MECHANICSBURG, Pa. (AP) - Mike Fowler, a car enthusiast from Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, discovered the Rolls-Royce and Bentley Museum near his childhood home but did not anticipate the engaging experience he would encounter when he began volunteering there. Within just half an hour of his first volunteer session, Fowler found himself immersed in car maintenance tasks, a passion he continues to embrace over a year later. He now keeps notes on his phone detailing the collection's vehicles to aid in their proper maintenance and operation.
Fowler is among a dedicated group of approximately 50 volunteers who meet bi-monthly at the museum, which houses 29 antique and collectible Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars dating back to the late 1920s. Volunteers engage in various activities, including cleaning, maintaining, and occasionally driving these iconic vehicles, many of which were designed to be chauffeur-driven. For them, it's a unique opportunity to step into a luxurious and historical realm that most people can only dream of. “You take it out on the road and you are transported to a different time, a different mentality,” Fowler remarked.
New volunteers are mentored by experienced members for about a year and must complete the museum's driving school, starting with modern vehicles that feature automatic transmissions. Sarah Holibaugh, the museum's head librarian and archivist, emphasized the importance of this process, stating, “We’re very protective of the collection. We’re its caretakers, and we take it very seriously.”
The museum, which opened in 2004, is located near Mechanicsburg and is easily overlooked among the surrounding fields and industrial structures. Despite its humble exterior, it showcases a rich collection prominent in the automotive community. Owned by the Rolls-Royce Foundation, the museum features a showroom and maintenance area, along with plans to convert a third room into a library and reading space. Fowler pondered whether local residents are aware of the foundation's existence or if they merely wonder why vintage Rolls-Royce and Bentley vehicles are seen on the roads nearby.
The origins of the museum trace back to Harrisburg, where a Rolls-Royce owners’ club was established in the 1960s. However, after Hurricane Agnes caused extensive damage to the original location in 1972, the club’s members donated the Mechanicsburg property for a new museum. The club now boasts around 6,000 members across 26 countries and collaborates closely with the museum.
Contrasting a modest admission fee of $5, the museum only attracts about 1,000 visitors annually, primarily consisting of car club members, groups of seniors, and students, all of whom must schedule their visits in advance. The museum occasionally rents its classic cars for film shoots and other events, including a 1961 Rolls-Royce Phantom V that appeared in the biopic "A Complete Unknown," featuring Timothée Chalamet, and a 1959 Silver Cloud I showcased in the popular series "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel."
In addition to vehicle maintenance, volunteers assist in digitizing and preserving an extensive archive of ownership and service records for North America, dating from 1907 to 2004. These records offer a fascinating glimpse into the history of the brand, revealing connections to famous figures like filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock, actress Zsa Zsa Gabor, and ice hockey legend Wayne Gretzky. Volunteers also play a vital role in debunking false claims of ownership, such as a vehicle rumored to belong to country singer Hank Williams Jr., which was definitively proven otherwise.
The value of cars in the museum's collection ranges from around $30,000 to $120,000, with a whiskey delivery truck, assessed at $320,000, soon to be featured in the exhibit. While many Rolls-Royce vehicles maintain roadworthy status, the upkeep of older models can incur significant costs due to their unique features and expensive parts. Ron Deguffroy, a retired psychologist, cautioned potential buyers by stating, “The most expensive Rolls-Royce you will buy is a cheap one.”
