While the Autosphere editorial team was working on a feature about classic car restoration, we asked the team at 3M to share the history behind their very own club of automotive enthusiasts.

As a specialized supplier of collision repair equipment and materials, the company eagerly answered our call. It comes as no surprise that within an organization featuring a dedicated automotive division, you will find a large number of car enthusiasts.

In fact, the employee-run 3M Auto Club is now nearing its 50th anniversary. It was founded in the early 1980s as the 3M Rod & Custom Club, originally focusing on classic and modified cars. From its inception, the club has been open to 3M employees and automotive enthusiasts alike who share a common passion for noteworthy vehicles.

Today, that same spirit lives on within the 3M Auto Club, which welcomes 3M employees, retirees, and car enthusiasts of all kinds. “The club’s mission is to strengthen 3M’s corporate culture, foster community engagement, and support the activities of the 3M Automotive Division whenever possible,” the company explained via a communication from 3M’s marketing agency.

The club’s calendar includes seasonal cruises, several club-funded meetups and dinners, a charity car show raising funds for hospitalized children, and monthly car shows on the 3M campus in Maplewood, Minnesota. These monthly events are free to the public and often draw more than 700 vehicles. The club also hosts an annual show in Woodbury, Minnesota, featuring a wide variety of show cars ranging from classics and muscle cars to modern builds.

By the spring of 2023, the club consisted entirely of 3M retirees. Facing declining member engagement, the remaining active board members at the time felt they had no choice but to disband the club.

Fortunately, in July 2023, Jonathan “JT” Gaige (an advanced manufacturing technology systems specialist at 3M) joined the club as its sole active employee member and immediately took over as treasurer. He launched a recruitment drive that successfully brought in Andy Armstrong (a senior technical service engineer at 3M) to serve as club president.

Thanks to JT and Andy’s recruitment efforts, active membership more than tripled within a year. Today, the club is thriving, boasting a healthy mix of current employees and retirees. Some members have been around since the 1980s, and the roster spans several U.S. regions and even extends closer to home in Brockville, Ontario—a clear sign that automotive passion knows no borders.