I often find that the automotive museums I’m most interested in have more than just vehicles on display. In the case of Stahls Automotive Foundation in Chesterfield, Michigan, the vintage music players set this museum apart.
Not only is there a big room full of these old music players that are more advanced than just a regular piano player and well over 100 years old. But there are also huge pieces of musical equipment the size of a large room plumbed into the central part of the museum and surrounded by unique vehicles.
The engineering that went into these musical masterpieces is astonishing and makes perfect sense to be on display in their current setting, along with automotive engineering masterpieces.
As for the vehicles on display, Stahls Automotive Foundation is where you will see some rare cars, including a Chrysler Turbine and the Tucker that used to be on display at a museum in Stone Mountain, Georgia.
The Stone Mountain Museum was the automotive museum in Georgia everyone knew, with an impressive collection. The museum was the private collection of Tommy Protsman and his son Bobby. The museum was open from 1963 until 2009, when everything went to auction, and Stahls was able to add the Tucker to their collection.
Ted Stahl privately owns the collection on display at Stahls Automotive Foundation. You have likely seen his work at pretty much any sporting event, enabling him to accumulate such a fantastic collection.
However, Terri Coppens manages the collection and organizes the days the museum is open to the public. Although the museum is open to the public, the visitation hours are limited. I highly recommend you visit the Stahls Automotive Foundation. But you’ll want to plan accordingly and make sure you can stop by during their regular visiting hours, Tuesdays from 1 am to 4 pm. Or the first Saturday of each month, 11 am to 4 pm.
Sean Mathis, Founder, Miles Through Time Automotive Museum
