I missed the train, but turns out the train station was the main attraction. OK, that’s not the whole story, but I’ll keep it brief, because it matters. While planning a family Euro trip I dropped a pin in Berlin, reserving just a couple of days to explore the city’s unique history, The real draw was to make it a launchpad for a train trip to Wolfsburg to visit the Volkswagen museum, as my grandfather worked much of his career for VW and I have since fallen for the brand. Alas, fate would not allow for such a trip. Unable to make it to VW’s headquarters, I’d have to find another way to get my car fix. A quick Internet search turned up Classic Remise, about 10 kilometers from where I was staying. AND WOW!
Unlike most car museums, with stanchions and platforms to hold you back, there was nothing between me and rows and rows of vehicles that would be behind bullet proof glass in some collections. With 100s of cars ranging from prewar classics to modern supercars literally packed to the rafters (some still wearing scars from WWII bombing raids), it was truly a sight to behold. Aside from the awe of the collection, I was intrigued by the restoration facilities operating onsite. Watching people restore and maintain these classics was way better than anything on German TV, I am sure of it.
The building itself is a treasure. Construction of the tram station started in 1899 and survived two world wars (barely, see above) before being abandoned in the 1960s once the tram system shuttered. It lay in disarray until the early 2000s when investors purchased the building with the intent to make it a classic car depot. What they created was part museum, part workshop and part retail center. Oh, and did I mention admission is free?
A Visit to a Berlin Car Museum
Use arrows on image to view slideshow above.
While I didn’t make it to the Volkswagen museum, I can safely say that I was more than thrilled with this space. What’s even more impressive is that there is no security and no hosts at all. Just walk in and check it out. Just be respectful, obviously. One last note, many of the vehicles are for sale which tells me things change there, a lot!
There was truly a bit of everything here. I spotted Ferrari, Lamborghini, Jaguar, Porsche, Audi, BMW, Volkswagen, Morgan, Auto Union, Land Rover and many other vehicles of all eras. While it was mostly European, there were a few American cars, including a few spectacular Corvettes. If you’re a fan of automotive history, this place is a must visit!
If you’re searching for a car museum in Berlin I highly recommend checking out Classic Remise. You can see more of my experience in the video below! I’d be happy to answer any questions, if I can, but you can check out the website for the classic car facility linked in the first paragraph.
