In 1964, Bill Snook & son Jeff began collecting and restoring automobiles as well as auto memorabilia. For decades they housed these vintage vehicles in private storage and in 1999 they conceived the idea of opening an auto museum with a goal to sharing them with the public. These vehicles, each in immaculate condition, now find a home in Snook’s Dream Cars, a must-see area attraction.
The museum, which opened in 2002, has been delighting the residents of Northwest Ohio for nearly a decade, offering a wide selection of cars from decades past, while immersing the viewer in a unique atmosphere that captures the essence of this since-forgotten period of automotive culture.
The showroom, the site’s main attraction, houses over 25 cars, ranging from rumble-seat coupes from the 1930s to 1960s era sprint racers, with each and every one of them kept in running condition. And this selection of vehicles is ever-changing, as new cars are continuously being added to the showroom.
Yet despite the museum’s focus on showcasing automobiles from the ‘60s and earlier, the showroom does not fail to impress with the vast diversity contained in this collection. In one section, the museum showcases a fair number of race cars such as a 1956 Lotus Eleven. However, there is also a selection of classically elegant sedans and coupes, providing viewers with the opportunity to see the cars that roamed the roads of years past. The museum even features a collection of military vehicles. Overall, if one is even remotely interested in automobiles, chances are there’s going to be at least one exhibit that catches the eye.
The museum, designed by Bowling Green architect Fred Arn, is as aesthetic and vintage as the vehicles themselves. Snook has modeled the museum to evoke the same nostalgia that the historic cars bring. Every single detail, from the design to the décor, pays homage to early 20th century automotive culture. In fact, if it wasn’t for the “Snook’s Dream Cars” logo visible outside the building, one might easily mistake the museum for a 1940s era Texaco gas station. The design also carries over to the interior, with walls lined floor-to-ceiling with artifacts such as classic license plates, posters, dealer signs, and Texaco promotional merchandise. The music only seeks to solidify the experience, with the best rock-and-roll the 1950s had to offer running through the museum’s PA system. All in all, the museum has a unique charm that seeks to capture the essence of classic Americana design and sensibilities.
Apart from the showroom, the museum also contains a four bay garage dedicated to the repair and restoration of Snook’s vehicles. It is in this garage that they also work on other’s classic cars to be displayed alongside the many other pieces of history in Snook’s collection.
Snook’s Dream Cars Automobile Museum
13920 County Home Road Bowling Green, Ohio 43402
419-353-8338
www.snooksdreamcars.com
Hours of operation
Monday – Friday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Admission: $6
Banquet Facility
Parties & Receptions, Car Repair, Car Sales, Car Storage, Souvenir Shop, Discounted Group Rates
