The Nationales Automuseum is the brainchild of Prof. Dr. Friedhelm Loh, a German entrepreneur and passionate automobile collector. In 2023, Loh reworked his personal assortment right into a public treasure, showcasing automotive historical past on a grand scale.
Loh, who led his household’s firm to worldwide success in metal cabinetry and software program options, has lengthy nurtured a deep ardour for automobiles. His assortment is a testomony not solely to that but in addition to his appreciation for technically important autos which have formed the course of automotive historical past.
I just lately had the chance to go to this extraordinary museum, which is at the moment divided into two components: a short lived Ferrari exhibition (which I’ll share with you in a separate submit) and a everlasting assortment valued at US$1.5 billion.
The everlasting assortment homes about 150 uncommon and distinctive autos, spanning many years of innovation and design. Tucked away within the scenic Hesse area of Germany, the museum contains a gorgeous choice of traditional and high-performance sports activities automobiles.
Its location in Dietzhölztal-Ewersbach provides an additional layer of appeal. As soon as the location of Omnical GmbH’s manufacturing services, in 2015 it started being reworked right into a museum whereas preserving its industrial heritage and distinctive architectural character.
The expertise begins with two yesteryear-themed corridors, the place an array of extremely polished pre-WW2 automobiles set the stage. Right here, iconic names like Bugatti, Bentley, Talbot-Lago, and Mercedes-Benz recall a golden period of automotive luxurious and innovation. However the surprises don’t finish there. I used to be blown away by rarer gems, together with the front-wheel-drive 1932 Bucciali TAV8-32 V12, nicknamed ‘Golden Arrow’ by its French creator Jacques Saoutchik. The gorgeous Austro-Daimler ADR 635’s futuristic design for its time provides a uncommon glimpse into an alternate imaginative and prescient of the car.
The primary corridor, with its steeply banked curves paying homage to a race or take a look at monitor, homes most of the museum’s most well-known autos. Every automobile on this centerpiece has its personal fascinating story.
Among the many highlights is the Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Roadster, as soon as the world’s costliest manufacturing automobile, with solely six examples ever made. Subsequent to it’s the Bugatti Veyron, a high-speed icon of the fashionable period.
Different notable automobiles embrace a brilliant orange Lamborghini Countach, a modern Lamborghini 350 GT, Porsche’s iconic 959 S, and the legendary 2.7 RS, which birthed the Stuttgart manufacturing unit’s RennSport dynasty. The gathering additionally options a few of the most recognizable fashions in historical past, such because the Shelby Cobra, BMW 507, Jaguar E-Sort, and Citroën DS.
Behind the curve, a multi-story parking storage homes 30 autos in a placing vertical show that jogged my memory of how some folks prepare their Scorching Wheels collections.
Between the 2 buildings, a hallway is devoted to a choice of historic DTM automobiles just like the Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.5-16 Evo and BMW E30 M3, alongside newer touring automobiles and a set of traditional Formulation 1 and Le Mans racers.
One of many highlights of my go to was the particular exhibition celebrating 125 years of Opel. This showcase featured a collection of serious autos from the German automaker’s wealthy historical past. Among the many standouts was the 1899 Patentmotorwagen, alongside the gold-plated Kapitän, which commemorates the manufacturing of Opel’s two-millionth automobile.
A transparent favourite was the Opel Corsa ‘Moon,’ a playful design research from 1997 that heralded a facelift for the favored mannequin.
Opel’s early foray into electrical autos was additionally represented with the 1971 Elektro GT. This pioneering automobile, powered by two Bosch DC motors producing 120hp (peaking at 160hp), gave a glimpse into the way forward for EV expertise. Regardless of its modern design, the Elektro GT’s 280 nickel-cadmium batteries added a hefty 590kg (1,300lbs) to the automobile’s weight, pushing its whole to 1,550kg (3,417lbs).
Close by, one other notable Opel was the ECO Speedster, an modern automobile that set 17 world information in a single 24-hour interval in the course of the top of Europe’s diesel automobile increase. This compact racer, with its 1.2L engine and 112hp, achieved an astonishing gas effectivity of 92.6mpg (2.54L/100km) whereas nonetheless managing to hit 250km/h.
Opel’s competitors heritage was nicely represented, with iconic race automobiles just like the 1983 Safari Rally Opel Ascona, the Opel Manta 400, and the placing ‘Cliff’ Calibra, alongside different motorsport legends.
The crimson Opel Astra OPC X-Treme was a private spotlight. This automobile holds sentimental worth as the quilt automobile of the primary automotive journal I ever bought.
The Nationales Automuseum deeply delves into automotive tradition, innovation, and historical past. Whether or not you’re drawn to the svelte strains of a Lamborghini Miura SV or fascinated by the story behind the DeLorean DMC-12, there’s one thing right here for each automobile fanatic.
Keep tuned for half two of my go to: the Ferrari Assortment.
Vladimir Ljadov
Instagram: wheelsbywovka
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