About the
Horseless Carriage Foundation, Inc.
The Horseless Carriage Foundation, Inc. (HCFI) was established in 1985 to make automobile research and restoration information readily available to hobbyists, restorers, and scholars worldwide.
The Horseless Carriage Foundation library is presently located at 8186 Center Street, Suite F, in La Mesa, California. Local and out-of-town auto hobbyists are always welcome. Please call ahead before visiting to make sure someone will be in the office. The Librarian will assist on-site patrons in self-directed research at no charge. Small study groups and students can be accommodated by appointment.
The core collection and the primary focus of the Automotive Research Library of the HCFI is automotive related literature of all years. The Library has a comprehensive collection of motor vehicle literature which includes Classic cars, imported automobiles, trucks, buses, fire tricks, race cars, sports cars and motorcycles from the turn of the century through the present. Materials include all aspects of pioneer motoring, collections of early periodicals, automotive manuals, original factory literature and advertisements, club publications and the history of auto enthusiasts' organizations.
The Automotive Research Library of the HCFI holds and seeks archival materials and historical automotive memorabilia such as early photographs, trophies, automobile company records, show catalogs, and correspondence.
The Horseless Carriage Foundation Inc. (HCFI) is a 501(c)(3) public educational library. The HCFI Automotive Research Library actively solicits gifts of cash, memorabilia, antique cars, and automobile-related literature. All gifts to HCFI are deductible from State and U.S. Federal Income Tax to the extent allowed by the law.
Our library encourages and supports cooperation between automotive libraries and historical automotive clubs in the US and overseas. Our funding comes from memberships, individual donations, grants and from various charitable organizations; including the Ellen Browning Scripps Foundation. Additional income from research fees helps to support library services.
The Automotive Research Library of the HCFI is not part of, or a subsidiary of the Horseless Carriage Club of America. It is closely allied to HCCA as many of the members of the Horseless Carriage Club of America are also members of Library.