New museum The Great British Car Journey opens

Published: 19/05/2021

David Whale and Andy Bye report back from the opening of our newest motor musueum in the UK.

Perhaps an unusual name for an exciting and different car museum, The Great Britsh Car Journey, based in Ambergate, Derbyshire focuses almost exclusively on the popular cars from the 1920s onwards. Cars that brought a transformation in mobility, the cars that the vast majority of families regarded as their everyday transport.

The venue is 12 miles to the north of Derby on a site between the A6 and River Derwent and represents a fantastic trip down memory lane, the sights, the smells, the sounds of motoring past. These are cars that were once commonplace on our streets and indeed one of the features on offer is a scheme aptly named "Drive Dad's Car" . 

The display of around 150 vehicles follows a relaxed format in the style of motor shows of the past with manufacturer names proudly displayed high above the vehicles and incorporating the very large marketing posters that were a feature of the period with strap lines like that for the MGB . . . proclaiming “Your Mother wouldn’t Like It”!

A key element of your tour will be an audio commentary device which breaks the displays into 9 chapters but there are many additional elements if you choose to search the memory of your personal interactive assistant.

But the Great British Car Journey has a unique offering, the option to drive, on site, one of a fleet of about 30 cars.  These span from 30s Austin 7 through to a Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith and actually evoke many memories of early journeys in Mum or Dad’s car!

David Whale, FBHVC Chairman and Andy Bye, Archives Director for the FBHVC attended the opening ceremony alongside a number of journalists who drive historic and classic vehicles as part of their everyday job. For all present at this launch, the opportunity to reminisce by picking vehicles to drive was a welcome relief from a world of COVID-19 and the pandemic.  David drove a Vauxhall Viva HC and Andy, who has spent his working life in the Rootes world, a Hillman Imp.  The cars feature an onboard camera and you bring away a USB stick recording your driving experiences! 

There will be no doubt a rush of clubs wanting to come and experience this unique experence for themselves, indeed we heard of one club who have already booked a group activity for 60 members! More details here: https://www.greatbritishcarjourney.com