At the Grimaldi Forum, an exhibition tells the story of the link between the Principality, racing and some of the most important cars in history.
The Principality of Monaco pays tribute to its extraordinary automotive tradition with the exhibition “Monaco & the Automobile, from 1893 to the Present Day” , which can be visited at the Grimaldi Forum until 6 September 2026 .
The exhibition traces over 130 years of history through more than fifty automobiles, single-seaters, and racing cars from prestigious international collections. A journey that intertwines design, technical innovation, lifestyle, and sport, recounting the central role the automobile has played in the Principality’s history.
Monaco and motorsport: a timeless bond
Monaco’s automotive identity is linked above all to two events that have contributed decisively to its international fame: the Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo , born in 1911, and the Monaco Grand Prix , held for the first time in 1929.
Two profoundly different competitions, but both capable of transforming the Principality’s streets into a laboratory for the development of automotive technology. Over the decades, manufacturers and drivers have tackled winding routes, unpredictable conditions, and extremely challenging street circuits, contributing to the evolution of road and racing cars.
The exhibition, curated by Rodolphe Rapetti and created in collaboration with the Automobile Club de Monaco, takes visitors through different eras, from the first automobiles of the late 19th century to modern rally and Formula 1 cars.
From the elegance of the Principality to great sporting feats
The tour opens with a car deeply linked to the history of the Monegasque royal family: the Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith Four-door Convertible with Hooper bodywork, used by Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III on the occasion of their wedding on 19 April 1956.
The first part of the exhibition also recounts the birth of concours d’elegance in the Principality, when automobiles gradually began to replace carriages in front of Monte-Carlo’s most prestigious buildings and hotels.
Among the oldest models is also a rare Delahaye Type 58 , which came seventh in the 1912 Monte-Carlo Rally and also won an award in a concours d’elegance the day after the competition.
The queens of the Monte-Carlo Rally
A central part of the exhibition is dedicated to the cars that have written some of the most important pages of the Monte-Carlo Rally.
The route includes the 1964 winning Morris Mini Cooper S with Paddy Hopkirk and Henry Liddon, the Alpine-Renault A110 , the Talbot Sunbeam Lotus , the Renault 5 Turbo driven to success in 1981 by Jean Ragnotti and Jean-Marc Andrié, the Audi Quattro and a more recent Toyota Yaris WRC .
The presence of Italian cars is particularly significant. Among these are the Lancia Fulvia Coupé 1.6 HF number 14, with which Sandro Munari and Mario Mannucci won the 1972 edition, and the Lancia Stratos HF , winner in 1977 with Munari and Piero Sodano Maiga.
Alongside the Lancias, there is also space for the Fiat 124 Abarth Rally , which came second in 1975 with Hannu Mikkola and Jean Todt, the Fiat 131 Abarth, winner in 1980 with Walter Röhrl and Christian Geistdörfer and the Lancia Delta Integrale 16V , protagonist of the success achieved in 1990 by Didier Auriol and Bernard Occelli.
The single-seaters that challenged the streets of Monaco
The story continues with a selection of Grand Prix and Formula 1 cars that raced on the famous Monaco street circuit.
From the Bugatti Type 35 and the Delage 15-S-8, we arrive at the Alfa Romeo 158 “Alfetta” , winner of the 1950 Monaco Grand Prix with Juan Manuel Fangio. Also on display are the Lancia D50 , the Cooper T51, the BRM P57, various Lotuses, McLarens, Matras and Tyrrells.
Among the most representative single-seaters are the Wolf WR1 , driven to success by Jody Scheckter in 1977, and the Ferrari 126 CK , with which Gilles Villeneuve achieved a memorable victory in Monaco in 1981.
The route also includes the Ferrari 640 designed by John Barnard, remembered for the introduction of the semi-automatic gearbox with steering wheel controls, the Benetton B192 linked to Michael Schumacher and the McLaren MP4/8 driven by Ayrton Senna in the 1993 season.
An exhibition between technique, culture and memory
“Monaco & the Automobile” is more than just a collection of exceptional vehicles. Photographs, documents, posters, and period materials allow us to understand how the automobile profoundly influenced the Principality’s identity, image, and culture.
There is also space for the great Monegasque protagonists of motorsport, from Louis Chiron , winner of the Monaco Grand Prix in 1931, to Charles Leclerc , a contemporary symbol of the link between the Principality and Formula 1.