Ajourney back in time

CAR MUSEUMS Artistically forged steel, gleaming

chrome and fascinating forms. Veteran and vintage cars exude a magical charm and also provide exciting history lessons.

OLDTIMER-TOUR

Just over 15 years ago, the Association of German Car, Motoring and Technical Museums began to draw up a directory of all the vehicle museums in Germany. This work resulted in the “German Museum Route” scheme; all the known museums can be found along it. The plan shows how to get from one classic car museum to the next – subdivided by region and individual segment.

Contact: Verband der deut- schen Museen für Auto, Motor und Technik e.V. branch office at the

Automuseum Rosso Bianco:

Obernauer Strasse 125

63743 Aschaffenburg, Germany

Telephone: +49. 6021.21358

Telefax: +49. 6021.20636Internet: www.deutsche-

museumsstrasse.de

Affection for them has grown over more than 100 years. Ever since Carl Benz patented his motor carriage

back in 1886, and Gottlieb Daimler and Wil- helm Maybach took their first jaunts with a gasoline-driven coach, a unique relationship has evolved between the driver and his vehi- cle, and in that the car differs from every other technical object. And if the car is the German’s first love, classic models are even more special and fascinating. Whether it’s nostalgia, admiration for the pioneering spirit of the first carmakers, or simply the aesthetic appeal of the product – there are many reasons why the sight of historic vehicles sets the pulse of most people racing.

HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

To preserve these witnesses to our mobile past, more than 150 car museums have been created in Germany. Many are private collec- tions, devotedly put together by their owners. Almost all these collections are worth a visit, and it’s not always the biggest that are the best. The “Deutsches Museum” in Munich has only around 50 vehicles, but these were

key influences on the industry – from the Adler Vis-à-Vis from 1901 to the Wanderer “Puppchen” of 1913.

The collections of the major car manufacturers are perhaps somewhat one-sided, but very comprehensive. BMW, Mercedes, Opel and VW all present their own automobile history without any gaps. Audi aims to provide a very special history lesson: on the former premises of the Horch plant in Zwickau, the Ingolstadt-based company is building a museum that will document the car-making tradition of the region. Next year will see both its inauguration and an anniversary celebration. On the 10th of May 1904, August Horch moved the site of his company to Zwickau to found August Horch & Cie Motoren-Werke. In 1909, after falling out with his business partners, he founded a new company in Zwickau. The new company bore his name translated into Latin: Audi.

Whether it’s a small private collection or a factory-organized exhibition, the German car museums have something for every taste. For example, the Motor Sport Museum at the Hockenheimring (www.hockenheimring.de)

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