Museum der Hamelner Automobilgeschichte

About the museum

In the early 20th century, Hameln was a center of German automobile manufacturing. In 1907 the Norddeutsche Automobilwerke (NAW) were founded, which built the small car Colibri from 1908 and the larger model Sperber from 1911. From 1909, the bodies were supplied by the company Burkart & Günther, which moved to the Hefehof in 1910. Before the First World War, both companies each employed several hundred people and exported as far as Scandinavia, Russia, and New Zealand.

In 1917 the supplier Selve from Altena took over the plant. Under the name Selve, passenger cars were built in the 1920s, including models with six-cylinder engines, sports cars, and prototypes, among them early vehicles with aluminum pistons and with drop-center frames. In 1929 car production in Hameln ended.

The museum was opened in 2006 by the Förderverein der Fahrzeuggeschichte Hameln (friends' association for vehicle history) and is located on the Hefehof, the former site of the body-building works. Unlike most vintage car museums, it shows exclusively vehicles that were developed and built in Hameln, supplemented by engines and documents on company history. Besides the museum operation, classical concerts among the exhibits, a museum night, and vintage car meetings take place.

Highlights

• Vehicles of the Colibri and Sperber models of the Norddeutsche Automobilwerke
• Selve brand automobiles from the 1920s
• Only cars developed and built in Hameln
• Historic site of the body-building works at the Hefehof
• Classical concerts among the vintage cars

Permanent exhibitions

• Hamelner Automobilgeschichte 1907–1929 – Vehicles and engines of the Norddeutsche Automobilwerke and the Selve works that were developed and built in Hameln.

Founded

2006

Operated by

Förderverein der Fahrzeuggeschichte Hameln e. V.

Admission & discounts

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Getting there & parking

The museum is located on the Hefehof opposite the garden center.

Amenities & dining

For groups, a coffee table or snack can be arranged by arrangement.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events

Conferences and vintage car meetings with several hundred vehicles are possible at the Hefehof; rooms and catering via the Hefehof (05151 57850) or the Förderverein (0172 5144050).

Plan your visit