Lane Motor Museum is one of the few museums in the U.S. to specialize in European cars. It is a working museum with the goal of maintaining all vehicles in running order. Some cars are in showroom condition, while others represent typical aging. Efforts are made to restore each vehicle to near-original specifications.
The perfect location was found in the former Sunbeam Bakery at 702 Murfreesboro Pike in Nashville. In 1889, the American Bread Company opened in Nashville, and in 1951 the company moved to new facilities on Murfreesboro Pike. At 142,000 square feet, it was the largest and most modern bakery in the area. In 1953, the Sunbeam label was adopted by the bakery. By 1988, the Nashville bakery facility was fully automated and producing Sunbeam and Roman Meal products. Production ceased in Nashville in 1994, although distribution continued from the Murfreesboro Pike location until the end of 2002. The building, circa 1950, has high ceilings, natural light, and hand-crafted brick and maple wood flooring. The architectural style complements the age of the cars represented. The main floor has approximately 40,000 square feet of open space, ideal for displaying 150 vehicles from the collection.
