For fans of cinematic automobiles, there’s no greater thrill than watching iconic cars from their favorite films in action. But what if you could do more than just watch? What if you could experience the real-life rumble, speed, and aesthetics of those cars? Nestled south of Paris in Etrechy, an innovative museum promises just that: a chance to relive the magic of the movies, one drive at a time.
Franck Galiegue’s passion for vintage cars isn’t new. At the tender age of 21, he began collecting them, and today, he’s a proud owner of 43 vintage vehicles, all of which have either graced the silver screen or are replicas of famous cinematic cars. The vast hangar, situated 50 kilometers from the bustling streets of Paris, is more than just a museum—it’s an ode to the movies, an intersection of film nostalgia and automobile engineering.
One of the crown jewels in Galiegue’s collection is the 1970s Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu, which took center stage in the 2011 action movie “Drive,” piloted by none other than Ryan Gosling. “Film productions usually have multiple vehicles of the same kind for various stunts, often leading to damages or complete destruction,” Galiegue shared. “For ‘Drive’, three such Chevelles were used. One didn’t survive the action sequences, leaving only two. While one graces the roads of Los Angeles, under Gosling’s ownership, the other finds its home here in my collection.” This particular Chevelle, however, isn’t available for public drives.
Yet, that’s just one car, and Galiegue’s Movie Cars Central has a vast fleet waiting to be explored and experienced. Visitors to the museum don’t just get to gaze at these magnificent machines; they can feel them. Over ten vintage car models, mostly manufactured in the U.S. and with a cinematic past, are available for enthusiasts to drive. “I envisioned a space that was more than static displays. I wanted the cars to come alive, to let visitors experience them, either on our property or out on the streets,” said Galiegue.
One such car that’s been drawing attention is the DeLorean, meticulously modified to mirror the time-travel marvel from the iconic 1985 movie “Back to the Future.” But the list doesn’t end there. Galiegue’s collection boasts two Batmobiles, with one mirroring the design from Tim Burton’s 1989 “Batman.” Fans of the TV series “Starsky & Hutch” would recognize the Ford Gran Torino, while Magnum’s Ferrari 398 GTS stands as a symbol of sleek design and raw power. For those who crave adrenaline, eight original cars from the adrenaline-pumping “Fast and Furious” series await.
With plans to continually evolve and grow, Galiegue shared a glimpse of what’s next: “We’re soon adding three more vehicles to our lineup, including a special one from the 1987 ‘RoboCop’ film.”
For film buffs and automobile aficionados alike, this museum offers more than a walk down memory lane. It promises an immersive, cinematic drive, a journey through iconic moments in film history, one car at a time.
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