Take a look at the star cars of America’s National Historic Vehicle Register (2024)

A moving history of automotive achievement

The National Historic Vehicle Register celebrates and records the cars and trucks acknowledged to have played a significant part in American life.

The Register now includes 34 vehicles, all entered into the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Historic American Engineering Record (HAER).

Read on to discover which vehicles have been recognized as being so important.

Just what is the National Historic Vehicle Register

The National Historic Vehicle Register aims to document the most historically important cars, trucks and motorcycles. It was created as a collaboration between classic car insurance giant Hagerty and the U.S. Department of the Interior. Selected cars are listed in the Library of Congress, too.

The vehicles do not necessarily need to be American to be included on the register. However, they do need to have made an impact on U.S. history.

Specific criteria include being associated with a famous individual, being associated with a famous event, being of unique construction, or having informational value that makes them important.

1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe Prototype

First to be added to the register in January 2014 was a car which easily ticked all four inclusion criteria boxes. Created by legendary performance car builder Carroll Shelby, and designed by Peter Brock, CSX2287 was the first Daytona Coupe to be produced in January 1964.

Powered by a Ford V-8 engine producing 375 hp, CSX2287 was capable of over 180 mph. This made it perfect for competing in the FIA International Manufacturers GT Championship, taking in key races like the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The abilities of the Daytona Coupe were demonstrated in 1965, when Shelby American took first place in the FIA International Manufacturers’ GT Championship. This marked the first time an American team had won an FIA-sanctioned international series.

1964 Meyers Manx ‘Old Red’

The Meyers Manx has obvious significance to car culture, and this level of importance saw it added to the National Historic Vehicle Register in 2014. This was the dune buggy that thousands would imitate afterwards.

The buggy known as ‘Old Red’ was the first prototype created by the late Bruce Meyers. He owned the dune buggy until 1984, and saw it returned to him in 1996. Old Red remained with him until his death, with its inclusion on the National Historic Vehicle Register ensuring both it, and Bruce’s work, are remembered.

All cars on the register undergo an extensive documentation process by the Historic Vehicle Association, including detailed photography, scale drawings, and a written report. This information is archived in the US Library of Congress to ensure its preservation.

1938 Maserati 8CTF ‘The Boyle Special’

This Maserati 8CTF ‘Boyle Special’ is the most successful car to ever compete at the Indy 500. Two wins, two third places, and one fourth place mark it out as special, as does the fact it continued to be entered in the event up until 1953.

Originally built as a Grand Prix racer, the 8CTF featured a twin-supercharged 365 hp V-8 engine. Today, ‘The Boyle Special’ is owned by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and stars in the Hall of Fame museum at the circuit.

1918 Cadillac Type 57 US 1257X

This early Cadillac was made for luxury transport, and can count Mrs Theodore Roosevelt Jr. (daughter-in-law of Teddy Roosevelt) as a former passenger. But, when World War One began, it was donated for service with the YMCA, helping support the American Expeditionary Force.

Serving behind the frontline in France, US 1257X was driven by its owner and wealthy YMCA volunteer, Rev. John Hopkins Dennison. That it could survive the war-torn battlefields of Europe is testament to just how well built it was.

As one of the few remaining examples of private cars used during WW1, this big Caddy possesses substantial amounts of historic value.

1947 Tucker 48 ‘Tin Goose’ Prototype

If the Historic Vehicle Association register included a category for scandal and notoriety, the Tucker 48 would be top of the list. Created by Preston Tucker, the 48 made use of innovative features. These included independent suspension inspired by Indy 500 racers, plus a third central headlight and an integrated roll bar for safety.

Sadly, the Tucker Corporation would only produce 51 cars before the company was made bankrupt. This was the result of a fraud trial which would ultimately see Preston Tucker acquitted of all charges.

1940 GM Futurliner No 10

General Motors produced 12 Futurliners between 1941 and 1956, used as part of the company’s ‘Parade of Progress’ traveling exhibition. Each of the art deco-styled vehicles housed a display on key topics, ranging from jet engines to household appliances. The cavalcade of vehicles toured North America, stopping in 200 cities and being seen by more than 11 million people.

Futurliner No. 10 housed the ‘Opportunity for Youth’ exhibit, which aimed to inspire young car designers. It also housed a display of soap box racers, and a three-dimensional sound demonstration.

The significance comes from the role the Futurliner played in promoting science and technology, along with the distinctive design and engineering used to create them.

1954 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL

Proving that non-American machinery is more than welcome on the register, this 1954 300 SL still has an important Stateside story.

Developed from the W194 race car, the 300 SL was a road-going version created specifically for the US market. Of the 1,400 ‘gullwing’ coupes produced, more than 80% were sold to American buyers.

The particular 300 SL featured on the register was imported to the USA for Briggs Cunningham – famed entrepreneur, sportsman, and avid motorsport enthusiast.

Significance comes from being the first 300 SL brought to America, and technical highlights like the use of fuel injection on a production car.

1940 Ford Pilot Model GP No 1

With an important role in World War Two, and for becoming an off-road icon, the original jeep is hugely significant.

Yet the oldest surviving ‘jeep’ (note the lowercase J) was actually produced by the Ford Motor Company in 1940.

With the threat of war, in 1937 the US Army invited bids to produce a quarter-ton lightweight utility vehicle. Three manufacturers submitted prototypes to meet the Army’s specifications, with this Ford Pilot Model being one of the only survivors.

Willys-Overland would win the Army contract but, due to the need for more ‘jeeps’ quickly, Ford would also end up being contracted to produce the Willys design as well.

1909 White Model ‘M’ Steam Car

As 27th President of the United States, William Taft was something of an automotive pioneer. He converted stables at the White House into car garages, housing an electric vehicle and two petrol-powered Pierce-Arrows in them. Taft also purchased this White Model ‘M’ steamer.

Although steam power was falling out of favor, Taft is claimed to have enjoyed using the clouds of steam generated to annoy press photographers.

Recorded as the first Presidential Limousine, and the only surviving car used by Taft, it easily meets the criteria for inclusion in the eyes of the Historic Vehicle Association.

1962 Willys Jeep Universal Model CJ 6

This model is an actual Jeep, and another car on the register to have had a presidential owner. This 1962 CJ-6 was the personal vehicle of 40th President of the United States, Ronald Reagan. It was used by him at this 688-acre ranch near Santa Barbara, California.

Due to Reagan’s declining health, the ranch, and the CJ-6, were sold to the conservative Young America’s Foundation in 1995. The Jeep remains in unrestored condition, exactly as Reagan left it.

1911 Marmon Wasp

The Indianapolis 500 is now the biggest global motorsport event but, like everything, had to start somewhere. For Indy, the inaugural year was 1911, and the Marmon Wasp was the first winner of that 500-mile race.

Driven by Ray Harroun, the Wasp averaged a speed of 74 mph, with the whole race taking some 6 hours 42 minutes.

Being the first winner of a major race like the Indy 500 is significant enough for the Wasp to make the cut. However, it also boasts the first documented use of a rear-view mirror on a race car.

1907 Thomas Flyer

Founded in 1900, the Thomas Motor Company made a range of vehicles from its base in Buffalo, New York. Whilst the company ceased trading in 1919, it achieved a world first in 1908 with the Flyer.

The four-cylinder Flyer was the winner of the 1908 New York to Paris race – noted as being the first around-the-world motor race. It took the Flyer 169 days to travel the 22,000-mile route, as was one of three cars to finish the arduous journey.

Restored by William Harrah in the 1950s, the significance of the Thomas Flyer is easy to appreciate.

1920 Anderson Six Convertible Roadster

Although it’s easy to focus on Detroit when it comes to the American auto industry, Anderson was one of the few manufacturers based in the South.

From 1916 to 1925, Anderson produced over 5,000 cars in Rock Hill, South Carolina. The aim was to attract local buyers to pay more for a degree of added Southern charm.

Today, few examples of Anderson products exist, and this is believed to be the sole surviving example of the Convertible Roadster design. The patented design, which allowed it to switch between two or five-seater configurations, made it a prime candidate for register inclusion.

1938 Buick Y Job

No major motor show today would be without a barrage of fanciful concepts, but the Buick Y-Job is claimed to be the very first concept car created. Styled by Harley Earl, who would later count the original Chevrolet Corvette amongst his achievements, the Y-Job was intended to set the design language for future Buicks.

With power-operated hidden headlights, electric windows, and wraparound bumpers, the Y-Job packed a number of advanced features. It also used a working straight-eight engine, with the car driven by Earl for a number of years.

Now owned by General Motors, it can happily lay claim to having inspired decades of concept cars since 1938.

1967 Chevrolet Camaro

The Ford Mustang may well be the world’s best-selling sports car today, but it is impossible to underestimate the impact of the Chevrolet Camaro on developing the pony car market. Kept secret throughout its development, the Camaro made a debut in August 1966, with this car identified as the very first model to be produced.

Despite its significance, the car was actually ‘lost’ for many years until being offered for sale in rusted condition. Identified by the new purchaser, Logan Lawson, from the VIN number, the original Camaro has now been restored to its former glory.

1932 Ford V8 McGee Roadster

This is not just any old hot rod. This is, arguably, the hot rod that defined the trend for stripped-out V-8-powered Ford roadsters.

Built by Bob McGee on his return from military service in World War Two, the bodywork was cut and shaved, suspension lowered, and the engine overhauled. McGee also added the distinctive red paintwork, plus custom upholstery.

Owned by many others after McGee, the red roadster would receive numerous magazine appearances, and have a cameo on the TV show Happy Days. In 2014, it was one of two hot rods chosen by the US Postal Service to feature on commemorative stamps.

1951 Mercury Sport Coupe

Masato Hirohata returned from the US Navy in 1952, and gave Barris Kustoms of Los Angeles free reign to create the wildest custom Mercury Coupe. Chopped and dropped to the ground, the design details were as impressive as the searing ‘Ice Green’ paintwork. It would become one of the most important custom cars ever made.

The Hirohata Mercury would feature in the 1955 film Running Wild and win numerous awards, before passing into the hands of new owners and collectors.

Proving that real style never goes out of fashion, the Hirohata Merc won ‘Best in Class’ for custom Mercurys at the 2015 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

Having been displayed around the world, the Mercury’s crowning glory came when it was exhibited in a glass enclosure on the National Mall in Washington D.C.

1964 Chevrolet Impala

Lowriding was an emerging trend in early 1970’s Los Angeles, and this Impala was the third car named ‘Gypsy Rose’ to be built by the late Jesse Valadez.

Over 20 gallons of clear lacquer cover the candy red and pink paintwork, whilst hundreds of rose details made the exterior unique. A crushed velvet interior, complete with co*cktail bar and chandelier, completed the 1972 transformation.

By 1980, Gypsy Rose had featured in almost every custom car magazine, starred on TV, and been branded the ‘world’s most popular lowrider’. Valadez passed away in 2011, but the car remains with his family, and is still seen as the gold standard for lowriders today.

1933 Graham 8 Sedan Blue Streak

Created by the long-defunct Graham-Paige company, the 8 Sedan was a radical design when first revealed in 1932. Styling of the all-new model was undertaken by Amos Northrup, regarded as one the most important pre-war automotive designers.

Features such as enclosed fenders, a radiator cap beneath the hood, and a hidden gas tank were all revolutionary at the time. An eight-cylinder engine gave the car its Blue Streak name, whilst the company also experimented with an early form of pearlescent paint.

Such innovative thinking made the Graham 8 a clear contender for being added to the register.

1896 Benton Harbor Motor Carriage

The importance of the Benton Harbor comes from the fact it is believed to be the first viable automobile ever built in the United States. Only one example exists, having been built to compete in the 1895 Chicago Times-Herald “Motocycle Competition”.

Sadly, the Benton Harbor was not completed on time by Michigan-born brothers Albert and Louis Baushke. The two-cylinder engine, designed by William O. Worth of Chicago, was said to have failed due to a lack of internal lubrication.

Whilst it may have failed to meet its intended goal, it still played an important role in the early automotive industry.

1968 Ford ‘Bullitt’ Mustang GT Fastback

The 1968 Ford Mustang GT from Bullitt is perhaps the single most recognizable car to have graced the silver screen.

Two Mustang GT Fastbacks in Highland Green were ordered for the film, with chassis number ‘559 the one used most by McQueen as the hero car. After filming, the car changed hands several times, before being bought by the Kiernan family of New Jersey.

The Kiernans used the Mustang as their sole daily driver up until the early 1980s. Robert Kiernan even turned down an offer from Steve McQueen himself to buy the car back.

The car was sold at the Mecum Kissimmee auction in January 2020, achieving an incredible sale price of $3.74 million with fees.

1985 Modena Spyder

If you have ever seen the 1986 John Hughes movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, you’ll know that a distinctive Ferrari 250 GT California is central to the plotline. Except the car used in the movie was not a real Maranello product, but a replica.

Not even 1980’s Hollywood would risk using a real 250 GT California for filming, and turned to Modena Design & Development to produce three replicas. A fiberglass body, Ford V-8 engine, and parts from an MG MGB were used.

The Modena Spyder was added to the register to recognize the ‘tangible embodiment’ of how iconic the movie became.

1927 Ford Model T Touring

The importance of the Ford Model T is known even to those with only a passing interest in automotive history. Known for the pioneering assembly line construction process, a low purchase price opened up car ownership to whole swathes of Americans.

First launched in 1908, Ford continued to produce the Model T with only limited changes until 1927. This particular example was one of the final examples of the Model T to leave the production line. It also signified the fifteen-millionth Ford to be built.

After being driven off the line by Henry Ford and Edsel Ford, the car was placed immediately into the Edison Institute.

1984 Plymouth Voyager

Being responsible for starting the ‘soccer mom’ minivan phenomenon makes the Plymouth Voyager culturally significant. Flexible seating, along with a car-like driving experience, made it the vehicle of choice in the 1980s. That it could easily fit inside a standard garage helped, too.

Such developments pushed the humble station wagon into obsolescence, and kickstarted a trend that would endure throughout the 1990s.

This particular Plymouth Voyager was nicknamed ‘Magic Wagon no.1’ as the very first example to roll off the production line. The importance of the Voyager is acknowledged by Chrysler, who have retained ownership of the minivan to the present day.

1969 Apollo 12 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray

At the height of the Space Race, General Motors entered into an agreement with NASA astronauts to be able to lease a new Corvette for just $1 a year. The three astronauts for the Apollo 12 mission, Alan Bean, Pete Conrad, and Dick Gordon, took the offer.

Each of their Corvettes was finished in Riverside Gold, and had custom plaques added. All used a big-block engine, and came with a four-speed manual transmission. This particular car belonged to Alan Bean, and is said to be the only remaining example.

As the Historic Vehicle Association notes, this car was owned and driven by “the fourth human to set foot on the moon”. Playing such an important part in American history makes its inclusion on the register easy to understand.

1966 Volkswagen Type 2 Deluxe Station Wagon

Esau Jenkins and his wife, Janie, dedicated their lives to advance civil rights in South Carolina. Part of their work included purchasing buses, like the Volkswagen Type 2, used to transport children and adults around Charleston.

The couple would teach their passengers how to pass the literacy exam needed to register to vote. They would later open the Community Owned Federal Credit Union, and The Progressive Club, the latter giving free legal advice.

Found in a dilapidated state, the rear engine cover and hatch of the Volkswagen were donated to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in 2014.

1921 Duesenberg Straight Eight

Adding a Duesenberg to the Register in 2020 was significant, as it marked the 100th anniversary of the company being founded. This particular car was the very first Duesenberg to be ordered, requested by Hawaiian industrialist Samuel Northrup Castle.

A custom order to accommodate the seven-foot-tall Castle, it featured bespoke bodywork by the Bender Body Company of Cleveland, Ohio. The lengthy hood hides the first overhead cam straight-eight-cylinder engine used in a passenger car. Four-wheel hydraulic brakes were also an advanced feature.

This would make the Duesenberg deserving of inclusion. However, that it was owned by the Castle family for almost 100 years simply adds to the significance.

1970 Dodge Challenger RT SE Hemi

Ordered new by Purple Heart recipient and Detroit police officer, Godfrey Qualls, this Challenger had almost every option ticked. Power comes from the legendary 426-cubic inch Hemi V-8, and includes the ‘Super Track Pak’ four-speed manual transmission.

Qualls also specified the SE package, along with an alligator-grain vinyl roof and houndstooth interior trim. It was one of only 23 four-speed Hemi R/T SE Challengers made for the 1970 model year, and most likely unique in this color combination. Despite being a traffic cop, Qualls would use the Challenger for unsanctioned drag races on the streets of Detroit.

Still owned by the Qualls family, the car is unrestored and has covered just 45,000 miles. It was added to the register to document the significance of the muscle car era, and the ownership story behind the Challenger.

Known as the ‘Black Ghost’, the car even made an appearance in the Forza Horizon 4 video game. It too was added to the Register in 2020, and was sold for more than $1 million at auction in 2023.

1981 DeLorean DMC-12 Time Machine

This 2021 inductee to the Historic Vehicle Register will be familiar to anyone with even a passing interest in cars. Frequently imitated by fans, the DeLorean DMC-12 Time Machine is possibly the biggest star of all in the Back to the Future movie franchise.

With the addition of the famed flux capacitor, hitting 88 mph in the movie DeLorean was the crucial speed for time travel. It helped elevate the DMC-12 from its troubled history to being a genuine star.

A total of three DeLoreans were used in filming of the original Back to the Future movie. But it is the most detailed ‘A’ car that has been specifically added to the Register.

Previously repaired to appear how it did in the films, the DeLorean is now on permanent display at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles.

Cannonball Run 1979 Lamborghini Countach LP400 S

An iconic addition to the National Historic Vehicle Register, this Countach had a starring role in The Cannonball Run, a comedy movie from 1981. Featured heavily in the film’s opening scenes, the Countach wowed audiences with its iconic wedge shape and sonorous V-12 engine.

Cannonball Run 1979 Lamborghini Countach LP400 S

Making the Cannonball Countach more distinctive is the prominent front spoiler, bedecked with spot lights. This was fitted to circumvent federal bumper rules, allowing the Countach to be imported to the USA.

After filming, the car was bought by Ron Rice of Hawaiian Tropic fame. Restored in 2009, the Countach still wears three aerials and 12 exhaust tailpipes!

It became the 30th car to join the National Historic Vehicle Register, taking its place in 2021.

Celebrating the 45th anniversary of the Cannonball Countach

The Cannonball Countach was built in 1979, and Lamborghini took the opportunity to commemorate the 45th anniversary of its creation in 2024.

This included reuniting Adrienne Barbeau and Tara Buckman with the famous supercar. The duo played the Lamborghini’s all-female crew in the Cannonball movie, and have been intrinsically linked with the car ever since.

Such cultural significance demonstrates the importance of the cars included on the National Historic Vehicle Register.

1952 ‘Fabulous’ Hudson Hornet

Hudson would be one of the first manufacturers to enter stock car racing, leading to the Hornet dominating the early years of the sport. Driver Marshall Teague won the 1952 AAA Stock Car series with a Hudson Hornet by 1,000 points, proving just how good the car was.

Teague nicknamed this particular vehicle the ‘Fabulous Hudson Hornet’, with the name being painted on its side. The same Hornet would take multiple NASCAR wins, and was immortalized in film as Doc Hudson in the 2006 animated movie, Cars.

Restored in the late 1990s, the Hornet’s inclusion on the Register is due to it being such a significant piece of stock car racing history. The car now resides in the National Hudson Motor Car Company Museum in Ypsilanti, Michigan.

1963 Chrysler Turbine Car

Chrysler’s experimentation with gas-powered turbines began in the 1930s, but peaked in 1963 with the construction of 55 vehicles for a public test programme. More than one million miles of testing were conducted, with drivers appreciating the low maintenance and smoothness of the turbine engine.

Once the test programme ended, Chrysler destroyed all but nine of the Turbine Cars used. It claimed that turbines were unsuited to automotive applications, and wanted to avoid the sight of its experimental Turbine Cars appearing on used car lots in the future.

Representing a bold attempt to embrace a new engineering direction, the Chrysler Turbine Car is an obvious candidate for the National Historic Vehicle Register. This particular example is part of the Stahls Automotive Collection, and is displayed in Chesterfield, Michigan.

1937 Cord Phaeton 812

The 33rd vehicle to be added to the National Historic Vehicle Register was once owned by Amelia Earhart, the pioneering female aviator. Responsible for setting numerous world records, Earhart is best remembered for being the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.

The Cord was purchased by Earhart less than a year before her disappearance over the Pacific Ocean in 1937. In September 1936 she was photographed with the Cord, and the Lockheed 10E Electra plane she would use on her final journey. After her disappearance, the Cord was sold by Earhart’s husband.

Passed through numerous collectors before being broken up, the Cord Phaeton was brought back together in 2004. It was added to the Historic Vehicle Register on International Women’s Day in 2023.

1952 Porsche America Roadster

Porsche has a fearsome reputation for motorsport success, both in the United States and around the world. When it comes to North America, this humble-looking roadster is the genesis of Porsche’s racing heritage.

The 1962 Porsche America Roadster is one of 16 aluminum-bodied cars built for U.S. racers. Famed importer Max Hoffman had convinced Porsche of the potential to drive sales by winning on-track, leading to the limited-production America Roadster.

This particular example was raced when new by female driver, Josie von Neumann. It was restored in 2018, and added to the National Historic Vehicle Register in 2023, due to its significance to Porsche’s American racing legacy.