The National Museum of Science and Technology of Catalonia (MNACTEC) has opened a long-term exhibition entitled "The Automotive Revolution. The early days of the motor industry in Catalonia”. It features a representative sample of vehicles manufactured in Catalonia between 1890 and 1936, very much a key period in the Catalan automotive industry.
The invention of the car marked a far-reaching revolution, which transformed numerous aspects of society. Thanks to its prior industrial development, Catalonia became a pioneer in automotive manufacturing on the Iberian peninsula. From the late 19th century up to the 1930s, Catalan industry developed everything from the first self-propelled vehicles in the Spanish state to the ultimate exponents of the motor industry on the international stage, with such flagship marques as Hispano-Suiza and Elizalde.
The exhibits include six vehicles made in Catalonia: a replica of the Bonet vehicle (1890); the Villalbí motorcycle (1904); the HP16 (1919) and T60RLA (1936) cars made by Hispano-Suiza, the Elizalde 23/26 chassis (1920-22) and the Nacional Pescara (1929).
21 March 2025
