A car owned by Diana, Princess of Wales, that was believed to be a gift from King Charles III and a vehicle that helped to launch a range of Barbie toys can be seen for the first time in years at Coventry Transport Museum.
Thirty vehicles, many of which were made in Coventry, have been brought out of the museum’s storage collection and can now be viewed in a space previously reserved for temporary exhibitions and events within the museum to all visitors to enjoy more of the collection.
The new gallery - Behind the Scenes: Wheels and Workers – which is now open, features a Coventry made Jaguar XJS that became trapped in Bosnia in the 1990s and was later returned to the UK, painted bright pink and used as a prototype by Mattell to create Barbie’s toy vehicle is included in the display.
Other motor vehicles and cycles made by well-known and well-loved Coventry manufacturers such as Hillman, Standard, Singer, Alvis, Riley, Triumph, Humber and Daimler will also be on display as part of the expansion of the permanent exhibition.
A recently acquired 1949 Lea-Francis Estate, with a wooden body constructed by cycle and motor manufacturers APA Motors in Stoke Row, will also be on display having been in the same family since 1955.
In addition, visitors can now also see a 1980 Austin Mini Metro L that was owned by Diana, Princess of Wales when she was still Lady Diana Spencer and was believed to be a gift from Prince Charles, now King Charles III, after he test drove the vehicle at its launch.
The car, which was made in Longbridge, remained in Lady Diana’s possession until 1981, and is now on display in the main museum.
Coventry Transport Museum is also calling for former workers – and their families – who helped to create the vehicles that have just gone on display to come forward and tell their stories.
To get in touch with the Museum if you or a family member worked on one of the vehicles, email ctm.marketing@cvlife.co.uk
For more information on Coventry Transport Museum and its exhibits go to transport-museum.com
A car owned by Diana, Princess of Wales, that was believed to be a gift from King Charles III and a vehicle that helped to launch a range of Barbie toys can be seen for the first time in years at Coventry Transport Museum.
Thirty vehicles, many of which were made in Coventry, have been brought out of the museum’s storage collection and can now be viewed in a space previously reserved for temporary exhibitions and events within the museum to all visitors to enjoy more of the collection.
The new gallery - Behind the Scenes: Wheels and Workers – which is now open, features a Coventry made Jaguar XJS that became trapped in Bosnia in the 1990s and was later returned to the UK, painted bright pink and used as a prototype by Mattell to create Barbie’s toy vehicle is included in the display.
Other motor vehicles and cycles made by well-known and well-loved Coventry manufacturers such as Hillman, Standard, Singer, Alvis, Riley, Triumph, Humber and Daimler will also be on display as part of the expansion of the permanent exhibition.
A recently acquired 1949 Lea-Francis Estate, with a wooden body constructed by cycle and motor manufacturers APA Motors in Stoke Row, will also be on display having been in the same family since 1955.
In addition, visitors can now also see a 1980 Austin Mini Metro L that was owned by Diana, Princess of Wales when she was still Lady Diana Spencer and was believed to be a gift from Prince Charles, now King Charles III, after he test drove the vehicle at its launch.
The car, which was made in Longbridge, remained in Lady Diana’s possession until 1981, and is now on display in the main museum.
Coventry Transport Museum is also calling for former workers – and their families – who helped to create the vehicles that have just gone on display to come forward and tell their stories.
To get in touch with the Museum if you or a family member worked on one of the vehicles, email ctm.marketing@cvlife.co.uk
For more information on Coventry Transport Museum and its exhibits go to transport-museum.com