Thread: Worlds Best Automotive Museums

There are tons. All over the world. Architecturally some of them are insane. Car wise, they blow away every private collection. Please share your favorite or what you consider to be the best Automotive Museum:

My Favorite as far as the whole package goes: Volkswagen Autostadt

Home: www.autostadt.de



VW's automotive and science complex has become a top tourist destination. So popular, in fact, that BMW copied the concept for its new BMW Welt in Munich. There's barely a logo in sight, no costumed creatures roam the grounds and gift shops sell car mats along with Beetle-shaped baby squeeze toys. Interactive exhibits include consoles where you can computer design your own model, but my stretch Beetle pickup truck is only good for a laugh, not a showroom.

The museum's displays consist of mostly German marques, including the original Beetle designed by Ferdinand Porsche before he went off on his own, and a 1934 Audi with a mother-of-pearl dashboard. Each VW brand and partner has its own building showcasing, well, whatever it wants. Bentley displays a half-dozen sleek and historic models. The Czech brand Škoda features a history of Bohemian crystal and art. Lamborghini displays a single yellow drooler showcased by fake fog and disco lights. There's also the opportunity to test-drive a Touareg SUV on an obstacle course, including up and down stairs.

More Pics of Autostadt:

Mullin Automotive Museum.

I still haven't been. It was created by one of the founders of the company I work for. It specializes in the "Art Deco Movement," which is pre-war French Automobiles.

The Museum - Mullin Automotive Museum: Celebrating the Art Deco Movement

Mullin Automotive Museum celebrates grand opening in style — Autoblog

You guys might remember the 1936 Bugatti 57SC Atlantic that was just recently sold for between $30 and $40 million...It was purchased for this museum. Not sure if it is on display yet.

The World?s Most Expensive Car: Sold! - Driver's Seat - WSJ

The place looks amazing, and i hope to get down there sometime soon.

There is Volo auto museum in Volo, IL which seems to have many hollywood movie cars and etc. Looks like something cool to see -

Volo Auto Museum - Hollywood Star Car Collection and Auto Attractions

I've been to both the Porsche and Mercedes museums in Stuttgart and both are amazing! Mercedes definitely has the edge in design, though. I'd love to go back to Europe within the next few years and visit BMW's in Munich and Volkswagen's in Wolfburg.

We did a series on manufacturer museums:

Porsche Museum


New Porsche Museum, one of the big three in southern Germany with Mercedes and BMW.

More: Porsche Museum Visit - GTSPIRIT.COM

Mercedes Museum


Great collection of past and present Mercedes-Benz models. It goes back a long time and it has a nice showroom next door that had a great Mercedes-McLaren SLR 722 S Edition.

More: Mercedes-Benz Museum Visit - GTSPIRIT.COM

BMW Museum


BMW museum, must see for BMW enthusiasts. I haven't been to the museum, but there's a huge open exhibition / showroom across the road that is available for free and offers a great mix of history, entertainment and the current lineup.

More: BMW Welt & BMW Museum Visit - GTSPIRIT.COM

Lamborghini Museum


The Lamborghini museum is quite small compared to other museums we have visited but the collection features some unique Lamborghini's that you won't find anywhere else. Located close to the Ferrari and Maserati factories you can easily visit all three museums in one day.

More: Lamborghini Museum Visit - GTSPIRIT.COM

ABT Sportsline Factory and Museum


ABT is the biggest Audi tuner in the world and also famous for their ABT managed Audi factory DTM teams. The history of ABT is quite funny, in late 19th century, early 20th century the founder of ABT started 'tuning' horse carts that could only be used in summer (on wheels) or in winter (on ski's), he modified a cart with wheels to include a set of retractable skis for the winter. The museum contains a lot of race cars and trophies won by the last generations Abt.

More: Factory Visit: ABT Sportsline - GTSPIRIT.COM

A cool private museum for old school stuff is: The Nethercutt Collection

Besides the cars, they have a large assortment of Radiator Hood Ornaments "Mascots", including Lalique Crystal Mascots.

And even more amazing is a collection of automated mechanical instruments including Reproducing Pianos, Nickelodeons, Cyclinder & Disc Music Boxes, Orchestrions and the Mighty Wurlitzer Theatre Pipe Organ. During the tour some of these instruments are demonstrated including a mini-concert on the Wurlitzer Pipe Organ.

All this & entry is FREE! But you have to make reservations for a tour of the collection building. Newer museum building is self guided, just walk in anytime during their regular hours.

sub'd amazing

Sub'd for vacation ideas.

The Autostadt has 1 of 2 Ritz Carlton's in Germany. No need to say that the hotel is awesome and its really worth it to get a package that includes hotel+autostadt tickets etc.....