Plus some pervasive myths that can finally be debunked
Located on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, this is one of the world's largest automotive museums. A collection of over 100 vehicles are displayed in its 25 galleries. Cars previously owned by celebrities, including film star Steve McQueen's 1956 Jaguar XKSS, and a De Tomaso Pantera which once belonged to Elvis Presley, are among the exhibits. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 4.0)
Stuttgart is home to Mercedes-Benz, and this museum not only presents the history of the brand, it also showcases the story of the automobile, from its invention in the 19th century up to the present day.
The Porsche Museum stands next to the German carmaker's headquarters in Stuttgart and functions as a home base for the vehicles. The exhibition features over 80 exhibits and features many rare vehicles and a variety of historical models.
Rare and historic vehicles such as this splendid 1935 Duesenberg SJ LaGrande Dual Cowl Phaeton feature among the collection of cars housed at the Louwman Museum in The Hague. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 2.0)
Fans of the Audi brand can peruse a permanent collection of around 50 vehicles that represent the history of Audi and its predecessors, which are displayed at this museum in Ingolstadt. Rarities include this 1919 Audi Type C Alpensieger.
Displaying the personal car collection of businessman and philanthropist Peter W. Mullin, this museum is primarily known for its selection of classic French automobiles, notably Bugatti. Pictured in the foreground is a 1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic.
Located in Ferrari's home town of Maranello, Museo Ferrari is dedicated to the Ferrari sports car manufacturer. The exhibits are mostly a combination of Ferrari road and track cars, with a treasure trove of iconic vehicles on display.
Founded in 1953, the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu in Hampshire houses one of the most comprehensive classic car collections found in Europe. Vehicles on display include this rare 1904 De Dion-Bouton.
Founded by entrepreneur J.B. Nethercutt (1913–2004) in 1971, the Nethercutt Collection of classic cars in Los Angeles has been described by the Los Angeles Times as "one of the world's finest automobile collections." (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 4.0)
Floor space at the Museo Lamborghini located at Sant'Agata Bolognese is shared by iconic models such as the Lamborghini 350 GT, built in the 1960s, to supercars like the futuristic Lamborghini Sesto Elemento.
Exhibits at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum in Speedway, Indiana are intrinsically linked to the Indy 500 and Brickyard 400 racing competitions. But included in the collection are gems like this car, a 1907 Itala Grand Prix race car with a 14.75 liter engine. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 2.0)
The British Motor Museum in Warwickshire holds the world's largest collection of historic British vehicles, a fact exemplified by this exhibit, an extremely rare 1948 first production Land Rover, with the plate HUE 166. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 4.0)
Located at Sparkford near Yeovil in Somerset, the Haynes International Motor Museum holds an amazing collection of cars and motorcycles. Wheels to look out for include cherished veteran and vintage models, plus custom and bespoke examples.
Some of Italy's first cars, including a Bernardi from 1896 and a Fiat from 1899, are housed at the Turin-based National Automobile Museum. A novel exhibit is the Fiat Turbina (pictured), a gas turbine-powered concept car built in 1954.
The prestigious BMW Museum in Munich serves as a temple to all things manufactured by the German multinational. Among the many priceless rarities on show is the 1939 BMW 328 (pictured). (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 4.0)
Located in Auburn, Indiana, the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum displays over 120 high-end cars built by Auburn Automobile, Cord Automobile, and Duesenberg Motors Company, mostly during the 1920s and 1930s.
Head for Sacramento to check out this museum's fascinating collection of 150 classic cars, race cars, muscle cars, and trucks and pickups, in fact a great cross-section of cars driven in California over the last 120 years or so. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 4.0)
By browsing the Toyota Automobile Museum in Nagakute, near Nagoya, you get an excellent idea of how Toyota car design has evolved. The museum also houses vehicles from other manufacturers.
Autostadt in Wolfsburg is where to admire the principal automobile brands in the Volkswagen Group. A novel display is this Volkswagen Beetle (Käfer) from 1955 decorated with Swarovski crystal diamonds.
Everything you ever wanted to know about the history of the Saab brand is here under the roof of the Saab Museum in Trollhättan, not far from Gothenburg. One of the star exhibits is this, Saab's very first car, the prototype Saab Ursaab, also known as the 92001, designed in the late 1940s.
Punta Gorda in Florida is where to admire a collection of heavyweight muscle cars. With over 200 vintage 1950s to '70s vehicles on show, this is one of the largest muscle car collections in the United States. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
The gleaming cars in this museum represent the history of automobile construction in Zwickau, the home of Horch and Audi prior to the Second World War and Trabant during the Cold War-era German Democratic Republic. Pictured is a mighty 1932 Horch 670-V12. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 3.0)
Blackhawk is in fact a series of museums dedicated to showcasing collections of classic, rare, and unique automobiles. Based in Danville, California, significant automotive treasures on show include this beautiful 1947 Delahaye. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
The largest and most comprehensive collection of Bugatti motor vehicles in the world is displayed at the Cité de l'Automobile, located in Mulhouse. The display is built around the Schlumpf Collection of classic automobiles, which numbers a total of over 520 vehicles. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-NC 2.0)
Ferrari fans from all over the world call on the Museo Enzo Ferrari in Modena, where some of the most noteworthy Ferrari cars are exhibited. Rare examples of the 1950s, Formula One race cars, and more recent sports supercars are all on show. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
The National Automobile Museum in Reno, Nevada houses the fabulous Harrah Collection of cars. Hotel and casino magnate William F. Harrah (1911–1978) collected approximately 1,450 automobiles throughout his lifetime, of which 200 are now parked over four galleries in this extraordinary facility. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
Brookline in Massachusetts is the location of the oldest collection of automobiles in the United States, carefully arranged in the Larz Anderson Auto Museum. American diplomat Larz Anderson (1866– 1937) began collecting motorcars in the early 20th century. His wife, Isabel Weld Perkins, bequeathed the collection of 14 rare vehicles to the town of Brookline in 1948. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-ND 2.0)
Sources: (Los Angeles Times) (The Globe and Mail) (Wheels)
See also: The most bizarre cars ever built.
Named for the founder of the Ford Motor Company, the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in the Detroit suburb of Dearborn, Michigan is much more than a display of classic vehicles. Included in the vast collection is antique machinery, locomotives, and aircraft. The car to look out for is the 1961 Lincoln (pictured) in which US President John F. Kennedy was riding when he was shot in Dallas, Texas. On that fateful day in 1963, Kennedy had requested the detachable roof be removed so that crowds could get a better view of himself and the first lady. It was a fatal error. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
Brooklands Museum stands near the historic Brooklands motor-racing track near Weybridge in Surrey. Brooklands was the birthplace of British motorsport, and the museum's exhibits reflect this racing heritage. Brooklands also serves as an aviation museum. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0)
The Riga Motor Museum greets visitors to three floors, each with a different theme. Of particular interest is the exhibit showcasing a collection of Soviet state cars that were used to transport Soviet leaders safely and luxuriously. But look out, too, for everyday Soviet vehicles, like the Moskvich 400-420 (pictured), a handy and affordable runaround. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 3.0)
Are you a car fanatic, a self-confessed petrolhead? If yes, then chances are your idea of a perfect afternoon is to browse an automotive museum crammed full of rare and priceless classic motorcars. But if that's not possible, you can still put yourself in the driving seat and motor along to some of the best car museums in the world—without leaving home!
Start up, get in gear, and steer through this gallery for a celebration of everything on four wheels.
These car museums will put you in a spin
Get in gear and take at look at these classic vehicles
LIFESTYLE Cars
Are you a car fanatic, a self-confessed petrolhead? If yes, then chances are your idea of a perfect afternoon is to browse an automotive museum crammed full of rare and priceless classic motorcars. But if that's not possible, you can still put yourself in the driving seat and motor along to some of the best car museums in the world—without leaving home!
Start up, get in gear, and steer through this gallery for a celebration of everything on four wheels.