On Display: Car Museums By the Manufacturer Part 1
January 11, 2016
Admit it! Sometimes you think museums are one of the most boring places on this planet. But what if we tell you there are museums in the world dedicated purely to cars? And not just any car, but to a certain brand. You’ll certainly find these museums interesting as they not only display car parts like steel tubes or mufflers, but the actual cars themselves! These places may be a bit far, so you better save up for these trips starting now.
Museo Lamborghini
The Lamborghini’s name is synonymous to flashy, luxurious cars. When you say you own a Lamborghini, then everyone knows you have both money and taste in cars. If you cannot afford to own one of these beauties, then you can do the next best thing by visiting the Museo Lamborghini.
Located in Sant’Agata Bolognese, Emilia Romagna in Italy, the museum is connected to the Lamborghini factory. It was opened in 2001 and is two stories tall. You will be able to see the history of the Lamborghini along with a gallery displaying some of its most iconic cars like the Sesto Elemento. If you cannot go to the factory, you can check it out via a virtual gallery tour created by Lamborghini and Google.
Musée de l’Aventure Peugeot
With a name like Musée de l’Aventure Peugeot, you know this is one place you want to go to. After all, the name does translate to “Museum of the Peugeot Adventure”. You will be able to find this museum in Sochaux, France, just across the gargantuan industrial site of the car company. Work on the museum began in 1984 and was opened to the public four years later. In 2000, the museum was expanded, tripling its display floor space. Since 2008, one may tour the building using audio guides.
What can you see inside the museum? If you visit the museum in March and visit it again in December, you might not see the same vehicles on display as there are around 450 cars and 300 two wheeler vehicles on rotation, but you will be able to see over a hundred Peugot cars, and over a hundred motorcycles, both from the past and from the present.
And like the Museo Lamborghini, you don’t have to leave the comfort of your own home to see the beautiful cars on display, as a virtual tour of the museum is available on their website. The next time you go to France, go on a vehicular adventure as you visit the Musée de l’Aventure Peugeot.
Autostadt
You know you’re in the right place if you are greeted with a cheery “Guten Tag” as you enter the doors of the museum of one of best car manufacturers in all of Germany: the Autostadt of Volkswagen located in Wolfsburg. The official museum of the “People’s Car” does not disappoint as it is not composed of merely one building but rather, a large complex of buildings and water works. When we say large, let’s just put it this way: it currently holds the world record for the largest glass doors and the longest printed line, measuring 6.4 kilometers long!
Due to the enormity of the complex, you might even call the place a theme park as it houses not just several pavilions but restaurants, a luxury hotel and multimedia activities. It’s not just the Volkswagen on display, but other car brands as well. The Porsche, Škoda, Lamborghini and Audi all have their own pavilions, displaying highlights of each brand.
Of course, the highlight of it all is the Volkswagen, to which there are two pavilions dedicated to the world’s largest car factory. These pavilions also happen to be the largest in the complex. For sure you will not be disappointed once you enter. Inside, you will see its history and development plus all the models created by the prestigious car company. What are you waiting for? Check it out and see the other displays available only in Autostdt.
By the descriptions alone, we know you’re already checking out airline fares and hotel rates. Once you get there, don’t forget to snap a souvenir photos and to savor your visit. Enjoy!