- Address: Sergeja Eizenšteina iela 8, Vidzemes priekšpilsēta, Rīga, LV-1079, Latvia;
- Opened: April 22, 1989;
- Website: motormuzejs.lv;
- Phone: +371 67 025 888;
- Working hours: every day from 10:00 to 18:00.
Lovers of cars and simply curious tourists will be able to visit the most interesting Riga motor museum in the Latvian capital. In his permanent exhibition there are more than 230 models of cars, mopeds and motorcycles from the XIX-XX century. Here, and military, and civil, and sports vehicles.
Riga Motor Museum - history of creation
Historically, Latvia has become a center and a place for regular gathering of motorists. In 1972, several enthusiasts decided to found the Antique Cars Club, which could unite like-minded people from all over the USSR. The goal of the activists of the club was simple: popularization of the history of retro cars of the Soviet Union and Europe.
The dream of opening the museum came to life only in 1985, when the Council of Ministers of the Latvian SSR approved their project with the efforts of the same activists, and funds were allocated for the construction of a building designed by the architect Valgums. Officially, the Motor Museum opened its doors to visitors in 1989. The last reconstruction was carried out in 2016, after which it is again open to visitors.
Riga Motor Museum - exhibits
Motormuseum in Riga today represents one of the largest collections of retro cars in Europe. It is located at the permanent address of Eisenstein Street, 6, is a large building in the style of industrialism with several halls and displays. Outwardly the building stands out against the background of the buildings of the sleeping area, it can not be confused or mistaken, the facade resembles the lattice of the Rolls-Royce radiator of the 30s of the 20th century.
The basis of the automobile collection is represented by cars from a private collection, which was painstakingly collected throughout the entire Soviet Union. I managed to buy such rare copies of cars:
- The Russo-Balt fire-fighting vehicle of 1912 produced at the Russian-Baltic Carriage Factory. This car was literally collected by parts. Today it is presented in a completely recreated form and in its original configuration.
- In 1976, the Museum of Old Cars in Riga acquired a truly rare exhibit - the German racing car Auto-Union C , preserved in the world in a single copy.
- Verily, the pearls of the motor collection of the Motor Museum are the motorcycle Russia , made at the Leitner bicycle factory in Riga at the beginning of the 20th century and the only Soviet limousine ZIS-115C , designed in 1949 for the highest officials of the state.
In the museum there are permanent four expositions in different halls: the Kremlin cars, Latvian cars, Military equipment and Automobiles collections Auto-Union. In addition, the Motor Museum of Riga accepts retro cars from private collections for restoration.
How to get there?
You can reach Motormuseum by public transport. To him there are buses No. 5, 15 to the stop Motormuzejs, No. 21 to the stop Pansionāts.