Jalopnik: museum

France's Amazing Presidential Car Museum

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST

A French museum has amassed a collection of cars that used to belong to world leaders, including the DS Charles De Gaulle was blown up in. Motorbiker.Org's Mike Werner takes us on a tour.

In the heart of one of France's wine areas, Burgundy, in between the rolling hills, rivers and forests, you'll find a beautifully restored 18th century castle. Next to the castle is a museum, called the Presidential Cars museum (Musée des Voitures des Chef d'Etat).

The museum grew out of the passion of one man, Frenchman Olaf Delafon, a former stock trader working in the USA. His love for old cars grew into a passion, and he started collecting special cars; those used by the heads of state. The private collection turned into a public museum in 1993 after thousands of people asked to see the cars.

He placed the presidential cars, all in different state of restoration, in the castle's barns. Today his collection contains cars from US Presidents JFK (1962 Cadillac Fleetwood Limousine) and Eisenhower (1953 Chrysler Crown Imperial), USSR Presidents Kroutchev and Brejnev (1960 Zil) and French Presidents like De Gaulle (1960 Renault Rambler) and Mitterand (1979 Citroen CX Prestige). He's even got a Popemobile and the car belong to the Romanian dictator, Nicolae Ceaucescu (a Mercedes 600 Pullman).

Though all these cars are special, some are a bit more special. For example, the museum has the Citroen DS19 car that was blown up when they tried to assassinate the General De Gaulle.

The heavily armored 1957 Cadillac Fleetwood Limousine belonging to the Emir of the Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates is also shown. The front window has been replaced by a window used on airplanes, and tall chrome has been painted black, giving the car a sinister and dangerous look.

Some cars still have the original dust on them as they were found. One even has a sign on it saying "Original Dust".

Like all museums, there's even a souvenir shop, but this one is special. Olaf has on sale toy cars dating back decades, a nice touch for a museum.

The museum is open every day, and starting next year April, a new exhibit will open, called "Barn Finds". Here, Olaf will be showing cars "as they come in", in other words, you'll see the cars without restoration, full of dust, rust and bird droppings.

The castle itself can be visited on request, and they cater towards large groups, specially vintage car groups. On request, the owner will give you a guided tour of all the cars. [Voitures Presidentielles]

—Mike Werner

Antique Cars As Therapy For The Aged

Davey G. Johnson — Wed, 30 May 2007 23:45:00 EDT

Our grandmother's brain went before her body. She reverted to living in the 1920s, 30s and 40s, occasionally coming unstuck in time to visit other periods. A few months from her deathbed, we paid a visit to her in her care home in Northern Ireland. She hadn't seen us in six years and even previously couldn't quite place us. Finally, we jogged her memory with a story of her taking us on daily walks to the sweet shop back in '79. Her face lit up, and so did ours. Awesomely, the folks at Ohio's Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum are doing this for nursing home residents with vintage automobiles. We honestly can't think of a better use for them. In 2060, they'd better have a '70 Skylark waiting for us. – Davey G. Johnson

Rides in old cars revive nursing residents [Driving.ca]

Isetta in Drag: The Whatta Drag

Mike Spinelli — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 11:00:00 EST

As its name attests, the Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum is the venue for all manner of microcar, from the Grataloup to the Vespa 400 and right up to the towering Isetta. In fact, funny story. There was this Hot Wheels car called the Whatta Drag. It was part Isetta, part drag bike and all the kind of Hot Wheels car that sat, unpicked, in the back of the box when cars were played. Nonetheless, the team at Bruce Weiner went about building a full-scale version of the Whatta Drag, using a 1959 Isetta 300 and a worked-over Chevy 502 big-block V8 - blown, natch — producing 730 hp. No word on trap times (we wonder if it's been dragged), but we'd imagine this could run in the threes of wheels. – Mike Spinelli

BMW Isetta Whatta Drag: Hotwheels inspired, 730Hp Chevy V8 powered [Carscoop]

Couple Donates $1.3 Million to Corvette Museum

Davey G. Johnson — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 21:00:00 EST

Ivan and Mary Shrodt, devoid of children, but with six Corvettes to their name, decided they'd put their money where their automotive lust lives and donate $1.3 million to the Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, KY. The money wil go toward a planned fourteen-million-dollar expansion of the museum, which is due to open in 2009, allowing rampant horsepower and fiberglass to roam a little freer... [Thanks to Scott for the tip]

Wisconsin couple gives $1.3 million to Corvette museum [Star Tribune]

Don't Buy that Opel Astra! Hold off on the Holden Ute! Save the Corvette Museum

Davey G. Johnson — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 22:30:00 EDT

It's what we want, hurry and buy! A prominent patron of the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, KY has made an offer we can't refuse. If we can convince one hundred people to buy a Chevy, Pontiac, Buick, Hummer, Cadillac, GMC or Saab, said benefactor will donate $25k to the facility. Here's the catch...you've gotta own a non-GM car. We're not sure if having an Opel GT as a daily driver counts. Goddamn our confusion. [Thanks to Frank for the tip.]

NCM Vehicle Sales Initiative Program [National Corvette Museum]

Related:
NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion This Weekend [Internal]

Smithsonian Killed The Electric Car?

Ray Wert — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 12:09:37 EDT

The big question of "Who Killed the Electric Car?" will have to be set aside momentarily while electronic car enthusiasts everywhere attempt to figure out the significantly less important question — "Who Killed the Electric Car — At The Smithsonian?" It seems the Smithsonian National Museum of American History removed their 1997 GM-built EV1 sedan from display. An interesting and conspiracy-laden decision, considering interest in the vehicle's been ratcheted-up with the movie's premiere on June 30th. Conspiracy theorists, go ahead and don those aluminum foil hats now, because although GM claims it didn't pressure the Smithsonian to pull the car and the museum claims they needed the space for another vehicle — that "other vehicle?" It's a souped-up SUV. (thanks to David for dropping us this one like it's hot)

An Electric Car, Booted [Washington Post]

BMW Releases Spec Shots of New Museum

Mike Spinelli — Mon, 27 Feb 2006 10:51:49 EST

BMW released imagery of what its museum will look like after a three-year refurbishment is complete a year from now. The 30-year-old complex in Munich is being extended to encompass more than 16,000 square feet and, according to the company, feature "all the important aero-engines, motorcycles and cars of the BMW brand." The interior space will get an avant-garde ramp system that appears to float, along with with interlinking paths to the exhibition areas. The architecture is designed as an urban traffic complex comprising streets, buildings, squares and bridges. No word on whether it'll have iDrive. [Click through for more pics.]

More at World Car Fans

BMW Museum

Get Shorty: The Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum

Mike Spinelli — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 15:07:50 EDT

If the The Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum in Madison, Georgia doesn't house the most extensive collection of microcars from around the world, we'll sell our regular-sized car and drive around town in a 1958 Brutsch Rollera; or a 1955 Grataloup; or a 1957 Vespa 400; or a 1990 Honda Caren. The list goes on and on.

The Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum

Related:
Merlin Roadster for Sale on eBay [internal]