Article: Holiday Snaps - Part 4

[Steve Holmes]

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This is the fourth and final batch of motoring related photos I snapped during our European holiday which ended with a five day stint in Kuala Lumpur on the way home. Following our epic journey from Amsterdam down to Montpellier, in the south of France, we drove back up to Amsterdam via Dijon, where I realized a 25 year ambition of visiting the incredible Schlumph brothers collection, as depicted in Part 3 (http://www.theroaringseason.com/showthread.php?2393-Article-Holiday-Snaps-Part-3).

Upon leaving Amsterdam, we caught the train to Brussels to stay with Helen's Aunt and Uncle. I was aware of Autoworld Museum in Brussels, but wasn't sure if I was going to visit. We'd already been travelling for seven weeks, and it was getting harder to find stuff to be impressed by. I'd become a little overloaded by amazing old buildings and scenery. But I'm really glad I made the effort. The collection here is diverse, but covers aspects to please any car enthusiast. And aside from the displays, the building itself, and the surrounding buildings, are absolutely stunning, and worth effort alone.

When I visited Autoworld, the theme was the history of the American car. The museum sports a massive mezzanine floor, which I assume is the area where the revolving themes are displayed. The American car display was hugely impressive, and aside from the cars themselves, there was a faux Diner, Drive-in, Service Station, plus various auto manufacturer signs etc. I was really impressed.

Autoworld covers everything from veteran cars to racing cars, and even modern day supercars. I was so impressed by the place, and enjoyed the diverse displays. Given the previous three museums I'd visited, impressive as they were, they followed a fairly narrow theme, so this was a refreshing change of pace.

I spent probably three or four hours at Autoworld, and snapped photos of most of what was on display. I missed a lot of the information boards, so some of the vehicles may remain a mystery if you can't ID them.

If you're passing through Brussels, I highly recommend this place.

[Steve Holmes]

This is Autoworld from the outside, as well as some of the amazing nearby buildings and architecture.

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[Steve Holmes]

Its actually really tough to capture just how impressive the building is from inside with a photo. This was my best attempt. It really doesn't do the place justice.

Upon walking through the entrance, this is the view you get. Thats the mezzanine in the background with the stairs leading up on either side.

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[Steve Holmes]

Upon entering, there was this neat little display of American and American powered racing cars.

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In addition were a pair of display cabinets housings 1:43 scale Nascar stock car models.

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[Steve Holmes]

There was no info on either of these cars, although the beautiful Lola T70 is, assume, the actual car raced in period by Hugh Dibley. Motorsport magazine did a great feature on Dibley a few months back.

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[Steve Holmes]

FIA Appendix K 289 competition Cobra was just awesome.

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I could be wrong but my guess is the C1 Corvette was newly built for historic racing. Races for Pre 1963 GT cars have become hugely popular in Europe in recent years.

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[Steve Holmes]

This is the Gary Morgan 1967 Camaro that raced in the SCCA Trans-Am series in period. I recall it coming up for sale a few years ago in the US, before it was sold to a European buyer. Has done a handful of historic racing events since.

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[Steve Holmes]

Some of the early stuff:

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I don't know if the Shelby team F100 was the real deal, but it sure looked cool.

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[Michael Clark]

Does anyone have some tips for motor museums in Rome?

I've googled and all I've found is one for Police cars, which actually might be quite good, but there seems precious little. Only a month to go until I finally get to Schlumpf.

[Dale Harvey]

Does anyone have some tips for motor museums in Rome?

I've googled and all I've found is one for Police cars, which actually might be quite good, but there seems precious little. Only a month to go until I finally get to Schlumpf.

Where are you going and when? I am in Europe at the moment. Will be here until We go to England for Goodwood. Do a PM if need be.
Dale.

[Steve Holmes]

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One of my great automotive passions; Micro cars! I wish I'd been smart enough to have hoarded a bunch of them before their values went ballistic.

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Interesting display of Ford GT40s and GTs, plus Cobra Daytona Coupe. Although the two newest GTs are real, I'm pretty certain the red GT40 is a replica. The Daytona Cobra, as impressively accurate as it is, is almost certainly a replica/continuation. There are a handful of these that have been built in recent years for for the highly popular Pre 1966 GT category in historic racing.

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Sun racer.

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[Steve Holmes]

Does anyone have some tips for motor museums in Rome?

I've googled and all I've found is one for Police cars, which actually might be quite good, but there seems precious little. Only a month to go until I finally get to Schlumpf.

Do you have a contact for Tony Haycock? He seems to know the whereabouts of all the museums in Europe! He is travelling there at the moment. He suggested I visit the train museum in Mulhouse while I was there. Apparently its hugely impressive, and the largest of its type in Europe. I didn't have time, but will check it out next time I'm in Mulhouse: http://www.citedutrain.com/?lang=en

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[Roger Dowding]

Do you have a contact for Tony Haycock? He seems to know the whereabouts of all the museums in Europe! He is travelling there at the moment. He suggested I visit the train museum in Mulhouse while I was there. Apparently its hugely impressive, and the largest of its type in Europe. I didn't have time, but will check it out next time I'm in Mulhouse: http://www.citedutrain.com/?lang=en

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Steve and others ; RE ; ' Do you have a contact for Tony Haycock? He seems to know the whereabouts of all the museums in Europe! He is travelling there at the moment. '

Tony is on Facebook - should be able to connect that way, I have
Cheers
Roger D.

[Michael Clark]

Thanks - yes I know Tone pretty well.

I will PM you Dale

[Kwaussie]

This one is about 4 or 5 hours from Rome but should not be missed. http://www.tazionuvolari.it/en/

Once you have been to all the museums in Italy you can search out all the old airfields!
http://www.forgottenairfields.com/italy/

[Steve Holmes]

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Here are a few shots from up on the mezzanine, looking back over the rest of the museum.

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[Steve Holmes]

Upon entering the mezzanine, we're immediately thrown into the impressive display celebrating the historic of American cars, and Americana.

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I've not seen one of these in the flesh before.

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OK, so from the main mezzanine floor section where the American car themed section is displayed, the mezzanine then continues around the outer walls, with some amazing vehicles which are more permanent residents.

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Time for an update:

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I'm pretty sure I built a 1:24 scale model of this car when I was a kid.

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Apologies for the blurriness.

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I quite enjoyed this diorama celebrating the old Spa pits.

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I was really surprised to see this incredibly rare mid-engined Bizzarrini included as part of the display.

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[ERC]

Steve, you have inspired me to add this to my bucket list. I thought I'd already knocked off 99% of the items on it. What else is left?

Monterey/Laguna Seca and driving an old type double decker bus! Great stuff and many thanks.

[Steve Holmes]

Steve, you have inspired me to add this to my bucket list. I thought I'd already knocked off 99% of the items on it. What else is left?

Monterey/Laguna Seca and driving an old type double decker bus! Great stuff and many thanks.

Yes I was surprised by the quality of this museum Ray. I wasn't really planning to go, but we were staying relatively close, and I wanted to see the buildings and local architecture as much as the museum itself.

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This custom Bugatti, based on a pre-war Type 57 chassis, was one of the more interesting cars in the collection for me. Frustratingly, it was displayed in such a way it was nearly impossible to get a good photo capturing its eccentric bodywork. The rear in particular, including the back glass, is extremely interesting. I took several photos but none really did the car justice.

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Wooden body buck from beautiful Chrysler V8 powered Facel Vega, another manufacturer of the era to produce European GT cars with American V8 power. Facel Vega was French.

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Another oddity.

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One of my favourite cars in the museum. I love tiny cars, and this incredible Moretti 750 Gran Sport was just the ultimate. The pics don't do its diminutive size justice. I did think I'd like to buy one, until I did a little research. One sold at RM Sotheby's a couple of years ago for US$132,000.

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RM Link here: https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/mo16/monterey/lots/r191-1953-moretti-750-gran-sport-berlinetta/380028

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I was particularly fond of this 1:43 scale model of Ivo Grauls' Camaro. Grauls was a Belgian touring car racer who favoured American V8 cars, and put this Camaro on pole for the 1971 Spa 24 Hours. It was a very quick car. Grauls was tragically killed in this car when he was involved in a shunt at Chimay, Round 5 of the Belgian Touring Car Championship when lapping a slower car.

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