What are the best car museums/collections you have visited? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Delibes · #1 04-10-2016, 02:37 AM

I am considering a research project in the USA, and would like to ask you for car museum/collection recommendations. While they do not necessarily need to feature the rarest/most valuable automobiles, my main focus will be visitor experience, layout and organization.

The golden standard, right now, is the Louwman Museum in the Netherlands —better, even, than the MB Museum in my opinion. Special thanks to Stretch for introducing me to this jewel of a place!

Stretch · #2 04-10-2016, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delibes

I am considering a research project in the USA, and would like to ask you for car museum/collection recommendations. While they do not necessarily need to feature the rarest/most valuable automobiles, my main focus will be visitor experience, layout and organization.

The golden standard, right now, is the Louwman Museum in the Netherlands —better, even, than the MB Museum in my opinion. Special thanks to Stretch for introducing me to this jewel of a place!

I can not accept your gratitude! If I remember correctly it was Govert who said we should go.

Still I agree it is a pretty amazing collection. Makes you feel spoilt by the time you get to see "just another" special bodied blah blah...

...as for other places to visit I can say that I was disappointed by the National motor museum at Beaulieu

Home - The National Motor Museum Trust

My main gripe was the second mortgage needed to get in - but it is also just not a nice museum.

I had a much better experience in an old farm here =>

Vintage Cars and Motorcycles | Moretonhampstead Motor Museum

And next on my list back in the UK again is this one =>

West of England Transport Collection at Winkleigh - About Us

I have also heard really good things about this one =>

Welcome to HIMM

If you fancy a trip to the UK to see these and you fancy a bit of sarcastic commentary and a few pints let me know.

t walgamuth · #3 04-10-2016, 10:58 AM

Interesting question...as an Architect I suppose I should be sensitive to the building, the lighting and things other than cars. I have to stop and think about the buildings of each museum because my first thoughts are of the cars. Not a lot of Museums have really nice buildings.

1. Indy 500 museum has a collection of race cars that cannot be beat. The building looks like a prison. A particularly ugly piece of work from a period when large precast concrete lumps were often assembled and called buildings.

2. The Ford museum is one of the largest museums. Its collection encompasses many things besides cars including trains etc. It has been 20 years I suppose since i was there though and its time I got up there again.

3. The Auburn Cord Deusenberg Museum has possibly the nicest vintage building of any Museum. It is the period perfect Art Deco headquarters of the same companie(s) from the thirties. Perfectly preserved but with updated toilets etc done in a style that fits well with the original parts. Great collection too though the display is pretty standard...cars parked in rows.

4. The Ferrari museum in Maranello is not a large one but has an architecturally outstanding example of modern Architecture. The displays are very creatively done as well with much variety of display methods. There are engines on stands which can be walked around. The engines qualify as art too for their exquisite designs. There is a ground effects F1 car which you can walk under and see all the construction of the bottom, which is as well thought out as the top with an amazing amount of features. Lots of lovely Ferraris to look at as well.

5. The Gilmore museum north of Kalamazoo Mi. is a very nicely done example architecturally, with a collection of buildings all with historic appearances, looking like a factory, barns etc. with a real 1941 Diner "car" you can eat in. It also has a nice collection of cars.

6. There is a museum right behind the Auburn one which features prominently trucks. It is a lovely place which smells of old gasoline and oil. It is housed in an old manufacturing building. The vehicles are simply lined up in rows and aesthetically it reminds much of an old storage building which you have been allowed to visit. very enjoyable.

I have a hard time talking about the buildings since when there I tend to focus so much on the cars.

Have a great time doing your research. If you are near lafayette, please give a shout and I'll visit a museum with you or simply have a bite or a drink.

I envy your "job".

Good luck!

tbomachines · #4 04-10-2016, 11:01 AM

I am a horrible car guy for not visiting this one in my backyard yet, but the simeone foundation in philly is renowned as one of the best in the country.

Sent from an abacus

Maki · #5 04-10-2016, 11:42 AM

I liked the Auburn/Cord/Deusenberg Museum very much, in large part because of the classy building, as Tom points out. I also liked Auto World in Brussels.

Delibes · #6 04-12-2016, 12:04 AM

Thank you for your replies so far!

A while ago, Tyler recommended the Kemp Museum, the biggest Mercedes-Benz-centered collection the the USA. Already sounds promising, doesn't it?

Home - Kemp Auto Museum

bsharp8256 · #7 04-12-2016, 02:08 PM

If you like weird and rare stuff, I've heard that the Lane Motor Museum right here in Nashville is surprisingly good:

http://www.lanemotormuseum.org/

I haven't been myself, so I don't know how it would compare to other collections, but they have a lot of stuff that you don't see too often in the States (and anywhere, for some things). Take a peek through their collection online

panZZer · #8 04-12-2016, 05:39 PM

Aint no car museum cultural stuff in N Texas to speak of,

Except the old Pate Museum of transportation- where the BIG swap meet was originally in the cow pastures outside.

only a few unordinary cars,
A 1903 curved dash caddy.
The last corvair off the assembly line-never completed.
A custom Texas oil baron thing called the "longhorn". The "barn" isnt really worth driving out to see.
and some Vietnam era aircraft outside, a thunderchief, some others.
There are probably more impressive private held collections among the "new money" stuff, like don davis's hobby stuff.

panZZer · #9 04-13-2016, 04:00 PM

Forgot to mention the coolest thing at the Pate
A Pan Am clipper.

Stretch · #10 04-14-2016, 10:57 AM

Now that is cool

TX76513 · #11 04-14-2016, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delibes

Thank you for your replies so far!

A while ago, Tyler recommended the Kemp Museum, the biggest Mercedes-Benz-centered collection the the USA. Already sounds promising, doesn't it?

Home - Kemp Auto Museum

If I am not mistaken Kemp is closed

t walgamuth · #12 04-14-2016, 04:13 PM

The single greatest machine ever built is the spruce goose in Oregon. Great air museum too. Evergreen Aviation Museum

Delibes · #13 04-15-2016, 01:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

The single greatest machine ever built is the spruce goose in Oregon. Great air museum too. Evergreen Aviation Museum

I remember there was a Peachparts GTG there a while ago... not quite a car museum, but it's got to be one of the most impressive aviation museums in the country!

t walgamuth · #14 04-15-2016, 07:13 AM

They have a DC-3 parked under one of the gooses wings. It makes the 3 look like a pedal car.

Delibes · #15 04-17-2016, 06:29 AM

I've taken the liberty of plotting as many car museums as I can get my hands on; US is quite there, next up is Europe —especially Germany.

http://bit.ly/carmuseums

Enjoy!