Sommer's Automobile Museum
Private automobile museum in Nærum with around 80 roadworthy vintage cars and sports cars from 1908 to the 1990s, plus engines and model cars.
About the museum
The civil engineer Ole Sommer (1931–2018) ran a car dealership for over half a century: his company imported Jaguar from 1946 to 1972 and was the Volvo importer from 1957 to 2002, while a sister company sold marine engines until 1993. In parallel, in 1959 he began building a collection with the purchase of his first historic car, and it grew steadily over the following decades.
In 2004 the collection opened as a museum in a new three-story building on Nærum Hovedgade. It shows mainly sports cars and luxury vehicles from the interwar period and the first two decades after the Second World War – eras that the founder considered the most exciting in automobile design. Accordingly, Jaguar and Volvo are strongly represented, along with makes such as Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Maserati, Bentley, and Rolls-Royce.
Besides almost 80 roadworthy cars, the holdings include about 30 car, aircraft, and marine engines as well as around 2,000 model vehicles. Interpretation is provided by an association of volunteer custodians, the Foreningen Motorhistoriske Formidlere: they are available for questions during opening hours, offer guided tours, and in the winter half-year organize themed special exhibitions with loans from private owners.
Highlights
- Around 80 roadworthy automobiles, oldest vehicle from 1908
- Extensive Jaguar collection, including a D-Type from 1955 and an E-Type from 1961
- Volvo vehicles up to the Volvo 780 prototype
- About 30 car, aircraft, and marine engines
- Around 2,000 model cars
- Volunteer custodians answer questions on site
Permanent exhibitions
- Fahrzeugsammlung – Around 80 automobiles from 1908 to the 1990s, focusing on sports and luxury cars of the interwar and postwar periods, complemented by engines and model cars.
- Founded
- 2004
- Operated by
- Sommer's Automobile Museum (privat, gegründet von Ole Sommer)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | DKK 50 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 14 · Under 15 accompanied by an adult free (one child per adult) |
| Groups | –Special openings and guided tours for larger groups by arrangement with the museum office |
| Private tour with a custodian (up to 10 people) | DKK 750Price per group, book in advance with the museum office |
DKK 50 applies in the summer half-year; in the winter half-year during the special exhibition, admission costs DKK 100 including the exhibition catalog.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The museum has an elevator and provides a wheelchair.
Kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 14 |
|---|
Children under 15 accompanied by an adult have free admission.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Nærum Station · 9-min walk · 700 m
S-tog to Jægersborg, then the Nærumbanen to the terminus Nærum; alternatively bus 194 from Lyngby Station to Nærum Station.
By car
Parking available
Park on levels P2 or P3, access from Nærum Hovedgade.
By car via the Helsingør-Motorvej (E47/E55), exit 14 Nærum, straight ahead at the traffic light intersection, after about 100 m.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
Coffee and tea are available to visitors free of charge. Groups of 20 or more can eat before or after the visit in the meeting room on the second floor with a view of the collection; menu by arrangement.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 1.5 hrs |
|---|---|
| Good to know | During opening hours, volunteer custodians are in the building and answer questions. Book private tours (about 1½–2 hours, up to 10 people) in advance with the museum office; larger groups by arrangement on any weekday. “Bulder & Brag” evenings with a talk followed by starting the engines take place regularly. |
