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The museum

Discover the history of the Reims-Champagne Automobile Museum
Philippe Charbonneaux in 1989 - Automobile Museum Reims Champagne
The creation of the museum

The founder Philippe Charbonneaux

Philippe Charbonneaux was a 20th century industrial designer specializing in the automobile.

Throughout his career he has worked both on the drawing of everyday objects, as on the creation and modification of automobiles, mainly French. This pioneer of industrial aesthetics in France, self-taught, was at the same time painter, illustrator, engineer, architect, inventor and collector.

Renowned stylist, his creations cover the most varied fields: refrigerator, flashlight, pen, television, computer but also integrated line bodywork, Chevrolet Corvette, Delahaye 235, Renault R8, R16, etc., for a total of 75 models. .
He is also the designer of the famous "Nénette", a very useful polishing brush for maintaining your old or modern car.

It was from 1970 that he decided to create a museum to present his collection of cars, mainly French, to the public, first in Saint Dizier then in Reims. In 1985, he set up his collection in the former workshops of the MMM (Menuiserie Métallique Moderne) and thus created "the Historic Center of the French Automobile", a name which will precede the current name of the Reims-Champagne Automobile Museum.
The genesis of the museum

Discover Philippe Charbonneaux

In 1972, the journalist Claude PIERRARD went to meet Philippe Charbonneaux. A 9-minute video remains from this interview which recounts the passion that led to the creation of the museum. This rare document allows you to see some cars still present in the museum, before their arrival in Reims.
The takeover of the museum

The SCAR association

When Philippe Charbonneaux died in 1998, the future of the museum was uncertain.

An association was formed to perpetuate the work carried out since the creation of the museum: the Salon des Collections Automobiles Rémois, known to enthusiasts by the acronym SCAR.
This acronym mischievously echoes the company SCAR, Societé de Construction Automobile de Reims formerly based in Witry-les-Reims, one of the very rare models of which is part of the museum's collections.

The associative museum, managed solely by volunteers, has the following missions:
- the preservation, maintenance, management and promotion of the Reims-Champagne Automobile Museum,
- the exhibition and enhancement of all vehicles and accessories (cars, motorcycles,
bicycles and miniatures and all other motor vehicles), relating to
the automobile inside the Museum,
- welcoming the individual public, groups, associations or clubs,
- the contribution to the safeguard of the Automobile Heritage and its presentation within the museum,
- the enhancement of museum vehicles during exhibitions, shows and events.
SCAR 1908 - Automobile Museum Reims Champagne
Rochet-Schneider 1905 - Didier Carrayon - Car Museum
The museum today

Your contribution to the life of the museum

The museum being associative, it does not receive any aid from the state, its operating budget is therefore based solely on ticketing and sales of the shop.

By visiting the museum, you are helping to preserve the history of French automotive heritage. Thus the association continues to exhibit exceptional vehicles that can only be found in private collections, usually out of sight.

Within the museum, you will be able to admire rare, even unique, cars in "used" states of conservation. The collection also includes more than 90 two-wheelers, more than 80 vintage pedal cars, enamel advertising plates and more than 7,000 miniature cars.
The museum collection

Automobiles

Our collection of exceptional and rare automobiles includes more than 160 models from the early 1900s to the 1990s.
Discover the automobile collection
The museum collection

Motorcycles and two-wheelers

Our collection of motorcycles and two-wheelers includes more than 90 models that have made French and European history.
Discover the motorcycle and two-wheeler collection
Pedal Cars - Reims
The museum collection

Pedal cars

Our collection of vintage pedal cars showcases more than 80 children's cars from the last century, in a dedicated case within the museum.
Discover our collection of pedal cars
Miniature cars Reims
The museum collection

Miniature cars

Our collection of miniatures features over 7,000 miniatures of cars, trucks and machines, in different scales, from all eras and from all over the world.
Discover our collection of miniatures
Enamel signs Automobile Museum Reims- Champagne
The museum collection

Enamel signs

Attached to the walls of the museum, more than 170 enamelled signage or advertising plates decorate and increase the immersion in the French automotive heritage.
Discover our collection of enamel signs

Opening days

The museum is open every day of the year except Tuesdays (weekly close), 1 January and 25 December.


Opening hours

From May 1st to October 31st:
10:00 - 12:00
14:00 - 18:00
From November 1 to April 30:
10:00 - 12:00
14:00 - 17:00
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