Halls With Themes
Each of the ten halls is devoted to a particular theme, the first one upon entering the complex being ”The
Dawn of Motoring” with low lighting as befits dawn, featuring cars built before 1910. Leaving this darkened hall
one enters ”The Red Room” a stunning eyeful of cars with a common denominator, they are all painted red,
hence the name of the room. These include a rare Facel Vega HK 500, AC Ace, 428 Frua convertible and
Cobra, a Maserati Merak SS, a Lamborghini Countach, and of course examples of the most famous red cars
of all, Ferraris, represented by a 250 GT PF S2 cabriolet, chassis # 1815GT, and a BB512, chassis # 33131.
From the ”Red Room” you have access to the other halls, so you can choose the direction you take to view
the exhibits. However, continuing in chronological order, one goes into Hall 3, the theme of which is
”International”, with exhibits as varied as a Sinclair C5 electric scooter, a range of Chevrolet Corvettes, through
to the epitome of luxury in the form of Rolls Royce. Along the way there is a Ferrari 400i Auto, chassis #
43803, and an example of the futuristic when announced Aston Martin Lagonda. This hall also features the
Camelot Auditorium, a small screen cinema where historic motoring films are shown throughout the day. Hall
4 is called British American & Specialist, with exhibits that range from the minimalist Mini, to the excesses of
the 1959 Cadillac Sedan DeVille, with the ”Specialist” section including the first ever newspaper delivery van,
an Albion 40/50 cwt LCA44 van, and a 1968 Pontiac Superior Ambulance that saw duty in Lewistown,
Montana for a number of years.
Veteran, Vintage, Edwardian & Classics is the theme of Hall 5, and contains some of the museum’s most
valuable exhibits, the stars of which are displayed on a raised section at the end of the hall, a 1931 Cadillac
452 V16 Madame X Cabriolet, one of the museum’s latest acquisitions, and a stunning 1931 Duesenberg
Model J Derham bodied Tourster, the only one outside the USA of the eight examples of this type that were
built. Other transatlantic gems include a 1936 Auburn 852 Supercharged Boat Tail Speedster, and a Cord 810
Beverly from the same year. To the side of this hall is the narrow Hall 6 containing the Speedway collection of
motorcycles, which comprises of 31 motorcycles, seven engines and a mass of memorabilia from the
Forshaw Collection that encapsulates this branch of motorcycle sport. On the opposite side of Hall 5 is Hall
7, which is the ”Hall of Motorsport” where exhibits include a Delahaye 135 Course, a Bugatti T35B, a
Connaught F2, a Lola Cosworth T370/HU3 F1 car, and a Ferrari F310 Static Show Car.
Halls 8, 9 and 10 run into each other, the first being devoted to British cars covering a period of over sixty
years, and including a facsimile of the original Morris Garages in Longwall Street, Oxford, behind which is the
museum’s workshop and restoration area. Hall 9 is dedicated to the art of customising and the kit car, and
the exhibits include a spectacular V12 Jaguar engined ”Model T” hot rod. Hall 10 ”The Millenium Hall”
completes the tour, and comprises of what are considered possible future collectibles, ranging from a 1981
VW Golf GTI, through a bright yellow 1995 Ferrari 456 GT, chassis # 100903, a 1997 Dodge Viper RT10, a
1998 Jaguar XJ 220, to a 2000 Bentley Arnage.
Motorcycles & Memorabilia
Throughout the halls there are a number of classic motorcycles amongst their four wheel cousins, including
British icons like the BSA Gold Star and Manx Norton. Everywhere there is also a vast and diverse array of
automobilia, including the previously mentioned scale models, together with road and garage signs, and even
an old AA call box with appropriate motorcycle and sidecar parked outside.
Function?
The museum also offers a range of facilities for private and corporate functions, from weddings to business
seminars. You can incorporate go-kart racing, quad bike riding, tank driving or a variety of other activities into
the programme, or if you just want a pleasant day out at a motor museum with diverse displays, then the
Haynes Motor Museum is the place for you
General Information
Location
Just north of Yeovil on the A359, a short distance from its junction with the A303 north of Sparkford.
Opening Times
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