The JBS Collection’s 1937 Cord 812 Phaeton is on display through Dec. 6 at the Savoy Automobile Museum’s National Treasures exhibition
Increasingly, one of the first questions we hear at The JBS Collection is: “Where can I see some of the cars?”
We’re excited to share that one of our most celebrated automobiles—and one of the most historically significant vehicles in America—is on public display as part of an extraordinary museum exhibition.
Jack Boyd Smith Jr.’s 1937 Cord 812 Phaeton Convertible, famously purchased new by legendary aviator Amelia Earhart, is now on exhibit after accepting an invitation to National Treasures, a landmark exhibition running Aug. 4 through Dec. 6, 2026, at the Savoy Automobile Museum in Cartersville, Georgia.
A gathering of automotive greatness
Presented in partnership with the Hagerty Drivers Foundation, the exhibition brings together eight extraordinary automobiles from the National Historic Vehicle Register (NHVR)—a collaborative initiative launched in 2014 by the Hagerty Drivers Foundation, the U.S. Department of the Interior, and the Library of Congress to permanently preserve the stories of America’s most historically significant automobiles as part of the Historic American Engineering Record (HAER).
The Earhart Cord, inducted into the National Historic Vehicle Register in 2023 as Vehicle No. 33, will be displayed alongside an extraordinary collection of American automotive icons, including the 1938 Maserati 8CTF “Boyle Special” from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, the Ferris Bueller Ferrari, the Beatnik Bandit, the Dodge Deora, and several other nationally significant automobiles whose stories helped shape American culture.
What makes this exhibition especially remarkable is its rarity.
Since the National Historic Vehicle Register was established more than a decade ago, only 38 automobiles have earned inclusion. Those vehicles are scattered among museums and private collections throughout the United States, making opportunities to see even one of them relatively uncommon.
National Treasures marks the first time a collection of National Historic Vehicle Register automobiles has been assembled for public exhibition, allowing visitors to experience eight of America’s most historically significant vehicles together under one roof.
“We’re incredibly honored that Amelia Earhart’s Cord was invited for this remarkable exhibition,” said Jack Boyd Smith Jr., founder and owner of The JBS Collection. “To have this automobile displayed alongside some of the most historically significant vehicles ever placed on the National Historic Vehicle Register is truly special. Opportunities like this are exceedingly rare, and we’re grateful that visitors from across the country will have the chance to experience not only Amelia Earhart’s remarkable automobile, but also the incredible stories these National Treasures tell about American innovation, ingenuity, and culture.”
Together at long last
The idea for the exhibition grew from conversations between the Savoy Automobile Museum and the Hagerty Drivers Foundation about the National Historic Vehicle Register and the realization that, despite the Register’s growing significance, its automobiles had never before been gathered in one place for the public to experience together.
Photos courtesy of Preston Rose at the Hagerty Drivers Foundation
“Every one of these vehicles has a truly unique and special story to American culture,” said Tom Cotter, the Director of Curatorial Services at Savoy Automobile Museum. Cotter worked closely with Casey Maxon—Director of Heritage for Hagerty—to bring the collaborative National Treasures exhibition to life. “It’s an honor to have The JBS Collection’s historic Cord be a part of this. Bringing together automobiles from the National Historic Vehicle Register allows us to broaden public understanding of the Register while celebrating the people, innovation, and history these remarkable vehicles represent. Every car has a story, and we’re excited to help share those stories with our visitors.”
For The JBS Collection, the invitation represents another milestone in the remarkable journey of Amelia Earhart’s Cord. Meticulously restored by The JBS Collection with the expert craftsmanship of LaVine Restorations, Inc., the automobile was inducted into the National Historic Vehicle Register in 2023 and has since become one of the Collection’s most celebrated ambassadors, helping tell the story not only of one of aviation’s greatest pioneers, but also of the innovation, artistry, and engineering excellence that defines the American automobile.
The Cord was featured in the Season 1 finale of The JBS Collection’s rising automotive series, The Journey. In addition, it was previously displayed under glass on The National Mall in Washington, D.C. (2023); presented in the rotunda at the legendary Royal Automobile Club in London (2024); and spent several months on display at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation (2025).
If you’ve been hoping for an opportunity to see Amelia Earhart’s award-winning Cord in person, there may never be a better time. Combined with seven other National Historic Vehicle Register automobiles in a first-of-its-kind exhibition, National Treasures promises to be one of the premier automotive museum experiences in the country—and one The JBS Collection is deeply honored to help bring to life!