The European Chronicles 2023.18 - Museum Week

July 07, 2023

The European Chronicles 2023.18 - Museum Week - Porsche & Mercedes

Stuttgart's Jewels - Porsche & Mercedes

These museums are serious - somber, even - they have a very different vibe than the BMW facility. BMW had a playfulness that both Porsche and Mercedes seem to actively shun. "What we do here is important, and we're going to show you" is the theme.

That said, they are both beautiful facilities with well presented collections.

Porsche

Porsche's museum is off a roundabout in the center of their growing industrial complex.

Yummm...the Carrera GT...

Look at these next few pictures carefully. Porsche had a 911 and Boxster open to the public, unlike BMW where ever car was locked. Who is around the cars? Young people...sitting in them, taking selfies. Getting the "lust" early on...I simply do not understand how any manufacturer can spend millions on facilities like these and keep the vehicles locked. Incredibly short sighted, especially since BMW Welt had such a party atmosphere and a natural youth brand - MINI.

They even have a restoration shop.

Lots of expansion going on.

Mercedes

Mercedes has a showroom-type facility where you can even rent vehicles, along with a very large 8-story museum.

The showroom

The museum

You enter the museum and take an elevator to the top, then spiral your way down.

It starts with the old, they did invent the automobile after all, and you gradually work your way to the present.

They did an incredibly good job at presenting everything in the context of history...all the "light boxes" you see along the wall in the above photo chronicle events of the day...world events, innovations, wars. They didn't shy away from anything in their past.