Home » Postcards from the Saratoga Automobile Museum, Saratoga Springs, NY, USA

Postcards from the Saratoga Automobile Museum, Saratoga Springs, NY, USA

Saratoga Automobile Museum - photo by Luxury Experience
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1936 Ford Phaeton - Saratoga Automobile Museum - photo by Luxury Experience

While thoroughbred horse racing is synonymous with Saratoga Springs, New York, there is also another kind of horsepower there at the Saratoga Automobile Museum. Located inside the historic brick bottling plant that was once home to the famous Saratoga Springs waters, the Museum has an excellent collection of permanent and special exhibits. If you love automobiles, this Museum will have your engine racing!

 

Saratoga Automobile Museum

We visited the Saratoga Automobile Museum on Friday, July 22, 2022, and thoroughly enjoyed seeing their diverse exhibits and permanent collections, including their "Racing in New York" exhibit. As car racing fans, we were surprised to learn that the first car race held in New York State was in 1896, with six cars competing. The race consisted of driving the roads from New York City to Irvington-on-Hudson and back. Once bitten by race fever, New York State has continued as a race destination and held the first Grand Prix in Watkins Glen in 1948, setting in motion the tradition of car racing in New York State.

1974 Carlin Black Label McLaren M16C/D  - Saratoga Automobile Museum - photo by Luxury Experience
1974 Carlin Black Lable McLaren M16C/D IndyCar

A few of the exciting race cars on display included the fire engine red 1950 Allard J2 bearing race number 98, the 1974 Carlin Black Label McLaren M16C/D IndyCar bearing race number 73 driven by David Hobbs, the 1975 Edmund’s Midget with race number 2 and listing a host of drivers, the 1979 Budweiser McLaren M24B bearing race number 4, driven by Johnny Rutherford, the 1985 STP Pontiac NASCAR driven by Richard Petty bearing the race number 43, and the Castrol Mazda bearing the race number 16 owned by Dyson Racing.

RADWOOD - Saratoga Automobile Museum - photo by Luxury Experiencery - Bridgeport, CT USA

Another enjoyable exhibit was their RADWOOD SARATOGA – A CELEBRATION OF 80’S & 90’S CARS & CULTURE, presented by RADwood & Hagerty, (which runs until October 2022). We first saw RADwood cars in 2021 and 2022 at the Greenwich Concours d’Elegance, and it seems that collectors cannot get enough of these fabulous 1980s and 1990s cars.

Bugatti EB110-GT - Saratoga Automobile Museum - photo by Luxury Experience
1994 Bugatti EB110 GT

One of the RADwood highlights at the Museum included a 1991 Calloway Corvette Speedster, which was number 3 of 10 produced, that was custom ordered by film director James Cameron (Aliens, The Terminator, Titanic, The Six, and many more). Also of interest was a 1994 Bugatti EB110 GT, which cost $350,000 at time of production. Interesting to note is that there were only 84 of these exceptional cars produced.

1991 Calloway Corvette Speedster - Saratoga Automobile Museum - photo by Luxury Experience
1991 Calloway Corvette Speedster

However, there is much more to the Museum that race cars and RADwood cars, they have a stunning collection of impressive motorcars including a 1928 Franklin Airman Series 12 Sport Sedan that was once owned by the American Aviator Charles A. Lindbergh (1902-1974)). Interesting to note about Mr. Lindbergh was that he made the first non-stop flight from New York to Paris.

1935 Ford Phaeton - Saratoga Automobile Museum - photo by Luxury Experience
1936 Ford Phaeton

Also of interest was a stunning 1936 Ford Phaeton. Interesting to note about this motorcar is that there were only 5,500 built with the special options of side-mirrors, two fog lamps, and grill guards, making it a rare find. President Roosevelt also had a 1936 Ford Phaeton.

Porsche Car Show - Saratoga Automobile Museum - photo by Luxury Experience
Porsche Car Show at Saratoga Automobile Museum

The Museum holds special events throughout the year, and we returned to the Museum on Saturday morning to see their Porsche Car Show held in their parking lot. It was a wonderful show with the proud owners displaying the beauty of the varied Porsche models and happy to discuss the features of their cars with attendees.

Racing Suits - Saratoga Automobile Museum - photo by Luxury Experience
Racing Suits

We thoroughly enjoyed our time at the Saratoga Automobile Museum admiring, and daydreaming about, their stunning vehicles. We highly recommend that you allow yourself enough time to leisurely stroll and appreciate their wonderful and diverse collection of vehicles located on two floors of the Museum, as well as visit their gift shop.

Rhody's Racing - Saratoga Automobile Museum - photo by Luxury Experience
Rhody’s Racing

Until next time, we sign our postcard, "With love from the Saratoga Automobile Museum. Keep enjoying the ride! Love, Debra and Edward"

About the Saratoga Automobile Museum

Pontiac STP Racing - Saratoga Automobile Museum - photo by Luxury Experience
Pontiac STP Racing

"The Saratoga Automobile Museum was chartered in 1999 and officially opened to the public in June 2002. The Museum’s mission is to preserve, interpret and exhibit automobiles and automotive artifacts. We celebrate the automobile and educate the general public, students, and enthusiasts to the role of the automobile in New York State and the wider world. In addition to technical and design aspects, our educational focus is on the past, present, and future social and economic impacts of the automobile.

Casterol Racing - Saratoga Automobile Museum - photo by Luxury Experience
Casterol Racing

In keeping with the Museum’s exhibits and educational programs, including the Distracted Driving Safety Initiative and various automobile restoration programs for local youth, the Museum also organizes the Saratoga Motorcar Auction, a nationally acclaimed vintage and collector car auction held each September. The Auction is the Museum’s largest annual fundraising effort.

Budweiser Racing - Saratoga Automobile Museum - photo by Luxury Experience
Budweiser Racing

The Museum is located within the 2,500-acre Saratoga Spa State Park, in the heart of historic Saratoga Springs, New York, world famous for its legendary one-mile thoroughbred track. The Museum’s facility is the fully restored and renovated New York State Bottling Plant, a beautiful neoclassical structure completed in 1935. The Museum sits adjacent to the Saratoga Performing Arts Center and the lavish Hall of Springs event facility. Within walking distance; the National Museum of Dance, the Spa Little Theatre, and the Gideon Putnam Hotel."

Debra C. Argen at Saratoga Automobile Museum - photo by Luxury Experience
Debra C. Argen – 1HP Racing

Hours and Admission

Hours: The Museum is open from January through March from Wednesday to Sunday from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm, from April to September daily from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm, and from October to December from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.

The Museum closes at 1:00 pm on Thanksgiving Eve, and is closed on New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.

Admission: Adults: $12, Senior Adults (65+): $10, Students (17+ with ID): $10, Veterans/Active Military: $10, Children (6-16 years): $10, Children (under 6 years): free, Members: free

Parking and Charging Stations: There is a large parking lot onsite as well as Livingston Energy Charge Ports. Please visit their website to download the Charge Port app to purchase a charging session.

For additional information please visit their website: https://www.saratogaautomuseum.org/

Saratoga Automobile Museum - Saratoga, NY

Saratoga Automobile Museum
110 Avenue of the Pines
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
United States
Telephone: +1-518-401-5190
Email: info@saratogaautomuseum.org
Website: https://www.saratogaautomuseum.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saratogaautomuseum/

For more features on what to do in Saratoga Springs, New York, please visit our Destinations section. Also read about theNational Museum of Racing Hall of Fame .

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