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GERMANY

For a BMW enthusiast, the BMW AG Museum in Munich is one of the highlights of a visit to Germany. The Museum building is shaped like a mushroom and has a spiral ramp that winds its way up to the top.

     Each area along the way is filled with race and prototype cars along with video presentations, available in different languages, to explain BMW's philosophies and technical accomplishments.

     Note: The BMW Museum will be closed until 2007, due to redecoration.

BMW AG Museum

Munich

  February 4, 2005:  Porsche Plans New Museum at its Stuttgart Factory

     From 2007, Porsche owners and enthusiasts will be able to visit an outstanding new Museum, dedicated to the world-renowned sports car marque, which will be built alongside the company's production facility in Zuffenhausen, Stuttgart, Germany.

     With the Mercedes-Benz-Museum being located in nearby Untertürkheim, the Stuttgart area will double its pull for auto enthusiasts.

     The foyer of the new exhibition area will contain the history of the firm up to 1948. From there, the visitor can move straight on to the main exhibition area - represented by the chronologically arranged post-1948 product history as well as the respective 'theme islands' (including, among other things, Targa Florio, Prototypes, The 917 Era, Le Mans and Evolution 911). Whereas some 20 historic vehicles can be displayed in current facilities, the new Porsche Museum will allow the public to view around 80 vehicles. 

[Source: Porsche UK]

Cars of the Stars, Keswick, Cumbria.

(The Lake District, NW England.)

UK

Featuring celebrity television and film vehicles, this museum displays each famous car in an individual film set, with atmospheric lighting and sound playing a part.

The result is a feat of nostalgia for the visitor and a glimpse into the fantasy world of television and film.

Highlights:  Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, the three Batmobiles, the Mad Max Interceptor, the Harry Potter Ford Anglia, and many more.

The Jim Clark Room

Duns, Scotland.
More details here.

Jim Clark was born into a farming family on March 4, 1936 in Kilmany, Fife. He was the youngest of five children and the only boy. The family moved to a new farm in the borders in 1942. Jim Clark became world champion grand prix driver in 1963 and 1965 and was the first non-American to win the Indianapolis 500 for nearly 50 years. Undoubtedly the most talented driver of his generation, he was also an extremely popular – and unassuming – person. He died in a racing accident at the Hockenheim circuit in Germany on April 7, 1968. So strong is the Jim Clark legend that today, 37 years after his death, thousands of enthusiasts from around the world visit the Jim Clark Room in Duns – a facility dedicated to celebrating the life and successes of the borders' most famous farmer. [Source: Ford]

Heritage Motor Centre

Banbury Road, Gaydon, Warwickshire.

(two minutes from junction 12 of the M40 motorway).

The Heritage Motor Centre is home to the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust, which maintains the largest collection of classic, vintage and veteran British cars in the world. With 200 classic vehicles on display in the Centre's museum, the collection charts the history of the British car industry from the turn of the century to the present day.

National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, Hampshire (English south coast).

Few car museums in the world can match the unique collection of the world renowned National Motor Museum at Beaulieu. Managed by the National Motor Museum Trust, Beaulieu is also the home of the world famous Beaulieu International Auto-jumble and Automart.

USA

At the Walter P. Chrysler Museum, automotive history is learned and explored. Experience the history of Chrysler vehicles, learn from interactive kiosk stations, or enjoy a educational films in the movie theater.

From the gleam of vehicles aloft a multi-tiered platform to the colorful touch-screen monitors and the glow of the movie theater, the Museum provides three levels of illuminating experiences for car buffs and history aficionados alike.

Chrysler Museum

Auburn Hills,

Michigan.

The rich history of the automobile in America unfolds before your eyes. See the cars we drove, the cars we wished we could drive, and the diners, motels, and drive-in movies that we stopped in along the way. This world-renowned exhibition offers auto aficionados an incredible tour of the "creme de la chrome."

The Henry Ford is an AAM accredited institution. The complex is an independent, non-profit, educational institution not affiliated with the Ford Motor Company or the Ford Foundation.

The Henry Ford

Dearborn, 

Michigan.

GM assembles 96 years of history under one roof

but the Center will be open only to GM employees, researchers, students, analysts, reporters and automotive enthusiasts, by appointment and for a fee.

(June 2004)  Full article, from the Detroit News.

GM Heritage Center

Sterling Heights,

Michigan