From an immersive journey through more than 100 years of motoring predictions, to a date with vintage cars from comedy classic Genevieve, Hampshire is revving-up the fun for car enthusiasts in 2023.
Already among the South of England’s top family days out, the world-famous National Motor Museum at Beaulieu has one of the finest collections of cars, motorcycles and motoring memorabilia in the world.
This year the Museum will be turning the clock back, as well as looking forward, with major exhibitions exploring how motoring concepts have shaped the way we travel today, and in the future, along with a trip down memory lane to celebrate a motoring movie’s magic milestone.
Heading the line-up is a thought-provoking exhibition exploring vehicles, motoring concepts, designs, film footage and innovative technology from the past century.
Motopia? Past future visions (20 May 2023 – April 2024) will look at how the future of automobility has been predicted, revealing some of the radical concepts from the past including how the electric car has been around from the start of the 20th century.
Also planned is a week of special family fun events when Motopia? – are we nearly there yet? (29 May – 2 June) offers activities and pop-up events featuring a chance to see electric and autonomous vehicles and ‘drive’ remote controlled cars.
During the summer months the spotlight will fall on two very special vintage cars as the Museum’s Icons of Motoringhelps celebrate the 70th anniversary of top British comedy film Genevieve.
The classic movie tells the tale of two very passionate but eccentric veteran car owners who participate in the famous London to Brighton car rally.
Two 1904 cars are the true starts of the film, an 18-horsepower bright yellow Dutch Spyker and a 12-horsepower French Darracq, named Genevieve. The iconic vehicles will be on display at the National Motor Museum from 7 August until 20 October 2023, before participating in the London to Brighton Veteran run in November.
The National Motor Museum at Beaulieu, which has over 1.7 million motoring items in its Collections Centre, aims to tell the story of motoring on the roads of Great Britain through its events, talks and exhibitions. Along with the Museum, Beaulieu also features Palace House and Gardens, Beaulieu Abbey and World of Top Gear.
Entry to the new exhibition is included in normal admission (from £24 adult, £13 child in advance).
For full details, and tickets, visit www.beaulieu.co.uk
All tourist information for Hampshire can be found at www.visit-hampshire.co.uk
Photos: Motopia? Past future visions (Arthur Radebaugh Atomic Car – © Todd & Kristian Kimmell/Lost Highways & Research Library)
Genevieve – ©National Motor Museum