Worldwide List of Classic Motor Cars, Transport, Vehicle, Bus and Cycle Museum Houses, Displays, Exhibits and Collections

History of the Car - from "0-100" in 130 Years

Variations of the car have been around since the invention of the wheel and although there is no definitive record of how we humans progressed from running around barefoot to capturing and taming wild horses and eventually driving around in a 750 hp Ferrari (well, I do admit that is only the lucky few) it is always fun to look back at the progression of these vehicles of which, let's face it, not many of us can live without. Records show that the wheel was first used as early as 3500 BC in Mesopotamia with the spoked designs making their debut on the Egyptian chariots of 2000 BC. Fast forward 4,000 years or so and you will find a veritable smorgersbord of Classic Cars through the ages. Unless you live on Sark there is a pretty good chance that there is some sort of car parked in the driveway, in the garage or out on the street. Far from becoming a luxury for the idle rich, the motor car is now an essential part of our everyday lives.

Simultaneous Development

The history of the car cannot be tied down to one year, one town, one factory or even one country. The car developed simultaneously throughout Britain, Europe, the United States and the rest of the world with each country being proud of their individual collection of Classic Cars - of course, they were not "classic" when they were first developed, but many of these early classic cars are extremely sought after these days. Cast your mind back to the great Henry Ford (okay, maybe you were not around in 1909 but you have probably heard about it) - "you can have it in any colour just so long as it is black" - classic.

European car manufacturers were each becoming known for their unique and individual styles which were said to mirror the personalities and quirks of their countrymen.

Classic Car History

The Europeans

The Italians, of course, are car mad, well, to be a little more precise they are sports car and Ferrari mad - built with the flair, the passion, the hot Italian blood - the Prancing Horse - blood red and enough to awaken the loins of all true blooded Italians and petrol heads the world over. Italy may be most well known for the Ferrari, the Lamborghini and the Maserati but don't forget the Fiat, definitely a little more "middle of the road" don't you think? Even Italians realize that the car is not only designed to get from "A" to "B" with as much style as possible, you also need somewhere to carry the pasta after a trip from the Supermercato!

The French have the Peugeot, the Renault and the Citroen to name but a few of the most popular and well established cars to this day. Maybe they do not have quite the same style as the Ferrari or the Maserati but do not forget the Citroen 2CV - okay, perhaps that is not quite the image they were hoping to be remembered for but it really is only one step up from the old French "monsieur" riding his bicycle with a beret and a string of onions - oh la la! Joking aside the French really were pioneers in the history of the classic car - many other nations followed where Renault led!

Automotive Legends

As long as man has been driving cars there have been cars which dreams have been made of. Manufacturers have been constantly trying to make them faster, smarter, dreamier - there are automotive legends from every single era - Bugatti, Ferrari, Bentley. Many of these really "super" supercars were manufactured in extremely small numbers making them even more desirable, more expensive, a greater status symbol. Although many of these original "limited editions" have been lost to history there are still a few around to this day. So here's my list of Worldwide Classic Car Museums, so if you find yourself in foreign parts one day and have the urge for some Classic Car History, you'll find all the information you need to make a visit! Personally I've only been to 3 on the list but there are certainly a few here that I will need to visit in the future. I hope you have as much fun looking at the Museums as I did compiling the list.

- Tim Williams - March 2014