A former car dealer in France has turned his passion for movie cars into an impressive collection, which is now on display at the Movie Cars Central museum in Etrechy, a town located approximately 30 miles south of Paris. Franck Galiegue, the owner of the museum, has amassed over 40 vehicles from iconic films, and some of them are even available for short rentals.
The collection offers a wide range of famous movie cars, including ones featured in popular franchises like “Jurassic Park” and “Fast and the Furious.” Visitors can also marvel at classic vehicles like the “Herbie” Beetle and the time-traveling DeLorean from “Back to the Future.” To complete the lineup, Galiegue has even managed to acquire a replica of the Batmobile, the iconic vehicle from Tim Burton’s rendition of Batman.
Among his vast assemblage, Galiegue treasures the Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu that Ryan Gosling drove in the 2011 film “Drive.” Three cars were used during the production, and unfortunately, one of them met an untimely demise. However, another one is still owned by Gosling himself and occasionally taken for a spin.
It’s worth noting that not all of the cars in the collection are replicas. In fact, according to Reuters, eight out of the twelve vehicles from the “Fast and the Furious” movies are genuine. This includes originals like the Dodge Charger, as well as replicas like the iconic Nissan Skyline GT-R, featured in “2 Fast 2 Furious.” Galiegue ensures transparency by clearly indicating on his website which cars are authentic and which are replicas.
While the museum serves as a place for enthusiasts to marvel at these famous movie cars, Galiegue also wants to make the experience more interactive. Visitors have the opportunity to rent many of the cars for events and special occasions. For die-hard fans, it’s even possible to book a test drive. However, due to the value of some cars, the test drives are limited to a few laps on a private track.
Galiegue’s vision for the museum goes beyond simply displaying the cars. He wants it to be a vibrant and dynamic space where people can truly engage with these iconic vehicles. “I wanted to do something like a museum, but it must be a living thing, so that people can drive the cars, either here on our terrain or even on the road,” Galiegue stated in his interview with Reuters.
The passion driving Galiegue’s collection is far from waning. He plans to expand his assortment further by adding three new vehicles, including one from the 1987 “RoboCop” movie. This commitment to continually growing and enhancing the collection ensures that visitors to the Movie Cars Central museum will always have something new and exciting to look forward to.
Overall, Franck Galiegue’s dedication to preserving and sharing these iconic movie cars has resulted in the creation of an extraordinary museum where movie buffs and car enthusiasts alike can appreciate the vehicles that played memorable roles on the silver screen. Whether it’s driving the cars themselves or simply marveling at their historical significance, the Movie Cars Central museum offers an unforgettable experience for all.