British Motor Museum’s latest exhibition will uncover the stories of the motor industry

The museum in Gaydon, Warwickshire, has said that it wants Factor Us In, a project which has taken two-years to complete, to encourage people to engage with the history of an industry that has dominated the West Midlands for more than century.

The exhibition is said to put a spotlight on how the motor industry in the area affected people, the local landscape and surrounding businesses, plus the societal impact of the factories, the highs and lows of their production, as well as everyday life and reflect on the legacies they left behind.

Pre-booked groups of 12 or more receive discounted entry to the museum, with the exhibition included in the admission price. The group organiser goes free and there is free coach parking and other driver benefits.

What to expect

The exhibition will primarily focus on recollections from the communities of Canley in Coventry, Longbridge in Birmingham and Lode Lane, Solihull.

It aims to explore the community response to key moments across the industry including manufacturing booms, strike actions, the subsequent loss of industry and recent efforts for redevelopment and diversification in employment.

Each display uses a combination of the museum’s collections of archive material, artefacts and oral history videos and recordings to illustrate those themes.

Its style is said to be very much of overheard conversations, celebrating the people who helped make the factory communities what they are today.

The exhibition will continually evolve throughout its run and staff at the museum have said they are very keen to engage with more people to incorporate their own recollections during its lifetime, unlocking more stories of motor car communities. Factor Us In will run until summer 2022.