Auto World in Brussels--300 cars from 1896 to Today

In a huge complex of buildings connected to a park is AutoWorld Brussels.  The museum is near a huge stone arch commemorating Belgian independence and opposite another huge museum of Belgian military history. Another large museum of fine arts and antiquities is on the other side of the arch.

Auto World displays 300 cars and motorcycles from 1896 to the present.  Belgium has no history of making cars, but this small country is at the center of northern Europe and is also the political center of the European Union and NATO. Belgium is also a center of racing. The Spa-Francorchamps race track is considered the best track, especially by drivers, in the Formula 1 World Championship. 

Just inside the entrance of the museum was a display of new Bugatti luxury high-performance cars costing $3 million to $5 million and other models made over the past century.

2020 Bugatti Centodieci, W16, 4-turbo, 1600-horsepower, 380kmh top speed

2021 La Voiture Noire, W16, 4-turbo, 1600-horsepower, 420kmh top speed

Bugatti luxury cars from the 1920s and 30s

Bugatti race car from the 1930s

Little Cars and car shop dioramas ringed the main display area.

Trabant

A bright red Jeep

1968 Honda S800

1954 Moretti Grand Sport Berlinetta, 748cc, 71hp

1951 Renault R4 CV 750cc, 17hp

Garage dioramas

Renault 2CV

Strange little cars

Cars in a Corner of Underground Garage Near Versailles

 

1970 Ford Mustang Mach I 351 with original paint in a Paris Garage

A few days ago I drove from Paris to Le Mans to visit the museum and track of the annual 24-hour race.  On the way back I stopped at Chartres Cathedral then got a hotel near Versailles.  In the far corner of the second lower level of the underground garage was a 1970 Ford Mustang Mach I with original paint and a Florida license plate.  

It was a delightful surprise to see a vintage American Muscle Car in a French parking garage.  Of the forty cars, trucks and motorcycles I owned during my 52 years of driving, Ford Muscle Cars were some of the best.  I owned a 1969 Torino Cobra, 428CID, Hurst shifter, Holley carburetor and functional ram air. Then I owned a 1972 Mustang Cobra Jet, 351 with a Carter Thermoquad.  Seeing that Mustang after visiting Le Mans was a real moment of nostalgia. 

Also along the back wall of the garage was an Aston Martin DB9 under a cover (marked with Aston Martin and DB9).  

Between the Mach I and the DB9 was a Peugeot RCZ, a lightweight (1404kg) powerful (250hp) little two-seat French missile.

In the far corner of the garage was a mid-1990s Jaguar XJ convertible.  

One of the oddities of the 1970 Mach I was louvres on the back window. By 1972 Ford dispensed with the sun-blocking slats, I wished they had not. My Mustang CJ had a back window so near horizontal that it was useless whenever the sun shined on it.  

Posts about traveling in France and neighboring countries in February 2022:

My favorite restaurant is a victim of COVID.

The Museum of the Great War.

The Waterloo Battlefield.

The Red Baron Memorial.

Chartres Cathedral.

High Performance Cars in a garage in Versailles.

Talking about Fathers and Careers at lunch.