MAHI La Coruna

It is housed in a large, modern, purpose-built building, which houses the Jove family’s collection, the result of a long-standing passion for cars. Donations from private individuals and companies have enabled the museum to expand its collection. The MAHI is unique in that it not only exhibits vehicles, but also the history of other techniques (photography, music, cinema…) through numerous objects and decorations.

Cars

The permanent collection comprises some 350 vehicles, more than half of which are cars. The vast, brightly-lit entrance hall features the Pegaso Z-102, a coupé bodied by Touring (in my opinion its most deirable version), in a beautiful blue color. Built in around 80 units between 1951 and 1958, the Z-102 was a genuine supercar for its time: with its 180 hp 2.8L 4 ACT V8, 5-speed gearbox, sophisticated suspension and luxurious interior, it was the fastest production car in the world.

The MAHI is organized into vast halls and offers a pleasant tour. Each room has a dual theme, automotive and cultural. The first rooms present the oldest cars, from the early 20th century to the late 1940s, in a rather chronological order. In the following rooms, which feature models from the 2nd half of the 20th century, the cars are broken down by country of manufacture (US, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain…).

However, Mercedes, Angel Jove’s favorite brand, is given a complete room, including a 190SL roadster (199), a 280 SL “Pagoda” and a 500SEL extended into a limousine.

The collection is eclectic, ranging from popular cars such as Austin Mini, Citroën 2 CV, Fiat Topolino and 500, Ford T, Renault 4 CV, Skoda, Trabant, VW Coccinelle… to prestige cars of yesterday and today, Cadillac, Hispano-Suiza, Lincoln, Pierce-Arrow, Rolls-Royce, not forgetting sports cars such as Alpine, Corvette, Camaro, Ferrari, Jaguar, MG…

A number of Seat, from the days when the Spanish manufacturer produced Fiat cars under license, are on display, from the popular Seat 600 to the more opulent Seat 1500 (1964). The MAHI also recalls the memory of the now-defunct brands Amilcar, Berliet, De Dion, Delage, De Soto, Donnet, Hotchkiss, Le Zebre and Mathys.

The mezzanine, which joins the reception hall from the upper floor, is reserved for temporary exhibitions, which may feature a particular manufacturer, as was the case with Porsche during our visit. The tour ends by returning to the reception hall, part of which is devoted to motor sport, including a tribute to Luis Moya, a native of La Coruña and Carlos Sainz’s rally copilot in the 1990s.

The cars have been restored or are presented in very fine original condition. Note that the ground markings delimit the area protected from cars, with no wires, ropes or barriers obstructing the view or photos. For each model, an identification panel incorporates a QR-code giving access to a detailed sheet presenting the make and model. For the moment, the information is in Spanish, but will probably be translated as the museum develops.

Besides cars

In addition to the history of the automobile, the MAHI covers the history of mobility more generally. The tour includes 2 halls devoted to the Spanish Pegaso and Hispano-Suiza trucks and service engines. IVECO, now the owner of Pegaso, has made a major contribution to this part of the collection through donations. Exceptional vehicles include 2 trucks from the 1986 Paris-Dakar, a service truck and a race truck, and 2 Grand Prix trucks, as well as the Solo 500, a 1989 concept truck with a glass cab, sliding doors and streamlined wheels.

There are also a number of fire trucks, including a 1976 Pegaso large ladder and two 1926 Renault fire engines – a measure of the progress made in 50 years! One room is devoted to the countryside, with tractors and other farm implements, a few horse-drawn carts, and a wink at a car not yet out of its barn.

Motorcycles in various categories (mopeds, motorcycles, mini-motorbikes, sidecars, enduros…) complete the presentation. Near reception, the store offers a selection of souvenirs, miniatures and books. A restaurant offers lunch or refreshments.

Themed decoration

In several rooms, other themes running alongside the cars tell the story of the 20th century in music (Hi-Fi, tape recorders, radios…), cinema (cinema projectors, televisions…), photography, communication and economics.

Fashion is not forgotten, with mannequins wearing outfits contemporary of the cars presented, as well as panels on which QR-codes direct visitors to documented sections of the website. In each room, large drawings depict personalities linked to the room’s theme, and wall decorations are complemented by photos, advertisements and film posters.

Practical information

Opening

Opening days	Winter	Summer
Wednesday – Sunday	10 am – 7 pm	10 am – 8 pm

Rates

Adults	10,00 €
Seniors (over 65), Students	6,00 €
Young (5 to 12)	3,00 €
Children (under 5)	Free
Groups (over 30 people), per person	6,00 €
Guided tour: €100 in addition to tickets, Book online
Guided tour: free for groups of more than 30 people Book online
Ample free parking in front of the museum

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