Larz Anderson Museum

BROOKLINE, Ma. — Cars can only be original once, so the saying goes, and the Larz Anderson Auto Museum’s collection of unrestored cars dates to the turn of the century.

 Larz and his wife Isabel purchased an 1899 Winton Runabout that started their love affair with automobiles. Anderson was a wealthy Harvard graduate, and he married Isabel Weld Perkins in 1897. Isabel inherited $17 million from her grandfather at age 5.

 The Andersons traveled widely and embarked on a life of public service. He was ambassador to Japan in 1912 and she received the war cross in 1918 for her service in World War I.

 Between 1899 and 1948 the couple bought 32 new automobiles. As the cars became obsolete, they were retired to the carriage house, which today is the auto museum and home for a portion of the Anderson cars. The collection is thought to be America’s oldest.

 In 1948, the Andersons gave the 64 acres of their summer estate to the city of Brookline, a suburb of Boston. The Veteran Motor Car Club of America has played an important role in keeping the auto museum open. This year, the museum will host a record 30 lawn exhibits such as Cadillac Day, European Motorcycle Day and Extinct Autos Day.

 Two of the most interesting vehicles displayed in the museum are the Belgian 1906 Charron Giradot Voight (CGV) Berline de Voyage and the French 1912 Renault with body by Van den Plas. The rear part of the 1912 Renault’s Van den Plas body is covered with faux caning made from tar. The radiator sat behind the 40-horsepower, six-cylinder engine.

 The Andersons used the 90-horsepower CGV to travel between Brookline and their home in Washington, D.C. The Berline de Voyage was similar to a modern SUV. It had a folding bed, writing desk, bookshelf, lights, electric fan, a sink and a porcelain toilet. A ladder gave access to the roof rack, which carried luggage. The fenders are leather.

 The Andersons gave each of their cars a nickname and a crest. The CGV was nicknamed “Winnepocket,” and its motto was “fortis, ferox et celler,” or strong, ferocious and fast.

 The Renault’s nickname was “Yankee Doodle,” and its motto was “nulli cedam,” yields to no one.

 For more information and a full schedule of this summer’s lawn events, go to www.mot.org.