Moretonhampstead is full of interesting places to visit some of them quite unexpected! In the middle of Dartmoor in this little moorland town, just 2 minutes walk from the hotel at the top of Court Street, you will find the Moretonhampstead Motor Museum.
The museum is a fascinating place to visit as it is not just a collection of cars, it is a time capsule and an incredible nostalgia trip! Even if you don’t think cars are your thing… you are sure to be reminded of your childhood, the vehicles your parents owned and probably your grandparents too, old-fashioned delivery vans, an old police car, an Inspector Morse Jaguar – and so much more. The colours, the styles, the logos, it is all a wonderful record of our recent past.
Owner, Frank Loft, opened the museum’s doors in June 2013 after a year of intensive refurbishment work on the art deco-style building that was originally the town’s bus depot.
The Museum opened with an impressive array of over 60 vehicles dating from a 1913 De Dion Charabanc to a 1990 Mini Cooper S. As the 2016 season starts, it now boasts over 100 exhibits and more are planned… space being the only limiting factor. There are also motorbikes, small commercial vehicles, children’s toy vehicles and lots of fascinating artefacts now referred to as ‘petronalia’!
Almost all the cars belong to Frank who was looking for a site for his collection after he ran out of room at his home in Kingsteignton. “I thought the old bus depot looked ideal so I decided to buy it – a real leap of faith. It’s been a lot of work to get it in shape, but our first two years have gone well.
“I have other vehicles stored at home and what with those, and others I’ve been offered on loan, I’ll regularly change the collection so there will always be new exhibits for people to see.”
Many of the exhibits have information boards detailing their history. Looking at some of the ancient, small, incredibly basic cars and discovering that they competed in the Monte Carlo Rally or crossed deserts makes you realise how easy driving is today with our sat nav, power steering and air con. It was another world and the Museum is a fascinating place to visit. Highly recommended!
You can follow the Motor Museum on Facebook. Check their website for current opening times and prices.
