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Category: British Motor Museum
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The British Motor Museum is to launch a brand-new sound-based exhibition ‘Beep-Beep, Yeah!’ which will open on 18 July and run until spring 2026 in the new Rubery Owen Gallery. The centrepiece of this exciting exhibition is a Rolls-Royce once owned by music legend, John Lennon! 
From the favourite tunes we play when we’re driving, to the songs that were inspired by motoring cities; push button radios to streaming podcasts; the sensation of our favourite engine noises to the quietness of modern cars; sound, music and the motor car have always had an emotional connection. Beep-Beep, Yeah!: The Sounds and Songs of the Motor Car explores this connection from the engine rumble to the rhythm of our favourite tune and examines why the sounds we listen to in our cars can influence the way we drive.
Visitors can immerse themselves in the sound experience through a range of interactive elements such as tuning a 1970s radio, feeling the noise of a BRM V16 P15 race car engine, or sitting inside a 2022 Bentley Bentayga to experience its incredibly powerful audio systems!
The exhibition also features a 2019 Wells Vertige Prototype demonstrating how music shaped an entire design while, on the other end of the scale, is the 2018 Nissan Leaf whose electric motor is so quiet it generates a pedestrian warning sound as a safety feature.
Throughout the exhibition is the connection between cars and music and this link is demonstrated by the star car of the exhibition, a white 1965 Rolls-Royce Phantom V, once owned by John Lennon! The Rolls-Royce appeared in the Beatles film, Let It Be and was sold in 1969 to Allen Klein, founder of ABKCO Records and the Beatles’ manager at the time. It has remained with the family ever since and has been kindly loaned by Jody Klein.
As a result of the generous support of Rubery Owen, Beep‑Beep, Yeah! will be housed in a brand-new exhibition space which gives visitors the chance to explore more than ever before.
Richard Jenkins, Group CEO, Rubery Owen Holdings, commented “As one of Britain's leading engineering companies and one of the earliest to be involved in the motor industry, Rubery Owen shares the Museum's commitment to preserving the history of Britain's automotive industry — both now and into the future. Rubery Owen is proud to support the creation of a new gallery space at the Museum.”
Cat Boxall, Curator at the British Motor Museum, said “We’re really excited to open an exhibition with a different focus by bringing sound to the forefront in an immersive and interactive way. This has given us a fantastic opportunity to explore our collection from a fresh perspective. When you visit, be sure to think about your favourite driving tunes. Leave your suggestions and scan to take away the playlist which we will be updating throughout the course of the exhibition!”.
www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk
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The British Motor Museum is delighted to announce that Peter Armstrong has been appointed Chief Executive Officer from 1 September following the retirement of Jeff Coope. Jeff retired from the Museum in March after 23 years of dedicated service.
Originally from the UK, Peter has been living and working in the USA for the last ten years and joins the Museum from the Mystic Seaport Museum in Connecticut, USA, where he has worked as President & CEO for the last 5 years. Previously Peter has served as Senior Director of Museum Operation and Education at the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation and as Creative Development and Commercial Director of the Royal Armouries.
Peter Armstrong, enthused “Returning to the UK to lead a Museum that tells such an important British story, and houses such a spectacular collection, is a true honour. I’m genuinely excited to work alongside the dedicated staff, members, volunteers, trustees, and supporters to elevate the British Motor Museum as a world leader in celebrating British automotive history and the remarkable people behind it.”
Peter Knott, Midlands Area Director at Arts Council England, said: “We’re pleased to welcome Peter Armstrong as Chief Executive Officer at the British Motor Museum, bringing a wealth of experience from museums in both the UK and USA. I’d also like to thank Jeff Coope for his excellent work in leading the organisation over the past 23 years, and wish him all the best in his retirement.”
Joel Kordan, Chair of the Board of Trustees said, “We’re delighted to have appointed Peter as our new CEO from September. Peter brings with him a wealth of experience in the Museums and Heritage sector and greatly impressed the selection committee with his ideas and strong desire to preserve all that is good at the Trust whilst, at the same time, moving things on to the next level”.
www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk
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The British Motor Museum will host five classic motoring shows in July. These will include the Wythall Busfest on 5 July, MGF 30th Anniversary celebration on 6 July, the BMC & Leyland Show supported by Peter James Insurance on 13 July, the Old Ford Rally supported by Peter James Insurance and Rootes Heritage Day, both on 20 July.
The Wythall Busfest is arranged in partnership with the Transport Museum Wythall, and will feature over 100 restored, vintage, and modern buses and coaches. There will even be a display for post-2000 buses, including the more recent hybrid and electric buses, creating a diverse show that all bus fans can enjoy. Visitors can also enjoy free heritage bus rides around local routes and the Museum’s internal road network.
The MGF Register 30th Anniversary event promises to be a highlight event for MGF or MG TF owners and admirers alike. Visitors can see hundreds of MGF and MG TF cars including some special vehicles and a whole variety of MG cars coming from across the UK and Europe. Plus, there will be special guest talks, live music, trade stands and a crafts village.
The BMC & Leyland Show supported by Peter James Insurance, will feature a wide range of British marques produced by the British Motor Corporation, British Leyland and The Rover Group. Hundreds of vehicles will be lined up outside the Museum, from Minis and Morris Minors to the larger Rover 800s, Montegos and Maestros, as well as a variety of vans and lorries. This year the show will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the British Motor Corporation Competitions Department at Abingdon on Thames. Visitors can see a display of 100 cars to recognise the success of BMC and British Leyland rally and sports cars across three decades.
The Old Ford Rally supported by Peter James Insurance, will enable fans to see around 400 classic Fords, aged between 50 – 100 years old. A huge range of cars are expected to be on display, from Model Ts to the cars of the pre-war austerity years, as well as the more luxurious post-war Zephyrs, Zodiacs, and Granadas, plus the fan-favourite Anglias, Mk1 and Mk2 Cortinas, Capris, Escorts, and Fiestas.
Taking place alongside the Old Ford Rally, the Rootes Archive Centre Trust will be holding their Rootes Heritage Day, celebrating all kinds of Rootes classics, from earlier Hillmans, Humbers, Sunbeams and Singers to the later Chryslers, Simcas and Talbots. Ticket holders on the 20 July will be able to enjoy both the Old Ford and Rootes shows, as well as entry to the Museum and Collections Centre, all with one ticket.
On the day, the Museum will also be playing host to a Meccano exhibition, in partnership with the Midlands Meccano Guild. This regular fixture of the show day has grown from 25 tables in the beginning to over 50 tables this year, holding an impressive collection of Meccano models from all over the country. This unique addition is a must-see for modelling fans, who may even find some inspiration for their next great projects!
Tom Caren, Show Manager at the British Motor Museum, stated, “We have a fantastic range of classic motoring shows for our visitors and enthusiasts to enjoy throughout July! These five shows literally sit at the heart of our shows season and really reflect the values of the British Motor Museum!”
Advance ticket prices are £17 per adult, £9 per child (5-16 years), Under 5 free, £15 per concession and £46 for a family. Anyone wishing to enter a vehicle into a show can do so online. Camping is also available at some of the shows. For more information about the shows, please visit the website at https://www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/whats-on
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The British Motor Museum is proud to host three STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) Careers Days on 24, 25, and 26 June with engineering experts from global leader in consulting, technology services and engineering - Capgemini. These STEM Careers Days will include a range of interactive STEM-based activities for secondary school pupils and young people in home education.
On 24 June students can follow the journey of designing a car from initial sketches to aerodynamic testing. This full-day event is designed specifically for secondary girls in school years 7 to 10, and features exclusive access to industry experts, curriculum-linked activities and inspiring stories of women in STEM. On 25 June secondary students in years 7 to 10 can come along to an immersive problem-solving event, ideal for both boys and girls with an interest in science, engineering and design.
On 26 June young people aged 11-15 can explore the fascinating process of car design, with activities led by real engineers including experts from Capgemini. New for 2025, this event is designed with home educating families in mind and is welcoming to those with SEND, as it will include smaller group sizes in the SEND-friendly Learning Hub. Please note that each child must be accompanied by an adult who has free entry to the event.
Claire Broader from the Museum's Learning and Engagement Team said, “We’re delighted to be once again hosting our STEM Careers Days, which were incredibly popular and successful last year. We’re really passionate about supporting the next generation of technicians, engineers and scientists. We believe that whatever your background or strengths, the world of STEM has something to offer everyone!”
To continue their learning back at home or school, students will also receive a goody bag containing two STEM activities, including a salt-powered car kit to take away. The cost is just £12.50 per pupil for a full day at the Museum, running from 10am - 2pm. The Museum’s Travel Support Scheme, with the support of Arts Council England, is also available to help cover schools’ transport costs.
To find out more information about the event, please call 01926 895295 or visit https://
www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/learning/schools/secondary/stem
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If you’re looking for a unique gift or special day out to celebrate Father’s Day, the British Motor Museum has lots to offer to make it a truly memorable day! Those visiting the Museum on Sunday 15 June, can admire over 400 commercial vehicles at the ‘Classic and Vintage Commercial Show’. The show, which takes place on 14 & 15 June, offers visitors an opportunity to reminisce about days gone by amongst giants of the motoring world.
The Museum also has plenty of gift ideas to spoil Fathers. A Heritage Certificate is the perfect gift for an owner of a cherished classic car. The Certificates are the official ‘Certified Copy of a Factory Record’ for a classic car showing the vehicle’s specification as it left the production line. For more information visit britishmotormuseum.co.uk/archive/heritage-certificates
Alternatively, adopt a car from the Museum collections! From the Albion A1 8hp dog cart to the Wolseley 2200 (last of line), cars that form part of the Museum’s permanent collections are available to adopt. Adoptions cost between £25 & £100 and adopters get a digital adoption certificate as well as their name added to the car’s listing in the Online Collections. For more information, visit https://www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/support-us/adopt-a-car
You can also purchase a Gift Voucher for Father’s Day! Treat Dad to a visit to the Museum whenever suits him the best. Simply buy the Gift Voucher Museum ticket and he can redeem it online ahead of when he plans to visit. Find out more at https://www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/book-now
Or if you know Dad will want to come back to the Museum again and again, treat him to an annual Membership so he can enjoy admiring over 400 British classic cars and attending the fantastic motoring shows for a whole year? Starting from £42 for the year, Membership also includes free entry to the Museum and its events, plus special Member only events including ‘Museum on the Move’, where Members get the rare opportunity to ride in a selection of vehicles from the Museum’s collection. Find out more at https://www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/about-us/membership
The Museum’s online shop also stocks a range of gifts from novelty motoring themed items such as ‘Dads Garage’, ‘Great Dad’ and ‘Man Cave’ tin signs, to motoring cuff links, hip flasks, mugs, and memorabilia as well as many unique marque products.
To find more Father’s Day gift ideas visit https://shop.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/
Museum entry is just £46 for a family in advance or £52 on the day, £17 for adults in advance or £20 on the day, £15 for concessions in advance or £18 on the day, £9 for children (5-16 years) in advance or £10 on the day and under 5s are FREE. There is also the option to Gift Aid or donate your entry fee and get an Annual Pass in return at no extra cost!
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