Cars –that invention that is already more than one century old- have always awakened passion: at the Automóvil Club Argentino Museum we could see various specimens of old and racing cars.
Passion on wheels: ever since its invention to this day, these powerful and fast machines have caused fascination. They continue to be objects of worship and, even though news is not scarce, we may also go on a tour to the past of the automobile and the racing car.
Keep Roaring
It is a remarkable fact that this museum should be located at the Automóvil Club Argentino headquarters, an emblematic institution of the motoring business in Argentina, not only associated with car racing, but also to the route layout throughout the country and to its service network, which remains an important part of the daily life of many drivers even today.
We went through the main gate into the building, which faces Libertador Avenue, and took the elevator to reach the second floor. The museum is located there. However, it may also be accessed through the services area gate, where people leave their cars for maintenance and repairs.
Thus, almost by chance, visitors may come across these jewels from the past, ranging from the remote beginnings to the high-speed cars from the 1970s. All of them offer to give us a ride to former times, to former glories.
Not Just Cars
But this museum does not house cars only. Its walls are upholstered with photographs, newspapers clippings, documents and souvenirs, all of them related to the history of the Automóvil Club Argentino and motor racing in Argentina.
Likewise, we can see various artifacts such as ancient road signs, air and gas pumps, trophies of all sizes, helmets and a series of glass cabinets where small scale model cars are displayed.
As it was to be expected, a great deal of the images and texts displayed on the walls pay tribute to several Argentinian drivers and, essentially, to the greatest of them all: Juan Manuel Fangio.
The museum does not occupy a large space but every meter has been saturated with details and information that will delight four-wheel fans and which might turn out to be interesting for those who believe that a car is just a means of transport.