Automotive Library
The Canadian Automotive Museum Library contains Canadian automotive brochures, publications, and manuals.
The Glenn H. Baechler Canadian Automotive Research (C.A.R) Library
The Glenn H. Baechler C.A.R. Library at the Canadian Automotive Museum
The Canadian Automotive Museum maintains the world's most extensive collection of Canadian-specific automotive materials including manuals, brochures, advertisements, and photographs. Materials date from the early 1900s to the 2010s.
The Baechler C.A.R. Library is home to more than 7,000 automotive sales brochures.
In 2020, with the support of the Museum Assistance Program and a generous bequest from Canadian automotive historian Glenn H. Baechler a full renovation of the library space completed. A complete cataloguing of museum’s library and archival holdings was begun and continues with the support of the Oshawa Public Libraries and the museum’s dedicated staff and volunteers. Follow the Canadian Automotive Museum on our official social media channels for library updates.
The Oshawa Public Libraries also maintain a large collection of General Motors automotive repair manuals from the 1950s to the early 2000s. These materials can be requested through the circulation desk at the downtown Oshawa McLaughlin Branch.
Books and manuals are searchable through the Oshawa Public Libraries online catalogue.
Donating Books and Magazines to the Canadian Automotive Museum
The Canadian Automotive Museum accepts donations of automotive magazines, books, brochures, and related literature. The museum gratefully accepts these donations, but please note that staff only issues charitable tax receipts for materials of exceptional historical importance. Donated items may be added to the library collection, transferred to the Oshawa Public Library, or in the case of duplication, sold during a book sale with proceeds going to the ongoing preservation of the automotive reference collection. Please contact the museum for more information about donating library materials.
Research Requests
If you're looking to learn more about an an automotive topic, we recommend consulting our Resources page for finding aids, book listings and more. Research inquiries can be sent to library@canadianautomotivemuseum.com, or call 905-576-1222.
Thank you to our supporters
The Canadian Automotive Museum and the Baechler Canadian Automotive Research Library were supported by the Department of Canadian Heritage’s Museum Assistance Program in both 2020 and 2022. Thank you to the HCCA - Southern Ontario Region for their ongoing support of our efforts to collect and share information related to the Canadian automotive experience.
