Fans of motorised transport, be it racing cars or otherwise, are spoiled for choice in the UK with the sheer volume of circuits and exhibitions dedicated to their hobby, including plenty of hidden gems that are less well known. Coventry Transport Museum is one of those, with a huge number of vehicles on display in a city that has been closely linked with transport over the last century and a half. Looking at their website, some of their most impressive exhibits are on display, including Thrust SSC and Thrust 2, a Jaguar Formula One car, and some of the military vehicles on display there. However, there are many, many more on display, including bicycles as well as cars. Coventry has been a major industrial city for decades, and crucial to the UK car and bike industries. The entrance – once you pass the cafe with rather excellent cakes – includes a very old bike, a motor bike and a car – a Jaguar E-Type no less – in reception as you get a ticket, which is free, for the museum.
As you make your way through the museum, there are plenty of vehicles on display from the early days in the area, including some rather curious exhibits.
A World War 2 section includes not only vehicles from the period, but also exhibits showing what life was like in Coventry at the time.
The museum continues, with some wonderful exhibits, and as well as the vehicles, there are reminders of Coventry’s industrial past, including some of the more difficult periods.
As a Jaguar driver, there were some cars that particularly interested me.
Of course, the Jaguar section – being a local company – includes a Jaguar Formula One car, although that was covered when I was there.
The racing cars were not limited to Formula One, with other impressive vehicles on display too.
Of course, the world speed record vehicles Thrust SSC and Thrust 2 were stars of the show, and their size was of a different scale to any of the other cars at the Coventry Transport Museum.
The museum has plenty of bikes too, through the years.
Somewhere between cars and bikes is the Sinclair C5, the 1980s invention that was ahead of its time as an electric personal transport option.
Overall, there is loads to do to entertain a few hours in the Coventry Transport Museum, which is easily accessed in the centre of the city near the train and bus stations. It’s free to visit, and well worth a look if you find yourself in the midlands.
