Franschhoek Motor Museum, Franschhoek

Cape Town & Western Cape Tourist Attractions

Franschhoek Motor Museum, Franschhoek

If you are even vaguely into cars, then the Franschhoek Motor Museum is worth a visit. Over 400 vehicles that range from the Beeston Motro Tricycle (1898) to the 2003 Ferrari model, there is something to make everyone drool, even if you're not an ardent fan of the automobile.

Museum it might be, but forget the idea of dusty exhibits behind glass cases. Situated just outside the beautiful wine route village of Franschhoek, the museum is housed in a very long Cape Dutch style warehouse at the foot of the Groot Drakenstein Mountains, just off the R45, and on the grounds of the L'Ormarins wine farm of Johann Rupert, heir to one of the largest fortunes in the country. The cars remain in mint condition. Henry Ford's classic model T stands in pillar box red, reminiscent of the daring drive by Toad of Toad Hall in Wind in the Willows, and said to be easy to drive despite all the obvious mechanics.

Franschhoek Motor Museum, Franschhoek

There are the obvious favourites: the 1940 Packard 120 convertible, the little Wolseley year 1960, still sometimes in evidence on our own roads, an Austin-Healey from 1956, old model Mercs, an Alfa Romeo spider, a typical Chev from 1976, Volksies, Studebakers, Porches, Jaguars, MGs and Aston Martins lie alongside Humbers, Ferraris and Hupmobiles – it's a sight for sore eyes.

To keep them in mint condition the cars are all regularly started up and driven. That means cars worth literally thousands of dollars regularly take to the roads around Franschhoek, placing them in more than a little danger of joining the millions of 'right off' results of car accidents, but since this doesn't happen too often, you can rest assured that most of the cars will be there for a follow-up visit.

Additional Reading:
Read our article on a visit to the Franschhoek Motor Museum.

Motor Museum Photo Gallery

Franschhoek Motor Museum - a set on Flickr

"Photos taken during a visit to the Franschhoek Motor Museum in the Cape Winelands" by Staff Photographer - View a fabulous slideshow of photographs of vehicles on display at the Franschhoek Moror Museum. This set of photographs will display in a slide show, courtesy of Flickr.com. Enjoy! view gallery slideshow

Other Featured Attractions in Franschhoek

Franschhoek Wine Route

The Valley of the Huguenots, as Franschhoek is also known, became home to a community of French Huguenots who fled their country from religious persecution. The Huguenots soon recognised that this valley had very similar weather to the wine growing regions in France. Today, over 300 years later, this ... more information

Huguenot Memorial

The Huguenot Monument is dedicated to the cultural influences that French Huguenots have brought to the Cape Colony after their immigration during the 17th and 18th centuries. The Memorial Museum neighbouring the monument elaborates on the history of the French Huguenots who settled in the Cape.

view all attractions in Franschhoek

Franschhoek Motor Museum

Accommodation nearby

For accommodation nearby see:
• Franschhoek Accommodation
• Franschhoek Hotels
• Franschhoek Guest House

Or to see all accommodation in this region, visit Cape Winelands Accommodation.

Visiting Franschhoek?
Also see Things To Do in Cape Winelands or check out Things To Do in Western Cape to view activities by category, including watersports, sightseeing activities, arts & crafts and many, many more.

destinations / attractions in the western cape