Visit the San Diego Automotive Museum at Balboa Park

I’m not a car buff. I recognize names of fancy cars, like Ferrari, Corvette, Lamborghini and Alfa Romeo. But I can’t tell you what’s under the hood or even the make and model of a car based on what the tire looks like. I’ve got a friend who can, but that’s just not me. That said, it didn’t make my visit to the San Diego Automotive Museum any less interesting.

The museum houses fast cars, vintage cars, motorcycles and even a car that’s been known to travel through time when traveling 88 mph. If you’re looking for a great place to explore spend some time learning about cars, here’s a rundown on what you can expect at the San Diego Automotive Museum.

Directions and Tickets to the San Diego Automotive Museum

Tickets to the San Diego Automotive Museum can be purchased online in advance of your visit. You don’t need to pick a date and time to visit, but you will need to visit the museum within a week of purchasing your ticket online. If you do purchase them online, be sure to printout the tickets or do a screenshot on your phone so you can present them at the ticket counter.

If your plan is to purchase them onsite, you can do so when you arrive.

There are a few ticket pricing categories, depending on age (prices listed as of Feb 2023):

• Adults (18-64): $15.25
• Seniors (65+), Military (with ID) and students (with ID): $11.50
• Youth (4-17): $10.

The San Diego Automotive Museum is located in the southwest corner of Balboa Park. There’s plenty of parking within a short walk of the museum entrance, and there’s no fee to park there.

If you’re interested in connecting with other car enthusiasts, they host a Cars and Coffee event on the 3^rd Sunday of almost every month. Car folks can show off their car (custom, classic, sports, etc.), while the museum supplies free coffee and donuts (while supplies last).

Sports Cars at the Museum

If fast cars are your thing, then you’re gonna love the San Diego Automotive Museum. Just feet from the museum entrance are the sports cars you see in the photo above. I knew my friend loves Corvettes, so I sent him a text with the photo above. He then asked if the car to the right was a Lamborghini Countach. He was able to correctly identify that car based solely on the rear wheel. Could you?

I don’t know the names of all the sports cars on display at the museum, but here’s a list of a few that I consider to be sports cars (i.e., they drive fast):

• 1969 Lamborghini Islero S
• 1962 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible
• 1978 Chevrolet Camaro Z28
• 1982 Lamborghini Countach LP5000S

There are several other cars they have in storage, because there isn’t enough room for all their vehicles to be on display.

Motorcycles Throughout the Years

If motorcycles are more your mode of transportation, then you’ll want to visit the two areas dedicated to the two-wheeled vehicles. The area near the front of the museum focuses on the history of the Indian motorcycle. These vehicles were designed in 1901 as a motorized bicycle known as a motocycle. The panels nearby share the history of the Indian Motorcycle Company.

Nearby this exhibit is information about a few famous people who favored the motorcycle. Evel Knievel’s bike that was used in the 1977 film Viva Knievel is on display. Unlike typical bikes, this one has a custom fiberglass fairing with wings, a rocket shaped exhaust, and an upright tail fin.

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Actor Steve McQueen’s display sits right next to Knievel’s. Take a moment to read his history with motorcycles.

In the back of the museum is a row of international motorcycles. Some of those include:

• 1910 FN, Fabrique Nationale de Herstal – Belgium
• 1935 Rudge, “Ulster Grand Prix” – United Kingdom
• 1966 Bultaco, MK2 Matador – Spain
• 2004 Honda RC51 SP2, Nicky Hayden Special Edition – Japan

Vintage Cars and “Unpopular” Cars on Display

Cars have come a long way since the Model T in 1908. And looking at some of the features from the early vehicles are fun to share with kids. For example, I can only imagine how bumpy car rides would’ve been with tires like what you see in the car above. Even with the shocks, I’m sure every pothole was a jolt to the kidney. 😉

Here are some of the vintage cars on display:

• 1913 Cadillac Model 30 5-Passenger Touring Car
• 1927 Ford Model T “Radical Kustom”
• 1931 Ford Model A Deluxe Roadster (Plank Road)

There’s currently a special exhibit featuring cars (which ends March 26, 2023) that I don’t think would typically be found in an automotive museum. The exhibit area – Unpopular Mechanics – is rightly named and features some of these vehicles:

• 1936 Chrysler Imperial Series C-11
• 1959 Ford Edsel Ranger 2-Door Hardtop
• 1975 AMC Gremlin X Levi’s Edition
• 2001 Pontiac Aztek

Have you ever driven any of those vehicles?

Engage in the Kids Area with Games and Activities

If you’ve got kids with you, then you’ll definitely want to dedicate some time to the kids area. There are several activities that kids – and even adults like me – will enjoy.

I gravitated to the arcade games and was super excited to see that no quarters were required. I just hit the start button and then used my killer driving skills to make it through the course to the finish line. I’ll admit, it was challenging to grab a selfie while driving, but I’ve got mad skills. 😉

There’s also a race car simulator (though it’s not in the kids area) that those age 15+ can try out.

If you’ve ever been involved in a Pinewood Derby, then grab one of the small cars and place it at the top of the track. When you have all the cars lined up, lower the start gate and hope your car crosses the finish line first.

There’s also a great photo opp with a race car that’s only for kids. I chuckled a little at the sign that said “Not for adults”. 😉

A Unique Car that can Drive the Distance… Non-stop

When I checked in at the front desk, I asked for a few pointers. They specifically mentioned I check out Louie Mattar’s Fabulous Cadillac. I had never heard of it before, but was pretty impressed when I was able to see what made this car so fabulous. It was a car that could drive 7,000+ miles without stopping. No stops for gas, oil changes, new tires… nothing.

Louie had spent $75,000 to build a car that could accommodate the normal maintenance pieces, but without ever having to stop. When the car was complete, he drove it more than 6,000 miles without ever stopping. On a second run, he drove 7,000 miles from Alaska to Mexico City without any stops. That’s crazy!

There was a video playing near the exhibit that showed how they changed a tire without stopping. Inside the car you could see an ironing board so the occupants could drive in style with wrinkle-free clothes. There was even a shower so the passengers could stay clean on the trip. It was quite the car, and an engineering feat!

The Details

Address: 2080 Pan American Plaza, San Diego, CA 92101 (Balboa Park)

How long to spend: About an hour

Cost: Adults (18-64) tickets are $15.25. Seniors (65+), Military (with ID) and students (with ID) are $11.50, while youth (4-17) are $10.

Hours: Open Tuesday-Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed on most Mondays.

Website: https://sdautomuseum.org/

Phone: (619) 231-2886

DISCLOSURE: I received one complimentary admission ticket for the San Diego Automotive Museum for the purpose of review. All opinions are my own.

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