Nethercut Collection
Written by Keith Fudge

Located in Sylmar , California is a great tribute to the classic autos of the past: The Nethercutt Collection. According to the organization's web site, “The Nethercutt Collection is a world-class treasure house of prize-winning automobiles, automobilia, mechanical musical instruments, and antique furniture. The heart of this ‘functional fine art' collection contains over 200 meticulously restored American and European automobiles dating from 1892 to 1982. It is dedicated to the acquisition, preservation, perpetuation, and exhibition of historically important vehicles and memorabilia for public viewing and education.” Other information on the web site states that the collection is housed in two separate buildings (at the same location) that span 60,000 square feet and includes a restoration facility and one of the world's top automotive research libraries. In addition, the collection and library are open to the public free of charge! After he arrived, Dennis met with the President of the collection, Mike Regalia. He proceeded to offer a little more insight into the beginnings and significance of the collection.

Mike said that Mr. J.B. Nethercutt and his wife Dorothy started the collection in 1956. Mr. Nethercutt was the co-founder of Merle Norman Cosmetics, and when he became successful enough, he and his wife wanted to collect the cars that they had loved when they were growing up. The first car that he purchased was a 1936 SJN Duesenberg. While returning from that purchase, he spotted a 1930 DuPont Town Car that was in need of restoration. Little did Mr. Nethercutt realize that it would take about eighteen months and $65,000 dollars to put the DuPont back into shape! Mike went on to tell Dennis that all the cars in this collection are restored in-house. To display them, Mr. Nethercutt designed the awesome facility that they are standing in. This building is referred to as the Grand Salon, and it is all that and much more. Mike said that Mr. Nethercutt built this facility to be the type of great “showroom” that someone would find in the glory days of these autos in some of the finest cities in the world. Next, Mike offered to show Dennis some of these exquisite autos, and you know Dennis, he wasn't about to refuse!

The first car that Mike walked toward was the car that started it all: the 1936 SJN Duesenberg. Mike said that the car had been sold to car collector Bill Harrah in the 1960s and was then re-purchased by the collection in 1984 or 1985. Next, Mike took Dennis to see a stunning automobile, a 1932 Maybach Zeppelin DS8. This German wonder was truly the car of its time, as Mike made the analogy that it was “the Rolls Royce of German cars.” Powered by an eight-liter, V-12 engine that made 200 horsepower, the car was named the Zeppelin because this company also made the engines for German airships. Mike said that the company produced approximately 200 cars in a decade and that there are only six or so eight-liter cars that have survived. While the exterior of the car was flawless (including what was underneath the hood), the interior was also a sight to behold. Covered in rich leather and accented with burled walnut, this car had to be the king of its day. The car also sports a remarkably advanced transmission with eight forward speeds. Mike went on to tell Dennis that in 1995, this car won 1 st in Class at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, but did not win Best in Show because of a fuel pump problem that prevented it from being driven. Speaking of the world-famous Pebble Beach event, the Nethercutt Collection has turned out six automobiles that have taken home the coveted Best in Show award.

Next, it was time to see where these remarkable autos were restored to their glory. Mike then escorted Dennis through the restoration shop, where Dennis witnessed the recreation of such unique parts as the gearbox for a 1930 Ruxton. He also saw a “New England Butt Braider,” a device once used to make shoelaces but is currently used at this facility to create wiring harnesses for these fine cars. Next, a walk through the metal shop revealed cars that would soon be ready for display at Pebble Beach . Dennis watched the craftsmen as they shaped sheet metal and worked on the restoration of some amazing vehicles.

At last the time came to take one of these magnificent cars for a drive. Mike had been kind enough to arrange a cruise in the 1932 Maybach that we had seen earlier. Watching as Mike and Dennis rode in this stunning vehicle was like stepping back in time. As they drove, Mike told Dennis that the restoration on this car had taken approximately thirty months. Finally, Dennis got the chance to get behind the wheel and take this legendary vehicle for a spin, and we could tell by the look on his face that it was truly a thrill.

If you would like to learn more about the Nethercutt Collection, visit them on the web at www.nethercuttcollection.org . You'll be glad that you did. That's it from sunny California , so until our next visit, remember; “Honor the timeless classics. Happy Motoring!”