Creation of the museum 1961 (≈ 1961)
Foundation under the name "Museum automobile de la Sarthe"
1991
Inauguration of the current building
Inauguration of the current building 1991 (≈ 1991)
Designed by architect Stéphane Barbotin
2009
Change of name
Change of name 2009 (≈ 2009)
Become « museum of the 24 Hours - Circuit of the Sarthe »
2016
Purchase by ACO
Purchase by ACO 2016 (≈ 2016)
Fleet project launched
2017
New name and record attendance
New name and record attendance 2017 (≈ 2017)
96,500 visitors, renowned museum of the 24 Hours
2023
Extension for the centennial
Extension for the centennial 2023 (≈ 2023)
Added "Dunlop Platform"
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Key figures
Stéphane Barbotin - Architect
Manufacturer of the building inaugurated in 1991
Famille Bollée - Automotive pioneers
Original models exhibited at the museum
Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) - Initiator and owner
Founder of the museum in 1961
Origin and history
The Museum of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, originally named the "Motor Vehicle Museum of the Sarthe" at its creation in 1961, is an emblematic place dedicated to the history of motor racing. Located close to the main entrance of the 24 Hours of Le Mans circuit, it was renamed in 2009 "The 24 Hours Museum - Circuit de la Sarthe", before adopting its current name in 2017. The museum showcases a collection of competition vehicles, including some fifteen winning cars from the event, as well as historical models such as the De Dion Bouton Dog Cart of 1885, the only steam copy kept in a private museum.
The museum was founded on the initiative of the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) and the Sarthe General Council. Originally installed in the "village" of the circuit, it was transferred in 1991 to a building designed by architect Stéphane Barbotin, characterized by an aluminum structure evoking an aircraft wing. In 2016, ACO purchased the museum from the department to become the heart of a car park project, including redevelopment and expansion of exhibition spaces. In 2023, an external platform called "Dunlop Platform" was added, doubling the exhibition area on the occasion of the centenary of the race.
The museum exhibits approximately 120 vehicles, mainly racing cars, as well as original models of Bollée cars and a collection of 4,236 miniatures at 1/43e representing all the cars that participated in the 24 Hours since 1923. It also offers guided tours, children's workshops and temporary exhibitions. An integrated workshop allows visitors to observe vehicles being restored. In 2017, the museum welcomed 96,500 visitors, confirming its reference status in the automotive and endurance fields.
Le Mans, mythical place of the automobile, hosted the first Grand Prix automobile de France in 1906. The museum continues this tradition by highlighting the heroes, actors and behind the scenes of the race. Donations from individuals, stables and manufacturers, such as the Porsche 911 GT3-RSR offered by the IMSA Performance team in 2016, regularly enrich the collections. Most of the vehicles displayed belong to the ACO or the General Council, highlighting the local and historical anchoring of this institution.
