WILLARD – There is a car collection in Willard just off Hwy 89 that attracts the attention of internet car enthusiasts from all over the world. The Millstream Classic Car Collection is an unassuming hidden gem along Fruit Way.
The museum of approximately 60 cars is the private collection of Thomas Jefferson Smith, born in Lewiston, but reared in Richmond. He attended Utah State University and spent his working days in Ogden. Smith passed away in 2021 leaving behind his collection of automobiles to his wife Margo and his children to watch over. His son, Tom, is the tour guide and caretaker of the collection.
Tom Smith opens up the door of a BMW Izetta one of the unusual cars at the Millstream Classic Car Collection on Friday Sept. 2025.
“We’ve been in Willard 18 years, and before that we owned and operated the Millstream Hotel for 37 years in Ogden and had the car museum there for 18 years before that. It’s pretty cool. It’s his collection. He was addicted to buying and fixing up cars,” says his wife Margo, originally from Smithfield.
His collection of restored (mostly) Fords are on display in a large metal building where they can be kept away from the weather. The Millstream Hotel and car museum sign stand is just outside of the building.
“We had the car collection and sign for our hotel in Ogden, so we just decided to keep it the Millstream Classic Car Collection,” Margo said. “My husband collected some pretty unique cars over the years.”
Margo Smith stands beside the car she used before driving classic cars was popular on Friday Sept. 1, 2025.
They have an amphicar on display. The car was built in the ‘60’s and the operator could drive it from the road into the water without missing a beat. The car would float, and propellers would carry it across the water. There is a BMW Izetta car with one door in front of the car to let the operator and one passenger in. There are several cars they call orphans, because the companies are no longer in business, including Nash, Studebaker, Packard and more.
“He looked for a place to show his cars all over Northern Utah with enough ground to put up a building and display his cars,” she said. “He finally settled on this place in Willard.”
The Millstream Hotel sign that was used for their hotel in Ogden stands near their Millstream Classic Car Collection on Friday Sept. 1, 2025.
When each of their nine children were born, Thomas would take one car out of his collection to the hospital to drive Margo and the newborn home. The car he chose would be the kid’s car when they were old enough to drive, Margo said.
The family’s Model A was passed down from his grandfather to Tom and it will be passed down to Tom’s son. His initials are painted on the driver-side door of the antique auto.
There are countless stories that go along with each of the cars, and Tom knows every car’s story, including the one of the Yellow Cab his father used as advertisement when he had the company in Ogden. It has even been used as a prop in some movies.
The 1950 Nash Yellow Cab sits among other Nash cars on Friday Sept. 1, 2025 in the Millstream Classic Car Collection. It was used as advertising when Thomas Smith owned the Yellow Cab Company in Ogden.
“We have groups from all over the world come here to see the collection,” she said. “We recently had a group from Taiwan that found us on the internet. We had three tours in one day. That was tough.”
The museum is located at 55 W. 1080 N. in Willard. They don’t charge, but there is a donation box for people who are inclined to help pay for the cost of upkeep. The museum is open by appointment only. Tours can be scheduled by calling (801) 721-0032.