Top Mountain Motorcycle Museum

All photography work is copyrighted by the author Dorothe Merlot & edited by me, please don't download and publish these pictures in the internet without my permission!

A fire at Austria’s Top Mountain Crosspoint Museum has destroyed, more than 230 vintage motorcycles and several vintage cars. Among the collection was a 1920 Anzani racing motorcycle, a 1923 Harley-Davidson, a 1970 Münch Mammut, an unrestored 1955 MV Agusta 125, and a Hercules bike sporting a Wankel rotary engine.

Located on the Alps by the border between Austria and Italy 7,135 feet about sea level, the Top Mountain Crosspoint Museum first opened its doors to visitors in 2016 and is home to an extensive collection of rare and vintage motorcycles. A fire started at the establishment on January 18 at around 4 a.m. local time, though luckily no one was hurt as the museum had temporarily closed its doors since November 3, 2020 due to Austrian COVID-19 regulations. The incident is still under investigation and so far the cause of the fire has yet to be found.

Testimony of passion that unfortunately lost...

On an exhibition area of about 3000 m², the museum collection had more than 230 historic motorcycles of more than 100 different manufacturers plus a selection of rare automobiles. Theme-related special exhibitions add to a truly unique experience. Hochgurgl was a home to one of the most extensive and valuable collections of vintage motorbikes in all Austria. In addition to the exhibits, the eye catching architectural features of the Top Mountain Crosspoint building enchant all visitors. The vintage-style ambiance goes hand in hand with a very special atmosphere. A simulated steep road turn promises race track feeling and you can almost hear the motorcycles roaring. In the amazing collection was from a rare Laurin & Klement CC Dourdan dating back to 1905, to models produced by both European and American celebrated manufacturers such as BMW, Zündapp, NSU, DKW, Moto Guzzi, MV Augusta, Ducati, Bianchi, Aermacchi, Monet et Goyon, BSA, New Imperial, Triumph, Norton, Matchless, Sunbeam, AJS, Brough Superior, Vincent, Honda, Henderson, Scott, Indian, and Harley Davidson. Among the most notable pieces on view, there are a 1912 two-cylinder Indian, a 1914 Harley Davidson, and a 1939 Brough Superior SS100 BJ. Along with motorbikes, the museum’s gallery showcases sports cars, such as a Ferrari California Spider, a Porsche 959, a Lotus 23 B, a Ferrari F40 racecar and an 1932 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza, that I have infos and this one was saved from the fire!

The Motorcycle Museum was built by the twin brothers Alban and Attila Scheiber. They are known as hoteliers, ski school owners, mountain lift operators and owners of the Timmelsjoch High Alpine Road. They are passionate motorcyclists and collectors. Since the spring of 2016, they gave enough space to their passion in the unique Motorcycle Museum.

Lets hope that the museum rebuild and another collection from donators can be again a good destination for all classic motorcycle enthusiasts!

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