Sunday at the Lane Motor Museum

On Sunday, I took Niki, Charlotte, and Peter to one of my favorite places -- the Lane Motor Museum.  It is located in an old bakery, and it contains about 150 really unique, odd European cars and motorcycles.  I love this place.  Most of the cars are drivable, and it is clear that the cars are affectionately cared for by true car guys.

We parked in a garage outside, which was filled with random vehicles to gawk at even before you go inside and pay the admission fee.  This is an UltraVan -- a motorhome made out of a Corvair.  Niki contemplated the rig while Charlotte and Peter went in search of "baby cars."

Peter:  Look!  A baby car!

Inside the museum.

The museum has a GREAT kids play place on a raised platform in the middle of the floor.  Niki really wants one of these little gas pumps for the play room.

Niki pretending to fill up an electric car with gasoline.  This is why we will not be buying a Nissan Leaf.

Charlotte found a rocking car.

In 1948, Hans Berger made this rocket-powered car for his daughter, Heidi to drive in races.  Read that again.  Some father made a ROCKET-POWERED CAR FOR HIS DAUGHTER.  According to the write-up on the car, there was no way to control the thrust.  You simply lit the rocket and held on.

The museum provided a Citroen 2CV that people could climb into.  Charlotte was tickled to sit in the front while I sat in the back.  Unfortunately, after Niki took this picture and wandered off after Peter, I realized that I couldn't figure out how to open the door again and had to yell for help.  Finally, a nice staff guy let us out.

Why had Niki wandered off?  Peter had slid into this BMW Isetta (NOT a car you were supposed to sit in), and Niki had to lure him out.

Charlotte took this picture of this baby Subaru.

She also took a picture of me and this Audi 4000. 

Apparently, this is the appropriate pose for a Renault Alpine.

 Charlotte and I liked this ski/propeller car.  Can we really call this a car?

I think this is the Tatra that Spike, Grandpa Chuck, and I rode in the first time we went to the Lane Motor Museum.  Did I mention that they give rides every once in a while?

Charlotte and a 2011 Dallara (IndyCar).

To get an idea of how big those IndyCars are - here is the Dallara next to a MG Midget race car.

 Me and a Triumph Spitfire.  I didn't see any TR7 or TR8s there.

 Charlotte and an old Stringer family favorite - an Amphicar.

Seeing the dual props on these cars always gives me a kick.

Incidentally, GrandDad and NanaB sent us this photo of an Amphicar they actually saw in the water in Leland, MI this weekend.

Charlotte spent a little time trying to figure out which side was the front.

The Lane Motor Museum is full of the weird and the wonderful.  This MGTF is wonderful.

Here is an old VW with a primitive cooling unit.

 I have always loved the Jag XKE dashboard.

I love the Lane Motor Museum.  I hope to get back soon.  Hopefully on July 14, 2012, when the good folks at the Lane are planning to fire this up and crush stuff in the parking lot:

Niki is not quite as excited as I am for that event.