The finest manufacturer-owned car collections in the world

But some take their heritage more seriously than others with large collections of classic models. Many are working museums where the exhibits are not just on display but there to be used and driven as intended. Here’s out pick of the best in alphabetical order:

With one of the richest histories of any car maker, it’s fitting that Alfa Romeo has a superb collection of cars from its past arranged over six floors and three main themes. Based in Arese on the outskirts of Milan, the Alfa collection consists of 70 cars on display to the public, with exhibits rotated on a regular basis. Perennial favourites include Grand Prix race cars from the 1920s onwards, many Giulia sports cars, and the Carabo concept. All are in working order and used.

An integral part of Alfa’s collection is some of its more mainstream models, like the Alfasud and 156. Behind the scenes, there are hundreds more cars, engines, design models and drawings, and race trophies that tell the story of the company. Many are loaned out to other museums and events, or you can also arrange a private tour of the backstage collection.

Audi has one of the best curated museums of any car company at the Audi Forum in Ingolstadt in Bavaria. It tells the whole story of the firm’s history from 1899 to the present day as you descend from upper to lower levels. The exhibits include the brands that joined to create Audi, including Auto Union and Horch.

What’s less well known is Audi has a significant heritage fleet based in the UK. It’s been gradually built up since the early 1990s and now numbers more than 50 cars representing the company’s presence in the UK market. All of the cars in this fleet are on the button and can often be seen at events such as the Goodwood Festival of Speed, as well as being used by journalists and television producers.

BMW GB was one of the early adopters of a heritage fleet. Initially, it grew from a few select classics used at events and to provide dealers with a showroom attraction. However, it’s now grown to include many significant models from the firm’s past, including an Isetta, 2002 Turbo and many M models. All of the cars are kept in roadgoing condition and are based at the company’s UK headquarters in Farnborough.

On a grander scale, BMW in Germany has two sides to its heritage, with Munich-based BMW Welt and BMW Museum. The Welt, or World, focuses on modern vehicles, while the Museum has an impressive seven exhibitions including cars, motorcycles, motorsport, design, and technology.

Bentley’s 41/2-Litre Blower continuation series may have grabbed the headlines recently, but the company also keeps a select collection of original classics on hand. This includes an original Blower, driven in period by Bentley Boy Sir Tim Birkin at Le Mans. There is also an example of the ultimate WO Bentley model in the 8-Litre saloon.

Housed in a modest but detailed museum at Bentley’s Crewe base, the heritage collection is a who’s who of company greats. This is obvious with the inclusion of EXP2, the oldest surviving Bentley from 1920, while post-war models are well represented with a Continental R that was the supercar of its day and an S1 Continental Flying Spur. Later cars are also included and the collection is used to promote Bentley’s Heritage Parts division that supplies original spares to almost every model made since 1955.

With a history of innovation, the Conservatoire Citroën collection in Aulnay-sous-Bois in the north-eastern suburbs of Paris rightly houses a vast selection of clever, strange and ground-breaking cars. Among more than 300 vehicles, downsized from more than 400 in 2017, are many unique concept and motorshow cars. There are also motorsport cars alongside examples of those you’d expect to see here such as the 2CV, Dyane, DS and CX. Less likely is a rotary-powered helicopter.

The whole gamut of Citroën’s history is represented in the Conservatoire, from Type A up to the latest models. The Traction Avant is well covered and there’s also a display of presidential cars including a one-off open-top SM with four doors built for Charles De Gaulle. Access to all of the cars in the Conservatoire is strictly by appointment, so book in advance.

With the name National Corvette Museum, you don’t need to guess what this collection is all about. Base in Bowling Green, Kentucky, this museum is just down the road from the ‘Vette factory and at the heart of all things Corvette. It’s run by enthusiasts, but it also has examples of every Corvette ever made since 1953 among the 80-strong exhibits. The displays change regularly and owners can also apply to have their cars displayed in the museum.

As well as a recreated Corvette showroom from the 1960s, there’s a large Kids Zone within the museum where children can build their own car from Lego. There’s also an indoor track for kids to try out some pedal-powered Corvettes while the adults ogle the real thing.

Ferrari fans are spoilt for choice if they decide to take in the company’s own collection of cars. It’s housed in the Museo Ferrari right next to the factory, which means you can combine a visit with factory tour. The collection of cars dates right back to the beginning of Ferrari in 1948 and also details the rise of its founder before the war. Almost every significant Ferrari road and race car is on display.

Also on hand is the Autodromo di Modena circuit, where museum visitors get a discounted rate to take their own car on track for 15 minutes. A little further away is the Museo Enzo Ferrari that delves deeper into the man behind the company.

Known as the FCA Heritage Hub, this is not just a collection of Fiat’s past glories. Among the 250 cars on display in more than 15,000 square metres of space are plenty of examples from Fiat-owned brands Abarth, Alfa Romeo and Lancia. The cars are grouped into racing, rallying and road versions, and it’s all housed in Workshop 81, a former transmission plant within the vast Mirafiori site in Turin.

The FCA Hub lives up to its name by being more than just the company’s heritage collection. This is where owners can check the original records for their car, commission restoration work, and even buy a restored car direct from the factory.

Ford has several heritage collections dotted around the world, which reflect the huge scale of the company and the way it has developed models for specific regions. Naturally, the collection at the firm’s base in Detroit, USA is the biggest, and The Henry Ford museum has everything from cars and trucks to aircraft and even the Dymaxion House on display.

In the UK, the Ford heritage collection is much more of a working fleet of cars kept at the company’s Dagenham engine plant. Most are in road-ready order and cover the span of Ford cars sold in the UK, from Model T to GT40. Among the many highlights are Hannu Mikkola’s 1970 World Cup-winning Escort RS1600, GT40 and the Transit Supervan 3. Yet many of the most evocative cars in this collection are the mainstream models that were once cultural staples of every street in the country, such as the Fiesta, Escort and Cortina.

The scale of General Motors’ Heritage Centre is correspondingly as vast as this colossal car maker. All of its brands both alive and dead are included in the collection, with Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Corvette, GMC, Oldsmobile, and Pontiac all present from cars to pick-ups, buses to trucks. There are more than 600 vehicles in the collection and the 200 on display are rotated regularly to make every visit different.

The Heritage Centre is also home to GM’s archive of brochures, build data and company history. Alongside this information and education side, the centre is also available for hire for events and can easily accommodate 500 guests, so it’s the ideal place for a GM enthusiast get-together.

Unusually, Jaguar’s Classic Collection is available for the public to drive. The Classic Driving Experience offers the chance to try out an E-type, Mk2, XJ or even rarities like the C- and D-type. It’s possible because all of the cars are kept in full running order and are allowed out on the company’s Gaydon test track under the supervision of instructors.

If you’d rather wander around the full line-up, there are 130 cars in the collection covering everything from the early SS models up to the present day. This was made possible when Jaguar acquired Dr James’ Hull’s huge classic car collection, which had an example of almost every Jaguar. Some are also exhibited in the British Motor Museum, which is situated at Gaydon.

Honda has a sensational global collection at Motegi in Japan, as well as a vast horde in California, USA. In the UK, the firm’s heritage fleet has a clear focus on cars that were originally sold here rather than some of the more unusual cars found in the Motegi museum. The UK collection is also very much a working assembly of cars used to promote Honda at press and public events.

Reflecting the company’s history in the UK, one of the earliest cars in the collection is a 1974 Civic. Other cars reflect Honda’s technical approach, such as the original Insight hybrid coupe. Yet it’s the performance models that form the backbone of the group, with models like the early CR-V, first generation Prelude and NSX, DC2 Integra Type-R and Civic Type R EP3.

Mazda’s factory museum in Hiroshima, Japan is a bit far for most fans to pop over for a look-see. However, British fans of the company may be lucky enough to see some of Mazda UK’s heritage fleet out and about at events, dealerships and in press coverage. Although one of the smaller collections, Mazda’s is a constant work in progress to improve the cars and add to the selection.

As well as the expected MX-5 models within the collection, Mazda UK has assembled a 1969 Cosmo, several RX-7s and a, RX-3 saloon. Like most other manufacturer classic garages, these cars have to work for their living at press and publicity events.

Mercedes lays claim to building the first car, so it’s fitting it has one of the largest and most impressive heritage collections in the world. Based in a purpose-designed multi-story building in Stuttgart, there are 16,500 square metres of display area for 160 cars and 1500 other exhibits. The cars change with different themes for display and Mercedes has a vast collection of historic models behind the scenes to choose from.

Almost all of the cars are kept in full working order, including many of the race and concept cars. A guided tour is on offer and the museum is also open into the evenings so you can be sure to see everything there is.

The Porsche Museum opened its doors in Zuffenhausen in 2009 and is home to the company’s large collection of more than 700 and 200 racing heritage models. It includes almost every road-going Porsche built to date, alongside many of its racing cars and lots of concepts. The big draw for many is the 95-strong display of cars in the museum, including the very first 356 Roadster.

Another highlight of Porsche’s heritage collection is the fully functioning workshop where cars are restored and looked after. It’s visible to the public, while elsewhere is the company’s archive with files on almost every car it’s ever built and more than 2.5 million images stored.

Renault Classic exists to preserve and maintain the French firm’s 750-strong fleet of heritage models. Unlike some collections that are run as museums, Renault’s is not open to the public. Instead, the company loans cars to other museums and uses its classic fleet at exhibitions and for historic racing.

The closest Renault Classic comes to letting the public inside the hallowed halls of Le Garage is the bi-annual gathering it organises of 400 enthusiast car clubs.

Toyota has an amazing museum dedicated to its past in Nagakute City, but if Japan is a bit far to travel, Brits could always check out Toyota GB’s impressive heritage fleet. Kept in tip-top condition in a warehouse near Gatwick Airport, it’s an eclectic mix of the mundane and alluring. Alongside a 1966 Corona, you’ll find a Lexus LFA, while in the corner is a one-off Aygo Crazy with 197bhp mid-mounted MR2 engine in place of the rear seats.

All of the cars in the Toyota GB collection are highly maintained and road-ready, and are used for press and publicity events across the country.

Vauxhall’s heritage fleet must be one of the hardest working in the world. When the cars are not being fettled by two full-time mechanics, they are often being used for events and press trips. Two of the oldest cars, a 1903 5HP and 1904 6HP regularly complete the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run. With around 60 cars in the collection, it covers an impressive spread of Vauxhall’s history.

Many of the cars in the collection are models that have faded from the public’s mind, such as the Velox, Victor and Viva. There are several of Vauxhall’s sporting highlights in the mix too, including the Chevette HS, VX220 and a Lotus Carlton. Even though Vauxhall is now no longer based in Luton, the collection continues to be used even though it’s currently not all housed in a single location. 

Volkswagen keeps a diverse range of classic cars on hand in the UK and many other countries, but the mother-lode is housed in the Volkswagen AutoMuseum near to the Wolfsburg factory. It may not have the largest floor space compared to some rivals, but VW’s museum packs in 130 cars to trace its history right back to the first Beetles.

Opened in 1985, the AutoMuseum is built in a former clothing factory right next to the main VW plant. As well as the expected plethora of air-cooled machines, there are also plenty of prototypes, concepts and racing machines for visitors to see, and many of the cars are used for regular demonstrations.

If you find yourself in Gothenburg and wondering what to do, the Volvo Museum is the perfect answer. It houses a huge collection of Volvo vehicles and far more than the boxy saloons and estates most people think of from the company’s past. As well as trucks and buses, there are cars dating back to the first OV4 from 1927, plus early post-war rarities like the PV60-1 and Sport P1900.

The Volvo collection includes a large number of concepts and prototypes from the company’s development of safety equipment. This is balanced out by the race cars from Volvo’s involvement in touring car racing.