The Monteverdi Museum in Binnigen near Basel is a veritable Mecca for fans of the only Swiss post-war sports car built in large series. The cars he built from the 1960s to the 1980s are lined up in the former production facilities of Peter Monteverdi's GT forge.
Names such as Monteverdi Hai, 375 L or 375S make the mouths of automotive gourmets water, and they can all be seen in Binningen at Oberwilerstrasse 20, three of the four mid-engined sports cars named Hai, for example, as well as the prototype of the 375 L from 1969. The off-road vehicles, such as the Safari, are also there, and of course some of Monteverdi's Formula 1 cars, as he also tried his hand at the top racing category.
There are 70 cars in total, spread over 4000 square meters, supplemented by a huge model car collection with 11,000 exhibits and many memorabilia from Monteverdi's history. There are also bare chassis and engines to admire.
The big move from Binningen to Lucerne
However, this museum will soon be history, as it is being closed down. But don't worry, Paul Berger and his colleagues have found a good solution. A foundation was set up as a long-term solution for the collection, into which cars, objects and archives were transferred.
From April 12, 2017, part of the collection will be on display in the renovated road traffic hall of the Swiss Museum of Transport in Lucerne. A new floor will be installed in the hall specifically for this purpose, so that the two dozen or so cars brought there, which will remain in the Foundation's possession and be loaned to the Museum of Transport, can also be presented accordingly, supplemented by information prepared and conveyed using modern technology, as Daniel Geissmann from the Museum of Transport explained when the project was announced.
When asked what will happen to the other cars, Berger explains that they will remain part of the foundation and collection and that various models, some from the foundation's collection but also from club members, will be displayed in Lucerne on a rotating basis. It is also not impossible that one or two (surplus) models will find new owners.
Paul Berger himself is very happy to have found a good solution with the Swiss Museum of Transport. At the same time, he and Ruedi Wenger were also able to announce that a large stand would be dedicated to the Monteverdi brand at the next Geneva Motor Show. This should bring back memories of the great motor shows of the late sixties.
And a book
In keeping with the major changes, Paul Berger was also able to present a new book about the Monteverdi brand, edited by himself and written by Monteverdi experts Carl L. Wagner and Roger Gloor. Details can be found in the review, which will be published shortly on zwischengas.com.
And a farewell open day
Fans should look out for December 3, 2016, as the entire museum will be open to the public for the last time on this Saturday, and free of charge. You shouldn't miss it if you've never been there before.
Further information can be found on the Monteverdi Museum website.
