Monteverdi museum closed. What happened to the cars?

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We wrote about classic Gran Turismos in Basel and thought of the Monteverdi museum in that very same place. We visited it some years ago, but have now learned that the place closed its doors. That’s a pity as this most unusual of motor museums was a hidden gem like no other. The museum was based at the former factory/garage of Swiss most notorious GT manufacturer, but you really had to know it. A bike shop had already taken over the showroom area and much of the ground floor (photo 1 below). But a small display next to the bike shop showed a HAI in all its aggressiveness (photo 2), which was only a precursor of more to come. Much more.

Former Sales Manager and Peter Monteverdi’s partner Paul Berger became the museum’s curator after Monteverdi passed away in 1998 and it was only when Berger took you along the exhibition on the ground floor and in the huge basement of the premises, when the marque came alive once more. Monteverdi may have been a small player – it was a huge surprise to see so many of the cars here in pristine condition, as if they were all put on display here directly after being built! The amount of models was a great surprise too. You may know the HAI as seen at the entrance, the High Speed or the Scout-based Safari. But Monteverdi did a lot more than just that, with some cool early Specials but also later Plymouth, Dodge and even Mercedes-based limousines up to early 1990s Formula One cars. We wonder: where did all these cars go? Or are they still hidden there?

(Words and pictures Jeroen Booij)

      

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