Giron's first garage 1929 (≈ 1929)
Reconstitution to the original garage museum.
1939
Start of collection
Start of collection 1939 (≈ 1939)
Gaston Giron starts the vehicle collection.
1885-2000
Period of exposure
Period of exposure 1885-2000 (≈ 1943)
Vehicles exposed from 1885 to 2000.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Key figures
Gaston Giron - Collector and Founder
Initiator of the collection in 1939.
Origin and history
The automobile museum in Vendée has its origin in the passion of a family for mechanics and automobiles. The collection, initiated in 1939 by Gaston Giron, has preserved more than 200 vehicles dating from the 1880s to the present, including cars, cycles, motorcycles, hippomobiles and even futuristic prototypes. This heritage reflects the technical and aesthetic evolution of transport over more than a century.
The museum, located on the Sables-d'Olonne road in Talmont-Saint-Hilaire, presents 160 vehicles in a hall of 3,300 m2. The exhibition is organized in five chronological sections, from 1885 to 2000, with a rich collection of vintage posters and billboards. A reconstitution of Gaston Giron's first garage (1929), located in Saint-Pierre-du-Chemin, completes the visit, offering an authentic insight into the beginnings of the car in Vendée.
The variety of exhibits, ranging from pioneering vehicles to newer models, illustrates technological innovations and cultural trends related to automobiles. The museum also highlights ancillary objects, such as accessories or tools, that contextualize the use and maintenance of vehicles throughout times. This immersive approach makes it a reference point for lovers of industrial history and mechanical heritage.
