The NB Center for American Automotive Heritage

Housed in a quiet side street in the industrial district of Allentown, Pennsylvania Nicola Bulgari’s celebration of the American automotive industry is not a museum you can walk in. It is open for special occasions only. So it was a privilege to visit the compound twice in 2018 and 2019 for the great conferences held by the now defunct Historic Vehicle Association (now folded into the Hagerty Drivers Foundation)

Fellow attendant Jon Summers perfectly summed up our driving experience – the Marmon V16 was big, and heavy but enormous fun to drive.

Elsewhere the 1932 Graham Blue Streak deserves special mention – Amos Northup,  a pioneer of streamlined design ushered in a new era by offering a sloped-back grille and skirted fenders. By 1934 every American car featured skirted fenders.