Detour Pit Stop #83: The National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, UK
PhotoNational Motor Museum
The National Motor Museum celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2022 with an array of events to give you even more reasons to visit.
Actually that’s not quite true, for the museum was founded in 1952 by Edward Douglas-Scott-Montagu, the Third Baron Montagu of Beaulieu in honour of his father, a motoring pioneer who was the first person to drive a motor car into the yard of the Houses of Parliament. It began with just five cars displayed at the Montagu family home Palace House, but grew rapidly.
By 1972 the Montagu car collection, now 300-strong, moved to purpose-built premises on the Beaulieu estate where it has gone from strength to strength. Today’s exhibits date back to the dawn of motoring and motorcycling, include land speed record holders, Grand Prix winners and production cars right up to the present day.
To mark the museum’s 50th year there’s a new Story of Motoring in 50 Objects exhibit, a special 1970s Classic Car Drive-In day on July 3 and a series of Classic Grille evenings in June and July where the museum will be open after-hours and visitors can tuck in to a BBQ.
There’s even a display of future classics featuring cars from Alfa Romeo, Toyota, Land Rover, Alpine and BMW. Of course, you’ll have to come back in 50 years to see if the predictions were correct.
Find out more about The National Motor Museum’s 50th anniversary celebrations.
