The 24 Hours of Le Mans Museum, managed by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO), is located on the site of this legendary race. It naturally retraces the saga of the automobile in the Sarthe and the history of one of the most famous and oldest motor races. The ACO, the department and local collectors created an Automobile Museum in 1961.
Initially located within the circuit itself, close to the village, it underwent many developments over the years, and moved in 1991 near the main entrance of the circuit.
Cars at the 24 Hours of Le Mans Museum
2023 marked the centenary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans race, and gave rise to an exceptional centenary exhibition, which brought together in the museum more than 80 cars that took part in the race, including around sixty winners. The museum had seen a significant change in its decoration and museography, and following this exhibition, the museum team decided to keep the museography set up, with a focus on the cars that took part in the event.
Several models from the centennial exhibition belonging to other museums or collectors have left, but other cars from the permanent collection have replaced them, as well as some cars on loan, still linked to racing. The exhibition therefore evolves regularly according to the changes in the models exhibited. The models on display cover the entire history of racing, from the first Chenard & Walker, Lorraine or Bentley, to the Porsches and Toyotas of recent years, including Audi, Bentley, Ferrari, Jaguar, Matra, Mazda, Peugeot or Renault.
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is also a lot of craftsmen and small manufacturers who try their luck for class or class victories, Courage, DB, CD, Gordini, Lotus, Rene Bonnet, Salmson, Singer, Tracta...
Special mention to Jean Rondeau, the local boy, the only manufacturer-driver to have won the 24 Hours of Le Mans. A specific space is dedicated to his adventure that culminates in the overall victory in 1980. Another area is dedicated to the film Le Mans 66, the film by James Mangold starring Matt Damon and Christian Bale that tells the story of the famous Ferrari-Ford duel.
While most of the cars are genuine racing cars, a few are models similar to those that have raced. There are also a few full-size models, so without an engine, which in reality is not bothersome for the visitor, the mechanical parts being largely hidden by the bodies anyway. An extension project will later make it possible to put the museum’s collections on the history of the automobile and in particular the regional industry back into the permanent exhibition.
Besides cars
The visit starts with the “Hall of Fame” of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with the women and men who have marked history: founders, drivers, manufacturers, engineers, team managers…
In addition to the “real” cars, there are also many scale models and dioramas that complete the collection. The display cases feature scale models of all the cars that have competed in the race since the beginning, in their racing colors. Several dioramas show the evolution of the starting area and the pits, alongside the different variants of the track used since 1923.
An area is dedicated to motorcycling, reminding us that the 24 Hours is also a great motorcycle endurance race. Next to the reception, a small area allows you to take a break with vending machines for cold and hot drinks, and a motorcycle exhibition.
The shop offers books, accessories, luggage, textiles, miniatures… allowing you to leave with some souvenirs of a memorable visit.
Visitors may also continue their journey by discovering the 24 Hours of Le Mans circuit and behind the scenes of the race. The 24 Hours of Le Mans Museum has a complete workshop for the maintenance of the cars on display, which can be seen through a large bay window.
Practical Information
GPS : 47.9561393 – 0.2074816
Opening
| October 1st to April 30 | everyday | 10am to 6pm |
| May 1st to September 30 | everyday | 10am to 7pm |
| Closed | 25/12 and 01/01 |
Rates
| MUSEUM | CIRCUIT | MUSEUM + CIRCUIT | |
| Adults full rate | 10,00€ | 5,00€ | 13,00€ |
| Adults reduced rate | 7,50€ | 4,50€ | 11,00€ |
| Youth (10-18) full rate | 7,50€ | 4,50€ | 11,00€ |
| Youth (10-18) reduced rate | 4,50€ | – | 9,00€ |
| Children less 10 years old | Free | Free | Free |
| Family Pass (2 adults, 2 young/1 adult, 3 young) | 31,00€ | 14,00€ | 42,00€ |
| ACO Member | Free | Free | Free |
| Reduced adult rate: Group (+ 20 people), job seekers, students, people with disabilities + 1 accompanying person |
| Reduced rate for 10-18 years old: young people with disabilities and accompanying person |
The photos on this page belong to Automobile-Museums, no use or reproduction is allowed without written permission from the owner.
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