Anyone who enjoys the classics of American performance, can never forget the awe of stumbling upon a mint condition Plymouth ‘Cuda or a numbers-matching Pontiac GTO at your local car show. These rides are so much more than horse power these are machines built with the fire of an era where loud styling, even louder engines and brave, cutting-edge engineering made an age the defining factor in defining automotive style and stature. Take the time to bypass the unassuming door at the base of a tree house, in the heart of Salem, Oregon it’s the portal to hundreds of some of the rarest, and most meaningful muscle cars ever made on this globe, The Brothers Collection. One could arguably make a definitive claim that this is the largest, most comprehensive, most privately owned stash of American muscular known the planet over.

To tour The Brothers Collection museum is to tour the entire golden age of American performance. Down each and every aisle is a ride that left indelible footprints in the muscle car age from showroom stunners to unbelievably rare factory homologation series to radical prototypes that never went into mass production. Every ride has a distinct tale to tell: of how we arrived at the pinnacles of automotive style, engineering, and competitive spirit; this isn’t so much a car collection as an American historical archive where America’s best wheeled dreams remain safe in slumber.

1. The Mopar E-Body Heaven

This section also features a fantastic collection of Chrysler E-body muscle cars and it is a stunning visual impact that very few displays can compete with. As soon as you reach this portion of the exhibit it begins with an outstanding display of cars and this section is the pinnacle of Mopar muscle cars. In the lead is the incredible 1970 and 1971 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda convertibles that is the most sought-after collectible car out there for sheer rarity and their racing pedigree.

Mopar Collection Highlights:

• Hemi ‘Cuda convertibles
• Rare E-body models
• Legendary Hemi V8
• Exceptional rarity
• Iconic muscle cars

So, what’s impressive about this particular display of the renowned drop-tops? It isn’t just one example there are eight Hemi ‘Cuda convertibles within The Brothers Collection! Considering that there were only 26 made overall between the two years, over a third of all surviving Hemi ‘Cuda drop pies are together, in the same room. Few hobbyists ever get that chance.

You are reminded of the aspirations in design that the muscle car era championed at every Hemi ‘Cuda that is put on show. The unique ‘shaker’ hood, the savage design of the vehicle, coupled with the Hemi V8 engine makes the car the epitome of Mopar power. Each car alone is worth millions, meaning that this could be one of the most valuable collections of individual muscle cars in the world and shows the level of importance that The Brothers Collection holds.

2. The Last c

You can expect to marvel at Ford’s greatest hits from day one to present day, but one Mustang has a special place in automotive history as you travel through the museum. Shrouded in sophisticated Silver Blue Metallic paint, the J-code Mach 1 you’ll see before you signify more than a show-ready classic this Mustang is indeed the last one ever to roll out of the Frod factory complete with the stout 429 Super Cobra Jet big-block engine.

Mustang Legacy Highlights:

• Final 429 SCJ
• Silver Blue finish
• Historic Mach 1
• Big-block icon
• Rare survivor

Manufactured in August 1971, this is the last edition to Ford’s epic involvement in the ‘big-block vs. Big-block’ horsepower wars from the latter 60’s to early 70’s, when more and more emission and the general shift in market desirability caused big engines to be less and less likely to be placed into smaller ‘pony car’ bodies, we see the final moment of that famous era culminate here

Today this Mustang is one of a beautifully restored testament to Fords most accomplished performance goal. Along with its fantastic stats, it is a testament to end of perhaps the most exciting era in American automotive history. Due to its’ rarity and historical significance, it’s a prize of The Brothers Collection and is, “the last chapter in the legend of the Super Cobra Jet.”

3. The Ultimate ’69 Camaros

Chevrolet has honoured its muscle car legacy with an impressive roster of 1969 Camaros a line that features several of the rarest models created. A sensational blue 1969 Camaro ZL1 is one of the highlights of the whole museum. Only 69 ZL1 Camaros were manufactured, making this particular model, the 55th ever built, a real prize. To make things even more impressive, this special edition is also equipped with the rarely-seen Rally Sport package, of which only a handful were made.

Rare Camaro Highlights:

• 1969 Camaro ZL1
• Rally Sport package
• Low-mile survivor
• Yenko Camaro
• Chevrolet icons

With the car having an incredibly low 7,700 miles on its odometer, this has been a phenomenal survivor that has sat in storage for decades largely original to how it left the factory in 1969. Visitors to the collection can practically hop into what we consider Chevrolet’s finest performance car, driving a piece of American automotive history exactly as the Chevrolet factory intended. The combination of its rarity, originality, and stellar preservation makes the ZL1 a valuable addition to our collection as well as to the hearts of muscle car lovers around the globe.

4. The Supercharged ’65 Shelby GT350

The ’65 Shelby GT350 is undoubtedly a true classic and one of the great American sports machines, but even a car from the Brothers Collection can be so much more extreme as seen in this unique piece. In 1965 it is the only known production Shelby GT350 ever built with a Paxton supercharger, a truly rare and one-of-a-kind Shelby.

Why It Stands Out:

• Factory Paxton supercharger
• Over 400 horsepower
• One-of-a-kind Shelby GT350
• Race-inspired engineering
• Exceptionally well preserved

Ford supplied Paxton supercharger increased the 289 cubic inch V8 to nearly 400 hp for an impressive amount of acceleration for a lighter than normal Mustang. A combination that was also to become the hallmark of Shelby Mustangs and a part of Ford’s increasing thirst for the more. It was the golden era for the American muscle car, but in terms of horsepower it was actually only a starting point.

5. The Winged Warriors

The Brothers Collection features two of the most iconic and unforgettable muscle cars born from NASCAR. Commonly called “The Winged Warriors” this pair of machines gained legendary status, thanks to their towering rear spoilers and aerodynamic nose cones. Their dominance in racing and extreme styling helped them become iconic American performance cars to this day.

Winged Warrior Highlights:

• Plymouth Super bird displayed
• Dodge Daytona featured
• 426 Hemi V8 engines
• NASCAR-inspired design
• Extremely rare models

Front and centre, from that collection, is the 1970 Plymouth Road Runner Super bird, a car which can trace its roots all the way to NASCAR because that’s where it was built to dominate. A 426 Hemi equipped super bird only 77 of these would ever leave the factory boasted performance to match the bold visual drama inherent in its design. Next to this car from the same special collection is the one its stablemate is clearly meant to match against, the very recognizable and aerodynamic 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona, also carrying the legendary 426 Hemi.

6. The Gentleman’s Muscle Car

Not all of these muscle machines were about pure attitude; some chose a more subtle but still assertive route. The Brothers Collection has one such extremely special car on display-a 1969 Hurst/Olds pre-production prototype. It managed to combine comfort and style with a huge V8. The development of this car had an influence on one of Oldsmobile’s finest muscle car achievements.

Key Features:

• Rare prototype vehicle
• Powerful 455 V8
• Luxury meets performance
• Factory performance upgrades
• Historic development model

The famous 455 engine produced excellent acceleration but still felt smooth as you’d expect with an Olds. The Hurst/Olds showed it was possible to have performance and comfort, not one or the other. Being a pre-production makes this really an impressive and interesting car to have, given its significance in the history of Oldsmobile engineering. Currently it is one of the most historically significant cars in The Brothers Collection.

7. Pontiac’s Last Stand: The SD-455

The stringent new emissions laws were quickly bringing an end to the age of the muscle car, but that just seemed to spur Pontiac to one last great performance effort the Super Duty 455. Included in the collection are several excellent 1973-1974 Trans Ams, none more coveted than this fine 1974 X-Code SD-455. With a mere 12,000 original miles, it’s the last one left to make this point.

SD-455 Highlights:

• Super Duty 455 engine
• Rare X-Code Trans Am
• Low original mileage
• Strengthened engine components
• Final muscle car era

The Super Duty 455 received reinforced internals and fantastic torque, which kept the muscle going even when the regulations continued to bite tighter for Pontiac. Few were produced and its engineering quality remains one of its most admired qualities, making it one of Pontiac’s most sought-after “crate” engines. Rounding out the show are three unrestored red SD-455 Trans Ams, allowing observers to experience several unrestored examples at once, preserving Pontiac’s passion to bow out of the traditional muscle car age in one final, high-spec blow.

8. Straight from the Factory Drag Strip

Several of the factory built drag racing monsters from The Brother Collection offer up an intense glimpse into the apex of manufacturer performance engineering for the time period. This potent 1963 Pontiac Tempest Le Mans Super Duty A/FX was a no-expenses spared machine designed specifically for going the full quarter mile a very rare opportunity! Next to it sits the famous 1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt which is yet another celebrated example of a factory effort drag machine.

Drag Racing Legends:

• Pontiac Tempest A/FX
• Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt
• Factory-built racers
• Dual-quad V8 power
• Quarter-mile champions

Featuring a dual-quad 421 Super Duty V8 under the hood, the 1964 Pontiac Tempest Le Mans Super Duty A/FX was famously known as “The World’s Fastest Tempest.” These Super Duty A/FX cars were specially designed and stripped down to make them as light as possible and are some of the more revered drag racing vehicles from the era. Alongside this, the powerful 1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt was on display with its big 427 dual-quad V8 engine and light weight to complement it. The combined effect shows us a time where automakers constructed some incredibly fast street legal vehicles to win out at the drag races.

9. A Life-Size Hot Wheels Collection

I had to take out some of the interesting display items from inside The Brothers Collection, so here is the gigantic wall of 1970 Plymouth AAR ‘Cudas. They are not parked next to each other, but stacked vertically on fabricated racks, giving you the visual of a life-sized Hot Wheel wall.

Display Highlights:

• Plymouth AAR ‘Cudas
• Vertical vehicle display
• One-year-only model
• 340 Six-Pack engine
• Trans-Am heritage

Created to make Plymouth’s SCCA Trans-Am Series effort legal, the AAR ‘Cuda came equipped with a340 Six-Pack engine, side-exhaust, and fibreglass hood designed for off the-track performance but street-legal ease of operation. To have an array of several AAR ‘Cudas together under one banner is very unusual. This clever display showcases Plymouth’s performance tradition along with its highly sought after homologation muscle car.

10. The Final Verdict from The Judge

The Brothers Collection closes with one of Pontiac’s greatest muscle cars a highly desirable 1971 Pontiac GTO Judge Convertible. Considered the last Judge produced, this rare and spectacular example serves as the ultimate centrepiece and a true salute to the car that defied expectation.

Judge Highlights:

• Final Judge produced
• 455 H.O. V8
• Only 17 convertibles
• Rare collector’s car
• Muscle car finale

The ultimate Judge-outfitted with the iconic 455 H.O. V8 pumping out 335 horsepower-was born during a turning point for American car production, as insurance and pollution controls sounded the death knell of the muscle era. Far from being just a collector’s piece of one of the more unusual examples of the line, it is also a final punctuation mark on the enduring legend of Pontiac’s best performances. And now it’s part of The Brothers Collection as testimony to the once and future greatest performance line in America.