Heritage Car Collections Whet Enthusiast Appetites, Provide Inspiration

The cars of today inspire the cars of tomorrow. To remember their roots, and whet enthusiast appetite, most automakers hold on to a few (or more) significant models as part of their heritage collection.

These vehicles are in a variety of conditions: caked in mud from a Baja experience, fresh off the assembly line, autographed by rock n' roll royalty and restored to near-mint condition.

Bentley, Nissan, and Honda are among the brands that have extensive collections. Honda's has been around for 24 years, spanning the entire history of the company. Nissan's North American collection contains mostly modern models. The Bentley Heritage Collection, spanning the company's 103-year history, was recently rehoused at its headquarters in Crewe, England.

Automakers bring the vehicles out to auto shows, events, and gatherings, but most of the time they sit unused on display. Except Bentley's, which is kept in running order and driven at least once per month.

Honda

Honda entrusts a full-time museum staff to tend to its collection of over 300 vehicles. They're housed at Honda Collection Hall, two hours north of Tokyo, Japan at Mobility Resort Motegi, a site that also includes a race track. The three-floor museum opened in 1998 and includes a bit of everything that Honda has ever offered, from bicycle motors to Formula 1 cars.

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The first floor has a lobby and souvenir shop, as well as some of its best racing bikes, along with a restaurant and some historical exhibits. Its second floor explores the history of Honda's road cars and motorcycles, along with its power equipment. In addition to vehicles Honda has been building lawn equipment, marine engines, power generators, ATVs and personal watercraft for decades.

The third floor is dedicated to Honda's motorsports history, of which it has a lot, both on two wheels and four. In total it owns 51 World Championships in motorcycle and auto race series. The one side of the building is just for motorcycles, including its race-winning off-road models. The other side is for its open-wheel and grand touring race cars from its entrance into the highest level of racing in 1965 until today.

Nissan

Nissan's North American collection is tended to by a group of volunteers save for two Nissan North America communications team members, Jonathan Buhler and Dan Passe. Housed in the basement of the Lane Motor Museum, the collection consists of approximately 88 vehicles, all U.S. specification models.

Nissan houses a much more comprehensive collection of heritage models at its Zama Heritage Car Garage in Japan.

Included in the North American collection's 88 models are a version of every generation of Z car - from the 240 to an original 700-mile 1980 anniversary edition, 800-mile 1996 300ZX, 40th and 50th Anniversary cars, and one of the prototype new Zs that was part of the debut in August 2021 in New York City, even the "pre-Z" sports cars – an original Fairlady and a never-sold 1600 Roadster.

There's also the first vehicle ever built at Nissan's Smyrna, Tennessee plant - a 1983 Nissan 720 pickup truck, as well as the first versions of vehicles imported to the U.S. like the 220 pickup and 1200 sedan. The unrestored Brock Racing Enterprises (BRE) #46 Datsun 510, which won the 1971 and 1972 SCCA championships is kept in running conditions.

Nissan's premium brand Infiniti is also part of the collection, with an original Q45, M30 (coupe and convertible), J30 and Project 9 and 10 concept vehicles being preserved.

"The most exciting part about our collection is the emotion it brings out in those who visit the collection (or see one of our cars at an event)," Passe told Newsweek. "So many people have so many happy memories of their Nissans and Infinitis – and our vehicles represent what they remember. As volunteers we get paid in stories and smiles, and judging from the reactions we've gotten, we're on track to exceed expectations for this year (and every year to be honest)."

Bentley

The home of Bentley is now home to many Bentleys, historic models that have passed through its doors at one time or another, fresh off the assembly line over the company's century of craftsmanship. There are race cars and road cars, including some highly valued members of automobile history that were owned by company founder W.O. Bentley, like the second Blower ever built.

The architecturally refreshed CW1 House, a circa 1938 former office building, showcases 22 of the 42-car-strong Bentley Heritage Collection, which focuses on 1919 and onwards models. It will eventually feature members of the fleet built in Crewe, the third home Bentley has had over its lifetime (North London and Darby are the others).

This is the first time every member of Bentley's Heritage Collection has been housed at the Bentley campus.

Over the last 18 months, Bentley has significantly expanded its roster of heritage models, purchasing some vehicles to plug gaps in the collection. The last gap was a Mulliner-built drophead S2. A Bentley Arnage, complete with a twin-turbocharged 6.75-liter engine, is the least expensive purchase in the collection, with the company purchasing it for around £30,000.

"Having now rebuilt the Collection to fully chart our history, we have an ongoing commitment to add to it with each significant new model we launch. For example, the Collection now includes the 2019 Bentayga Hybrid, which was both the first-ever plug-in hybrid Bentley and an important step in our 'Beyond100' strategy towards electrification," said Mike Sayer, Head of Bentley's Heritage Collection, in a press release earlier this year.

"As we continue to evolve, we want our guests and colleagues from all areas of the company to be able to share the rich history of Bentley Motors. The Heritage Garage brings that history to vivid life, and means we can actively reference our past while setting the course for our future."