Golden anniversary of the opening of Montagu Motor Museum (From Daily Echo)

Golden anniversary of the opening of Montagu Motor Museum

9:06am Tuesday 5th May 2009 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(1)

• Play Video

IT was a roaring way to mark the golden anniversary of one of Hampshire’s best-known attractions.

Hundreds of vintage cars revved up for a special rally to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the opening of Montagu Motor Museum.

The Beaulieu attraction opened its doors for the first time in 1959 and grew to become the National Motor Museum – a mecca for motoring enthusiasts around the world.

Yesterday classic car clubs from across the country were invited to display their vehicles to mark the occasion.

Lord Montagu led the cavalcade accompanied by his son Ralph in a 1903 De Dion Bouton – one of the original vehicles displayed in Palace House.

The event marked 50 years since Stirling Moss and a host of other stars from the motoring world helped open the original centre.

It started when Lord Montagu displayed just five cars in the front hall of Palace House.

But the family soon complained about the smell of motor oil and the vehicles were moved to wooden sheds in the grounds.

In the years that followed, the popularity of the exhibition soared and in 1972 the museum – as it is now – was opened by the Duke of Kent.

These days, the collection of cars and motorcycles tops 250 helping to draw in more than 320,000 visitors a year.