How Did Jeff Lane Make His Money
If you're looking for inspiration on how to turn your passion into a successful business, look no further than Jeff Lane.
As the founder of Lane Motor Museum in Nashville, Tennessee, Jeff has turned his love for unique and technically significant automobiles into a thriving museum that attracts visitors from all over the world.
In this blog post, we'll explore how Jeff Lane made his money and built his dream business from scratch.
Jeff Lane's passion for cars
started at a young age with his first car, a 1955 MG TF.
He continued to collect unique and technically significant automobiles over the years, especially those of European extraction.
In the mid-1980s, he moved to Nashville and expanded his collection in the 1990s.
This passion led him to found the Lane Motor Museum with his wife Susan where they house one-of-a-kind vehicles from microcars to military amphibious vehicles that are licensed for the road, making it a "working" collection.
The Lane Motor Museum houses one-of-a-kind vehicles from microcars to military amphibious vehicles that are licensed for the road, making it a "working" collection.
As an entrepreneur and car enthusiast, Jeff Lane has taken his love of cars to new heights through expanding his collection into a family-oriented museum that attracts tourists from all around the world.
With Susan's help as curator, this automotive enthusiast is continuously adding "Unique Cars from A-Z" while maintaining them in running condition so they can be driven anytime on any given day at their museum floor or out on international events like The Great Race.
Early beginnings
Jeff Lane's passion for cars began in his childhood, inspired by his family's automotive background.
He started collecting unique and technically significant automobiles in the 1990s, focusing on European extraction vehicles that were often overlooked by other collectors.
After meeting Susan in 1999, she encouraged him to consolidate his collection into one location which ultimately led to the formation of their successful business, the Lane Motor Museum.
Today, Jeff continues to collect "Unique Cars from A to Z" with a focus on buying and driving them while Susan handles administrative aspects of the museum as curator.
Expanding the collection
Jeff Lane's love for auto is not limited to collecting cars but also expanding his collection by acquiring rare and vintage cars.
He never hesitates to purchase interesting vehicles that excite him, especially those of European extraction, which led him to expand his collection in the 1990s.
Building relationships with other car enthusiasts has also been key in expanding Jeff's business; he seeks out obscure vehicles that fit their unique collection while showing Europe and America were doing similar things.
In addition to that, the Lanes are working on creating a museum where they can showcase their remarkable automotive treasures from micro-cars to military amphibious transporters under one roof, which will be open for everyone with an interest in automotive history or just plain curious about unusual vehicles.
Founding the Lane Motor Museum
Jeff Lane, the founder of Lane Motor Museum, started collecting unusual automobiles and motorcycles as a hobby.
His passion for unique cars led him to expand his collection in the 1990s, eventually leading him to purchase an old bakery plant in Nashville with his wife Susan.
They founded the family-oriented Lane Motor Museum in 2002, bringing together Jeff's nearly-80 vehicle collection under one roof and adding even more vehicles over time.
Today, their museum features micro cars, military and amphibious vehicles, prototypes, and one-of-a-kind vehicles from all around the world - all maintained by Jeff himself who focuses on purchasing and overseeing restoration while Susan handles administrative aspects such as what vehicles go on display.
Bringing the collection under one roof
Bringing the collection under one roof was a challenge for Jeff and Susan Lane, but they were determined to make it happen.
Jeff's passion for cars started at a young age when he rebuilt his first car with his father.
As his interest grew, so did his collection of rare and unique vehicles.
With Susan's encouragement, they decided to open a museum in Nashville to showcase their impressive array of automobiles.
Finding a suitable location was essential, and after purchasing the former Sunbeam bakery plant, they were able to bring their dream to fruition.
Today, visitors from around the world can enjoy viewing micro cars, military vehicles, prototypes and motorcycles all housed under one roof at Lane Motor Museum.
Jeff and Susan's roles in the museum
Jeff Lane's entrepreneurial journey started as a hobby, collecting unique automobiles and motorcycles that interested him.
With encouragement from his wife Susan, they founded the Lane Motor Museum in 2002 as a way to bring Jeff's collection of "Unique Cars from A to Z" under one roof.
As director of the museum, Jeff focuses on purchasing and restoring vehicles while Susan takes care of administrative tasks like deciding which cars go on display and writing display signs.
Together, Jeff and Susan work as a team to make the Lane Motor Museum a success.
Their shared passion for unusual cars has led them to collect microcars, military vehicles, prototypes and one-of-a-kind automobiles from Europe, Japan, and America.
They take pride in maintaining their collection in working condition so that they can be driven at any time giving visitors an interactive experience at the museum.
The Lane Motor Museum's collection
is a testament to the passion and dedication of its founders, Jeff and Susan Lane.
Their emphasis on European and Japanese vehicles is evident in their vast array of micro cars, military vehicles, prototypes, one-of-a-kind automobiles, and motorcycles.
However, they also recognize American automakers' creativity by featuring significant American-made vehicles that most people aren't aware even existed.
Their collection includes unique cars such as the Martin Aerodynamic Car from 1928; a Davis Divan prototype from 1948; a California coach-built Hewson Rocket from 1946; a military amphibious cargo vehicle LX L.A.R.C., which measures an impressive length of 62 feet; an RV Ultra Van built using Corvair parts in 1960; various Crosleys; and more.
What sets this museum apart is their commitment to keeping all the cars in good condition so they can still be driven today.
Emphasis on European and Japanese vehicles
Smart Car Technology, Unique Features of French Cars and The Rise of Japanese Automakers are some areas where the Lane Motor Museum features vehicles.
With a collection focused on European and Japanese automobiles, they aim to show that American automakers were just as innovative as other nations.
While 90 percent of their cars come from Europe or Japan, they still have a significant number of rare American cars that many people may not know even existed.
Jeff Lane's passion for technically unique cars is evident in his choice of vehicles; he has an affinity for unusual shapes and designs with special engineering characteristics.
Susan complements Jeff's technical knowledge by focusing on aspects such as research writing and museum administration.
Their shared interest in car culture has resulted in one-of-a-kind exhibits like micro-cars, military amphibious vehicles, prototypes, motorcycles, all displayed under one roof at the Lane Motor Museum.
The French automobile industry is renowned not only for its luxurious brands but also its exceptional engineering capabilities; these qualities can be seen in several models exhibited at the museum.
Smart technology advancements have also made their way into automobile manufacturing processes across various countries globally; this trend leads to more innovations aimed at producing safer yet comfortable driving experience while keeping up with current eco-friendly standards.
Meanwhile there has been a steady rise over time among Japanese automakers who prioritize quality production without compromising safety standards which positions them well within global markets.
In summary;
- The Lane Motor Museum houses unique and technologically advanced automobiles.
- There is emphasis on European and Japanese designs within their collection.
- They showcase lesser-known American-made automobiles along with microcars,
military amphibious cargo vehicle prototypes etc.
- Jeff focuses mainly on buying & restoration while Susan handles administrative duties including curating displays.
- The museum puts focus on smart car technologies amongst others: further innovations
geared towards creating safe yet eco-friendly driving experiences are expected in
coming years alongside increased prominence accorded to precision automotive
engineering from Japanese automakers.
American vehicles in the collection
The Lane Motor Museum boasts a collection of American vehicles that are rarely seen elsewhere.
The museum's showcase includes uncommon American muscle cars, vintage police vehicles and famous Hollywood movie cars; each providing a unique insight into the history of car culture in America.
Visitors can marvel at one-of-a-kind models such as the 1948 Davis Divan or take a ride in the military amphibious cargo vehicle, L.A.R.C LX.
These impressive examples demonstrate how much creativity and adventurous spirit was put into designing American automobiles throughout history.
The Lane Motor Museum as a 'working' collection
The Lane Motor Museum is not your typical collection of static vehicles.
Jeff and Susan Lane have made sure that their museum is a "working" collection, with 95% of the cars in running condition.
Their goal is to keep all the cars in a condition where they can be driven, which means that many of them are licensed for the road and positioned on the museum floor for easy access.
This willingness to drive their cars has given them international publicity, as they participate in events like the Great Race.
The Lanes believe it's important to share their passion for unusual automobiles by showing visitors how these unique machines perform on real roads.
95% of the collection runs
95% of the collection runs, which is a testament to Jeff's commitment towards maintaining and restoring the cars.
The Lane Motor Museum showcases unique car models that most people are not aware ever existed, with an emphasis on European and Japanese vehicles.
However, they also have American microcars, prototypes like the 1948 Davis Divan and military amphibious cargo vehicle like the 1959 L.A.R.C. LX.
The importance of having a fully functional collection cannot be overstated as it allows Jeff and Susan to take their cars out at any time for events or road trips.
They aim to keep all the cars in good condition so that they can be used frequently without any issues.
To achieve this goal, maintenance and restoration processes are continuously carried out on some vehicles undergoing major restorations while others remain licensed for use on roads.
- Unique car models in the collection
- Maintenance and restoration processes for the cars
- The importance of having a fully functional collection
Willingness to drive the cars
Jeff Lane's passion for driving unique cars is evident in the fact that 95% of his collection runs.
He believes that these rare vehicles should be driven and not just preserved as static displays.
Driving these cars serves a dual purpose, allowing them to be researched and developed while also providing an opportunity for enthusiasts to experience them firsthand.
Jeff finds a balance between preservation and utilization of his collection, ensuring that all the cars are kept in good condition so they can be used whenever he wants.
Driving rare vehicles has many benefits, including research and development purposes.
For instance, testing new technologies on classic cars provides insight into how they perform compared to modern vehicles.
The Lane Motor Museum is continually finding ways to improve its vehicles while keeping their original character alive.
Jeff believes that it's essential to share this experience with like-minded enthusiasts by participating in events such as the Great Race where people can see these amazing machines at work on challenging cross-country courses or joining drives through fascinating places around the world.
The Lane Motor Museum's impact
Since its opening in 2002, Jeff and Susan Lane have been able to share their passion for unique automobiles with visitors from all over the world.
Their collection of micro cars, military vehicles, prototypes and one-of-a-kind vehicles sets them apart from other museums.
What makes the Lane Motor Museum even more special is that they are a "working" collection; most of their vehicles run and are licensed for the road.
This has given them international publicity, such as participating in the Great Race, which has attracted car enthusiasts from around the globe to visit Nashville just to see what else they have up their sleeve.
Through their dedication and hard work in expanding this collection of rare cars that showcase innovation across nations including America and Europe alike.
Jeff Lane made his money through his undying passion for vintage automobiles by creating an attraction where people can enjoy seeing these magnificent machines up close while learning about automotive history at its finest!
Participation in the Great Race
Jeff Lane's passion for vintage cars extends beyond simply collecting them, he enjoys driving and showcasing them as well.
This is why he and his wife Susan decided to participate in the Great Race.
The idea behind participating is to share their love of unique automobiles with other enthusiasts, while also pushing themselves and their vehicles to the limit.
However, this is not without its challenges; navigating through unfamiliar terrain while maintaining a competitive pace requires significant skill and attention from both the driver and navigator.
During the race, Jeff faced various challenges such as unexpected mechanical issues or difficult road conditions that put his skills as a driver to the test.
Despite these obstacles, Jeff remained determined to finish each leg of the race successfully and showcase what makes his collection so special.
Through participation in events like the Great Race, Jeff hopes to inspire others who share his love for vintage cars by demonstrating how they can be appreciated in a tangible way beyond just admiring them on display at museums or car shows.
International publicity
How Jeff Lane capitalized on the media coverage of his win
Jeff Lane, the founder and director of Lane Motor Museum, has been successful in capitalizing on the media coverage of his wins at events like the Great Race.
His participation in these events allows him to showcase some of his unique automobiles while also generating international publicity for himself and his museum.
Building a network with car enthusiasts around the world
Through his love for unusual cars, Jeff Lane has built a global network with other car enthusiasts who share similar passions.
This community provides him with opportunities to expand both his personal collection and business ventures by connecting him with people who can offer expert advice or even rare finds.
Expanding business opportunities through international exposure
The international publicity generated by Jeff's involvement in various events has given him numerous opportunities to broaden and diversify revenue streams related to cars.
For example, he now sells specialized parts for vintage vehicles that are not readily available elsewhere, providing an additional source of income for himself and others within this industry.
- Winning competitions such as The Great Race generates valuable media attention
- Building a strong global network brings access to expertise as well as potential acquisitions
- International exposure opens up new avenues for expanding businesses related to vintage cars.
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