Classic Cars and The National Motor Museum

Dr. C. and I rented this Aston Martin DB7 from a company in the UK.  Although its outward appearance is gorgeous, there were a few things that weren't working to make this experience less than perfect; no air conditioning, no side mirror controls, windshield washers didn't work, and a few other things to make us a bit irritated to say the least.  When we joined the car touring group, most of the group owned much older cars, with less bells and whistles, but they were well maintained.  This Aston was not.  If you plan to do this, I recommend that you get a few quotes, and ask for references.  That aside, we had a great time traveling with the tour group from Classic Traveling,  and highly recommend their tours; they research each place, provide you with pre-programmed Sat Nav, and suggest places to visit and to eat on each day.  We were so impressed with the way the days were planned, and with the quality of the touring. 
Our next trip was to Beaulieu, (which the British pronounce Bewlee) the home of the National Motor Museum.  To get there from Westbourne, was about an hour's drive, but first a pub lunch at The Stags Head.  

right around the corner from our Coach House

Cottage pie with some of the best pan sauce I've had in a while

Bacon and Egg sandwich for Dr. C

Heading out to the New Forest, we crossed flat lands dotted with wild horses and donkeys.

Almost like Misty of Chincoteague

This is what a traffic jam looks like in the New Forest.  Beaulieu was owned by Lord Montague, who had a love for cars, and the collection here is staggering.  Being married to someone who reads every plaque I am happy to enjoy the beauty of these cars and motorcycles, but I'm also happy to sit and wait, which I usually do.  We usually open and close museums since Dr. C. is such a history junkie and car nut. When I was done looking at the cars,  I sat down with one of the docents, an older gentleman who had known Lord Montague and got the story of how he'd started collecting cars,  then build something to store them in, and at some point, people started giving him motorcycles.  He then needed a place to store them, so he tore out a lower kitchen in his manor house, and stored them in the basement until the museum was built.

Here are a few highlights from the tour.  

Kiddie car

I LOVE these

3 wheeler

The original car from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

double decker

camper made entirely of Legos

An orange car

Formula 1

Dr. C dreaming

only Harley in the place

Dr. C. and I were huge fans of the BBC show 'Top Gear' with Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond.  They now are starring in the Amazon show 'The Grand Tour', which we also love. I'm not even a car person, but this trio makes me laugh, and they are a lot of fun to watch.
In a separate building we saw some of the cars from the series before Clarkson, Hammond and May left.

Limousine made from a Fiat

Car/boat

sailboat car

Sustainable car

Camper 

Tour of Vietnam on motorbikes

Double decker

Mini cooper they took to India

Throughout the series they tried to destroy this truck, without success, it is in the museum in its last state of being.

Toyota Hilux

It was a beautiful sunny day, and we headed back to Westbourne, across the New Forest to get ready for our 5 a.m. wakeup call to go to Goodwood Revival, a classic car show, race, and market, as well as an amusement park for children.