PRIVATE COLLECTIONS - Small car museums in the Motor Valley

THE COLLECTIONS

The private collections of vintage cars and motorcycles and other objects in the motor valley , unique opportunities to discover some of the best-known names in motoring.

Pasquale Mesto Motorcycle Collection

Minarini 1/f - San Lazzaro di Savena, Bologna
Phone: +39 051 9910058 – 370 301213
www.motorvalley.it/collezioni/collezione-moto-pasquale-mesto
Hours: by appointment

The Collection features over 30 models from Italjet, ranging from mini motocross bikes to funny bikes and competition models.

One of the most interesting pieces is the Record Cyclecar 250 torpedo, which won several speed records at Monza.

Here some prototypes are also on display, such as the Grifon 900.

Bruno Nigelli Collection

c/o NIFO Via Giuseppe Venturi, 3 – Monte San Pietro, Bologna
Telephone: +39 051 6766792
www.nifo.it/collezione-nigelli.html
Opening hours: by appointment

This collection stems from Bruno Nigelli's great passion for mechanics and exhibits over 300 motorcycles, including rare and sometimes unique pieces, that tell the epic story of Bologna's motorcycle industry, a unique reality that has reached the beauty of 85 manufacturers in a single period.

Battilani Collection

1 Poiano, 1/b -Imola, Bologna
Phone: +39 0542 640961
www.motorvalley.it/collezioni/collezione-battilani
Opening hours: by appointment

The Battilani Collection brings together many rare motorcycles, both Italian and foreign, produced from the early 1900s to 1945.

The exhibition traces the history of what was called the "evolved bicycle," featuring unique models such as the Frera S8/10 Hp1140 from 1921 and the Condor with a sidecar. A collection of rare and technologically interesting pieces.

Poggi Motorcycle Collection

Via G. Vittorio, 2 – Villanova di Castenaso, Bologna
Phone: +39 339 1671703
www.poggibike.com
Hours: by appointment
In the Poggi Collection, enthusiasts can admire over 60 models to trace the evolution of this Japanese sports bike.

Among the rarest models are a Yamaha YDS-1R and several TZs of different displacements.

Moreover, the collection includes some official Grand Prix motorcycles, such as those of Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo.

DEMM Museum of Motorbikes and Scooters

230/a Via Mazzini – Porretta Terme, Bologna
Phone: +39 0534 22021
www.motorvalley.it/collezioni/museo-delle-moto-e-dei-ciclomotori-demm
Opening hours: by appointment

This Museum is the realization of Giuliano Mazzini's dream, who dedicated his entire life to DEMM, a motorcycle company active from 1919 to 1988.

The monomark exhibition includes a series of vehicles arranged in chronological order and accompanied by comprehensive technical sheets, such as the Mini DEMM and the Rotary.

Pollini Collection

Via Guido Rossa, 7 – Casalecchio di Reno, Bologna
Telephone: +39 051 520311
www.motorvalley.it/collezioni/collezione-pollini
Opening hours: by appointment

The Pollini Collection hosts an exhibition aimed at showcasing the close connection between the world of cars and the evolution of society's customs, from fashion to cinema and sports, from the 1950s to the 2000s.

An interesting collection of specialized magazines, era-appropriate model cars, and everything related to the world of cars, such as tube radios.

Idice Valley Museum

21 Via Croce di Prunaro – Budrio, Bologna
Phone: /
www.museodellavalledellidice.it
Hours: by appointment

The exhibition aims to highlight the history and protagonists associated with the territory who have created great innovations.

The collection is divided into sections, one of which is dedicated to Marconi, the inventor of radio, while another gathers some models of Ducati, such as the Cucciolo, or the motorcycles of Tartarini and Monetti, which have circled the world.

Parilla Collection

Provincial Road Faentina, 21 – Modigliana, Forlì Cesena
Telephone: +39 0546 941215
www.motorvalley.it/collezioni/collezione-parilla
Opening hours: by appointment

This is a single-brand collection dedicated to the Parilla motor company, one of the most innovative enterprises in the 1940s and 1950s, featuring around fifty restored vehicles, including a Parilla 98, as well as extensive historical documentation, memorabilia, and sports photographs that evoke the history of these motorcycles.

Bandini Auto Collection

80 Via del Braldo – Rovere, Forlì Cesena
Telephone: +39 0543 67448
TOWeb: http://asimusei.it/museo/museo-bandini/
Opening hours: by appointment

The collection, curated by the Bandini Historical Register, showcases the vehicles created by Ilario Bandini and his automobile company, which was particularly famous in the 1950s and produced only 75 competition cars, such as the 750 Sport Siluro or the Sport Prototype; unique specimens that have made history.

Guzzi Brunelli Collection

Viale Roma 32 – Forlimpopoli, Forlì-Cesena
Telephone: +39 0543 1908018 – +39 335 1310902
www.collezioneguzzibunelli.it
Opening hours: By appointment

Elio Brunelli has gathered in the 650 square meters that house his collection models that Moto Guzzi produced between the 1930s and 1970s, all restored and ASI certified.

In addition, a room dedicated to Lambrettas has been set up, along with a reconstruction of a gas station from the era.

Classic Cars and Motorcycles Sassuolo

5 San Giacomo Street – Sassuolo, Modena

Phone: +39 348 7810514 – 348 7810520
www.ames-sassuolo.it

Opening hours: by appointment; closed in August and on Sundays in October from 9 to 13

Permanent exhibition of historical cars and motorcycles from the 1920s to the 1980s.

In addition to the 90 Guzzi motorcycles that can be found in the collection, there are also Bubblecars, small circular-shaped cars that are forerunners of today's city cars, such as the Isetta, which even participated in the Mille Miglia.

Righini Collection

Nino Bixio Street, 12 – Castelfranco Emilia - Modena
Phone: +39 051 733309
www.righiniauto.it/collezione-righini.html
Opening hours: by appointment

The magnificent setting of the Panzano Castle hosts Mario Righini's collection, whose passion was to recover and restore period vehicles. The exhibition includes approximately 350 specimens, such as the Auto Avio Costruzioni 350, the first car built by Enzo Ferrari, or the Alfa Romeo 2300 8C with which Tazio Nuvolari won the Monza Grand Prix in 1933.

Stanguellini Historical Car Museum

756 Via Emilia Est - Modena
Phone: +39 059 361105
www.stanguellini.it
Hours of operation: by appointment, currently closed for renovation

The Collection, born from the love for Stanguellini family cars, over the years has gathered prestigious pieces, including many race cars and sport coupés.

Among the most interesting pieces are the Stanguellini Junior 110, which won the Monte Carlo Junior Grand Prix, or the Colibrì designed by Scaglione.

Umberto Panini Motor Museum

320 South Corletto Street, Modena
Telephone: +39 059 5962181
www.paninimotormuseum.it

Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 9 to 12:30 and from 2:30 to 6; Saturday from 9 to 12:30

This private museum houses the most complete collection of Maserati vehicles, produced since 1926, in a beautiful Liberty style structure. The collection includes, for example, the 6C 34 driven by Tazio Nuvolari to win the Grand Prix of Modena and Naples, as well as some motorcycles produced by the Trident House.

Mauro Pascoli Vespa Collection

Via Faentina 17/a – Ravenna
Telephone: +39 0544 502078
www.collezionevespa.it
Opening hours: By appointment

This Collection is the result of Mario Pascoli's passion for everything related to the Piaggio world.

A 500 square meter exhibition featuring over 150 Vespa, Api, and Piaggio mopeds, along with numerous original accessories from 1946 to the present, as well as toy models, pedal versions, and electric versions.

National Motorcycle Museum of Rimini

58/n Via Casalecchio, Rimini

Telephone: +39 0541 731096 – +39 347 1844267
www.museomotociclo.it
Opening hours: April to November, daily from 9:30 am to 12 noon and from 2 pm to 7 pm; November to April, by advance booking for groups of at least 10 people

The Motorcycle Museum tells the story of two wheels from its origins to the present day through a collection of over 250 examples of 55 different brands: from the first models at the end of the 1800s to beautiful sidecars, but also unique pieces like the Frera SS 4V and some prototypes from internationally renowned motor companies, such as Bimota and Harley Davidson.

Migliazzi Collection

Strada Parma, 3 – Pilaster of Langhirano, Parma

Telephone: +39 337 989524
www.motorvalley.it/collezioni/collezione-migliazzi
Opening hours: By appointment

The Migliazzi Collection exhibits motorcycles from the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s, mainly of the Rumi brand, including some rare pieces from this motor company, such as the Squirrel from the post-war period and the Biscarburatore.

A very interesting feature is the wicker sidecar of Cavanna.

Next to the exhibition, a workshop has been reconstructed with original Rumi spare parts.

Nello Salsapariglia Collection

Via Lazzaretti 3 – Bagnolo in Piano, Reggio Emilia
Telephone: +39 335 8430203
www.collezionesalsapariglia.it
Opening hours: By appointment

The Salsapariglia Collection exhibits what man invented at the end of the 1800s and throughout the 1900s: a unique set of pieces that includes over 150 vintage motorcycles, many of which are one-of-a-kind and skillfully restored, as well as a hundred gramophones, vintage radios and phonographs, but also antique engines and tractors.

Old Racing Spare Parts Museum

Santa Rizza Street, 28/3 – Casalgrande, Reggio Emilia
Phone: +39 05220999179 – 338 3228402
www.oldracingspareparts.com
Opening Hours: by appointment

This private single-brand collection tells the evolution of the Motoristic Ducati House from the 1920s to the present day with an exhibition of everyday products such as radios and mechanical calculators, as well as the most important and rare motorcycles that have marked its history, both sports and otherwise, such as the Laverda 750 or single-cylinder Desmos.

Little Bariaschi Motorcycle Museum

16/a Via San Giuseppe – Guastalla, Reggio Emilia
Telephone: +39 0522 824064
www.piccolomuseodellamoto.it
Opening hours: by appointment

The purpose of the Museum is to tell the story of the mass motorization phenomenon of the post-war period: in a space of 650 square meters, approximately 180 significant examples of Italian motorcycle industry have been collected, as well as some pieces from European brands, ranging from those used in daily life to those used in competition.

San Martino in Rio Car Museum

Barbieri Street, 12 – San Martino di Rio, Reggio Emilia
Telephone: +39 05220636133
www.museodellauto.it

Opening hours: Museum on Sundays from 10:30 to 12:30 and from 15:30 to 18:30; Fridays from 21:00 to 24:00 / Stables on Mondays from 21:00 to 24:00, on Tuesdays and Thursdays by appointment from 9:00 to 12:00

This museum houses around 40 models of vintage cars and motorcycles, true masterpieces that have marked the history of the automobile, such as the Fiat 509 Weymann type, characterized by a wooden chassis designed to make it lighter.

The Museum also includes a Scuderia, known for numerous publications in the field.

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