East Anglia may be one of the most historically rich regions of the United Kingdom, but the area’s heritage is not limited to the days of horse and cart! Norfolk and Suffolk’s auto-motive history is extremely rich, and any motorhead historian may just be surprised at what they might find in these auto-history sites!
Caister Castle
Don’t let this 15th-century building’s ancient exterior fool you – hidden within Sir John Falstof’s private estate, is the largest and most varied private car collection in the UK that is also open to the public! Located just north of Great Yarmouth, the purpose-built museum is home to a staggering amount of “fine and rare veteran, vintage, classic, sports and touring automobiles”, spanning from an 1893 Panhard et Lavassor to the very first Ford Fiesta!
With everything both an automobile aficionado and car-mad kids will enjoy, Caister Castle is sure to impress the whole family but be quick, the opening season closes in October, so get driving!
For information on the location and opening times for Caister, visit www.caistercastle.co.uk
Classic Team Lotus
In the small village of Hethel, located only a short drive outside of Norwich, you may be surprised to find the headquarters of one of the most prestigious and celebrated car manufacturers in the UK – Lotus Cars. While the company is still constructing their new home facility, which will be available for visitation sometime in the next year – there is still over 70 years of Team Lotus history to discover on their Classic Team Lotus Tours.
Sporting a wide collection of classic and special examples of Lotus’ prestigious engineering, any F1 fanatic is sure to find something of interest touring the home of this 7 time Formula One winner! Show-cars, which are often demonstrated during events, can be seen making the rounds of the area, as can the dedicated team of engineers, whose workshops are available for tours!
For more information visit www.classicteamlotus.co.uk/en/home/
East Anglia Transport Museum
Not all motor history is flashy rides and muscle cars, and sometimes we should take the time to really respect the hard-working cars and motors that helped us build the nation! Located in Lowestoft, the East Anglia Transport Museum is offering that precise experience for any historically minded motorheads!
With vehicles and exhibits that are not only exclusive to automobiles but also proudly harbour an extensive fleet of trams and trolleybuses, the East Anglia Transport Museum is sure to invoke that classic blast-from-the-past experience. Sparking life into these old machines by lovingly crafting a variety of period-correct street scenes, this time capsule can be a great way to school up on the little aspects of our motoring heritage, or simply a fun and educative day to spend with friends or family, everyone is sure to find something that they will enjoy
For information on exhibits, events and opening times, visit www.eatransportmuseum.co.uk
Snetterton Circuit
Not all automobile heritage has to be about the gears and engines, and sometimes we have to remember that without long winding tracks, or tight hairpin turns, what would be the point of automobiles? For all the racers looking for a bit of history – or maybe want to watch it being made, you would be missing out by not driving into Snetterton Circuit, located in Thetford, just outside of Norwich!
Originally opening in 1953, this 3-mile track has been host to some of UK motoring’s most famous events, including hosting the UK’s first-ever 24-hour race, the Willhire 24-hour. Initially used for motorcycling racing, Snetterton soon became the testing ground for Lotus, and eventually other racing teams! Still hosting some of the most prestigious races in the country, and with new revisions made to the track, this is a must-visit. And for the up-and-coming racers, don’t forget that Snetterton offers the opportunity to drive around this historic track yourself!
For circuit information, events and tickets, visit www.snetterton.co.uk
While we all love history, make sure your vehicle doesn’t get on the wrong side of it – East Anglia Smart Repair offers all car and van paint repairs as well as paintless dent removal services. Everything you need to keep your car in prime exhibition condition! To book an appointment with our automobile experts, you can fill out the form on our website, calling us 0330 111 0203, or feel free to email us at info@eastangliasmartrepair.co.uk