NATIONAL MOTOR MUSEUM TRUST
The National Motor Museum evolved from the Montagu Motor Museum, founded by Lord Montagu in 1952. It was originally conceived as a tribute to British Motoring achievement and a memorial to his father, John Scott Montagu, one of Britain's motoring pioneers. Within ten years the collection numbered more than 100 distinguished vehicles.
The vehicle and associated collections grew in importance and popularity, resulting in the foundation of a Charitable Trust to safeguard them for the long term benefit of the Nation. The National Motor Museum Trust Limited was created and, in July 1972, the doors of the new National Motor Museum opened to the public. Today, its multi award-winning collections command the attention of hundreds of thousands of visitors per year.
Opened in 1989, the National Motor Museum Trust Centre is the home of our Education Department and Reserve Collections. It also provides space for our vast Libraries. The Motoring Picture Library and the Motoring Film and Video Library are both heavily used by commercial and private researchers. The first class Reference Library is also available to all.
Objectives of the National Motor Museum
The National Motor Museum collects, preserves and presents to its visitors vehicles and other items related to the history of motoring in Great Britain from 1895 to the present day. The Museum also aims to stimulate and participate in research into the history of motoring. These core activities are supported by the Reference, Picture and Film and Video Libraries, whose Collections are not restricted to Great Britain, but span the rest of Europe and, indeed, the world. Educational Services are provided, relevant to the objectives of the National Motor Museum and its Collections.
The Museum has now acquired over 250 vehicles and tens of thousands of objects relating to motoring history. The latter includes car accessories, motoring clothing, printed ephemera and anything else that helps to describe the fascinating evolution of motoring in all its forms and the associated social implications.
