Automuseum Wolfegg - Busch Museum for the second time

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Created on April 23, 2017

Text:

Stefan Fritschi

Photos:

Stefan Fritschi

The old building generates a lot of charm - Automuseum Wolfegg

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The Opel Rekord shows the way - Automuseum Wolfegg

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Many everyday youngtimers - Automuseum Wolfegg

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Switzerland is represented by an ETH exhibition trailer - Automuseum Wolfegg

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The collection is only just beginning and is constantly changing - Automuseum Wolfegg

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Posters and decorations complement the exhibits - Automuseum Wolfegg

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Many collectors make their treasures available - Automuseum Wolfegg

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Collectors from the Ravensburg (RV) area park their oldies in Wolfegg - Automuseum Wolfegg

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Some of the smile clouds written by Fritz B. Busch are still there, like here on the Opel Kadett - Automuseum Wolfegg

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Single-wheel camping trailers as the focus of the exhibition - Automuseum Wolfegg

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Ingenious one-wheel folding trailer for low-motorized cars - Automuseum Wolfegg

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Special exhibition to mark the 80th birthday of the Opel Kadett - Automuseum Wolfegg

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Fritz B. Busch was already very fond of small cars and scooters - Automuseum Wolfegg

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Wood carburetors mounted on unicycle trailers - Automuseum Wolfegg

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Semi-restored Ford Capri as a barn find - Automuseum Wolfegg

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The Vauxhall Viva was rather rare in Germany - Automuseum Wolfegg

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This decoration was made by Fritz B. Busch himself - Automuseum Wolfegg

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It may well be that a BMW 5 Series comes when you call a cab - Automuseum Wolfegg

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The museum is housed in two buildings - Automuseum Wolfegg

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Two small Fiat cars welcome visitors - Automuseum Wolfegg

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An Opel Manta surrounded by objects from the period - Automuseum Wolfegg

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Emergency call box, wallpaper and Knudsen-Taunus from times gone by - Automuseum Wolfegg

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Camping with VW T1, red wine and nice company - Automuseum Wolfegg

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If you still have old pennies in your pocket, you can try your luck - Automuseum Wolfegg

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Motorcycles also play an important role in the museum - Automuseum Wolfegg

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The VW industrial engine sits in a Metz fire engine - Automuseum Wolfegg

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Fire department in the past and in the very past - Automuseum Wolfegg

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Firefighters didn't have an easy job back then - Automuseum Wolfegg

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The old school board indicates the vintage car picnic in August - Automuseum Wolfegg

From 1973 to 2016, the car journalist Fritz B. Busch, who died in 2010, housed his small car museum in Waldburg-Wolfegg Castle near Ravensburg (Germany). On "Car Friday" April 14, 2017, a new museum was opened at the old location under new management.

Idyllic building - Automuseum Wolfegg

43 years of history

The automobile museum in Wolfegg was founded in 1973 by automobile journalist Fritz B. Busch in a 500-year-old outbuilding of the princely castle of Waldburg-Wolfegg in Wolfegg. It exhibited more than 200 classic cars including motorcycles, tractors, caravans and countless contemporary decorative items. After Busch passed away in 2010, his daughter Anka took over the museum. However, as she had also reached retirement age, the doors closed at the end of October 2016 and most of the exhibits were moved to the tractor museum in Uhldingen-Mühlhofen. A report on the movecan be found in the 2017 Zwischengas annual magazine.

Priority on youngtimers

The museum celebrated its reopening on "Car Friday", i.e. April 14, 2017, but not with a lavish party due to the Christian holiday. However, this is to be made up for on August 6, 2017.

The historic premises, which cover around 3000 square meters and are spread over two buildings and several floors, will in future house more recent classic cars from the late 60s, 70s and early 80s. Most of the vehicles are on loan from local collectors, some of which also belong to museum director Nicolas Flosbach. He believes it is important that there is something new to see every time you visit the museum.

Many everyday youngtimers - Automuseum Wolfegg

Just like in Fritz B. Busch's day, the cars are not exhibited in a sterile manner, but are set against contemporary decorations such as petrol pumps, telephone boxes, music equipment, furniture and posters. And as in Busch's day, technical details are secondary. It's all about immersing yourself in time and experiencing the exhibits. The museum lives, changes, things are added, others are gone again - such as the vehicles provided by collectors who naturally want to drive them again at some point.

Unicycle trailer as a special feature

A unique and bizarre special feature on display is the world's largest and probably only collection of unicycle trailers, which has been amassed by a collector over 35 years. Such trailers have completely disappeared from today's street scene, but after the war they were used to transport heavy wood carburetors as well as camping trailers for weak-chested small cars à la Heinkel & Co. during the economic miracle.

Ingenious one-wheel folding trailer for low-motorized cars - Automuseum Wolfegg

Another special feature is fire-fighting equipment from the old days, which shows the primitive means used to fight fires back then. And if you want to relax, take a seat on the benches of a reconstructed classroom and watch movie clips from the good old days.

Grand opening party in the castle garden

On Sunday, August 6, 2017, the first vintage car picnic of the new museum will take place in the castle garden. All historic cars and two-wheelers built up to 1985 are invited. If a car is younger, it should be an exotic, then it will certainly not be turned away.

The old school board indicates the vintage car picnic in August - Automuseum Wolfegg

In addition to hospitality, music, beautiful cars and interesting conversations, the program now includes various awards. Participation is free of charge for the crews of the classic cars, but space in the courtyard is limited and you may have to switch to the surrounding parking lots - not a problem in tranquil Wolfegg.

Easy to reach

Wolfegg is only around 40 kilometers away from the Friedrichshafen ferry, so it is also easy to reach from Switzerland. From Germany, Wolfegg can be reached in around two hours from Stuttgart or Munich (distance approx. 160 km). The address is: Fritz B. Busch Weg 1, D-88364 Wolfegg

Always open

The opening hours are from Easter to October daily from 9.30 am to 5.00 pm and in the winter months on Saturdays, Sundays, public vacations and during vacations from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm.

The old building generates a lot of charm - Automuseum Wolfegg

Groups of 20 people or more can also make individual appointments to visit outside of regular opening hours during the low season.
Admission costs 8.50 euros for adults and 7.50 euros for groups of 20 or more. Children aged 6 to 14 pay four euros, schoolchildren and students 6 euros. The family ticket for two adults and at least two children costs 19 euros. Appointments for guided tours by arrangement.

Further information can be found on the museum's website.