LA NOSTRA STORIA
The origins
The first group of classic cars enthusiasts was formed in 1956 in San Martino in Rio (Reggio Emilia)
This was the very year of the first cars arrival, sometimes almost wrecks: at that time “old cars” rather than historical: the ^Museo dell’Automobile” in San Martino in Rio was born.
Domenico Gentili (1922 – 2001) from Bologna, collected the cars here and there in Italy, getting them together in the yards and under the canopies of his company, the soap factory Panigal in Borgo Panigale near Bologna.
As he ran out of space, he chose to accept the hospitality offered by Giulio Campari, the lamented owner of Campari & Co. based in San Martino, a supplier of Panigal and also the friendship of Emilio Storchi Fermi, nicknamed “Barighin”.
Emilio Storchi Fermi, who died in 1975 impressed the whole collection and its potential value an original mark, that can be found even today.
First of all, he collected the cars in the institution that still today is the “Scuderia San Martino”, boosting the collection, which means to rescue and re-use hundreds of pieces, found everywhere around Italy.
Team and Museum today
At this stage, it is worth speaking about the “military wing” of the Museum: the Scuderia San Martino (San Martino team), born together with the Museum, which is its operation arm.
The Museum’s President preserves the cars and the President of the Team makes them run.
After becoming a federated ASI club, our team has increased a lot the members, which were 500 in 2005 and beyond 1000 in 2024.
We believe that our strength is the sympathy and the staff helpfulness, together with the efficiency to solve all the paperwork issues easily and fast.
The team organizes several cultural and culinary trips, which are always open also to non-member, where the true and genuine passion for motors always has a leading role.
The Team headquarter is inside the Museum: it is an absolutely pleasant location for our visitors, to enjoy many classic cars on display.
There is a very close connection between Museum and Team: the first doesn’t live without the latter and vice versa: this is the great credit of the members-friends, who have kept alive both these two organizations and made their history.
The future
In 2026, the Museum feasts the 70th year from its foundation, while the Team has a program including:
- Several trips with classic cars towards places of cultural and motoring interest
- Meetings to show the cars of our members and of our Museum at a wider audience
- Trips to motoring museums
(see details in the PROGRAMMA section only in Italian)
The number of our members is still one of the highest of our region, while the Museum – even if with some changes of men and vehicles – still shows our passion and the skill to work as a team, which is typical of our members
Our target isn’t just an exclusive approach to the classic cars: we try to interest also enthusiasts who have or wish to have popular and affordable classics.
We are also still strengthening the cooperation with the city management and the local tourist board: this close link is vital in our opinion.
The city of San Martino in Rio, thanks to the Museo dell’Automobile is member of “Città dei Motori” (Cities of motors), an association which collect many Italian cities where motor companies, museums and circuit are based.
