Six cars from James Hetfield’s private collection are now on display at the American Automobile Experience in Kearney, Nebraska.
They were moved there from the Peterson Automotive Museum in Los Angeles thanks to a deal made between Blueprint Engines, local donors in Kearney, and the LA museum to loan the cars for a year.
Blueprint Engines’ director of business Pete Stout said of Hetfield’s decision to loan his cars:
“He is a huge car guy and he wanted to be able to share some of his private collection with the world. Here at the American Automobile Experience here in Kearney, we’re excited to have this fabulous display of vehicles here for a year.”
The loaned cars from the collection are a 1932 Ford Roadster – ‘Blackjack,’ a 1936 Auburn 852 Speedster – ‘Slow Burn,’ a 1936 Ford Coupe – ‘Iron Fist,’ a 1937 Ford Coupe – ‘Crimson Ghost,’ a 1937 Lincoln Zephyr – ‘Voodoo Priest’ and a 1956 Ford F-100 – ‘Str8 Edge.’
Why Hetfield Donates Cars
Hetfield gave his car collection to the Petersen Automotive Museum in 2019.
Though he is more famous as Metallica’s singer, he’s also well-known in the car world for his custom rides. He sees cars like he sees music: ways to express himself and feel free. Instead of buying cars, he builds them from scratch and puts his creativity into making pieces of art on wheels.
Hetfield said of his decision to donate cars:
“I had a vision of not having to take care of these cars anymore because at some point… when I have these cars, at some point they have me. It takes a lot of time and effort to keep these things up and running, and in good condition. They were going to be either auctioned or donated or something. Then that did actually happen.”
Listen to Hetfield’s comments on his cars below.