Rolls-Royce Museum

Automobile museum
47°23′26″N 09°46′37″E / 47.39056°N 9.77694°E / 47.39056; 9.77694TypeAutomobile museumCollection size70 cars, over 1000 itemsDirectorJohannes VonierWebsiteRolls-Royce Museum

The Rolls-Royce Museum is a privately owned automobile museum in Dornbirn, Vorarlberg, Austria. Established in 1982, and officially opened to the public in 1999, it has been said to have the world's largest collection of Rolls-Royce cars.[1]

The museum was originally housed in a former textile factory owned by F. M. Hämmerle [de].[2] In 2017, the museum's founder, Franz Vonier, died, and the local city and state decided to cease subsidising the museum's rent payments. The founder's successors, Bernhard and Johannes Vonier, therefore moved the museum to a smaller building nearby that they owned themselves.[3]

With less space available in the smaller building, the museum now focuses on its more special exhibits, and plans to present a new theme each year.[4] The museum's permanent collection is made up of over 1,000 objects,[5] including around 70 cars.[6]

Highlights from the permanent exhibition include:[7]

  • 1927 Phantom I, driven by Peter O’Toole in Lawrence of Arabia
  • 1927 Phantom I, owned by General Franco
  • 1932 Phantom II, driven by Rita Hayworth
  • 1936 Phantom III, owned by Queen Elizabeth

See also

References

  1. ^ "FIA Heritage Museums: Historic Vehicles around the World". Fiaheritagemuseums.com. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  2. ^ Hagen, Josef (14 August 2013). "Rolls-Royce-Museum will bleiben" [Rolls-Royce Museum wants to stay]. Vorarlberger Nachrichten (in German). Retrieved 23 October 2013.
  3. ^ "HA" (6 December 2017). "Rolls-Royce-Museum auf neuen Wegen" [Rolls-Royce Museum on a new path]. Vorarlberger Nachrichten (in German). Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  4. ^ "HA" (22 May 2018). "Rolls-Royce-Museum auf neuen Wegen" [Rolls-Royce Museum on a new path]. Vorarlberger Nachrichten (in German). Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  5. ^ "Vonier Rolls Royce Museum". FIA Heritage Museums. Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
  6. ^ Arnold, Kathy (9 May 2013). "Bregenz, Austria: a cultural city guide". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
  7. ^ Wade, Paul (5 February 2016). "Rolls-Royce Museum, Austria: Tales of the Unexpected". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 20 August 2019.

External links

Media related to Rolls-Royce Museum at Wikimedia Commons

  • Rolls-Royce Museum – official site (in German and English)
  • Rolls-Royce Museum at Automuseums
  • Vonier Rolls Royce Museum at FIA Heritage Museums
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