The Canadian Automotive Museum

The Canadian Automotive Museum opened in 1963 as a community project to preserve and display the automotive history of Canada. In 1964 the museum was incorporated as a not-for-
profit institution, and for decades it has been supported through private financial contributions.

With a significant number of Canadian-built and Canadian-owned automobiles, including both rare and early models—such as the Kennedy, Tudhope, McLaughlin-Buick, and McKay—the
museum provides important examples of Canada’s unique automotive heritage.

The museum opened in Oshawa—Canada’s “Motor City” —in a building rich in automotive history. From 1921 to 1931 it was the home of the Ontario Motor Sales dealership and service
centre. The site now houses a collection of more than 80 donated vehicles and an automotive reference library. In 1995 the estate of John A. “Bud” McDougald, a prominent Canadian financier, donated 21 vehicles from his collection of European, British, and American cars to the museum.

The dedication of the museum’s community has been integral in ensuring the preservation of Canada’s automotive history. Volunteers assist in facilitating growth and public awareness of the museum’s programs, exhibits, and research. Private donors and government grants support the care of the museum’s collection and the building’s architectural heritage. These crucial ways of giving both reinforce community involvement and encourage a deeper understanding of Canadian heritage.