Mazda classic car museum opens in Germany

MAZDA likes to market itself as Japan’s “most unconventional” auto firm. So, where better to open a museum charting its first 100 years of carmaking history than Germany?

“Mazda Classic – Automobil Museum Frey” is actually the brainchild of the Frey family, owners of a German Mazda dealership, Auto Frey, who has built up a remarkable collection of noteworthy Mazdas since they started selling them in 1978.

“Uniquely impressive, the first Mazda museum outside Japan represents a dream come true for the Frey family to share with the public their one-of-akind collection of vintage Mazdas from around the world,” said Mazda Motor Corporation executive vice-president, Akira Marumoto.

The museum is housed in a refurbished, converted train depot dating from 1897 in Augsburg, Bavaria. The centrepieces will be 45 classic Mazdas including a 1967 Cosmo Sport, a 1969 Luce R130, a 1966 Familia 1000 coupe, a 1976 Mazda 616 and a mid-engined AZ-1 sportscar from 1992. All vehicles on display come from the Freys’ collection and many were restored personally by family members. Collecting Mazdas became a huge household passion and led to patriarch Walter and his sons Markus and Joachim travelling the world in search of new rare finds.

In fact, the collection currently runs to 120 vehicles, meaning that the display will be constantly refreshed and rotated so that regular visitors will always see something new. “Mazda is very proud that the Freys are a part of our organisation and have created something so extraordinary,” Marumoto said. – AFP Relaxnews