Automobile Museum

Category: Culture and Entertainment > Museum

District: Braga > Vila Nova de Famalicão > Ribeirão

Location

The Automobile Museum is located in the town of Ribeirão, integrated into the urban development or area known as Famalicão Central Park, in the municipality of Vila Nova de Famalicão. This location places the museum in a larger area, facilitating access and orientation for visitors.

The Historical Collection

The museum presents a vast and diverse collection, featuring around one hundred and fifty vehicles, including automobiles, motorbikes, and antique bicycles. This collection allows visitors to trace the history of the automobile throughout the 20th century, observing the evolution in design, technique, and its societal impact, from its emergence to the peak of the internal combustion engine.

Collection Highlights

Among the exhibited pieces are examples of great interest and rarity. This includes a VEL microcar, considered unique, and a Rolls Royce model, one of only two existing examples worldwide. The museum also displays several Ford Model T models, the first mass-produced car globally, showcasing different phases of its production. Interestingly, the collection includes a 'Carocha' (Volkswagen Beetle) whose bodywork and upholstery were created from fifteen thousand cigarette packs, a remarkable example of creativity.

Journey Through Evolution

A visit to the museum offers a journey through the history of road mobility. It is possible to understand how historical circumstances, such as resource scarcity after World War II, propelled the creation of ingenious and economical vehicles like microcars. The exhibition allows visitors to observe different generations of automobiles, from the oldest models with details like wooden rims or external headlights, to those representing the pinnacle of automotive evolution. Each piece tells a part of this story, awakening memories in older visitors and curiosity in younger ones regarding unusual details.

Recognition

The importance of the Automobile Museum is recognized beyond borders. It became the first Portuguese museum dedicated to automobiles to join the International Association of Transport and Communications Museums, a global network comprising around 300 institutions. This affiliation underscores the relevance of its collection and its contribution to the dissemination of automotive heritage.