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!

[nkaminar]

Thanks for the report. I will take the Dusey.

[TomInCologne]

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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]

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...

[TomInCologne]

getting to the 'modern' cars now. If you don't know this one... you should, it's one of these cute little cars that were born in the 50s and 60s in europe. Remember the Reliant Robin in the UK (fallin' over)? Or the Peels? Cars for people with not a lot of money, quite often just a motorcycle drivers licence. How to get these into cars and onto the roads? Really a bit like Henrys idea with the Moel T, a car for the masses. Apparently, these 50s and 60s models were not as successful as the Model T. Apart from the Beetle (and i hate it, don't get me started on Volkswagen)


So... here we have a Messerschmitt Kabinenroller. How cute... It's got the nickname 'Tiger' but i cannot, for the life of me' explain that nickname...

[TomInCologne]

another one of those 'cars for the masses': the BMW Isetta. Door opens to the front. How do you get in or out when the car in front is parked very close? I assume you just lift your car and carry it out onto the road and then get in? This is from 1957, one cylinder with 245cm³ and 12 hp. Remember the Benz Motorwagen with 954cm³ and 0,75hp?

[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?

[katy]

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

[TomInCologne]

They also have the odd Lambo Miura, Countach, many Ferraris, Mercedes 300 SL, SLR, BMW M3 E30, and several Bugattis (modern). I won't bore you with these. The only other car i found interesting apart from the last in this thread!) was a Delorean. My youth, you know. Back to the future and so. When i had to decide on what vintage car to buy it was a close race between a Delorean and a Model A. The performance car won! (sorry, inside joke there)

[TomInCologne]

Last car. And the second stage appearance of old Henry.
This is a Benz Victoria Phaeton from 1895. 1 cylinder, 2.650cm³ giving you 5 hp. so, plenty of horses. Gets up to nearly 20mph. It's the first Benz with four wheels and a re-design of the Patent Motorwagen Nummer3, the one that Bertha Benz took o a little cross-country trip with her two sons.


Where does Henry come in? This car has, before it came into the ownership of the museum, only had two previous owners. The family Benz and, you guessed it, Henry Ford. I thought that was amazing...

[TomInCologne]

Originally Posted by katy

Is that a replica? Or is 1989 a typo?

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

[Chuck Dempsey]

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

[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!

[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.