About the Museum
About the Museum
The Ames Automotive Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation located in southwest New Hampshire organized and operated for charitable, educational, historic, and scientific purposes to educate the public about low-mileage, original, untouched American cars.
We explain manufacturing processes in light of world events. The stock market crash caused many automobile manufacturers to go out of business. World War II halted all vehicle production as manufacturers contributed to the war effort. The Korean War put restrictions on the materials that the manufacturers had been using in large quantities such as nickel and chrome.
The '50s brought on a style and engine evolution which continued into the "muscle car" era of the '60s and early '70s.
The oil embargo of 1973 ushered in a time when oil conservation and concerns of air pollution forced American manufacturers to comply with federal fuel economy and emission control standards. Many cars continued to get bigger while horsepower numbers dropped to lower emissions and increase fuel economy. The cars of today use fuel injection and computer controls to produce fewer emissions, better fuel economy, and more horsepower.
Most cars on display are in untouched, original condition and are very rare. They show the difficult constraints that our forefathers worked under on moving assembly lines to build these vehicles.
These cars, and their stories, have been preserved with ultimate care and are selected according to their condition and/or available history. They are stored in a climate-controlled facility with no UV light and fans constantly moving the air.
Please continue reading Our Founder’s Story to learn more about the visionary who brought this rich history together.
