Prince Rainier III initiated the Collection of H.S.H. The Prince of Monaco. Passionate about automobiles, he has gathered in forty years a vast collection of old vehicles. He has assembled his personal collection over the course of opportunities and his favorites, but also family events. Some have been restored when necessary. “This is not an automobile museum but a personal collection of vintage cars of all ages and from many countries. Popular or prestigious, they marked their time and I liked them,” explained Prince Rainier.
Prince Albert II was also passionate and continued to enrich the Collection. Today, nearly 70 vehicles are exhibited in their new 5000m² setting. The new venue is on the course of the Monaco Grand Prix circuit, with the entrance just before the bend of the pool, opposite Port Hercule.
The cars of the Collection of H.S.H. The Prince of Monaco
The cars are spread over 2 floors, in a clear and airy presentation. In the basement, the touring cars are presented in both chronological and thematic order, while the ground floor is mainly dedicated to competition. The oldest automobile is a 1903 De Dion Bouton, which was also the 1st of the collection. Several Renault and Peugeot from the 1910s/1920s or a propeller Helica from 1921 bear witness to this era of automotive pioneers.
Given the aura of the Principality, it will not be surprising to find in the collection a panorama of the most prestigious manufacturers. We find Delage, Delahaye, Facel Vega, Ferrari, Hispano Suiza, Jaguar, Lamborghini, Lincoln, Maserati, Mercedes, Rolls Royce… It is difficult to highlight a particular model, because most of the cars presented are rare, even unique for some but let’s mention here the Delahaye 135 MS Convertible (1947), Jaguar XL 1 (1947), Ferrari 250 GT Convertible, Lamborghini Miura, Maserati Mistral, Mercedes 300 SL…
The collection also exhibits more popular cars such as a Citroën Traction (a 15-6 cylinder however), a Citroën 2 CV, a Renault 4 CV, a BMW Isetta or an Austin taxi. The Collection also offers cars linked to the Prince family, such as Prince Rainier’s 1956 Chrysler Imperial, a Sunbeam Alpine roadster identical to that of the film “To Catch a Thief” (with Grace Kelly, future Princess Grace of Monaco), the Renault Floride offered by Renault to Princess Grace, or the Lexus “Landaulet” from the Prince’s wedding of 2011.
Motor racing, so linked to the Principality, is not forgotten with the cars that marked the Monte-Carlo Rally (Lancia 037, Peugeot 205 Turbo 16, Renault 5 Maxi Turbo or DS 3 WRC…). For the Monaco Grand Prix, a dozen F1 cars (Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes, Red Bull, Renault…) are lined up as on a starting grid, and some hang on the walls!
Next tocars
A 1903 Humber motorcycle, owned by Prince Albert 1st has been completely restored by the museum workshop. At the 2 ends of mobility, the Collection exhibits children’s cars, very exclusive toys, and some horse-drawn carriages. Display cases with gloves and drivers’ helmets are a reminder of the strong link with racing. The decoration, very sober, gives place to large photos and films that put in context the jewels exposed. At the exit, a shop offers a wide choice of souvenirs: books, miniatures, textiles, gadgets … linked to the museum, the competition or the Principality.
Practical information
Opening
| From 1 January to 30 June and from 1 September to 31 December | 10am – 6pm |
| From 1 July to 31 August | 10am – 7pm |
| Ticket office closes 1 hour before closing time | |
| Closed on 25 December |
Rates
| Adults | 10,00€ |
| Children (6 to 17 years old) and students | 5,00€ |
Possibility of tickets combined with the visit of the Prince Palace, the animal garden or the Oceanographic Museum, inquire at the reception of the museum.
The photos on this page belong to Automobile-Museums, no use or reproduction is allowed without the prior written consent of the owner.
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