The museum was established in 1985 by John Harold Haynes OBE (1938–2019). It is a registered charity under English law.[1]
Exhibitions
The museum is divided into fifteen exhibitions:
British Icons: Driven by Innovation reveals the untold stories of the people who designed, built and advanced some of the most iconic British cars in history.
John Haynes: The Man and The Manuals delves into the story of the Museum's founder, John H Haynes OBE
The Dawn of Motoring includes exhibits dating from 1886 including a replica 1886 Benz Patent Motorwagen.
Veteran and Vintage includes 1903 Darracq Type L and a 1922 Rover 8 hp.
The Red Room, contains red sports cars from around the world, including a 1966 Ford Mustang Convertible and a 1959 Austin-Healey Sprite.
Travelling in Style includes a 2007 Bentley Continental GT and a 1957 Bentley Series 1.
Memory Lane contains a 1965 Ford Cortina Mk1 and a 1950 Rover 75.
The Morris Story includes a 1917 Morris Cowley and a 1955 Morris Minor Convertible.
Ferrari: The Man, The Machine, The Myth contains a 2000 Ferrari 360 F1 and a 1980 Ferrari 512 Berlinetta Boxer.
Hall of Motorsport depicts varied disciplines of motorsport including a 1996 Ferrari Formula 1 Type F310 (DC) and 1950 Healey Silverstone.
The American Dream includes in pride of place a 1931 Duesenberg J Derham bodied Tourster, one of only eight built.[2]
Life on Two Wheels explores the history of British motorcycling over the past 150 years.
Williams F1: The Drivers and The Driven includes an FW14.
Wheels around the World includes a 1975 Bricklin SVI and a 1967 Citroen DS.
Micro and Bubble Cars includes a 1964 Trojan 200 and a 1965 Morris Mini MK2.
In popular culture
The museum featured in an episode of the police drama McDonald & Dodds titled A Billion Beats as the headquarters of fictitious Formula 1 team Addingtons which included scenes shot in The Red Room.[3]