Nethercutt Collection

In 1956, J.B. Nethercutt (1913–2004), the cofounder of Merle Norman Cosmetics, purchased two cars: a 1936 Duesenberg Convertible Roadster and a 1930 DuPont Town Car, needing refurbishing. The DuPont restoration, which Nethercutt thought would take a few weeks, instead took 18 months and over $65,000. By 1958, his rebuilt project claimed its first prize — the coveted “Best of Show” award at the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in California.[9]

In 1971, The Nethercutt Collection building was constructed, a 10-story tall tower in Sylmar, Los Angeles connected to a Merle Norman manufacturing plant, dubbed the "The Tower of Beauty."[10] The first two stories of the tower; the Lower and Grand Salon, feature the most expensive vehicle collection of the family, with the Grand Salon being inspired after 1920s-30s New York City luxury car grand showrooms.[11] The third story features an awards room and collection of hood ornaments.[12] The fourth story consists of a music room with several large antique music boxes and player pianos, with a Wurlitzer theatre organ in the centerpiece of the room. The fourth floor also features a Louis XV styled dining room and a large kitchen.[13] The fifth floor has a theatre which includes a 24 karat gold proscenium arch next to a massive room of pianos. There was a 6th floor penthouse which J.B. used as his secondary residence.[10]

In the early 2000s, the Collection expanded and constructed a new display building directly across the street which was separately called the Nethercutt Museum. The building also contains the Nethercutt Automotive Research Library and Archive, which is considered one of the greatest in the world.[14][15] In comparison with the Collection which requires reserved guided tours, the newer Nethercutt Museum is openly self-guided.[7] Outside of the Museum contains a CPR steam locomotive Royal Hudson No. 2839 is presented together with a 1912 Pullman Private Car.[16]

After J.B. Nethercutt's death in 2004, the collection was handed down to his son Jack Nethercutt II along with his wife, Helen Nethercutt.[17] The collection had a budget of around $2.5 million a year.[1]

From 2008 to 2010 the Nethercutt Collection's vehicles served as the transport of the Grand Marshals of the Rose Parade, including Emeril Lagasse, Cloris Leachman, and Chesley Sullenberger.[18] In 2011, Merle Norman Cosmetics and OPI Products styled its Hussy perfume and lipstick line after the Collection's distinctively red "Hussy" 1934 Packard LeBaron Sport Phaeton, which is nicknamed after John Hussey.[19][20]

From 2020 to 2021 the collection was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[21]

The Nethercutt Collection has over 250 prestigious, antique, and exotic vehicles, notably including from Aston Martin, Austin-Healey, Bentley, Bugatti, Cadillac, Duesenberg, Ferrari, Lincoln, Maybach, Mercedes-Benz, Rolls-Royce and others.[22]

Notably the Collection's custom 1933 Duesenberg Model SJ dubbed the “Twenty Grand,” was a key display at the 1933 Chicago World's Fair. Its one-off design by Gordon Buehrig is considered to be the most beautiful Duesenberg built and is one of the most valuable cars in the world, worth over $30 million today.[23][24][25]

The Collection hosts silent film screenings in the music room, using the Wurlitzer theatre pipe organ, which is the largest theatre organ in the Western United States.[26][27][28] The Collection also hosts organ concerts and occasional live orchestras in the 5th story theater.[29]

Every year until his death, J.B. Nethercutt would take dozens of cars from the Collection with family, friends, and invited guests on a cruise through the hills to a picnic at Frazier Park with catered foods from the professional chefs at the Collection. The event was one of the most exclusive items on any car lovers wish list as Autoweek magazine described it, "You can be as rich as Bill Gates or have a collection as big as that of the Sultan of Brunei, but you don't get a personal invitation from J.B. Nethercutt himself."[30]

The Nethercutt Collection team and family competes in several prestigious concours d'Elegance auto shows nationwide. The collection has won several dozen of awards since its foundation, notably including 5 best of show titles at the pinnacle Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in 1958, 1959, 1969, 1970, and 1990 and at the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance, winning in 2005, 2007, 2011, 2013, and 2016, both more than any other individual.[31][32][33]

The Collection most recently won the inaugural Las Vegas Concours d'Elegance in 2019 with their 1931 Bugatti Type 51 coupe.[34]

The Royal Hudson steam locomotive No. 2839 appeared in the 1980 Coal Miner's Daughter film, which won an Academy Award.[35][36]

The 1949 film The Great Gatsby featured the 1936 Duesenberg SJN now owned by the Collection.[37]

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  Tower of Beauty
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  Back view of the museum and collection complex
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  Grand salon view 1
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  Grand salon view 2
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  4th floor Music Room
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  Mighty Wurlitzer theatre organ
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  Portion of the Wurlizer pipe organs
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  Louis XV dining room
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  Museum display
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  Cars in the museum
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  Outside display with Royal Hudson and Pullman Car
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  One of the Collection's storage rooms with an Aston Martin DB9

• List of music museums
• List of automobile museums

• Media related to Nethercutt Collection at Wikimedia Commons
• Official website