Nestled in the heart of Dwight, Illinois, the Crazy ’80s Car Museum is a hidden gem that transports visitors back to a time of boxy cars, cassette tapes, and big hair.
This unique museum, located at 316 W. Waupansie uses an old 1970s furniture store to display the cars. The museum is owned by two passionate car enthusiasts who have dedicated their retirement to preserving the automotive oddities of the ’70s and ’80s.
They like their privacy and we could not find their names in our search, but those that have been to the museum say they are great guys! The museum is a testament to their love for the era and their commitment to preserving its automotive history.
I learned of this museum when I was looking for some to visit on an upcoming trip. A guy named Lucas made a post in the Car Museums Facebook page and I was in awe. As a girl of the 1980’s and proud owner of a yellow Dodge Dart and later a Trans-Am, I am all in on cars from the 70’s and 80’s.
While I have been to my fair share of East Coast car museums, I have not explored outside the area. Now, I need to! This museum has my attention – and I am sure it will grab yours too.
Based on what I can tell, entering those doors is a trip back in time. The ceilings have carpeted ceiling tiles and the wooden walls that most of us great up with. All of the design is original to the furniture that resided there so long ago.
The museum’s collection is a celebration of cars from the mid-70s to late 80s. This is a time the owners remember fondly as an era of “freedom and carefree living”. You won’t find any muscle cars or hot rods here; instead, the museum is dedicated to the mid-size and compact automobiles that were the workhorses of the era.
Some of the highlights of the collection include:
– A rare Pontiac Astre
– A first-generation Honda Civic
– An AMC Eagle
– A Renault Le Car
– A Pontiac Fiero
– A Subaru Brat (non-Group B version)
– A captive import Dodge Ram 50
– A Plymouth Scamp GT (rebadged Dodge Rampage)
– A Yugo
You will not find any muscle cars or hot rods here! There are plenty of other museums for those. These cars are everyday cars that were driven back in the day.
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What sets the Crazy ’80s Car Museum apart is that every car in the collection has a story. The owners have tried to save as many examples as possible, along with the stories behind them – who owned them, where they came from, and why they were saved. For example, there’s a red Yugo with its own unique tale.
The owners themselves have spent much of their lives surrounded by these cars, and taking a stroll through the museum allows them to share that nostalgia with visitors. It’s a celebration of the “inexpensive and gas-efficient” cars that were once considered “disposable” but are now cherished pieces of automotive history.
Whether you lived through the ’70s and ’80s or simply appreciate the automotive oddities of the era, the Crazy ’80s Car Museum is a must-see. With its incredible collection of survivor cars, each with its own story to tell, and its nostalgic atmosphere, this hidden gem in Dwight, Illinois, is sure to delight any car enthusiast.
The museum does not have a website or a lot of details at all out there. I was able to find a Facebook page where there is a bit of information, but you should probably call before heading out there to check on days and hours you can visit.
