectors, but they are extremely difficult to get.”

Grams recently sold an original screen-used “Dukes of Hazzard” General Lee – one of only 17 to exist – to an overseas buyer for $225,000.

The Volo Auto Museum has developed an international reputation for being experts in the movie-car field. Because of his dedication, resources and knowledge in preserving movie-car history, Grams often is asked to help verify whether a car is an original or a knock-off.

“The auction we’re hosting is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for collectors,” Grams says. “Where else would you have a chance to bid on everything from a screen-used Tucker to a custom-built, off-road ‘Fast and Furious’ vehicle or even a Bugs Bunny carrot car?”

All are being sold to the highest bidder regardless of price. The museum’s no-reserve auction is scheduled for Sept. 19-25 on eBay. Those interested can view all items that will be auctioned at volocars.com/the-attraction/exhibits/2018-auction.

You May Also Like

Auto Care Association Leaders Visit Northwood University

Auto Care President and CEO Bill Hanvey was the guest lecturer for several Northwood automotive aftermarket courses at its Midland campus.

Bill Hanvey Auto Care Northwood

Photo caption: Bill Hanvey, president and CEO, Auto Care Association (pictured on the right), teaches an automotive aftermarket course during a recent visit to Northwood University in Midland, Michigan.

Leaders from the Auto Care Association recently visited Northwood University to meet with students enrolled in automotive aftermarket courses.

MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers Achieves UAF Gold Lifetime Trustee Status

The designation goes to “outstanding donors who significantly support the UAF’s mission.”

MEMA UAF Gold Lifetime Trustee
ASE Ed. Foundation, Auto Dealer Associations Tackle Tech Shortage

Three student competitions are currently scheduled for 2024, with more being planned.

ASE Education Foundation Auto Dealers
Northwood U Announces 2024 Class of 20 Under 40 Honorees

The program recognizes NU alumni who are ambitious professionals doing great things in their careers, organizations or communities.

Northwood University 20 Under 40
Two NexaMotion Units Expand Product Offerings, Open New Locations

Transtar Industries and C&M Auto Parts are expanding.

NexaMotion Expanding

Other Posts

GPC Reports 2023 Results, Announces Global Restructuring Program

The restructuring includes a voluntary retirement offer in the United States.

AutoPartSource/Momentum USA Receives O’Reilly’s Sales & Service Award

This is the second year in a row that O’Reilly has honored AutoPartSource/Momentum USA with the award.

Momentum USA OReilly
Kalitta Motorsports, Dayco Announce Partnership, Distributor Agreement

Dayco will have branding on J.R. Todd’s DHL GR Supra funny car, and Kalitta is the exclusive at-track distributor of Dayco 11-mm racing blower belts for nitro engines.

Dayco Kalitta