Automuseum Engstingen

Description

In the town of Engstingen, the Automuseum Engstingen housed an extensive collection of historic vehicles, offering insight into mobility history from the late 19th century to the 1980s. The museum was located in the Großengstingen district of the Reutlingen district and used the premises of a decommissioned knitwear factory as exhibition space.

From an initial collection of about 50 vintage cars, the museum was founded in 1986 and, after renovation work, opened to the public in February 1987. After the early death of the founder, the municipality took over operations; the vehicles remained with the museum under usufruct. In March 2024 the municipal council decided, for cost reasons, to allow the 2024 season as the final one and to close the museum permanently at the end of 2024.

Across two levels and roughly 1,200 square metres, the Automuseum Engstingen presented more than 120 exhibits dating from 1898 to the 1980s. On display were over 40 passenger cars as well as numerous motorcycles, Mofas, mopeds and historic bicycles, set within a staged historical everyday environment featuring contemporary objects. Highlighted vehicles included, among others, a DeLorean DMC-12, a Jaguar Mark 2, a Brütsch 1200 (1954), a Porsche 356 A, a Ford Model T truck (1924) and several Mercedes-Benz convertibles from the late 1940s/early 1950s. A 1942 Fiat Sport was considered particularly rare and was described by the museum as the last surviving example; a purchase of it by the manufacturer in 1988 was not approved by the municipality. The oldest piece dated from 1898 (De-Dion-Bouton motor tricycle). On the upper floor visitors could see numerous Heinkel scooters, including examples of the Heinkel Tourist and the rare Heinkel 150 (produced 1960–1965). In addition to the permanent exhibition, the museum presented annually changing thematic focuses; examples include presentations on Ford (2016) as well as Fiat and Maico two-wheelers (season 2023). The exhibits consisted of items from the municipal collection and private loans; the museum averaged around 3,100 visitors per year (2019: 3,214).