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1st September 2008 |
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The Exmoor Classic Car Collection
Roy Workman discovers an out of the way collection of old vehicles, which you also might like to visit... Whilst on holiday in Devon I picked up a leaflet for the Exmoor Classic Car Collection. Looking at the flyer I spotted a couple of motorcycles on display. 'It could be worth a look' I thought, and off we went to find it. According to the leaflet the museum was situated in Minehead; however, as we were travelling through Porlock we spotted the museum. Luckily just opposite was a council car park with some motorcycle spaces so we pulled in there. 
The museum is owned by Stephen Johns and it had relocated from Minehead to the High Street in Porlock this Easter. This was originally Stephen's private collection. He had always had a very busy business life and he was coming up to retirement age, but he didn't feel that he wanted to totally stop. A friend suggested that he opened up the collection to the public by opening a museum a few days a week as a sort of a hobby. 
One of two Bridgestone motorcycles at the museum
Stephen moved to Minehead and set up there, but it was in an out-of-the- way place and not the easiest place to find. He needed to print a leaflet with a map on it to help you to find it. He subsequently spotted the new venue, which had been a garage for many years, and he decided to buy it. Being in the high street he gets a lot of people passing by and dropping in. The other Saturday he had 80 visitors - he couldn't believe his luck. 
This is the rare "Wonky Mirror" variant of Triumph's ever popular Bonneville
This is a nice collection of twenty or so cars and motorcycles from a Bonneville to an LE Velo. Stephen rides himself and has just bought a current, retro-styled Moto Guzzi V7 Classic which he is very happy with. He told me that there is a lot of interest in the motorcycles and he is hoping to get a few more machines. There are some BSA Bantams in the GPO corner, the earliest being 1948. The collection also includes a girder-forked AA outfit, a Triumph twin and two Bridgestone motorcycles. The Bridgestone name is well known now as the maker of racing car and motorcycle tyres.
This is a nice collection of vehicles which are not roped off. Stephen does not mind if you touch them. Most of the vehicles are MOT'ed and taxed and used on the road. There are lots of items of automobilia and hundreds of model cars, including a collection of models of Le Mans winners from the last century, plus other exhibits including a genuine AA box, Land Rover fire engine, Aston Martin DB2/4 and a 1938 Austin taxi cab. Whilst you are there look for the 1928 driving licence that allows you to drive either a car or motorcycle. 
The Exmoor Classic Cars collection is at Doverhay Garage, High Street, Porlock TA24 8PS, and is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 11am to 4pm. Prices are £3 for adults and half price for 5 to 16 years old. Phone 07970 497741 or 01643 841476 for details. |
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