The UK classic car market is now arguably the most sophisticated in the world and one of its main strengths is the UK classic car scene. The Brits have always loved their cars, and now with a buzzing classic race scene, events such as Goodwood Revival and the Silverstone Classic and a myriad of well organised owners clubs and classic tours, these cars are the key to a lifestyle as well as a wonderful piece of mechanical history.
What is more, around 800 classic, sports, vintage and veteran car events take place in the UK each year. Of these, the Goodwood Festival of Speed is perhaps the best known, and is an absolute must for any vintage car enthusiasts. However, with so many events taking place throughout the year, the chances are good that your group will be able to attend one or more of them when visiting the United Kingdom.
The British love a good museum and, as we know only too well, there's no museum like a car museum. Fortunately, this country is absolutely bursting with great motor museums.
From the historic Brooklands Museum just south of London to the Beaulieu National Motor Museum in the heart of the New Forest, Coventry's Transport Museum and the Heritage Motor Centre at Gaydon, German car fans are spoiled for choice when it comes to great days out.
Here are some of the more noteworthy ones:
Haynes Motor Museum
Tucked away in rural Somerset sits a collection of motoring prestige and history. The Haynes International Motor Museum at Sparkford, near Yeovil, is home to more than 400 cars and motorbikes, and is Britain’s biggest motor museum.
The museum was originally opened in 1985 by John Haynes, founder of Haynes Publishing Group, who hoped it would run alongside his workshop manual business.
What’s on show is impressive, and represents motoring from the 1800s to the present day. The American Collection packs all the muscle cars from the early 20th century onwards, while the Vroom Room – part of the recent revamp – features a number of supercars, including a Lamborghini Countach. Also new is the MG and Morris Garage, which pays homage to some classic models in British motoring history. The Red Room needs no explanation, though: it’s a hall of red racers, including cars driven by Michael Schumacher and Sir Stirling Moss.
Beaulieu National Motor Museum
A name that will resonate with all motoring fans, Beaulieu is packed full of history and is a great day out for visiting car enthusiasts. Key exhibits include everything from record-breakers to cars that have starred in films to race-bred machines from rallying, Formula One and motorbike championships.
Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon
The Heritage Centre is celebrating its 21st birthday this year, and packs a huge collection of British cars, with 300 in all. There’s a big emphasis on domestically made vehicles, with marquee badge names sitting alongside brands made under licence on these shores.
Brooklands Museum
Brooklands is where it all began for UK motorsport, and is host to the world’s first purpose-built motor racing circuit. The museum pays homage to this, displaying British engineering and technological marvels from throughout the 20th century. Alternative means of transportation are covered, too, with a Concorde exhibit and other pieces of aviation history, while there’s a host of specialist car days held throughout the year.
Coventry Transport Museum
This is home to land speed record holder Thrust SCC, and there is even a simulator to go with it, in which visitors can get a taste of what it’s like to go quicker than the speed of sound. Coventry also claims to be the home of the world’s biggest collection of British road transport, with a huge display of cars, commercial vehicles and bikes.
Lakeland Motor Museum
Set against rolling hills on the outer edges of the Lake District, the easy-on-the-eye attractions don’t stop with the surroundings at Lakeland Motor Museum, as a huge selection of transport icons made over the last 100 years awaits. Models from Aston Martin, Jaguar and DeLorean are among the highlights.
If you are a member of a Oldtimer Verein, contact us today. We would be delighted to create a bespoke itinerary for your particular group.
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