Author: Nathan Chadwick
Images: Museums and Nathan Chadwick
Nationales Automuseum The Loh Collection
Where: Dietzhölztal-Ewersbach
One of the world’s largest car museums but it’s not yet well known, having only opened in late 2023. It displays around 150 unique automobiles from 135 years of automotive history, with vehicles from more than 50 manufacturers. It’s a must-see.
Find out more: www.nationalesautomuseum.de
PACE Automobil Museum
Where: Dortmund
This new museum celebrates the tuning scene, with the wildest and fastest machines celebrated. Supported by Germany’s manufacturers, it brings historic racing cars to Dortmund on a rotational basis.
Find out more: www.jp-pace.de
1st German Antique Police Car Museum
Where: Marburg
Learn the intriguing story of how the Polizei were able to work, with more than 90 cars and 18 bikes on display, plus special vehicles such as water cannons and other logistical vehicles. Note: only open between April and October.
Find out more: https://polizeioldtimer.de/
Audi Forum Ingolstadt
Where: Ingolstadt
Learn about not only Audi’s history, but that of its forebears – DKW, Horch, Wanderer and NSU, with 50 cars and 30 motorcycles. Also check out the paternoster lift, which displays 14 cars in constant motion.
Find out more: www.audi.de/de/foren/en/audi-forum-ingolstadt.html
August Horch Museum Zwickau
Where: Zwickau
Dedicated to the manufacturing history of Zwickau, this museum is located in the former Audi factory dating back to 1910. The museum looks at not only the early history of Horch and Audi, but also the factory’s later role in producing the Trabant and its later VW-operated years.
Find out more: www.horch-museum.de/index.php
Automobile Welt Eisenach
Where: Eisenach
Located in the old Automobilwerk Eisenach factory site, one of the world’s oldest, this museum tells the story of car manufacturing in Eisenach from 1899, through the Dixi and BMW pre-war years, and the development of the German Democratic Republic car industry with EMW, IFA and Wartburg, and the post-unification Opel models.
Find out more: https://awe-museum.de/
Halle77 Dortmund
Where: Dortmund
A point of pilgrimage for fans of the tuning scene, this workshop is dedicated to ‘oldtimers’ as well as ‘Youngtimers’. As such this is a fascinating, all-inclusive place where all tastes in motoring are celebrated.
Find out more: www.halle-77.de
Automuseum Dr. Carl Benz
Where: Ladenburg
Located in the former C. Benz Söhne factory, this museum weaves the narrative of automotive pioneer Carl Benz and the vehicles he produced.
Find out more: https://automuseum-ladenburg.de/
AutoMuseum Volkswagen
Where: Wolfsburg
One of two museums dedicated to Volkswagen in Wolfsburg, this one is operated by a charitable foundation. It displays 130 cars, ranging from the very earliest Beetles right up to the latest design concepts.
Find out more: www.automuseum-volkswagen.de
Classic Remise Berlin
Where: Berlin
Located in a historic tram depot dating back to 1899, this building hosts garages, classic car dealers, spare parts repositories and clothing shops, plus lots more.
Find out more: https://remise.de/berlin/short-facts/englisch
Classic Remise Düsseldorf
Where: Düsseldorf
In a similar fashion to the Berlin location, this historic locomotive shed plays host to garages, classic car dealers and a lot more besides.
Find out more: https://remise.de/duesseldorf/short-facts/englisch
Autostadt
Where: Wolfsburg
Located just a short distance from the Volkswagen factory, this museum has dedicated areas for each of the Volkswagen Automotive Group’s brands including SEAT, Audi, Porsche, Lamborghini, Škoda, Bugatti and Bentley, Porsche and of course Volkswagen. There are also two glass silos that are used as storage for new Volkswagens awaiting pickup.
Find out more: www.autostadt.de
Deutsches Museum
Where: Munich
The history of the automobile, and Germany’s key involvement in it, is only a small part of this huge museum – it’s the world’s largest science and technology museum. If you’re interested in the wider technologies around the car, then this is a must-see.
Find out more: www.deutsches-museum.de
Hanover Historical Museum
Where: Hanover
This museum is dedicated to the history of Lower Saxony, the House of Guelf and the city itself, of which automobiles play a big part. The museum contains several vehicles produces by Hannoversche Waggonfabrik, one of which is an early electric car.
Find out more: https://historisches-museum.hannover.de
PS Speicher
Where: Einbeck
Located in a former granary, this six-floor museum features the world’s largest collection of German motorcycles and vintage cars, including several Panhards.
Find out more: www.ps-speicher.de/
Prototyp
Where: Hamburg
Found in Hamburg’s Speicherstadt district, this privately funded museum is dedicated to prototypes and concept cars, primarily developed after World War Two. There’s also Michael Schumacher’s first F1 car, the oldest still existing Porsche made in Germany and plenty of surprises, including Hollywood cars and a dedicated display for racing drivers and design engineers.
Find out more: https://prototyp-hamburg.de
Museum Autovision
Where: Altlußheim, Baden-Württemberg
This fascinating museum is dedicated to NSU vehicles and alternative propulsion – as such, it’s got a dozen cars and three bikes with Wankel rotary engines. It also has 80 Wankel engines, plus a special area dedicated to power transfer and interactive physics experiments.
Find out more: https://museum-autovision.com
Meßkirch Castle
Where: Meßkirch
The beautiful surroundings of the Schloss Meßkirch, this museum houses 20 cars and 80 motorcycles ranging from 1925 to 1975. The Schackomobile, a plastic would-be competitor to the VW Beetle, is a key part of the display, as is a tribute to BMW racer Ernst Kramer.
Find out more: www.schloss-messkirch.de
Museum for Historical Maybach Vehicles
Where: Neumarkt in der Oberpfalz
Located in the former Express factory (which built bicycles, moped and motorcycles), the museum is dedicated Maybachs built between 1921 and 1941, plus the Express story. An architectural treat in itself, this tells the story of Maybach’s brief but brilliant history.
Find out more: www.automuseum-maybach.de
BMW Museum & Welt
Where: Munich
These two buildings tell the story of BMW past (museum) and present (welt) in shadow of BMW HQ. The BMW Museum tells the story of design, motorsport, motorcycling and the firm’s branding. There are designated sections for each of the model lines, plus the infamous art cars.
The Welt building offers newer BMWs, plus a shop and cafe.
Find out more: https://www.bmw-welt.com/de/index.html
BMW Group Classic
Where: Munich
Located close to the Museum and Welt, BMW Group Classic is based in the historic collection of buildings that formed the first BMW factory in Munich. Here you can find a historic workshop, cars from BMW’s historic collection and lots more.
Find out more: www.bmwgroup-classic.com/
Porsche Museum
Where: Stuttgart
Discover the story behind one of the most loved sportscar brands in the world, taking in its innovative road cars and evocative racing cars. There are themed displays throughout the year, plus guided tours. You can also rent a Porsche for a short test drive too!
Find out more: www.porsche.com/international/aboutporsche/porschemuseum/
Mercedes-Benz Museum
Where: Stuttgart
Learn all about the Three-Pointed Star, from its pioneering beginnings at the dawn of motoring to its relentless pursuit of cutting-edge technology today. More than 160 vehicles are on show, with several themed exhibitions throughout the year.
Find out more: https://www.mercedes-benz.com/en/art-and-culture/museum/
