Rallye Legends – A journey through time on tarmac, gravel and snow at the Nationales Automuseum

Following the huge success of the Formula 1 exhibition, the Nationales Automuseum, The Loh Collection, is dedicating the next instalment in its series of high-calibre themed exhibitions to this subject. The new special exhibition Rallye Legends – A Journey Through Time on Tarmac, Gravel and Snow takes visitors on a fascinating journey through a whole century of rally history.

Around 35 carefully selected vehicles trace the history of rallying – from the early days of the Monte Carlo Rally right through to the modern WRC era. In doing so, the curators strike a remarkable balance between technical documentation and emotional storytelling. This is because the exhibition focuses not only on the cars, but equally on the people who drove them.

Rallying history is rich in icons such as the Lancia Stratos and the Opel Ascona 400. They epitomise the Group 4 era, whilst the infamous Group B cars are gathered here in a collection of rare completeness. Models such as the Peugeot 205 Turbo 16, the Audi Sport quattro S1 and the Lancia Delta S4 take us back to a time when the balance between performance and risk for drivers and spectators was on a scale that is almost unimaginable today. The collection is rounded off by modern World Rally Championship cars such as the VW Polo R WRC and the Subaru Impreza WRC.

RallyE legends aren’t just the car

However, it is not just the cars, but also the charismatic drivers who are behind these remarkable stories. Walter Röhrl, Michèle Mouton, Sébastien Loeb and Ari Vatanen are inextricably linked to the cars on display and lend the exhibition added depth. The result is a vibrant overall picture that brings together the history of technology, sporting excellence and personal stories.

Furthermore, the exhibition broadens the perspective beyond classic rallies: vehicles from the Dakar Rallye and record-breaking cars from the Pikes Peak Hill Climb demonstrate just how versatile the sport of rallying can be. This breadth underlines the museum’s commitment to presenting motor sport not in isolation, but in its full cultural and technical context.

To accompany the exhibition, a comprehensive book by motorsport expert Jörg Walz is being published, which explores the exhibition’s themes in greater depth and provides additional background information. In doing so, the Nationales Automuseum is continuing its tradition of ensuring that its exhibitions have a lasting impact not only visually but also in terms of their written content.

However, the special exhibition Rallye Legends is just one part of the overall experience. The permanent exhibition alone – featuring over 150 vehicles spanning 140 years of motoring history – makes a visit to Dietzhölztal-Ewersbach well worth it. Since 2023, the Nationales Automuseum has been showcasing Prof. Friedhelm Loh’s private collection to the public in a historic industrial building. From the 1895 Benz Victoria Phaeton to the one-off Maybach Exelero built in 2005, the collection features Le Mans winners, DTM stars, supercars, design icons, prototypes and countless other classics, each with its own unique story.

With more than 230,000 visitors since its opening, the museum in Central Hesse has long since established itself as a fixture in international motoring culture. The new exhibition, Rallye Legends, is set to further cement this reputation – as an impressive tribute to a discipline in which precision, courage and improvisation come together in a unique way.

Information & Contact

Nationales Automuseum –
The Loh Collection

Museumsstraße 1
35716 Dietzhölztal-Ewersbach
Germany

Phone: +49 2774 923 650
Mail: info@nationalesautomuseum.de
www.nationalesautomuseum.de

Opening hours Museum & Shop

Wednesday to Friday 11:00 – 18:00 Uhr
Saturday and Sunday 10:30 – 18:00 Uhr
Monday and Tuesday closed

Ticket prices

Permanent Exhibition
Regular 21€
Reduced * 17€
Family ticket ** 60€

Special Exhibition
Regular 11€
Reduced * 9€
Family ticket ** 29€

Combined Ticket
Regular 28€
Reduced * 24€
Family ticket ** 75€

* For pensioners, students, pupils, children (6 – 14 years), severely disabled persons
** 2 adults and up to 3 children (6 – 14 years)

As at June 2026

Photos Nationales Automuseum – The Loh Collection

Author: Paolo Ollig

As editor-in-chief Paolo regularly writes about all the big and small stories related to classic cars and motorbikes. Classic dreams: Lamborghini Countach and Mercedes-Benz 300 SL. View all posts by Paolo Ollig →