Life In The Fast “Lane”
It’s billed as “a hobby gone wild” but you don’t have to be an automobile enthusiast to enjoy a visit to the Lane Motor Museum.
With an emphasis on European cars, you’ll find everything from sporty and spiffy, to unique and intriguing, to bizarre and utterly ridiculous. While you’re not likely to encounter rarities with exorbitant street values, the vehicles are in great condition and almost all of them are in running order.
The spacious showroom on Murfreesboro Pike, about halfway between Downtown and Nashville International Airport, is the manifestation of founder Jeff Lane’s lifelong obsession with motor vehicles. “My dad was always into MG T series cars when I was young,” says Lane. “Those are the cars we worked on and went to MG meets around the United States. So I believe that influence is what got me interested in European cars.”
The 150 vehicles on display represent a portion of his 500-piece collection. Cars, as well as a variety of motorcycles and aircraft – are rotated in-and-out of the showroom annually to keep the display fresh for returning guests. Lane says that he has driven every car in the collection that runs, which would place the number somewhere in the 400-450 range. “I have driven many of the cars to car shows or other events,” says Lane. “People always seem to smile and many give you the thumbs up.”
According to the museum’s website, the vehicles date from the 1920s to modern day. The variety of automobiles might be the museum’s most appealing feature. In addition to sedans and roadsters there are microcars, military vehicles, prototypes and others that seem to defy description.
“I do not have a favorite as I appreciate every car for what it represents,” says Lane. When pressed for a top five he mentioned his 1955 MG TF, a 1919 Leyat (propeller-driven car), a 1967 amphicar (amphibious vehicle), a Peel p50 (the smallest production vehicle ever built) and a 1970 Lotus Elan.
Lane established the museum in 2002 on the site of the former Sunbeam Bakery at 702 Murfreesboro Pike. The main floor has approximately 40,000 square feet of open space with a high ceiling, natural light and handcrafted brick and maple wood flooring. Lane Motor Museum is suitable for all ages. Casual observers can plan to spend at least an hour in the museum while automotive enthusiasts could spend the better part of an afternoon browsing through the collection.
A pair of early twentieth century “helicars” including a 1919 French-made Leyat Helica (left).
The museum is open Thursday thru Monday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It’s closed Tuesday and Wednesday and New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Admission is $12 for adults, $8 for seniors, $3 for youth and free for children 5 and under. Parking is free. Memberships are available and the museum is available to lease for private functions.
For more information call 615.742.7445 or visit LaneMotorMuseum.org.
Lane Motor Museum founder Jeff Lane with his 1955 MG TF. Photo courtesy of Lane Motor Museum.