Founded in 1971 in Sylmar by Merle Norman Cosmetics co-founder J.B. Nethercutt, this private museum complex grew from his restoration of two classic cars in the 1950s, including a DuPont that won Best of Show at Pebble Beach in 1958. It now holds more than 250 antique, luxury, and exotic automobiles, along with mechanical musical instruments, antique furnishings, watches, and a major automotive research library. Expanded in 2000, the complex includes both display and restoration facilities, keeps nearly all vehicles operable, and has earned extraordinary concours success, making it a leading center for automotive preservation in Southern California.