J.B. Nethercutt co-founder of Merle Norman Cosmetics & founder of The Nethercutt Collection & Museum passed-away December 6, 2004. He was 91 years old. Mr. Nethercutt was born in South Bend, Indiana in 1913. He moved to Santa Monica, California to live with his maternal aunt Merle Norman after his mother's death when he was only nine years old. Mrs. Norman, in the 1920’s, had begun a small business producing cosmetics for sale locally and opened her first Merle Norman Cosmetic studio in Ocean Park, California in the 1930’s. Mr. Nethercutt was then a student at Cal Tech but decided to quit school to go into business with Mrs. Norman. J.B. Nethercutt’s ideas, attention to detail and a great business instinct led to his co-founding with Mrs. Norman of one of America’s most successful and respected businesses.

J.B. Nethercutt married his childhood sweetheart Dorothy Sykes in 1933. The marriage lasted over 70 years until her death on October 8, 2004. It was during the early part of their life together that J.B. & Dorothy Nethercutt began their love affair with old cars, back then of course they were new cars. J.B. said "When we were out driving we would see the gleaming monsters that we call Classics today, and we studied them, visited the automobile showrooms, we bugged the salesmen to death.” He said with a smile. “We got to a point where we could identify a car two blocks away and pretty well quote the specifications on it. Years later when I had become successful in the business I had started, we were affluent enough to afford one of those gleaming monsters we remembered so well, we found that most of them were in dreadful condition.” This was the beginning of a lifelong passion to preserve and protect those wonderful automobiles from their youth, a passion that continues today. And, the founding of one of the world’s finest collections of Antique and Classic automobile collections: The Nethercutt Collection & Museum now numbering over 240 automobiles and dozens of mechanical musical devices.

In 1956, J.B. purchased two cars, a 1936 Duesenberg Convertible Roadster for $5,000.00 and a 1930 DuPont Town Car for $500.00, both needed total refurbishing. The DuPont restoration Mr. Nethercutt estimated would take a few weeks, but it took 18 months and over $65,000.00. The DuPont was shown at The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 1958 where it won “Best of Show”. Nethercutt later stated that the Concours opened his eyes to the world of car collecting. Since1958, Mr. Nethercutt has won the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance six times, more than any other individual. The Duesenberg and the DuPont are still part of the Nethercutt Collection.

To ensure the future of the collection and museum, which as in the past are open free to the public, J. B. Nethercutt has established a perpetual endowment. Mr. Nethercutt commented recently “ It is my intention that this collection will be available for the public, that it shall be preserved and perpetuated as far as the human mind can conceive.”

J.B. Nethercutt’s most memorable quote is: “The recognition and preservation of beauty has been a major focus of my life, it would suit me well if what people remembered about me was “Where he went he left beauty behind.” -J.B. Nethercutt

Dorothy Sykes Nethercutt
Born: February 8, 1914 Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Passed Away: October 8, 2004 Santa Monica, California

Jack Boison Nethercutt
Born: October 11, 1913 South Bend, Indiana
Passed Away: December 6, 2004 Santa Monica, California

	Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance

SPECIFICATIONS

MODEL: 1930 Ruxton Sedan
New Era Motors, St. Louis, MO
CHASSIS No. 10 C 84
ENGINE No. 18S-1036
COACHBUILDER: Edward G. Budd Mfg. Co., Coachbuilders, Philadelphia, PA
ENGINE TYPE: L-Head Inline
CYLINDERS: 8
BORE: 3"
STROKE: 4.75"
DISPLACEMENT: 268-6 cu.in.
HORSEPOWER: 100
PRICE AS NEW: $3195

	Palos Verdes Concours d’Elegance

SPECIFICATIONS

MODEL: 1930 Cord L29 Town Car
Auburn Automobile Co., Auburn, IN
CHASSIS No. 2927951
ENGINE No. FD 3060A
COACHBUILDER: Walter Murphy Coachbuilders, Pasadena, CA
ENGINE TYPE: L-Head Lycoming
CYLINDERS: 8
BORE: 3 1/4"
STROKE: 4 1/2"
DISPLACEMENT: 298.6 cu. in.
HORSEPOWER: 125
PRICE AS NEW: $7,000 est.

1937 Talbot Lago Sport Coupe,
Type 150-C-SS
The unique body design “goutte d’eau” or Tear Drop was developed to it’s fullest by French coachbuilder Figoni & Falaschi for the French auto manufacturer Talbot Lago. Antony Lago, owner-manager of Talbot-Darracq forged a good working relationship with coachbuilder Joseph Figoni and together they produced some of the worlds most spectacular & unusual automobiles, the Talbot Lago “Tear Drop” Coupes.

This Talbot Lago chassis  # 90107 is the most unique of the 14 Talbot Lago Coupes built, the only one with fully skirted front & rear aluminum fenders, all aluminum body, a sun roof and painted not chromed wheels. This is also one of only two Talbot Lagos with the cloisonné hood ornament in the shape of a Royal Crown testifying to the cars Royal Indian heritage.  And, it has, we believe, the most interesting history.

The first owner of the car was the Maharani of Kapurthala, the English born fourth and favorite wife of Paramjit Singh, Maharajah of Kapurthala, India. The beautiful Maharini was born Stella Mudge in Carleton, Kent, England and became an “exotic dancer” at the famous Paris nightclub “The Follies Bergere”. The Maharajah was attracted to the beautiful & extroverted Stella & began a relationship that lasted 15 years before their marriage in 1937. It is believed the Talbot Lago was a wedding gift to Stella. The Maharani kept the car for at least two years often showing it at Concours d’Elegance events in France. She often changed the color & upholstery to compliment her gowns. The Talbot Lago won a prize in the Concours d’Elegance Femina June 24, 1938.

The second owner was wealthy Southern California playboy & auto enthusiast Tommy Lee. Lee was the son & heir of Don Lee who was the nations largest Cadillac distributor. Don Lee also pioneered radio & television broadcasting from Southern California. Upon Don Lee’s death Tommy inherited the entire empire at age 28. Tommy Lee purchased Talbot Lago # 90107 in 1939 from Luigi Chinetti, world famous racer & exotic car importer. Tommy Lee raced his many cars on the dry lakebeds east of Los Angeles including Talbot Lago # 90107 that was timed at over 115 mph at Muroc dry lake. The Talbot was raced alongside   typical California Hot Rods and must have been quite a sight on the dry lake courses. Performance of the car was spectacular as it was the competition model as indicated by the “C” in the model 150C SS designation. The “SS” meant short chassis.

Phil Hill, American Formula 1 Champion remembered the car coming in to a Hollywood exotic car agency where he worked as a mechanic before his racing career was launched. Phil recalls that the mechanics had nicknamed the car “Pants” because of the front fender skirts, called “enveloppantes’ by coachbuilder Figoni & Falaschi.  After Lee’s death in 1950, the Talbot Lago was owned, driven & enjoyed by several Southern California enthusiasts and painted at least one more time. In 1956 the car was placed in storage where it remained for nearly 50 years until 2004 when it was acquired by The Nethercutt Collection.

The Nethercutt Collection obtained the car in June of 2004 and immediately began research prior to restoration. As the car was disassembled samples of original paint, both the blue & the silver were uncovered in areas never affected by the damaging effects of sunlight. Exact matches were made of these two original colors. Also found were small pieces of the original light gray upholstery leather & dark blue leather piping in areas never affected by sunlight or damaging moisture.

New upholstery leather was obtained to exactly match the found samples in color & grain. Talbot Lago # 90107 was in quite poor overall condition, but very complete & had not been modified or altered from original. The extensive piece-by-piece restoration proceeded over the next year under the direction of Jack Nethercutt. The Nethercutt Collection craftsmen carefully disassembled, inspected, repaired & restored each & every part to it’s as new original condition. The restoration & reassembly took many thousands of hours. After restoration, the Talbot Lago was entered in the 2005 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance where it won Best in Class.

Specifications:
Year: 1937
Make: TALBOT LAGO
Body Style: Sport Coupe (Faux Cabriolet)
Manufacturer: Automobiles Talbot-Darracq Paris, France
Coachbuilder: Figoni & Falaschi Paris, France
Engine Number: 173180
Serial Number: 90107
Body Number: 665
Engine Type: OHV, Hemi, In-Line Six, triple carburetors 
Bore: 90mm/3.6”
Stroke: 104.5mm/ 4.8”
Displacement: 3.96L/255.3cu.in.
Horsepower: 140+
Price when new: $4,873.00 (chassis only)

The fabulous 1937 Talbot Lago “Tear Drop” Coupe # 90107 can be viewed Tuesdays through Saturdays at the Nethercutt Museum.   
The Nethercutt Collection & Museum is an endowed not-for-profit educational institute that serves as a resource for automotive historians, students, scholars, restorers and enthusiasts. The Collection and Museum was the life’s work of J. B. Nethercutt co-founder of Merle Norman Cosmetics. Jack Nethercutt, Chairman of the Board of The Nethercutt Collection, the eldest son of J. B. Nethercutt, is continuing the tradition & endowment established by his father and is administering the foundation for the public benefit.  Free guided tours are available for the Nethercutt Collection Tuesday through Saturday at 10:00AM & 1:30PM, Reservations required: 818 367 2251.    
 

The Nethercutt Collection & Museum
15200 Bledsoe St.
Sylmar, CA 91342

Bugatti Wins "Best Of Show"
After an extensive, authentic restoration, the Bugatti Coupe was entered in The Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance where it received The Prestigious French Cup, and in The Palos Verdes Concours d' Elegance where it scored Best Of Show.

	The Palos Verdes Concours d'Elegance
	The Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance

SPECIFICATIONS

MODEL: Type 51
CHASSIS No. 51133
ENGINE No. 6
COACHBUILDER: Louis DuBos  Paris, France
ENGINE TYPE: DOHC, In-Line (SUPERCHARGED)
CYLINDERS: 8
BORE: 60mm/2.36"
STROKE: 100mm/3.93"
DISPLACEMENT: 2.3L/136.5cu.in
HORSEPOWER: 185
COACHBUILDER: LOUIS DUBOS PARIS, FRANCE


1931 Bugatti Dubos Coupe
Restoration progress photographs

Following is a group of photographs showing the intricate details
necessary in the restoration of The Nethercutt Collection’s
1931 Bugatti Coupe.

(Click images to enlarge)

	Camshaft timing gear tower
	Ball-bearing crank shaft & roller bearing rods being assembled
	Close-up of engine crankcase scraping detail
	Engine crankcase assembled with connecting rods
	Partially assembled engine
	Completed engine on dynamometer
	Completed engine (note extensive engine scraping)
	Completed chassis awaiting coach work
	Assembled chassis
	Assembled transmission without cover
	Differential assembled
	Polished wood interior trim
	Body Work Nearing Completion
	Finished Body In Primer

Automotive Events

CANADIAN-PACIFIC ROYAL HUDSON #2839
Canadian-Pacific Royal Hudson #2839 was built in 1937 by Montreal Locomotive Works, a division of American Locomotive Works (ALCO). The Hudson type is a "4-6-4" wheel arrangement, meaning it has 4 leading wheels, 6 driving wheels and 4 trailing wheels. Locomotives of the 4-6-4 wheel arrangement were pioneered on the New York Central, and so named after its Hudson River line. This wheel configuration allowed a much larger boiler to be used, resulting in higher steam pressure and higher speed. 2839 is coal fired and the large tender can hold 21 tons of coal and 14,400 gallons of water.

The "Royal" designation was granted to the entire class of 65 Canadian-Pacific Hudson type locomotives after King George VI and Queen Elizabeth crossed Canada by train from Quebec to Vancouver in 1939 powered by Hudson class locomotives. The Royal train performed perfectly over the 3224 mile trip greatly impressing the King. After the trip the entire streamlined Canadian-Pacific Hudson class of locomotives were granted Royal status and allowed to display crowns on their running boards. Royal Hudson's achieved great success as high-speed passenger locomotives. Top speed was in excess of 90 mph. 2839 was retired from service by The Canadian Pacific Railroad in 1960 after more than 3 million miles and sold to a group of American investors who restored the beautiful locomotive to operating condition for use on The Southern Railway. The Southern used the Hudson for years for rail fan excursions. After the Southern stopped the excursions 2839 retired to eastern Pennsylvania where it was scheduled to be returned to service on a tourist railway. Unfortunately, these plans fell through and 2839 was in danger of being scrapped when the Nethercutt Collection learned of its fate. The Nethercutt Collection purchased the locomotive in 1999 and moved it to California and immediately began a total restoration. The restoration was completed in April 2002 in time for an April 5, 2002 dedication ceremony.

Now, the 1937 Canadian-Pacific Royal Hudson #2839 resplendent in its Royal Maroon, gold leaf, gloss black and brushed stainless steel livery, is a testament to the grand era of steam and streamlining.

GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION DONATES AN EV1 ELECTRIC AUTOMOBILE TO THE NETHERCUTT COLLECTION
J. B. Nethercutt founder of the world famous Nethercutt Collection and Museum in Sylmar, California announced that General Motors Advanced Technology Vehicles Division has formally presented the Museum one of their experimental EV1 electric automobiles in a ceremony August 21, 2002 at the Museum in Sylmar.

The amazing GM EV1 electric automobile will greatly enhance the museums educational presentation of alternative fuel vehicles which include steam powered & electric vehicles; 1901 Toledo Steamer, 1925 Doble (steam) Roadster, 1925 Doble (steam) display chassis,and two 1914 Rauch & Lang Electric Broughams. The EV1will demonstrate to Museum visitors the advancements that have been made in energy-efficient, non- polluting personal transportation. J. B. Nethercutt has for years been concerned by the depletion of fossil fuels and is very interested in alternative fuel vehicles therefore; General Motors gift is particularly significant.

1912 PULLMAN RAILCAR #100 "CALIFORNIA"
In December of 1912 Clara Baldwin Stocker eldest daughter of California pioneer E. J. "Lucky" Baldwin took delivery of a beautiful private Pullman railcar appropriately named the "California". "Lucky" Baldwin's fortune came from Virginia City, Nevada Comstock mining shares, California real estate, racing stables, hotels in San Francisco and Lake Tahoe and ultimately in the Rancho Santa Anita that is today the West's most celebrated horse race track. Baldwin's death left his daughters Clara and Anita very wealthy. Both commissioned and purchased private railcars Anita's was named "Anokia" and Clara's the "California". Clara's car was very beautiful and very up-to-date with cream and gold painted staterooms rather than the usual dark wood grained walls and ceilings. Many photos exist of Clara and her family enjoying the "California" on trips around the country. The railcar must have been an imposing and awe inspiring sight resplendent in maroon, red, gold leaf striping and lettering and polished brass railings and grab handles. The "California" was a traveling mansion and can be likened to owning a private jet airplane today. Pullman Palace Company of Pullman (Chicago), Illinois was founded in 1867 to build luxury sleeping cars for the railroads. Pullmans' success in this venture dramatically changed rail travel worldwide. The luxuries of Private Pullman Palace Car included chandeliers, electric lighting, advanced heating and air-conditioning systems, complete bath facilities, silk draperies, and luxury bedding and elegant furniture. The "California", as ordered by Mrs. C. B. Stocker was assigned build #4048 by Pullman. Clara selected floor plan #2677, a plan that was very versatile, spacious and comfortable. One double large bedroom and two smaller staterooms for two were featured. The large combination dining and observation room were paneled in elegant Cuban Mahogany; the private rooms were cream and gold painted. The servant's section including the passageway were quarter sawed native oak, dramatically different from the beautiful mahogany used in the family section. Beautiful decorative leaded glass adorned every window in the "California" except in the servants quarters where plain obscure glass was used. Again, clearly demonstrating the difference in social class between the servants and the family. The restoration of the "California" was faithfully accomplished over a 3 year period by the Nethercutt Collection using original manuscripts, original photographs, original Pullman build sheets and original Pullman factory blueprints. The "California" looks today exactly as it appeared on December 14, 1912 when its official factory photographs were taken before delivery to Clara Baldwin Stocker. The restoration is dedicated to a more elegant way of life.

Overall Length: 81 Feet-11 5/8 Inches
Overall Width: 10 Feet-1/8 Inch
Height: 14 Feet-7 Inches
Construction: Steel Sheet Over Wood Framing
Frame: Cast Steel And Steel Channel
Weight: 160,000 Pounds

New Museum Acquisitions
The Nethercutt Museum has over the last few months added several interesting and historically important automobiles to the Collection.

The new arrivals are:

1. 1925 Durant Model A-22, Sedan
2. 1916 Dort Model 5, Sedan
3. 1923 Dodge Series116, Touring
4. 1941 Cadillac Series Sixty-Two, Coupe Deluxe
5. 1941 Cadillac Series Sixty-Two, Coupe Deluxe
6. 1928 Buick Model 48-Series 120, 4-Passenger Coupe
7. 1925 Chevrolet Superior Model, Series K, Touring
8. 1926 Flint Model B40, Touring (California Top)
9. 1928 Gardner Model 85, Sport Sedan
10. 1931 DeVaux Model 6-75, Sport Coupe
11. 1911 Moon Model Thirty, Toy Tonneau
12. 1923 Moon Model 6-85 Sport Touring
13. 1927 Diana Light Eight, Sedan

	1911 Moon
	1941 Cadillacs
	1931 Devaux
	1928 Gardner and 1925 Chevrolet
	1923 Moon and 1928 Buick