The American Heritage Museum, Hudson, MA (Collings Foundation)

[Gary_Ash]

The antique car and airplane museum owned by the Collings Foundation has evolved into the American Heritage Museum with the addition of a large collection of military vehicles.  Tanks, jeeps, planes, etc. collected by the late Jacques Littlefield have been transported from California and housed in a new building.  Some weekends, you can get trained to drive a tank and take the controls - for a price.  The museum has Sherman tanks, M24 Chaffee tanks, German tanks including a Panzer, Russian tanks, even a giant SCUD missile launcher with missile.  Lots of good history lessons, all well done.

 

The Collings antique cars and planes are still there, everything from a Bleriot monoplane to an F4F.  There are old sprint cars, midget cars, Indy cars, Brass Era cars, and some great 1930s cars.  The museum is 21 miles west of Boston in the town of Hudson, a few miles off I-495.  Check the web site for open times and events.  Be prepared to spend many hours.

 

Web site:  https://www.americanheritagemuseum.org/

 

 

White M3A1 scout car.  The roller on the front was there to help it cross ditches or trenches.

 

Midget racer powered by Studebaker Champion 6 engine.

 

1931 Studebaker President with 337 cu in straight 8 engine.

 

1928 Pierce-Arrow

 

1932 Duesenberg SJ.  This is supposed to be the car that Fred Duesenberg crashed in 1932 and later died of injuries.

 

 

 

[ericmac]

I was trying to read the plaque but couldn't see the details. As I understand it Fred Duesenberg was driving J 295 when the accident happened.  That the car may have been repaired, rebodied, and resold (it was a almost new car) would not be surprising.  Thanks for sharing the photo.

Edited July 20, 2021 by ericmac
Typo (see edit history)