Volo Auto Museum, Volo, Illinois (IL)

USA, North America

Last modified:

February 24, 2023

Added:

September 11, 2019

General information

The Volo Auto Museum is an all-day, 35-acre, destination the entire family can enjoy, even for those who aren’t car lovers. The attraction consists of over 33 unique exhibits, some that can’t be found anywhere else in the world! While some museums focus on one particular item, like cars or motorcycles, the Volo Auto Museum takes pride in offering a variety to keep the interest of all our guests. Our visitors are able to enjoy displays that span from a Military Jet to the Little Mermaid along with our 400-car collection that features special interest cars from the 1900’s and up to the most famous in TV and Movie History. With an on-site pizza parlor and mini-theaters, it’s easy to spend a full day taking everything in. The Museum is open year-round and weather proof with climate controlled buildings. The Museum is also the focus of the History Channels TV series “Volo, House of Cars”.

In 1960 the Grams family purchased this property, which at the time was a 110-year-old, non-operating, dairy farm. The vision was to live in the old farm house and convert the dilapidated barn into a resale shop. It was the teenage sons Greg and Bill who had an interest in cars. With no money, and for a hobby, the brothers would scour the area looking for old cars the local farmers put out to the pasture. In their free-time, after working the family business, the brothers would stay up late wrenching on their latest finds.

Even though their collection was nothing more than a dozen or so unrestored cars, the brothers started attracting attention from people, specifically the attention of their soon to be first customer. Even though none of their cars were for sale, that didn’t stop a man from making an offer on a car he had his eye on, an offer they decided to take. The brothers realized there was money to be made in old cars and it was that event that lead to the brothers starting their business “Volo Auto Museum”.

Over the decades, the museum has evolved from a single pole barn with a gravel floor, no heat or plumbing, to the 35-acre attraction you see today. Because of the Grams family’s passion and hard work, it has become a destination for half a million visitors annually from all corners of the world and the leader in collector car sales.

The Volo Auto Museum is a privately funded, for-profit business; therefore, they do not receive state or federal funding nor are they eligible for any tax relief. The museum’s collections are only able to exist and grow because of the Grams family’s commitment to reinvest any profits back into the museum rather than to be used for personal gain.

The museum currently has 3 generations of Grams family members running and operating the business and they look forward to their future generations continuing with the family tradition.

 

The Duesenberg room has over 10 cars BUT, they are Duesenberg II that were produced from 1978 and about 20 years by Wisconsin-based Elite Heritage company. They are very well made but not the real thing.

 

1934 FORD
Bonnie and Clyde This is the car that toured during the 1930’s and thru the 1950’s as the actual Bonnie and Clyde Death Car.

 

Image by: Sporst

Number of exhibited items at Volo Auto Museum

Cars & Automotive: 51-100, Car Inventory link
Planes & Helicopters: 1-25
Motorcycles & Bikes: 26-50
Trains: 1-10

Find out the Opening Hours, Current Theme Exhibitions, Ticket Fees, Contact Details, and more.

Other Services and Facilities

Guided Tours, Restaurant / Café / Bar, Shop / Merchandising / On-line Shop

 

Map Directions to Volo Auto Museum

Address: Volo 27582 Village Road, 60073, Volo, Illinois (IL), USA, North America
Coordinates: 42.326632, -88.172598

Overview map

Disclaimer

Note: This information was accurate February, 2023 when it was published/updated, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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