Haynes International Motor Museum, 10th. October 2018, off the A359 road, Sparkford, near Yeovil, Somerset, England.

On the 17th September 2018 I drove to the Haynes International Motor Museum at Sparkford near Yeovil in Somerset, it contains over 400 cars and motorcycles and a collection of other Automobilia. It was John Haynes’ love of motoring and business which formed the essence of the hugely successful Haynes Publishing Group. A collector of cars and most things related to them, John’s ambition to create his own Museum was perhaps inevitable. With limited storage of his own, and beginning to lose track of where they all were, he soon began to seek out a suitable building to house his cars. The new home for John’s ever-increasing collection was, of all places, the remains of a Second World War American munitions dump in Sparkford, Somerset. The site was ideal; not only would the collection be available to the public in one place but, by gaining the status of a UK independent charitable trust, its future would be also protected. The Museum was opened on 10th July 1985 by the then Land Speed Record holder Richard Noble OBE. Since then the collection’s international theme expanded as vehicles from around the globe were acquired increasing numbers from a humble 29 to nearly 400 in 30 years. At special visitor events, we run an interesting and eclectic range of cars and motorcycles. Senses are truly engaged as one not only sees the cars and bikes but they can also be heard, touched and smelt. This really is The Story So Far the Museum and its collection are continually growing, changing and improving. We look forward to sharing the journey into the future with you, our supporters and visitors.
The museum is divided into fifteen exhibitions: these are just a few in the collection here
Datsun240Z Coupe1972The Red Room
De TomasoPantera1972Supercar Century
Delahaye135 Course1936Hall of Motorsport
Delahaye135M Cabriolet1939Veteran & Vintage
DeloreanDMC-121981The American Dream
DKWW20001977British & World Motorcycles
DodgeViper RT101995Supercar Century
DodgeCharger1969The American Dream
DouglasDT5 Dirt Track1928British & World Motorcycles
DuesenbergModel J1931The American Dream
In April 2014 the Museum completed an extensive £6 Million redevelopment and now boasts an entrance foyer and reception area; a large museum shop selling auto-related gifts including specialist memorabilia; Café 750 which serves home cooked food; state of the art conference and hospitality facilities for 10 to 400 guests and Haynes Workshop Services. The Museum regularly hosts conferences for organisations outside the motor industry.
They are located in Sparkford near Yeovil, just off the A303 and 30 minutes from junction 25 of the M5. High profile brown tourist signs from all major trunk roads provide easy to follow directions to the Museum. The main line station at Castle Cary is 5 miles from the Museum, with its high-speed link between Paddington and Penzance. The line also serves a regular daily route between Bristol and Weymouth with regular stops at Yeovil. There are regular bus services to Sparkford Village from Castle Cary and Yeovil. Further information can be obtained from www.travelinesw.com or by calling 0870 608 2608.
The Museum and Café 750 are open all day, every day ( except 24th, 25th & 26th December and 1st January ). The cafe serves hot food but the standard is the one thing that let this place down. The first trip there I had a sausage roll it was black inside and the underneath same, yes I did get a refund. The second trip, I had a Cornish Pasty and the base of that was going the same way along with the taste not being quite right. All the staff were ok but the food needs some attention. Having been a chef I know getting food right can be difficult sometimes.

Taken on: October 10, 2018

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Haynes International Motor Museum

Sparkford

Somerset

Motor Museums

Duesenberg cars

Jaguar xj 220

The Dawn of Motoring

Veteran and Vintage cars

Wheels around the World

Minis and Micros

Great British Marques

Motorcycle Mezzanine

Hall of Motorsport

Ferrari: The Man

The Machine

The Myth

Café 750

The Red room cars « less

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