Page 29 - Apr2022

From the Archives

I t's time to take a tour of the collection of more than 250 cars manufactured since the late 19th
century at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu.

A small exhibit of five cars was first established in 1952 to honor John Montagu, the second Baron,
by his son, the 3rd Baron. John Montagu was an early pioneer of motoring in the United Kingdom. He
was the first person to drive a motor car into the yard of the Houses of Parliament, was a keen racer in
his own right, and published a magazine dedicated to motorsport.
Over time the exhibit proved popular with the public and, as the collection continued to grow, it was
transferred to wooden sheds located on the Palace House grounds. By 1959, visitors to the collection
surpassed the quarter million mark. A decision was taken to build a purpose built museum on the
grounds of Beaulieu after attendance surpassed the half million mark in 1964.
The new museum opened in 1972. The name was changed to the "National Motor Museum", reflecting a
change of status from a private collection to a charitable trust, highlighting Montagu's stated aim to
provide Britain with a National Motor Museum "worthy of the great achievements of its motor
industry".
The opening of the museum coincided with the UK launch of the Jaguar XJ12, which made it an
appropriate week for celebrating the UK motor industry. The museum is run by the National Motor
Museum Trust Ltd, a registered charity.

As you would expect, the collection is heavy on British marques, although other countries are also
represented ( While watching the video see if you can spot The Whisper on the bonnet of the family's
Silver Shadow Rolls Royce.)

29 Coming Next Mont h: Life wit h Rileys