Haynes International Motor Museum

The museum was founded in 1985 by John Haynes OBE, father of the automotive publishing empire

On a recent visit down to Somerset to see the beautiful city of Bath, I spent the following wet and windy day taking refuge in the fantastic Haynes museum, just north of Yeovil.
I visited the museum a few years back but wanted to have another look, especially as not long ago a whole host of refurbishment work had been completed. Featuring a new modern frontage, atrium and shop/café, the museum is now a far more attractive proposition. Of course like any museum, what's really important is its contents and the Haynes International Motor Museum doesn't disappoint.


The museum's Red Room

Featuring over 400 cars and motorbikes from around the world, the museum is a must for any petrol head. As you'd expect, there are a number of British cars, (from such disparate marques as Rolls-Royce and Gordon-Keeble); however, the museum also features a vast array of classic American motors that sit alongside the odd Russian or Indian favourite.
The museum also offers a vehicle restoration and service centre, whilst outside a test track allows the majority of exhibits to be taken for a spin at least once a year, (a must if these classics are to be kept in full working order).
If you're down that way, do pop in. You'll be pleasantly rewarded

A 1960 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet features alongside other historic models from the famous 'Prancing Horse'

 

Geneva Motor Show 2016

The Bugatti Chiron unsurprisingly drew huge crowds at Geneva. Bugatti's new Veyron replacement produces 1,479bhp, will cost £1.9m and will do 261mph

Another year, another 8 hours on the show floor at Geneva seeing the latest metal up close and personal. Although my feet were on fire following a packed day of tackling the stands (and crowds), I never tire of being immersed in all things automotive. Some of my highlights...
 

 Aston Martin DB11 - Another handsome effort from Aston Martin; the DB11 ushers in an all-new era for the Gaydon firm



Lamborghini Centenario - Created to celebrate the 100th birthday of company founder Ferruccio Lamborghini, the Centenario will be limited to just 40 units. The price? £1.64m...they've already been snapped up...

Volvo V90 - From a Lambo to a Volvo... I was very impressed with the smart design of Volvo's new load lugger. To me, it's more stylish, (and somehow accepting) both inside and out than the BMW 5-Series Touring or Audi A6 Avant. A decent premium offering

 

DS E-Tense - PSA want a bit of the premium pie and on DS's stand was their latest concept, the E-Tense. Powered by a high performance electric powertrain, it certainly looked the part. The sooner the all-new DS range arrives circa 2017/2018, the better

 

Bentley Bentayga - As I didn't manage Frankfurt last year, Geneva was the first time I caught the Bentayga in the flesh. With memories of the awkward Falcon concept from a few years ago, I was expecting to dislike Bentley's entry into the luxury SUV sector. In the end I was impressed. Suited the colour too

 

Jaguar F-Pace - Another British SUV I hadn't encountered before Geneva, (apart from the odd development mule on the roads around Coventry). I expect it'll sell like hot cakes...

 



British Motor Museum opens

The museum's new Collections Centre

Took myself last month to the re-opened and re-named British Motor Museum, (formerly British Motor Heritage) based at Gaydon in Warwickshire. What I can say is it's well worth a visit, even more so now you can snoop around the museum's reserve collection, housed in a new £4m Collections Centre.
Located next to the main museum, (which has also been updated), the Collections Centre is housed on two floors. Downstairs is currently home to the Jaguar heritage collection while upstairs is where the museum's reserve collection is stored. Entry is free as part of the museum's standard admittance price.

The Collections Centre is a fascinating place to spend time for any car enthusiast

What I can say with a degree of certainty is that you need to set aside plenty of time to see the exhibits properly. The centre currently houses approximately 250 cars from all ages and the time goes very quickly. Included are many prototypes, first/last of line models and historically important cars - I found myself running out of time and having to make a return visit. Still, it's great that the cars are now in one place and are there for people to see. Previously they were in storage at various locations, closed off from public view.

The Jaguar Corsica was a design study in the 90's to gauge reaction to a luxury convertible based on the XJ saloon

Highlights for me in Jaguar's heritage collection included an XJ-S convertible owned by the late Princess Diana in which she ferried a young Wills and Harry around, an XJ estate prototype and a Union Jack liveried XK used for promotional purposes for the Austin Powers film franchise. Upstairs in the reserve collection, cars included an MG DR2, (an early design study for what became the MGF), a Honda Prelude presented to British Leyland chairman Michael Edwardes on the signing of the Honda-BL collaboration deal and various wacky, (and rather ugly) safety research vehicles.

A collection of BMC/Austin Rover prototypes on display in the main museum