Fergusbrandon

Ever since cars have been developed, they have fascinated most people who have followed the new innovations in their designs and even tried to own the latest models. People have also been fascinated by vintage cars and many of them have owned them and taken good care of them, if not for using them every day but to show them off at vintage car rallies. However, for most people, seeing these old models in a museum is a truly fascinating experience that is amply fulfilled by the London Motor Museum.

Located in Hayes, Greater London, it is home to more than 200 of the best and largest collection of both classic and custom automobiles in Europe. The number of exhibits keeps rising all the time and the collection includes a 1937 Auburn Speedster, a 1937 Lincoln Zephyr and a 1967 ‘Eleanor’ GT500. It is indeed a truly remarkable museum that has had over £155,000 worth of customisation. The museum is home to not only classic cars but also to large selection of unique vehicles and exhibitions dating back to the 1930s to present times. The wide range of exhibits are in different sections that include The Bat-Cave where you can see the 1966 and 1989 Batmobile; the Muscle Car Alley; The Supercar Paddock which houses some of the fastest cars in the world; the Movie Car Section and others.

                                         Image Courtesy: Ben Sutherland

Getting to the London Motor Museum is easy as you only need to get on a local train at Paddington station and get off at Hayes & Harlington station. Coming out of the station, you need to walk around the corner and reach the local industrial estate and you will be facing London Motor Museum, which is a unique attraction in London. The buses that stop outside Hayes and Harlington station are 90, 195, 350, E6, H98, U4 and U5. If you are driving down to the museum, you need to take the M4 motorway Junction 3 and A312 to Haves. The museum is located at the junction of Nestle’s Avenue and Station Road.

It would be best for visitors to stay at Park Grand Hyde Park hotel since they can easily walk down to Paddington station and catch the train to Hayes and Harlington station. Moreover, they can stay in a luxurious room at an affordable cost. It would also be helpful if they get a “Paddington Station: A Visitor’s Guide” from the information office so that they know exactly where to go and which train to take.

Far from being a well-organised place like the Heritage Motor Museum or the National Motor Museum that have neatly arranged cars such as Ford Continas, Minis or Morris Minors based on their model and year, it is a lot less organised but still it is quite delightful for auto lovers. It exhibits more than 160 automobiles from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Some of the famous cars on show are Herbie the Volkswagen Beetle, a Ford Gran Torino that was used in the television series Starsky and Hutch, and of six original Batmobiles that were used in the first Batman film in 1989.

With a unique collection of classic American cars that provide the history of early developments of the cars, the London Motor Museum is the favourite destination of car enthusiasts. The range of cars at the museum includes luxury brands from Europe and pimped up cars from America. You can find some really exclusive models such as a Lincoln Continental Lowrider, a Louis Vuitton Cadillac Deville and other luxury models such as Ferrari, Aston Martin and Jaguar. While at the museum, you can take part in the Car Geek Quiz that is held in the 20ft custom built Rolls Royce and you can watch some interesting documentaries in the cinema room.

The main highlight of the museum is the focus on muscle cars and classic American vehicles. You can see the Ford Mustang in its old and new versions or a Pontiac Firebird aptly decorated by an elaborate phoenix on the bonnet and leaps of fire from its wheel arches, or even a Cadillac with lively painting and white wall tyres.

Two of the cars in the museum that attract many visitors are the brushed aluminium DeLorean DMC-12 that has a red leather interior and a genuine Knight Industries 2000, or K. I.T.T from David Hasselhoff’s famous TV show.  The other attractions at the museum include the modded vehicles made by Masonry and TKO London, a Rolls Royce with unusual gullwing doors, and a Cadillac Escalade that has been reupholstered.

If you book your visit to the London Motor Museum online, you will have to pay much less than if you buy an entry ticket at the door. Whereas it costs £30 for adults on the door, an online booking will cost £22.50 for adults and £15 for students.