Lane Motor Museum is a Treasure of Unique, Fast and Tiny Automobiles
Nashville is known as Music City, USA. But I found an amazing museum that has nothing to do with music that is definitely worth visiting. The Lane Motor Museum holds a unique collection of cars, motorcycles and other vehicles that make you wonder what some engineers were thinking. The collection includes automobiles from around the world, and is actually the largest collection of European vehicles in the United States.
I’m not a car enthusiast, but I really enjoyed the demos and walking through the collection. I’m sure car enthusiasts, like my Uncle Bruce, would relish the opportunity to visit the Lane Motor Museum to explore the collection.
Here’s a rundown on what you can expect at the Lane Motor Museum.
Why Visit Lane Motor Museum?
The Lane Motor Museum isn’t your typical car museum. Instead of rows of shiny muscle cars or luxury classics, you’ll find over 150 rare and unusual vehicles on display — from microcars and amphibious vehicles to prototypes and one‑of‑a‑kind engineering experiments.
Highlights include:
- European automotive history — with a strong focus on French, Czech, and other international designs rarely seen in the U.S.
- Microcars and oddities — tiny vehicles that look like they belong in a cartoon, yet were once road‑legal.
- Amphibious and experimental vehicles — proof that car designers have never stopped dreaming big.
- Rotating special exhibits — so even repeat visitors discover something new.
If you visit before 11 a.m., you can catch some vehicle demos. I was shown a propellor-propelled car. They started it up and drive it around a little, which was pretty cool to watch. So I definitely recommend arriving before 11 a.m.
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You’ll enjoy seeing some very unique looking vehicles that make you laugh… or even cringe. They remind me of the car Homer Simpson designed in the episode, “Oh brother, where art thou?”
What to Expect Inside
The museum is housed in a former bakery, and its open floor plan makes it easy to wander from one fascinating display to the next. Vehicles are grouped by country, type, or era, giving you a chronological and cultural perspective on automotive history.
You’ll see:
- Vehicles that tell a story — from post‑war European economy cars to futuristic concept designs.
- Interactive learning opportunities — perfect for families and school groups.
- Photography‑friendly spaces — bring your camera to capture the details.
Exhibits About Cars, Race Cards, Motorcycles and More
While there are some standard exhibit areas at the Lane Motor Museum, I can’t guarantee that the cars I share in my photos are still on display when you visit. The exhibits rotate out. However, you’re likely to see collections of small cars, race cars, fast cars, and even some two-wheeled motorcycles from around the world.
You may be able to catch some three-wheeled vehicles there, too.
I felt a little claustrophobic looking at how small some of the vehicles were. I’ve yet to ride in a Mini Cooper, but some of these vehicles looked even smaller than that. Even if they could reach freeway speeds, I’m not sure I’d want to be on the road with other drivers traveling 70 mph in cars that small. But to each their own.
A Play Area for Kids and the ONLY Car You Can Touch
Young kids will definitely enjoy the Lane Motor Museum – even if they don’t appreciate the beauty of the cars on display. They have an entire area dedicated to kids playing. There’s a little Power Wheels vehicle, fake gas pumps, plenty of small cars to push around and so much more.
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The play area can easily develop a love of cars in your kids. Then, when they become teenagers, they’ll enjoy a visit to the museum that much more.
The Details
Address: 702 Murfreesboro Pike, Nashville, TN 37210
How long to spend: Plan on about 60-90 minutes to explore the museum.
Cost:Â Adults (18-64) are $15; Seniors (65+) are $10; Youth (6-17) are $3, while children 5 and under are free.
Website: https://www.lanemotormuseum.org/
Hours: Thursday through Monday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed on Monday and Tuesday.
Phone: (615) 742-7445
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