Lions Automobilia Museum - Rancho Dominguez, California

The Lions Automobilia Museum in Rancho Dominguez is a large-scale tribute to Southern California’s role in shaping American car culture and motorsports. Established in 2019 by businessman and enthusiast Rick Lorenzen, the nearly 100,000-square-foot nonprofit facility combines traditional museum galleries with immersive, themed environments that spotlight the region’s drag-racing heritage, its hot-rod innovators, and its long-standing automotive aftermarket industry.

A central feature of the museum is the Spirit of Lions Drag Strip exhibit, which recreates key elements of the historic Lions Drag Strip that operated from 1955 to 1972. Visitors encounter a replica starting line and tower, period staging lanes, and a collection of cars and memorabilia tied directly to the legendary track. The exhibit underscores the pivotal role Lions played in the early days of organized drag racing and the broader performance scene that emerged around it.

Complementing its motorsport focus, the museum showcases one of the largest Willys automobile and truck collections in North America, alongside displays that explore the evolution of Southern California’s car culture, from early horseless carriages to the imagery popularized by Hollywood. Additional galleries highlight the rise of the regional aftermarket industry, with nods to influential names such as Isky Cams, Keith Black Engines, Ed Pink, Edelbrock, and Moon Equipment.

More than a static display space, the Lions Automobilia Museum operates an active restoration facility complete with fabrication, paint, body and assembly shops. This hands-on component supports the foundation’s Youth & Career Path initiatives, offering workshops, seminars, and real-time exposure to restoration trades. Programs range from the nationwide Hot Rodders of Tomorrow engine-building competition to on-site challenges such as learning to change a spark plug, aimed at introducing younger generations to automotive skills and career pathways.

As a nonprofit foundation, Lions encourages community involvement through volunteering, donations, and participation in special events. By combining historical preservation with education and skill-building, the Lions Automobilia Museum serves both as a celebration of Southern California’s automotive legacy and as a platform for cultivating the next generation of builders, racers, and enthusiasts.