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Nationales Automuseum - The Loh Collection

6.4K views 28 replies 11 participants last post by  vulpex  
#1 · (Edited)
Back from a day trip yesterday to a new automobile museum that has opened only a couple of weeks ago:
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It presents the spectacular collection of a rich private collector named Friedhelm Loh and is located in Diethoelztal, Germany near Siegen (150km from my place).

Main part of the museum presents 150 cars in a couple of rooms and a huge hall - I will come to that later...

Additionally they have a special exhibition in the upper floor of the entrance building "100 Years 24h of Le Mans".
Here 20 historic Le Mans raced cars are presented - simply breathtaking.

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#2 · (Edited)
"100 Years 24h of Le Mans" - the cars (not all 20 but my favourites, more or less in chronological order):

Bentley 4.5L
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Bugatti Type 50
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Bentley & Bugatti
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Porsche 550 Spyder
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Jaguar C Type
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Aston Martin DB4
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Aston Martin DB4 Zagato
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Ferrari 365 GTB/4
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Porsche 917K
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Porsche 956L
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Mercedes-Benz Sauber C9
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Mercedes-Benz CLR
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Bentley Speed 8
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Audi R8
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Very impressive - see how the drivers sits in the R8
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Last but not least the most beautiful race car ever built (my personal opinion) and mot probably the most valuable piece of the collection - Ferrari 412 P (330 P4)
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As you can see the small 20 cars special Le Mans exhibition alone is definitely worth a visit.
 
#3 ·
I skipped the photos as I will visit this place in a few weeks. Not too far of a drive for me, and I can hit up the Nurburgring for a lap or two. Should be a fun day trip.
 
#5 · (Edited)
Let's move on with the national Automuseum - the main collection:

150 cars are shown basically in 2 rooms (smaller halls dedicated to pre-WWII luxury cars) and a gigantic main hall.

I start with the first room:
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Here you can find the following gems:
Bentley 6.5L
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Duesenberg Model J
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Maybach Zeppelin
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Mercedes-Benz 630K (wooden wheels!)
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Austro Daimler ADR 635
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And last but not least the Talbot Lago T26 Grant Sport Coupé Saoutchik
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#9 · (Edited)
Thanks for sharing Dirk. Drool worthy stuff 🤤
Thanks Channa - my pleasure!
Oh yes, mate! Spectacular! Not just the cars, but the layout looks like you can have a proper look about… not crammed in too close. Imagine that being your private collection. Wow! :cool:(y):)
Thanks Scuddy!

"Spectacular" describes it very well - this is the best car museum I've seen so far.
MB museum and Porsche Museum in Stuttgart are even more impressive as a museum (also by architecture) but their collections are limited more or less to just one brand. Here is such a great variety of cars and brands waiting to be admired...
 
#14 ·
After these two "smaller" halls the visitor come to the main part of this amazing collection. A great variety of about 120 cars is presented in a HUGE hall: From oldtimers to rave cars to supercars.

The main hall has a long banked curve with 3 rows of cars - guess they copied this nice presentation concept from MB museum. They also have areas dedicated to tiny cars, to super cars and to F1.

But the eye-catcher is a gigantic stack at the rear wall of the hall - a shelf with 1:1 cars!
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#15 · (Edited)
Finally some highlights from the main hall (my personal selection):

Facel Vega HK500
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Jaguar XKSS
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Ferrari 250 GT SWB Competizione
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Ferrari 288 GTO
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Bugatti 57SC Atalante
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Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Roadster
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Lincoln Continental MK III JFK
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Ford GT40
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Fiat Abarth 695
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Alfa Romeo 155 DTM
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Maybach Exelero Concept
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Supercars corner
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Bugatti Chiron W16 engine
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F1
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Ferrari 312 B3
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Ferrari F1 2000
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NASCAR Chevrolet Monte Carlo
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THANKS FOR WATCHING!
 
#19 ·
It is a great museum Vulpex.
Crazy amount of cars and bikes.
And easy accessble.
This museum was/is on off the best i have seen
Great photos well executed without no so many people walking around.
A+
Thanks mate!

It was on my short list since it opened 5 weeks ago and as I am currently enjoying some days off I took the chance to visit the NAM on a working day.
Still more visitors there than I expected but it was not too difficult to take good shots of most cars… :D

BTW: The museum shop still offers the 1/18 Spark CLR #6 available...
 
#20 ·
Aah did you buy one Vulpex?
There is a seller on ebay who is scalping that clr and 917 big tme. he aready sold 4 clr's for at least €100 more.:(
I whised the museum just selled one ore two per person so that everybody has a change.
 
#21 ·
Aah did you buy one Vulpex?
There is a seller on ebay who is scalping that clr and 917 big tme. he aready sold 4 clr's for at least €100 more.:(
I whised the museum just selled one ore two per person so that everybody has a change.
Nah - I felt tempted for sure, but didn't buy as I prefer the plain silver version and already have such by Ivy Merit.
Totally agree:
Don't like those people either who buy a model without particular interest - just to make a quick profit out it by scalping other collectors... :mad:
 
#22 ·
Wow! What a place! Great shots you took of an incredible collection! I love the spacing as I hate when they pack them in (but I also sympathize when the collection outgrows the space and there is no capital budget for expansion). A great showcase of legends!

I love the curved bank of cars which reminds me of the one at the MB museum. And what a great pre-war collection! I wish they made more of these beauties in 1/18. I feel that segment of the market is under represented, but perhaps it truly is insignificant amongst most collectors?

Thanks for sharing!!

I whised the museum just selled one ore two per person so that everybody has a change.
The unfortunate reality is that the majority of visitors walk out without buying anything or some minor tchotchke so if someone comes in and wants to buy the entire stock I can't blame the store for taking their money.
 
#23 ·
And what a great pre-war collection! I wish they made more of these beauties in 1/18. I feel that segment of the market is under represented, but perhaps it truly is insignificant amongst most collectors?

Thanks for sharing!!
Thanks Belal!

You're absolutely right: It's a shame that we do have sufficient supply in models of these pre-war beauties! 😭
The question is why?
This subject might indeed be insignificant for broader public. But I am pretty sure that there is a demand by higher end collectors. E.g. look how good CMC's Black Prince was selling...
 
#25 ·
Wow, Dirk, amazing stuff 🤩 I could spend all day there, that selection is honestly as good as any show I've ever been to, even Monterey. The Talbot Lago and Bugattis, and both CLK GTRs, just wow. And the Jaguar XKSS... I've thought for a while now that that might just be the prettiest car ever made.

I'm hoping to go to Europe next year, I haven't been since long before the pandemic. And hopefully include some car related stuff. I will remember this place.
 
#26 ·
Thanks Mike - much appreciated!
And the Jaguar XKSS... I've thought for a while now that that might just be the prettiest car ever made.
I am always fascinated how different tastes and preferences are:
As much as I like the Jag XKSS my personal candidate for the prettiest car ever made is the 330 P4. Good to know, that this collection presents both… :D

I'm hoping to go to Europe next year, I haven't been since long before the pandemic. And hopefully include some car related stuff. I will remember this place.
It‘s a great place to be and highly recommended.
For guys like us definitely worth a ride of some 100 kilometers in case you come in reach…