If you live and breathe collector cars, then it just makes sense to spend your vacation time exploring all the most amazing automobiles out there. But where can you go to get the most car time possible? To help you maximize your time admiring stunning antiques, classic and vintage vehicles, here’s a look at some of the best vacation destinations for collector car enthusiasts.
Havana, Cuba
Ever since foreign vehicle imports were banned decades ago, Cuba turned into a time capsule of sorts for collector cars from the 50s. As everyone had no choice but to drive and maintain them, these classics are absolutely everywhere across Havana and beyond.
Just sitting down for a cup of coffee at a main street café will treat you to the sight of collector cars galore. But the real magic is getting up close and personal with these cars by taking a privately chauffeured classic car tour. You can even rent a classic car to cruise around town in all throughout your visit.
Stuttgart, Germany
With a trip to Stuttgart, Germany, you can treat yourself to a journey through the past, present, and future of both Mercedes-Benz and Porsche. While touring the museum full of Mercs, you can start at the Gottlieb Daimler Memorial, which shows the humble beginnings of this iconic company from their original garden house. Then, you can move onto the rest of the museum to view 160 vehicles created from 1886 and on plus 1,500 exhibits in between.
Visiting the Porsche museum provides a similar glance into the past, starting with the birth house of Ferdinand Porsche. From there, you can tour 520 square metres of breathtaking sights and stand amongst more than 80 awe-inspiring vehicles. Between the 911s, 356s, 550s, and more, they have interactive exhibits set up to teach you about the spirit and passion behind every one of their incredible builds.
Sussex, England
In the heart of Sussex, England, you can find the Goodwood House, home of many incredible motorsports events throughout the year. Although the Festival of Speed draws the biggest crowds each year, it is the Revival events that truly capture the attention of collector car enthusiasts.
Held in September each year, Goodwood Revival hosts a wide range of 1948 to 1966 cars and motorcycles, allowing them to race around the vintage track. This celebration of the circuits original racing period takes everyone back to the glory days, period correct dress included.
Everything from Grand Prix cars to sports cars shows up at this much-anticipated annual event to strut their stuff and show off their prowess, lap after lap. If you get a chance to take in all the action in person, don’t forget to check out the recreation of High Street — and get ready to jump, jive, and wear out your dancing shoes.
Pebble Beach, California
For the past 70 years, Pebble Beach, California, has served as the choice destination for the Concours d’Elegance car show. Every August, more than 15,000 collector car enthusiasts come from far and wide to check out all the most popular automobiles from the 1950s through the 1980s.
Nearly 200 cars from all over the world line up on the golf course for spectators and judges to look over. As judges tour the group, they pinpoint the most elegant, scoring them on their style, history, and authenticity. They find the winners across more than 25 distinct classes, which is no easy feat with so many beautifully restored and maintained cars in attendance.
At the end of the car show, the Tour d’Elegance begins with cars moving from Pebble Beach down to Carmel-by-the-Sea, then back again. In between, all the exquisite vehicles rumble down Ocean Avenue and line up for all to ogle.
With so many different vacation destinations for collector car enthusiasts to enjoy, it is going to be tough to pick just one. If that is the case, then put them all on your bucket list and start looking forward to checking off each one.