The Montana Auto Museum located in the Old Montana Prison in Deer Lodge, Montana, has some foreign automobiles.
This vehicle sold new for $1,950.
This car sold new for $2,785. According to the Museum:
“The model 356 was Porsche’s first production vehicle, a lightweight and nimble-handling rear-engine rear-wheel drive 2-door sports car available in hardtop coupe and open configurations.”
Production of the 356 started in 1948 in Austria and in 1950 the factory relocated to Germany. The model 356A was produced from 1955 to 1959. Approximately 21,000 were built.
This three-wheel vehicle was produced and sold in several countries. More than 161,000 were produced and the revenue from its sales prevented BMW from being purchased by Mercedes-Benz. According to the Museum:
“It became the first mass-produced vehicle in the world to have a fuel consumption of 94 miles per gallon.”
Volkswagen asked Ghia Company to design a stylish sporty car. The resulting Karmann Ghias were produced from the end of 1955 until 1974. A total of 364,912 coupes and 79,326 convertibles were produced.
According to the Museum:
“Selling in Italy and exporting to Germany, France and the US, the Spring was oversold by anxious dealers who gladly accepted money down on the cars. The factory could not keep up with the demand—especially because of a 4-month strike, and with irate customers and dealers hounding SIATA at every turn, production ceased, ending a great little car company.”
This is a kit mounted on a Volkswagen frame.
This is a modified VW Beetle.
Note: these photos were taken on September 21, 2025.
British Transportation Museum: A collection of Jaguars (photo diary)
British Transportation Museum: A collection of MGs (photo diary)
LeMay Family Collection: Some European cars from the 1950s (photo diary)
America’s Car Museum: Honda automobiles (photo diary)
Museums 101: Porsche automobiles, 1971-1993 (photo diary)
Museums 101: BMW Automobiles (Photo Diary)
Griot’s Garage: Some Ferraris (photo diary)
World of Speed: The Porsche 911 (Photo Diary)
