The Ten Best Car Museums On The Planet

Knowing about cars is one thing, seeing them in the flesh is another. If you want to get as close to rare and extremely significant cars as possible, these ten places are the best.

Related Content

We should also note that, given how many times we've singled out the lovely Petersen Collection in LA, we left it off this list. But also go there if you have a chance.

10.) Donington Grand Prix Collection, England

If you're looking for an F1 car, you'll find it here. The Scrambler says it can be done:

The work of one-time track owner, the late Tom Wheatcroft, the Donington Grand Prix Collection remains (as far as I know at least) the largest collection of Formula One cars in the world, including comprehensive collections of Williams and McLaren examples, including the underpowered car Ayrton Senna drove to victory in the 1993 European Grand Prix at Donington, one of his greatest ever drives.

More info here.

Suggested By: The Scrambler says it can be done, Photo Credit: BigTallGuy

9.) The Saab Museum, Sweden

Unlike the brand itself, the Saab Museum got säved and should be visited by everyone to keep the spirit alive. In the meantime, take a virtual tour.

I don't know if there's ever going to be a brand I miss more than this Swedish meatball.

More info here.

Suggested By: Reborn Pyrrhic, Photo Credit: cabsaab900

8.) The Simeone Museum in Philadelphia

Because European and American race cars, plus much much more.

More info here.

Suggested By: Stig-a-saw-us-wrecks, Photo Credit: Simeone Museum

7.) The Nissan Heritage Museum

The only problem with the Nissan Heritage Museum is that you can only visit it if you know someone like a certain Jason Torchinsky, but at least they also have a virtual tour available for the less privileged.

Once in, it's like being in heaven.

More info here.

Suggested By: JayZAyEighty Oppositelocksmith, Photo Credit: Jason Torchinsky/Jalopnik

6.) The Lane Motor Museum In Tennessee

While it's worth a visit for its Tatra collection alone, the Lane Motor Museum also has something that could crush any Tatra, just in case.

TheBaron2112:

So many quirky cars. Tatras, Reliants, microcars, even a CanAm car, a Killer B, and an old Indy Car.

More info here.

Suggested By:Stig-a-saw-us-wrecks, Photo Credit: drewzhrodague

5.) The Mullin Museum in California

This surprisingly new museum is the place to go to study what art deco is. Or rust.

More info here.

Suggested By: reverberocket is nipping the apex, Photo Credit: The Mullin Museum

4.) The Audi Museum in Germany

The history of Audi is a bit like the history of Europe: very colorful and full of surprises. The Audi Museum is a must see.

More info here.

Suggested By: daender, Photo Credit: Axel Schwenke

3.) The Porsche Museum in Germany

A constantly changing display of the fastest cars on the planet. Go there before or after the Audi Museum, it doesn't matter as long as you make it.

More info here.

Suggested By: keenan9, Photo Credit: DeFries

2.) The Mercedes Museum in Germany

Mercedes-Benz is pretty much ground zero when it comes to the automobile, so where else to start?

More info here.

Suggested By: 996C2, Photo Credit: bortescristian

1.) Cité de l'Atomobile in France

A Bugatti pickup, anyone?

Alex87f:

The Schlumpf collection, a.k.a. La cité de l'automobile, in Mulhouse, France:

This one of, if not the largest automotive museum in the world: 520 cars from 98 brands! They have the world's largest collection of Bugatti's (123) including not one but three of the 7 Royales ever built, as well as the first Veryon and various racers from the 30's.

They also have a massive collection of racecars: endurance cars from the last 70 years, F1's, rally cars, etc, as well as a collection of "early" cars (1900-1920), and various other beauties.

More info here.

Suggested By: 505Turbeaux505Turbeaux, Photo Credit: Cité de l'Automobile

Welcome back to Answers of the Day - our daily Jalopnik feature where we take the best ten responses from the previous day's Question of the Day and shine it up to show off. It's by you and for you, the Jalopnik readers. Enjoy!

Top Photo Credit: Ramp Magazine