Collection Umberto Panini - Automobile Museums

The Umberto Panini Collection is located a few miles from Modena. Umberto Panini and his family are world famous for their sports vignette albums. Following the sale of the publishing house in 1989, Umberto developed a very large organic farm near Modena to produce the famous Parmesan. The fodder is produced by the estate and the cows are raised on site to ensure the best quality. It is therefore a building inspired by the old railway stations, located in the middle of the farm, which houses the sumptuous Umberto Panini Collection.

Detailed Visit of the Umberto Panini Collection

The cars of the Umberto Panini Collection

The Umberto Panini Collection is best known for its Maserati, resulting from the block purchase of a collection created and developed by Maserati. The trident brand wanted to keep track of its history. But Maserati has had an eventful history, passing into the hands of several owners. It was following one of these changes that the collection was almost dispersed in 1996. Alerted by the local authorities, Umberto Panini then acquired it to constitute this museum.

The original 19 cars have since been joined by others, and today more than twenty Maserati are on display. In such an exceptional collection of a prestigious brand, it is difficult to bring out the treasures. Let’s mention for the race the 6C/34 of 1934, the A6GCS “Berlinetta” of 1953, the 250 F F world champion of F1, the 420 M “Eldorado”,” or the famous Tipo 63 “Birdcage”.

In the (small) series cars, we can mention the sublime 3500 GT and 5000 GT, Ghibli (the one of 1967), Quattroporte, Bora or Khamsin. The museum also exhibits some concept cars and Maserati style studies.

The Umberto Panini Collection is world-renowned for its Maserati, but Umberto Panini, passionate about mechanics, also had a small collection of cars that he continued to develop thereafter. More eclectic and representative of his favorites, it presents as well a venerable De Dion Bouton, a Simca Fiat Balila, a Cadillac limousine from 1931, a pretty Alfa Romeo Giuletta spider from 1960, a Stanguellini Formula Junior or a Citroën SM (with Maserati engine). In total, it is therefore about forty cars waiting for your visit!

Outside of cars

Many posters, photos, documents decorate the walls. Hanging on the edges of the gallery, a series of posters traces the entire history of Maserati from its origins to the present era. In the building, a mezzanine allows you to admire the cars from above, but also to discover an impressive collection of nearly 100 motorcycles, scooters and motorized bicycles, as Umberto Panini was also passionate about motorcycles. If the Italian motorcycles Ducati, Gilera, Laverda, Moto Guzzi, Moto Morini… are naturally well represented, you will also admire BMW, BSA, Harley, Indian, Norton, Triumph and many others. Among the most notable, a Ducati 350 Scrambler, a Laverda 750 SFC, a rare DKW with a rotary engine or a Lambretta 125cc scooter for speed records. Given the major theme of the collection, we will not be surprised to discover some Maserati motorcycles, the trident firm having also produced motorcycles. The exhibition also presents some engines, prototypes and a spectacular “Birdcage” chassis.

In addition, the museum also has a very nice collection of agricultural tractors, arranged on the side of the museum building. The farm having been sold, the production activity of Parmesan is now independent of the Umberto Panini Collection. A small shop at the entrance offers some books, posters, drawings and miniatures. Ample free parking.