69 museums every car fan should visit

This should satisfy your classic car craving!

Museums are treasure troves, packed with priceless cars and their associated memorabilia – and there are lots to choose from.

Not all museums were born the same, though, so which should make your bucket list?

We’ve trawled the planet for 69 of the best museums for car lovers – and they’re listed here in no particular order.

Exhibits change and buildings are revamped from time to time, so while the information is, to the best of our knowledge, correct at the time of publishing, it's always a good idea to check the museum's website before you visit

1. Porsche Museum (Stuttgart, Germany)

Porsche opened its first museum in 1976, but it was a modest affair that housed just 20 cars – hardly fitting for one of the greatest names in sports cars.

Nowadays, the marque’s collection is housed in a dramatic €100m structure close to Porsche HQ. Exhibits spiral chronologically in a seamless white setting, with vehicles on raised platforms against the walls and all arranged so that you can get close, with no barriers.

All of the production cars are present, of course, plus competition cars – including an awesome set of 917s.

Visit the Porsche Museum website here

2. Atwell Wilson Motor Museum (Wiltshire, UK)

Not all museums have to be massive, shiny spaces. This charming collection in Wiltshire, England, grew out of the private collection of a pair of enthusiasts, Richard and Hasell Atwell.

It’s been under the stewardship of a trust since the Atwells passed away, and has now been expanded, offering visitors a huge variety of motoring history – from American wagons to early Rollers – in an understated but welcoming setting.

You can even take a literal walk down Memory Lane, a part of the museum where two project Austins sit within a workshop setting.

Visit the Atwell Wilson Motor Museum website here

3. Blackhawk Automotive Museum (California, USA)

Nearby Los Angeles might be better known for its motoring heritage, but Danville, California, is home to Blackhawk – which in turn is home to a host of the world’s rarest cars, dramatically presented in gleaming black halls.

Conceived by developer Ken Behring and dealer Don Williams, the 70,000ft² complex houses everything from Packards to Ferraris.

The museum’s display of 40 classic cars is constantly rotating, so make sure you check out the website before your visit to see what’s on display.

Visit the Blackhawk museum website here

4. Museo Storico Alfa Romeo (Milan, Italy)

Alfa’s official museum is a true treat for any fan of the iconic Italian marque.

Glossy but accessible exhibits span several floors, covering Alfa’s broad history – from its links with Italy’s greatest styling houses to the manufacturer’s glorious motorsport heritage – with a main exhibition that features more than 60 cars from a collection of 250.

Highlights include a sensational trio of Tipo 33 show cars and the iconic 1938 Le Mans 8C-2900B Speciale. There’s even a cinema to entertain younger visitors.

Visit the Museo Storico Alfa Romeo website here

5. National Motor Museum, Beaulieu (Hampshire, UK)

Established by Lord Montagu, this museum began life in 1952 as a five-car display, growing rapidly to become the National Motor Museum in 1972.

The diverse collection, nestled away in the New Forest, continues to expand, covering everything from an 1875 Grenville steam carriage to a Lotus E20 Formula One car from 2012.

It’s also home to a painstaking recreation of a 1930s country garage, as well as the Shell Heritage Art Collection – one of the most important hoards of commercial art in Britain.

Visit the National Motor Museum website here

6. Wijnland Auto Museum (Cape Town, South Africa)

Wijnland Auto Museum is famous for its rows of rusting wrecks that line the side of a national motorway.

Proprietor Les Boshoff, who supplies cars to the film industry, has devoted most of his life to saving classics from the scrapheap. The line-up varies from rusted hulks of such rarities as a 1953 Talbot-Lago and a 1935 De Soto Airflow – both of which narrowly avoided the crusher – to on-the-button gems stored under cover.

These include a Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud and a two-owners-from-new 1940 Buick.

Visit the Wijnland Auto Museum website here

7. Klassikstadt (Frankfurt, Germany)

Tucked away just off a side street in Frankfurt’s industrial suburbs, Klassikstadt is at the heart of the city’s classic scene.

Built as a farm machinery factory, it’s home today to more than 30 related businesses – from coach-trimmers to insurers – as well as the second-floor Boxengasse (or ‘pitlane’), where glass-fronted, climate-controlled car storage provides an ever-changing exhibit of exotic machinery.

Visit the Klassikstadt website here

8. Musée des 24 Heures (Le Mans, France)

As much a part of going to Le Mans as seeing headlights streaking through twilight at the Porsche Curves, a visit to the Musée des 24 Heures gives you a chance to witness the full history of this magnificent race in vehicular form.

Starting with the wonderfully understated Bentley 3 Litre that posted the fastest lap in the first event and won in 1924, there’s something here from every era of racing at La Sarthe – right up to an Audi R8 and a Bentley Speed 8 (though the Group C cars that precede those two will be a highlight for many).

Visit the Musée des 24 Heures website here

9. Museo Lamborghini and Museo Ferruccio Lamborghini (Bologna, Italy)

There are two Lamborghini museums in Italy’s motor valley, within 30 minutes of one another – and together they make for an unforgettable experience.

The official one, run by parent company Audi, is a polished showroom with the latest models and a little history, while the family-run Museo Ferruccio Lamborghini is a more personal story of the man behind the legend.

Head to the former for your hypercar hit, before visiting the latter for a diverse and involving walk through history. If you’re lucky, you might get a tour from the great man’s nephew, Fabio.

Visit the Museo Lamborghini website here

Visit the Museo Ferruccio Lamborghini website here

10. Great British Car Journey (Derbyshire, UK)

Nestled in the Peak District, the Great British Car Journey only opened in 2021, but has already become a popular petrolhead pilgrimage.

The museum boasts over 140 British-built cars for visitors to reminisce over, from Austin Sevens to a Vauxhall Chevette – the only supercar in sight is a long-term loan from McLaren.

The museum charts the UK’s once bustling automotive history through a collection of carefully curated displays.

Visit the Great British Car Journey website here

11. Audi Museum Mobile (Bavaria, Germany)

If you imagine applying Audi’s ‘progress through technology’ philosophy to a building, the result will probably be pretty close to the Audi Museum Mobile.

Opened in 2000 as part of the Audi Forum in Ingolstadt, four glass-wrapped storeys symbolise key eras, combining to make up the four rings of the Audi logo.

The first thing you notice as you enter at the lower level? The giant rotating lift on which more than a dozen cars are circulated over the full height of the building in silent and seemingly effortless transit.

Visit the Audi Museum Mobile website here

12. Grampian Transport Museum (Aberdeenshire, UK)

Just getting to the Grampian Transport Museum (situated east of the Cairngorms National Park in Scotland) is a bit of a hike for many – though the journey is part of the fun, given that it’s surrounded by superb, deserted roads.

Once you’re inside this compact museum you’ll find every inch dedicated to classic cars, so much so that some are stored above others on lifts. There’s even a short oval track, which plays host to an annual charity event.

Visit the Grampian Transport Museum website here

13. Abbaye de Stavelot (Stavelot, Belgium)

Come for the architecture, stay for the cars: this site might be home to the impressive open-air ruins of an 11th-century abbey, but it’s surely the museum dedicated to the legendary Spa-Francorchamps circuit that makes it worth a visit.

Tucked away in a vaulted basement, the motorsport collection is an eclectic gathering honouring Belgian marques and racers, including five-times Spa 24 Hours winner Eric van de Poele’s BMW E30 M3.

The best bit? The circuit itself is close at hand, so you can peruse its past before soaking up its present.

Visit the Abbaye de Stavelot website here

14. The Australian Motorlife Museum (New South Wales, Australia)

Tucked away in a rural setting near Wollongong – less than 2km from the motorway north to Sydney – is a neat grey building that’s home to one of the best car and automobilia collections in the Antipodes.

The Australian Motorlife Museum came about thanks to the efforts of a few dedicated volunteers, opening in 2008. Hundreds of enamel signs make evocative backdrops for cars as varied as a 1909 Ford Model T, and a restored and running 1904 Innes built in Sydney.

Visit The Australian Motorlife Museum website here

15. Isle of Man Motor Museum (Isle of Man)

Darren Cunningham inherited the collecting bug from his father and created this purpose-built 75,000ft² museum to bring the family’s 100-strong cache of classics under one roof.

Unlike almost any other museum, it has no ropes or ‘do not touch’ signs – and it favours preservation over restoration. It also happens to be huge and diverse, housing everything from a right-hand drive De Lorean to a GM Greyhound Scenicruiser coach that Cunningham Jnr drove on one of his many road trips in the USA.

Time it with the TT for a trip to remember.

Visit the Isle of Man Motor Museum website here

16. Tomini Classics (Dubai, UAE)

Most teenagers have cars on their bedroom walls; few get to own them. For Imtiaz Shaikh, he not only got the E-type from his poster, but went on to open a gallery in which to display it.

With royal approval, Tomini Classics now showcases a rotating stock of classics from his own collection (with many more locked away in a vault, viewed by special arrangement).

In public view you’ll find the likes of a restored 1976 Lamborghini Countach, a ‘61 E-type and an ‘85 Ferrari 288GTO in his Dubai showcase.

Visit the Tomini Classics website here

17. Williams Grand Prix Collection (Oxfordshire, UK)

Housed in the Williams Formula One team’s conference centre, the Grand Prix Collection is home to a priceless archive of racing machinery.

The team owns at least one of every model it has ever made, from unraced test vehicles to championship-winning F1 cars – making this a dream for fans of the British marque and Formula One alike.

On display, you’ll find cars piloted by the sport’s biggest names (think Piquet, Mansell and Hill), as well as several other projects – such as the BMW prototype that won at Le Mans in ‘99.

Visit the Williams Grand Prix Collection website here

18. Musée de l’Automobile de Valençay (Loire Valley, France)

Valençay is best known for its fine Renaissance château, but the nearby Musée de l’Automobile has some Gallic treasures of its own.

Established in 1964 in nearby Vatan, the facility moved to Valençay in 1981 and to its present site, an airy former supermarket, 20 years later.

Not surprisingly, homegrown marques dominate, with some 60 cars on permanent display – including an impressive array of vehicles from the early years of motoring, of which nearly all are in running order.

Visit the Musée de l’Automobile de Valençay website here

19. British Motor Museum (Warwickshire, UK)

The British Motor Museum – formerly the Heritage Motor Centre – is home to the world’s largest collection of British historic vehicles.

There is a Collections Centre, too, where visitors can get a behind-the-scenes look at the museum’s reserve collections (which would otherwise be stored out of public view), including rare machines from the Jaguar Heritage Trust. Book a tour with a museum volunteer and enjoy.

Visit the British Motor Museum website here

20. Zylinderhaus (Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)

Zylinderhaus in Germany opened to the public in October 2017.

Built from scratch on the picturesque banks of the Moselle river, the stylish 5000m² facility – an homage to the industrial red-brick buildings of the ‘50s – houses some 100 cars and hundreds of period exhibits.

Displayed in a well-organised layout over three storeys, the focus is on old and defunct German marques – such as Glas, Hansa and Auto Union. One of the rarest cars is an elegant Audi 225 Front Luxus cabriolet by Gläser, one of just six that survive today.

Visit the Zylinderhaus website here

21. Museo Casa Enzo Ferrari (Modena, Italy)

Whether Enzo Ferrari would approve of the giant, yellow construction built adjacent to his former home in Modena isn’t clear, but its contents are certainly a fitting tribute to the automotive legend.

Museo Casa Enzo Ferrari (comprised of both the house in which he grew up and the facility next door) is home to a very personal history of the marque and its founder, together with a massive variety of cars – from early Alfa Romeo racers and the Auto Avio Costruzioni 815 Enzo himself built, to priceless Fiats, De Tomasos, Maseratis and, of course, Ferraris.

Visit the Museo Casa Enzo Ferrari website here

22. Nissan Heritage Car Garage (Zama, Japan)

Nothing prepares you for the scale of the Nissan Heritage collection.

When the doors swing open to the former production facility in Zama, the array of vehicles is mind-blowing: from a dinky ’47 Tama Electric car to fearsome sports-racers. Better yet, more than 70% of the 400-plus cars are in working order and regularly go to events.

The building is also something of a shrine for Z-car fans, showcasing famous rally veterans and a long-serving 240Z-G that clocked up 370,000km with the Kanagawa Highway Patrol.

Visit the Nissan Heritage Car Garage website here

23. Petersen Automotive Museum (California, USA)

LA’s Petersen Automotive Museum sports a stunning steel exterior of waves and curves – and some equally stunning machinery inside.

At the time of writing, cars on display include a ‘Round Door’ Rolls-Royce Phantom I, a Bugatti Type 57C ‘Shah’ and Steve McQueen’s Jaguar XKSS.

Other exhibits celebrate hot rods – in honour of founder Robert Petersen – concept cars, alternative power and ’bikes.

Visit the Petersen Automotive Museum website here

24. Conservatoire de la Monoplace Française (Magny-Cours, France)

Magny-Cours might no longer host the French Grand Prix, but its place in France’s motorsport heritage is well-established.

With 18 Grands Prix taking place at the track between 1991 and 2008, it’s a fitting location for a unique collection of 48 single-seater racing cars – from mid-century machines right up to ‘90s racers.

French-built cars are presented together in the Conservatoire, with the main exhibition covering various manufacturers – from Renault to Matra – in atmospheric and captivating displays.

Visit the Conservatoire de la Monoplace Française website here

25. Museo Mille Miglia (Brescia, Italy)

Where better to celebrate Italy’s greatest motor race than an 11th-century Benedictine monastery? Granted permission by the Brescia authorities in 1997, Museo Mille Miglia exists as a permanent tribute to the storied event.

Beginning with the founding fathers of the fabled road race, Museo Mille Miglia charts its history by leading visitors along a winding red road – from a supercharged six-cylinder 665 S Corsa, past early Ferraris and Lancia Aurelias, to rare Fiats and even the odd British machine, with plenty to see along the way.

Visit the Museo Mille Miglia website here

26. Aston Martin Heritage Trust (Oxfordshire, UK)

A 15th-century tithe barn built by monks is worth a visit alone, but the historic Oxfordshire home of the Aston Martin Heritage Trust is a must for marque fans.

The trust owns six cars, from the prototype A3 to a mighty ’89 AMR1 prototype, while collectors often loan their cars to be exhibited.

Around the barn, glass cabinets are packed with artefacts, ranging from pre-war Rudge Whitworth Le Mans awards to a pair of historic chequered flags from the glorious 1959 season, including the famous Nürburgring 1000km win.

Visit the Aston Martin Heritage Trust website here

27. Autoworld Brussels (Brussels, Belgium)

Built in 1880 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Belgian independence, Brussels’ Cinquantenaire Park Palace hosted the Salon de l’Automobile for decades before its exhibition hall became a museum in 1985.

Some 200 vehicles from collector Ghislain Mahy’s 950-strong hoard fill the imposing Southern Hall, with a chronological walk through 100-plus years of automotive history forming the main exhibit. 

Details on the cars are limited, but the variety of vehicles, the refreshing layout and spectacular vaulted setting make it a must if you’re passing through.

Visit the Autoworld Brussels website here

28. Cité de l’Automobile Musée National (Alsace, France)

The automotive hoard of the eccentric, Italian-born Schlumpf brothers makes for one of the world’s most incredible car museums.

Featuring more than 400 vehicles – including 150 Bugattis – this collection came to light, incredibly, during strikes in 1976 when aggrieved workers broke down the doors.

Built as a tribute to the Schlumpf brothers’ mother, Jeanne – and illuminated by hundreds of replica Art Nouveau lamps as a bizarre family shrine – the stash was classified as a French National Monument in 1978, and opened to the public in ’82.

Visit the Cité de l’Automobile Musée National website here

29. Brooklands Museum (Surrey, UK)

While much of the legendary banked circuit was long ago lost to redevelopment, few venues enjoy the sort of atmosphere that you find at the Brooklands Museum.

It’s centred around the famous Clubhouse, inside which you can soak up the ambience in the Billiards Room and the Clerk of the Course’s office, with the majority of the cars housed in the old tuning sheds.

Alongside a huge amount of automobilia – from the track’s original timing gear to medals and helmets – you’ll find several record-setting and remarkable machines.

Visit the Brooklands Museum website here

30. Conservatoire National de Véhicules Historiques (Diekirch, Luxembourg)

In 1997 a group of enthusiasts, concerned about the preservation of their automotive heritage, founded an association in Gutland, southern Luxembourg, to conserve local historic vehicles.

Today, the rebuilt Wagner factory – where Mercedes-Benz models were assembled during the 1920s – is the perfect period shelter to house an eclectic early-century collection.

Visitors can admire a constantly changing selection of vehicles borrowed from private collectors, so every visit should present something new.

Since the museum opened in April 2004, the building has been declared a historic monument to assure its longevity.

Visit the Conservatoire National de Véhicules Historiques website here

31. L’Espace Automobiles Matra (Center-Val de Loire, France)

Cars bearing the Matra name were in production for less than 20 years, yet the automotive branch of the armaments firm was much more than a maker of mid-engined road cars: it built title-winning F1 single-seaters and sports-racers that triumphed at Le Mans, as well as launching both the ‘soft-roader’ SUV and ‘people carrier’ MPV concepts.

It’s a rich and honourable history, and one celebrated in its entirety at L’Espace Automobiles Matra.

Visit the L’Espace Automobiles Matra website here

32. Caister Collection (Norfolk, UK)

Not necessarily the most accessible of British car museums, Caister Motor Museum is worth the trip for the sheer diversity of machinery on show.

Inspired by Lord Montagu’s famous museum, Dr Peter Hill bought Caister Castle in 1966 and the museum was born. Expansion over the years means it now houses more than 150 cars, ’bikes, scooters and other vehicles.

The clear star is an ex-Jim Clark Lotus, though you’ll find everything from the sole surviving 1936 Singer Airstream saloon to the first Ford Fiesta ever built.

Visit the Caister Collection website here

33. Southward Car Museum (Kapiti Coast, New Zealand)

The collection assembled by the late Sir Len Southward began with an unrestored Ford Model T that he bought in the mid-1950s, and now has something for everyone.

Cars are housed in a large, purpose-made building, alongside an on-site workshop, a theatre with a Mighty Wurlitzer organ and spacious grounds that are regularly used for club events.

American cars from the 1930s abound, and there is the 1948 Daimler landaulette that was used by the King and Queen of Thailand in the early ’60s during their New Zealand tour.

Visit the Southward Car Museum website here

34. Canepa Motorsports Museum (California, USA)

An established racer, Bruce Canepa’s California museum is a must-visit if you’re en route to San Francisco.

Opened in 2007, the facility features an eclectic group of racers. At the time of writing, exhibits include an Audi R15 Le Mans prototype, a Shelby Super Snake Dragster and a 1991 Lola IndyCar.

The museum is a boon for Steve McQueen fans, too: not only does it feature one of the most famous Gulf-liveried Porsche 917s – chassis 015 – but also the King of Cool’s own Formula Junior Cooper T56.

Visit the Canepa Motorsports Museum website here

35. LeMay – America’s Car Museum (Washington, USA)

Just out of high school at the outbreak of WW2, Harold LeMay started a bus route to transport men to Tacoma shipyards. Near the end of hostilities, he switched from hauling workers to hauling refuse.

This proved a lucrative enterprise and LeMay was able to indulge his passion for all things automotive, eventually amassing in excess of 3000 vehicles, plus a vast automobilia haul, earning him a listing in the Guinness Book of World Records as the holder of the world’s largest private collection of automobiles – which is now on display at America’s Car Museum.

Visit the LeMay – America’s Car Museum website here

36. Classic Remise (Berlin, Germany)

Wouldn’t it be great if a car-loving property developer converted an empty warehouse into a classic centre, with storage, specialists, dealers and styling studios all under one roof?

In 1998, Martin Halder had just such a dream at business school and, in 2003, when he found a huge vacant historic transport building in west Berlin, the inspired concept became a reality.

A 12,000m² red-brick space dominated by double-decker glass storage that runs its length, the facility is open to the public – making it, in essence, a vast, free museum for car nuts.

Visit the Classic Remise website here

37. Coventry Transport Museum (West Midlands, UK)

Coventry Transport Museum’s collection may date back to the ’30s, when Cyril Scott had the foresight to acquire cars and ’bikes for the local Herbert Art Gallery, but forward-looking curatorship has given this city-centre attraction dynamic, modern appeal.

Walk around the labyrinth of chronologically themed areas, from the Edwardian era to the tragic demise of local manufacturing, and you’ll find this showcase vividly revives local motoring history.

Visit the Coventry Transport Museum website here

38. Mercedes-Benz Museum (Stuttgart, Germany)

Mercedes-Benz has a long tradition of preserving its amazing heritage, which is showcased in a remarkable museum designed by Dutch architect UNStudio.

Opened in 2006, it remains one of the world’s finest single-marque displays. The dramatic array of 160 vehicles is selected from a collection of more than 1000 that ranges from an 1886 Benz to Lewis Hamilton’s 2008 championship-winning McLaren MP4-23, themed around a double-helix interior with a clever series of linked walkways.

Visit the Mercedes-Benz Museum website here

39. National Motor Museum (Birdwood, Australia)

South Australia is the home of the Holden, so it’s a fitting place for the National Motor Museum.

Set in the pretty Adelaide hills, the collection began as a private concern, but the Australian government took over in 1976 and turned the facility into a proper tourist attraction.

Today, expanded, upgraded and supported by several manufacturers, it’s a who’s who of Aussie motoring: a 1908 Talbot, the first car to run south to north over Australia, is on display, as are several Holden and Mitsubishi prototypes, alongside a litter of Holdens, Fords, Chryslers and Leylands.

Visit the National Motor Museum website here

40. Malamut Vintage Car Museum (California, USA)

Mike Malamut was spannering before he was old enough to drive, earning pocket money repairing neighbours’ cars in his native Los Angeles before getting his first job as a Volkswagen mechanic.

His love of the German marque is reflected in a line-up of 16 rare Beetles and microbuses, as well as 11 Porsches, in a private collection – available for owners’ clubs and individuals to view by prior arrangement – made up of some 130 vehicles of all shapes and sizes.

Visit the Malamut Vintage Car Museum website here

41. Musée de l’Aventure Peugeot (Sochaux, France)

This one-marque collection reflects the French firm’s 200-plus years of history, with each section representing a particular period of Peugeot’s heritage and decorated by superb mosaic floors, Art Nouveau architectural detailing and large black-and-white motoring photographs on the walls.

There is a lot to see here.

At the back of the museum is an excellent motorsport gallery, featuring the likes of Mika Häkkinen’s ’94 McLaren-Peugeot and the Le Mans-winning 905 Evo B and 908 HDi.

View the Musée de l’Aventure Peugeot website here

42. Museo Automovilístico Málaga (Andalusia, Spain)

Opened in 2010, Málaga’s car museum lives in a converted tobacco factory close to the seafront.

Housing a collection of 95 cars – superbly varied vehicles, ranging from a spartan Czech Velorex two-stroke microcar to a wonderful supercharged Mercedes-Benz 500K – they all come from one Portuguese enthusiast with diverse tastes.

Every corner turned in this place presents a surprise, be it a rare car or bizarre automotive-inspired artwork.

Visit the Museo Automovilístico Málaga website here

43. Haynes International Motor Museum (Somerset, UK)

Situated in a bold and stylish building, Haynes International Motor Museum is home to the UK’s largest collection of cars from around the world – with more than 400 exhibits.

Several exhibition areas draw you through the halls, including one dedicated to Mini and another to supercars.

An eclectic mix of machinery rounds things off – from tiny Morgans and Fiats, to mighty Mercedes and a WW1 armoured car.

Visit the Haynes International Motor Museum website here

44. Simeone Foundation Museum (Pennsylvania, USA)

Until his retirement, Dr Frederick Simeone was one of the world’s foremost neurosurgeons. More importantly, he was a lifelong car enthusiast.

After many years in private storage, his remarkable cache of 60 highly original sports cars is now open to the public. Housed in a tastefully converted warehouse within earshot of Philadelphia’s International airport, the cars are displayed in themed sets celebrating the Mille Miglia, Targa Florio, Bonneville, Sebring and Le Mans.

Simeone had forthright views on conservation, too, which is clear from the exquisite patina of his cars. He passed away in June 2022, but his legacy for future generations is in safe hands.

Visit the Simeone Foundation Museum website here

45. Louwman Museum (The Hague, The Netherlands)

Arguably the world’s most beautiful automotive museum, the Louwman sits opposite The Hague’s royal palace and covers the entire history of the automobile – from the earliest horse-drawn carriages to the Toyota Prius.

Tear yourself away from the magnificence of the arched timber roof in the Great Hall and you’ll find a vast collection of cars creatively presented, with vehicles matched to period backdrops. There’s everything from movie cars to rare Rolls-Royces, and, of course, Spykers.

Visit the Louwman Museum website here

46. Museo del Automóvil (Buenos Aires, Argentina)

No Argentinian motoring display would be complete without an exhibit honouring Juan Manuel Fangio – and Luis Horacio Spadafora’s collection is no exception: here a ’39 Chevrolet Coupe lines up with two single-seater specials.

Upstaging the Fangio exhibits, though, is a packed corner dedicated to Oscar Gálvez, while the museum also plays home to a barn-find display of pre-war models, Argentinian-built cars and a ‘37 Dodge used by President Roosevelt for a state visit – all presented wonderfully.

Visit the Museo del Automóvil website here

47. Museo Nazionale dell’Automobile di Torino (Turin, Italy)

Housed in a striking, Amedeo Albertini-designed building, Turin’s automobile museum is home to some 200 vehicles and its displays make for a dazzling experience.

From the dawn of motoring to the production of the current Fiat 500, the exhibition unravels automotive history along a labyrinth of dark walkways and themed rooms.

The most remarkable is ‘Formula’, an evolutionary grid of single-seaters enhanced by a massive video backdrop showing jets of flame, rev-counters, lights and animated Eadweard Muybridge figures.

Visit the Museo Nazionale dell’Automobile di Torino website here

48. Musée Automobile de Lorraine (Grand Est, France)

In 1969, an enthusiastic group from L’Association Lorraine des Amateurs d’Automobiles de Collection (ALAAC), persuaded the authorities to give permission for its members to house their vehicles in a former American WW2 base near Nancy.

From 1970, the museum was opened to the public and, today, visitors to the French region of Lorraine can admire an array of highly original racing Porsches, together with a selection of national glories.

Visit the Musée Automobile de Lorraine website here

49. Bugatti Trust (Gloucestershire, UK)

Bugatti might be a French marque, but England has long enjoyed close connections with Ettore’s storied brand – so it’s fitting that a special centre be based there.

Launched in 1987, the Bugatti Trust was only able to fund its facility through the sale of founder Hugh Conway’s car collection after his death. It now houses Conway’s remarkable photographs, factory drawings, letters and research – together with a wealth of Bugatti-related material.

The cars on show are regularly changed, though permanent open-wheeler highlights include Bruce Spollon’s 1928 T37.

Visit the Bugatti Trust website here

50. Jim Clark Motorsport Museum (Duns, UK)

This interactive museum was opened in 2019 – by Sir Jackie Stewart OBE, no less – in the Scottish Borders, where Jim Clark called home.

It is a celebration of the person many consider to be one of the greatest racing drivers of all time, and exhibits include the two-time F1 drivers’ champion’s Lotus 25 F1 car and his roadgoing Elan.

Packed with memorabilia, artwork, photos, a classic racing car simulator, films, trophies and more, there is lots to see. Plus, you can download the Jim Clark Trail to your smartphone, then enjoy some stunning local scenery and locations key to the Clark story.

Visit the Jim Clark Motorsport Museum website here

51. National Bubble and Microcar Museum (Lincolnshire, UK)

Buried deep in the Lincolnshire countryside, the National Bubble and Microcar Museum is filled with the quirky little cars which became popular in the 1950s.

The display includes a number of original BMWs, Bonds and ​​Berkeleys, plus a line-up of more unfamiliar makes and models.

To compliment the vehicles on display, the museum is decorated with period-correct scenes and backdrops to create an immersive experience.

Visit the National Bubble and Microcar Museum website here

52. Honda Collection Hall (Tochigi, Japan)

Although it may be a little out of the way, the Honda Collection Hall – located two hours north of Tokyo – is well worth a visit.

The 300-strong collection of cars and ’bikes covers much of Honda’s impressive back catalogue, including the marque’s first automobile – the little S360 sports car – and Nigel Mansell’s FW11 Formula One car from 1986.

Displays are helpfully laid out in chronological order so visitors can make the most of this fascinating history lesson on the innovative Japanese brand.

Visit the Honda Collection Hall website here

53. Opel Museum (Rüsselsheim, Germany)

Opel’s exceptional collection covers two floors at the marque’s historic base in Rüsselsheim, Germany.

The display includes the company’s first model, a Patentwagen from 1899, plus a plethora of other road, race, rally and concept cars.

Thankfully, the cars in the museum have not been resigned to a life on display – over 90% of the collection remains fully functional.

Visit the Opel Museum website here

54. Silverstone Interactive Museum (Northamptonshire, UK)

You’ll all know that Silverstone circuit is the home of the F1 British Grand Prix, which is probably why it comes as a surprise that this museum only opened in 2019 – it was the realisation of a dream dating back to 1971!

A WW2 RAF hangar has been transformed into an immersive, state-of-the-art attraction, that looks at the site’s pre-motorsport history, then brings visitors right up-to-date with 21st-century F1 tech – there is something for everyone.

At the time of writing, a celebration of BRM and Graham Hill’s first world championship 60 years ago was one of the features, and remember to walk the heritage trail and book time in the simulator.

Visit the Silverstone Interactive Museum website here

55. Lane Motor Museum (Tennessee, USA)

This is a joyous collection of automotive oddities.

Vehicles on display include a pint-sized Peel Trident microcar, an amphibious Citroën 2CV, a Renault Dauphine-based Henney Kilowatt and a Commer Imp delivery van.

During the year, displays are rotated between four different exhibitions, so make sure to check the website before your visit.

Visit the Lane Motor Museum website here

56. Lakeland Motor Museum (Cumbria, UK)

Situated in Backbarrow, Cumbria, the Lakeland Motor Museum boasts the UK’s largest collection of motoring memorabilia, alongside more than 140 classic vehicles.

The museum’s Campbell Bluebird Exhibition includes full-size replicas of the 1935 Blue Bird car, 1939 Blue Bird K4 boat and the 1967 K7 jet hydroplane.

Elsewhere you’ll find a 1921 Citroën Type A 10CV, a police-spec MGA and over 50 historic pedal cars.

The museum also offers combined tickets with local tour companies so you can spend the rest of your day exploring nearby Lake Windermere.

Visit the Lakeland Motor Museum website here

57. Automobil Museum Frey (Augsburg, Germany)

Augsburg, Germany, might not be the obvious choice of location for one of the world’s most impressive Mazda museums, but Walter Frey’s magnificent collection is right up there with the very best.

The building – a striking, old tram depot, dating back to 1897 – is home to 55 vehicles from Frey’s mighty collection.

The museum is filled with marvels: a 26-seater 1976 Mazda Parkway coach, a Mk2 MX-5 Coupé and an R360 Coupé, Mazda’s first passenger car, are amongst the exhibits.

Visit the Automobil Museum Frey website here

58. Aerospace Bristol (Bristol, UK)

A diverse array of automotive and aerospace products were manufactured at Filton Aerodrome during the 1900s; these are reflected in the variety of exhibits on display at Aerospace Bristol.

The old airfield has been redeveloped for housing, but the museum serves as a powerful reminder of this site’s illustrious past.

Inside, you’ll find everything from a Bristol 403 to the last Concorde ever built.

Visit the Aerospace Bristol website here

59. Cyprus Historic & Classic Motor Museum (Limassol, Cyprus)

Dimi Mavropoulos is Cyprus’ most successful rally driver and in 2014 he decided to open the doors to his 90-strong car collection for the public to enjoy.

The exhibits range from a 1912 Ford Model T to one of Mr Bean’s bright green Minis, via a 4.2 ton 1977 Cadillac limousine and a rare 1997 Bentley Turbo RT.

The wide variety of vehicles on display is an impressive reflection on Mavropoulos’ motoring life and automotive passion.

Visit the Cyprus Historic & Classic Motor Museum website here

60. Cotswold Motoring Museum & Toy Collection (Gloucestershire, UK)

Set in the oh-so-pretty rural village Bourton-on-the-Water, head to the museum for a gentle saunter through wheeled history of the 20th century.

There are more than 40 cars on display, dating from the early 1900s to 1974, including lesser-seen models like Austins Bantam and Clifton, as well as classic ’bikes, caravans, toys and memorabilia.

The beautiful setting and surrounding area, plus a picture-perfect drive through the Cotswolds to get there, will make for a grand day out.

Visit the Cotswold Motoring Museum & Toy Collection website here

61. Hellenic Motor Museum (Athens, Greece)

Although substantially more modern than the nearby Parthenon and Acropolis built by the ancient Greeks, the Hellenic Motor Museum in Athens is still a must-see attraction for classic car enthusiasts.

The museum’s collection is displayed by era and covers veteran, vintage, post-vintage, classic, post-classic and modern vehicles.

The dedicated ‘Made by Hellas’ exhibition celebrates cars with Greek connections; it includes examples of the original Mini and the Morris Minor to commemorate the work of Sir Alec Issigonis, the British designer of Greek descent who was instrumental in the creation of both vehicles.

Visit the Hellenic Motor Museum website here

62. Isle of Wight Bus and Coach Museum (Isle of Wight, UK)

Located in a decommissioned depot, the Isle of Wight Bus and Coach Museum charts more than 70 years of the island’s motoring history with a large collection of classic and vintage buses.

The collection – ranging from a 1934 Harrington-bodied Dennis Ace bus to a 1993 Volvo London bus – is maintained by a team of enthusiastic and friendly volunteers.

The museum opened in 1997 in Newport Quay and, in 2016, the need to expand saw it open a new premises in Ryde.

Visit the Isle of Wight Bus and Coach Museum website here

63. John Force Museum (Indiana, USA)

With a career spanning five decades and having achieved 16 Funny Car titles, John Force is a well-established name on the drag strip.

After relocating to a larger headquarters in Indiana in 2004, Force used some of the extra space to create a museum to display his former drag cars, trophies, memorabilia and more.

Included in the exhibits are Force’s Oldsmobile F/C that he drove to his first championship in 1990, a 1965 Mustang fastback and several F/C glassfibre shells.

Visit the John Force Museum website here

64. Moretonhampstead Motor Museum (Devon, UK)

Tucked away in this market town on the north-east edge of Dartmoor, Moretonhampstead Motor Museum is a collection run by local automotive enthusiast Frank Loft, housed in a refurbished bus depot.

More than 150 vehicles are inside, from classic cars and ’bikes, to bubble cars, automobilia and more. You can see what’s going on in the museum’s restoration workshop, too.

Visit the Moretonhampstead Motor Museum website here

65. Lions Drag Strip Museum (California, USA)

The well-loved Lions Drag Strip in California shut its gates in 1972, however, the name lives on through Rick Lorenzen’s cherished museum.

Lorenzen grew up a stone’s throw away from the famous drag strip; his fond childhood memories have since manifested into an impressive museum commemorating the Californian institution.

The museum is split into three main sections, each one based on a specific era of competition: 1955-’62, 1962-’67 and 1967-’72.

A faithful reconstruction of the original drag strip’s starting line is amongst the highlights in the spectacular collection.

Visit the Lions Drag Strip Museum website here

66. Morgan Experience Centre (Worcestershire, UK)

This century-plus-old British brand has a very 21st-century offering for visitors that is much more than simply a museum.

As well as seeing cars from across Morgan’s history, you can take a guided tour of the factory, or visit the Archive Room, opened in 2021, which showcases documents, photos, trophies, film footage and lots more from the company’s past.

For yet more, you can book a passenger ride in a Morgan or even hire one and get behind the wheel yourself.

And this is another destination in a picture-perfect setting, so getting there and back should be a treat, too.

Visit the Morgan Experience Centre website here

67. Tampa Bay Auto-mobile Museum (Florida, USA)

Located on Florida’s Gulf Coast, the Tampa Bay Auto-mobile Museum is a shrine to interesting automotive technology.

The museum’s 65 exhibits include a 1965 Ford Mustang which has been converted to all-wheel drive, a three-wheeled 1942 Mathis VL 333 (above) and a 1929 Ruxton prototype, the first American attempt at a front-wheel-drive car.

The museum’s curator, Alain Cerf, has an admiration for these automotive pioneers, and a dedicated team helps to keep all of the exhibits in running order.

Visit the Tampa Bay Auto-mobile Museum website here

68. War Eagles Air Museum (New Mexico, USA)

Classic cars take shelter under the wings of historic aeroplanes at the War Eagles Air Museum.

The varied classic car collection includes a ’73 Lincoln Continental, a Porsche 912, an MG TF and a Honda Z600 GT

Additionally, the museum is home to a diverse collection of aircraft: a Cold War-era MiG-21, a rare TF-51D Mustang, plus a Douglas C-47A are amongst the planes on display.

Visit the War Eagles Air Museum website here

69. World of Classics Museum (Tumba, Sweden)

A slice of American motoring history tucked away in the Swedish countryside of Tumba.

The museum is a celebration of the chrome-laden American cars produced between 1953-’72.

Over 80 vehicles occupy the 3000m² space, accompanied by automobilia, neon signs, models and jukeboxes.

Visit the World of Classics Museum website here