RIGA MOTOR MUSEUM LATVIA

A delightful interactive motoring museum that opened in Riga has much to offer car fans of all ages.

The Baltic country of Latvia may not immediately come to mind as a world centre of car manufacture.

However, it does have an excellent history in this field.  And certainly knows how to display the many gems in their eastern bloc collection at the Riga Motor Museum.

The Riga Motor Museum in Latvia.

Although one outstanding highlight from the west is an Auto Union 1930s mountain-racing automobile. The  Auto Union V16 occupies pride of place in the museum.

Rare Cars From Many Eras Are On Show

Featuring displays from the very early days of motoring.  Right up the to present time the museum in the northeast edge of the city costs just €10 for adults and €5 for children.

Opening times from 10am to 6pm its well worth the short ride from the city centre.

A example of their very early vehicles at the Riga Motor Museum, Latvia.

The collection of vehicles are displayed on three easy access floors.  Starting from one of the first is a Benz Motorwagon No1 a tricycle style carriage.  Then on through the 1920’s and 1930’s the war period.  Following then some of the massive steel monsters that were manufactured during the Soviet era.  Ending when more cult cars from the west creep in to the collection.

Take a bus ride at the Riga Motor Museum Latvia.

As well as manufacturing cars under licence from Ford.  Many bicycles were made there. And in huge numbers too.

Soviet Period Collection

A neat contemporary café and museum shop help to extend the visit.  Audio guides and you can also take an interactive type ride experience to a wedding on a bus during the soviet era.

Soviet era armoured car the Riga Motor Museum Latvia.

Part of the collection is called the ‘Kremlin Collection’.  Here you can see the cars that the Soviet political leaders were carried around in. Some are armoured with 2inch thick bullet- proof glass and would have weighed many extra tons.  Because of the armoured steel plates that needed to be fitted throughout the passenger and vital engine areas of the vehicle.

An early Fire engine made by Russo-Balt at the Riga Motor Museum Latvia.

Children learn as they tour too. With numerous ways for them to learn about motoring history, science and even road safety. Many different ways of displaying the collection are used. With one vehicle that you can even paint it and change the background as it appears to drive along a city street.

http://www.motormuzejs.lv/