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Blueheaven: A 1937 Auburn Boattail Speedster
The London Motor Museum, which claims to be the only custom car museum in Europe, is home to more than 200 vehicles from both America and Europe. The cars – some from as far back as the 1930s to the present day – have all been restored in-house.
The collection – a stone’s throw from Heathrow airport, on a trading estate in Hayes – was founded by former model and fashion designer Elo King.
The tone of the collection is quickly set by one of the first cars you see on entering: the Extra Terrestrial Vehicle. Designed by Mike Vetter in 2008, it boasts a futuristic body design, gull-wing doors and hidden wheels.
Among the museum’s top-rated exhibits is a 1937 Auburn Boattail Speedster. As one of the few pre-war American sports cars, the Auburn Speedster was a powerful, affordable and stylish car. It features a characteristic boattail body and a supercharged engine that set American trends: large proportions and straight-line performance.
Another eye-catcher is the 1939 Plymouth P8 Deluxe Coupe, one of the first vehicles to feature a gearshift lever on the steering column instead of the floor.
The streamlining of the Plymouth is among the best examples of art-deco automotive design. In the 1920s and 1930s, Chrysler successfully marketed it as a cheaper rival to Ford and Chevrolet. Its sales figures constituted a bright spot for the company during the Great Depression.
There is also a 1937 Lincoln Zephyr, considered by many automobile designers to be the most attractive design of the pre-war era. The Nite Black boasts a Dodge Viper V10 motor and transmission, with speeds capable of more than 180mph.
The Zephyr’s speed is trumped by its neighbour in the display, the Shelby SSC Ultimate Aero TT. Tested in March 2007 by Guinness World Records and with a top speed of 257mph, the car was the fastest in the world until July 2010.
Walking around the museum you will also see a range of classic and customised motorcycles, tractors from manufacturers such as Lamborghini and Porsche, and the incongruous sight of autographed football boots. The museum is clearly laid out with a well-defined section for each class of car. The displays are colourful and can be humorous.
This, coupled with the unusual cars, makes for an atmosphere unlike that found in most other car museums.
But be aware, the museum is currently the subject of a winding-up notice over a disputed £130,000 tax bill. At the time of writing, it was expecting to have its case heard at the High Court at the end of March.
It is therefore advisable to check the museum’s website before planning any visits.
For opening times and more information see: www.londonmotormuseum.co.uk
Flying high: The gullwing DMC DeLorean featured in the Back to the future films
5 things to see
1. Movie car section: Some of Hollywood’s most iconic cars including Starsky and Hutch’s Gran Torino, Mr Bean’s Mini and the DMC DeLorean from the Back to the Future films.
2. Muscle car alley: The largest collection of muscle cars in Europe, from Dodge Chargers to Mustangs and Chevrolets.
3. The supercar paddock: See the Shelby SSC Ultimate Aero TT, once the fastest car in the world.
4. The supercar workshop: Behind-the-scenes of the customisation process including photography, pinstriping and car maintenance.
5. Scattered around the museum are other classic and customised vehicles, such as motorcycles and tractors.