- Attraction: Edge Motor Museum
- Location: 645 Marshall Ave, Memphis, TN 38103
- Industry: Museum
- Website: https://www.edgemotormuseum.com
American automotive excellence doesn’t just sit behind velvet ropes at this downtown Memphis gem.
Opened in 2019 within a 1920s-era Cherokee Motors building, the Edge Motor Museum brings three decades of sports car evolution to life through roughly 20 to 25 meticulously maintained vehicles.
The main exhibit, called American Speed, chronicles the golden age from post-war optimism through 1974, when the oil crisis changed everything.
Located just two minutes down the street from legendary Sun Studio, this intimate museum pairs perfectly with Memphis’s music heritage, letting you explore two different chapters of American cultural history in one afternoon.
Exceptional Vehicles & Their Stories
The Doris Day Muntz Jet: Prepare to be amazed by the python-skin interior of this celebrity-owned beauty. This Miami Cream convertible was custom-built in 1951 and gifted to the Hollywood icon. At the time, buyers could choose from python, alligator, ostrich, or leather interiors.
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Keep Exploring →Only 198 Muntz Jets were ever produced, and fewer than 50 survive today, making this one exceptionally rare. The car features dual rear fridges and a center console designed to hold three bottles and five glasses.
Carroll Shelby’s Signed Mustang: The 1967 Shelby Mustang GT 500 on display features Carroll Shelby’s personal signature in the glove compartment.
This collaboration between Ford and Shelby American represents peak American muscle car engineering, combining raw power with sleek design that still turns heads today.
The Sebring Winner: The 1949 Crosley Hotshot earned its place in racing history as the first car to win the 12 Hours of Sebring.
Despite its modest 26-horsepower four-cylinder engine, this lightweight roadster averaged the best speed in its displacement category. The race number was hand-painted on with brown shoe polish just before the competition.
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Discover MoreCorvette Legends: You’ll encounter multiple generations of America’s most iconic sports car, including a stunning 1968 Corvette Stingray with T-tops, a tri-power 427 cubic inch V-8, four-speed manual transmission, and optional side-mount exhaust.
The semicircular chronological arrangement lets you trace the Corvette’s evolution through its most celebrated years.
Fiberglass Pioneer: The Glasspar G2 represents groundbreaking innovation as the first American car body made from fiberglass. Hollywood stars like Humphrey Bogart, Gary Cooper, and Rosemary Clooney all owned these rare roadsters produced between 1951 and 1954.
Boss & Challenger Face-Off: A 1970 Mustang Boss 302 with its signature Shaker hood scoop stands opposite a 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T convertible packing the legendary 426 cubic inch Hemi V-8. Both models showcase the absolute pinnacle of American muscle car design and engineering.
The Museum Experience
Thoughtful Layout: The museum uses a curved ramp leading down to the main floor, where vehicles are arranged in chronological semicircles.
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Keep Exploring →This design provides excellent viewing angles and helps tell the story of American sports car evolution. An engaging graphic wall along the ramp illustrates the rise and fall narrative.
Interactive Elements: iPad stations accompany each vehicle, offering detailed information, historical context, and additional photos. This modern technology complements the classic cars beautifully, letting you dive as deep as you want into each vehicle’s history.
Free Lobby Viewing: The entrance lobby showcases approximately five vehicles that you can view without admission. This area alone offers glimpses of automotive excellence and might convince skeptics to purchase tickets for the full experience.
Climate-Controlled Comfort: The entire space maintains pristine conditions perfect for both vehicles and visitors. The calm, quiet atmosphere lets you appreciate each car’s details without distraction.
Practical Information
Admission & Value: Entry costs just ten dollars for adults and five dollars for children, making this one of Memphis’s best entertainment values. Many visitors spend two to three hours exploring, though you could rush through in about an hour if pressed for time.
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Discover MoreLocation Advantage: Park once and visit both Edge Motor Museum and Sun Studio, located just 600 feet apart. This pairing creates a perfect afternoon exploring different facets of American innovation from the same era.
Rotating Collection: Since vehicles are on loan from private collectors, the display changes every few months. This rotating approach means repeat visits offer fresh discoveries.
Community Events: The museum hosts Cars & Coffee on the second Saturday of each month, plus two major annual car shows in spring and fall that draw enthusiasts throughout the region.
Building History: Your visit supports automotive preservation through a nonprofit organization. The building itself carries historical significance as a former automobile manufacturing plant and showroom.
Edge Motor Museum
📍 645 Marshall Ave, Memphis, TN 38103
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