“Monaco & the Motor Car, from 1893 to the Present Day” opens its doors to the public at the Grimaldi Forum Monaco

The opening night brought together nearly 500 guests, including the exhibition’s curator, Rodolphe Rapetti, numerous lenders — institutions and private collectors from Europe and the United States — as well as several leading figures from the motoring world. Notable attendees included Bernie Ecclestone, Michel Boeri, Jean Alesi, Thierry Boutsen, Daniel Elena, Ari Vatanen, Guy Fréquelin, Jean-Pierre Nicolas and Gilles Valérian.

Spanning over 3,500 m², “Monaco & the Motor Car, from 1893 to the Present Day” offers an immersive journey through more than 130 years of history linking the Principality and the motor car. More than 50 authentic vehicles, all with links to Monaco, tell a story where elegance, innovation, performance, prestige and collective memory intersect.

The exhibition traces the very origins of this Monegasque passion: the concours d’élégance from the late 19^th century, the Monte-Carlo Rally from 1911, and the Monaco Grand Prix from 1929. Thanks to the invaluable support of the Automobile Club de Monaco, the exhibition brings together exceptional, often previously unseen, archive material, as well as numerous documents, photographs and videos allowing visitors to see these cars in action.

Among the highlights is the Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith from the wedding of Rainier III and Grace Kelly in 1956, on loan from an American collector who has owned it for over forty years. The exhibition also showcases rally cars, Grand Prix single-seaters, a Venturi Formula E car, a scale model of the Monaco circuit, and a tribute to the Monegasque drivers Louis Chiron and Charles Leclerc.

The exhibition concludes with a dialogue between the past and the future: on the one hand, a Panhard & Levassor that took part in the 1893 Paris–Nice race and made its way to Monaco, a pioneer in the early experiments with tarmac roads; on the other, the MONA LUNA lunar rover, developed by Venturi Space, designed to operate on the Moon by around 2030.

Combining history, aesthetics, culture and technology, “Monaco & the Car, from 1893 to the Present Day” appeals to enthusiasts and the general public alike. A landmark exhibition that tells the story of both Monaco and the automobile, from its earliest days to its future lunar horizons.

This exhibition is supported by CMB MONACO, SOTHEBY’S, the MARZOCCO GROUP, the SEGOND AUTOMOBILES GROUP and ACQUA FIUGGI.
Practical information Monaco & the Car, from 1893 to the present day Grimaldi Forum Monaco From 1 July to 6 September 2026 Daily from 10.00 to 20.00 Late-night opening on Thursdays until 22.00 Exceptional closure on 22 August Free for under-18s

Audio guides in French, English and Italian; public guided tours; private guided tours; and exclusive evening tours after the exhibition closes. Children’s workshops from 6 to 17 July
Full details at grimaldiforum.com.