trip report: nationales Automuseum Deutschland

[TomInCologne]

Hi guys,


i had some spare time today whilst near Siegen, pretty close to the geographical centre of germany. I remembered that the fairly new (opened in 2023) national car museum is nearby and i went to have a look at it. I was surprised by what a nice venue it is and how many interesting and very special cars they have there. Their website says they show about 150 cars, i thought it was more. I took some photographs, just with my phone so don't expect too much. If you happen to be close, go and see the museum. I think it is worth a little detour.


By the way, old Henry Ford is mentioned twice in the museum: once with a Model T on a mock-up moving production line and second as a previous owner of a very special car...


https://www.nationalesautomuseum.de/en

[TomInCologne]

This is a Daimler 4hp 'Marseilles' Phaeton from 1898. 2 cylinder engine, 1.527cm³ engine with, you guessed it, 4hp. Maximum speed 32km/h, 20mph. if you dare...

[TomInCologne]

The first Düsenberg, that i see in person. A convertible coupe Model J, 1929. Aren't they all from 1929? 8 cylinders, 6.883cm³ and 265hp. Special build by Murphy. It has, as a extra, sirens and canisters for 'moonshine' express transport. Must have been a profitable business then, if they were able to afford a Düsenberg...

[TomInCologne]

if i was given the opportunity to choose one car from the museum and take it home with me, it would be this one. A Bucciali (never heard of them) TAV8-32 V12 from 1932. 4.886cm³ with 180hp. This is the second coolest looking car from that era. (My Model A, Margarethe, of course being the coolest!)


It's a one off body from Saoutchik, never heard of them either. There are only three still in existence. For the nerds: It's a front wheel driven car with transverse gearbox.


1932 guys!

[TomInCologne]

The first (not really, but please excuse my national pride and patriotism here) car in the world. Benz Patent-Motorwagen Nummer 1, 1886. I am afraid it's only a Replica from 1999. Anyway, you will not get any closer to the birth of the car than standing in front of this. Wow. 1 cylinder with 954cm³ gives you 0.75hp. Imagine taking this to the local 'cars and coffee'. Leave home early to be there on time...

[TomInCologne]

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I took the next picture because i think it shows what was available technically and financially in 1931, the year my Margarethe was born. Margarethe, as you all well know, has a 3.2l 40hp (Henry you liar, i suspect it was never more than 33 horses... or maybe 40 ponies.) engine. This is the engine of a Bugatti type 50, also from 1931, 4.972cm³. Admittedly with a roots compressor but it's pumping out 300 horses. I assume real horses, not tiny little Shetlands...

[Bruce of MN]

Originally Posted by TomInCologne

if i was given the opportunity to choose one car from the museum and take it home with me, it would be this one. A Bucciali (never heard of them) TAV8-32 V12 from 1932. 4.886cm³ with 180hp. This is the second coolest looking car from that era. (My Model A, Margarethe, of course being the coolest!)


It's a one off body from Saoutchik, never heard of them either. There are only three still in existence. For the nerds: It's a front wheel driven car with transverse gearbox.


1932 guys!

This one gets my vote!

[katy]

Originally Posted by TomInCologne

This is a Daimler 4hp 'Marseilles' Phaeton from 1989. 2 cylinder engine, 1.527cm³ engine with, you guessed it, 4hp. Maximum speed 32km/h, 20mph. if you dare...

Is that a replica? Or is 1989 a typo?

[TomInCologne]

Originally Posted by katy

Is that a replica? Or is 1989 a typo?

you are right, i corrected it to 1898. Thanks!

[nkaminar]

Thanks for the report. I will take the Dusey.

[katy]

The BMW Isetta was sold over here (Canada), I remember seeing them on the streets.

[Chuck Dempsey]

Looks like a cool place to visit. Thanks for posting!

[Brad in Germany]

Here is a video that presents the museum:



Brad in Maryland

[40-A Twins]

I visited an Auto museum in the vicinity of Chiemsee years ago. Every car had a sign listing horsepower (expressed as PS) and top speed. What surprised me was the early Ford V8 models 1932-1934, which were probably imported from America, had a higher top speed than most of the big German car makes such as Horch. Only a few of the largest German models were faster. The later 30's Fords manufactured at the Köln Ford factory were much smaller and less powerful than their American counterparts.