Museum Moves Into Top Gear

The Tank Museum moved into Top Gear with a visit which was as much about turrets as it was turbos!

James May found himself the ideal vehicle when he spent the day filming the Museum’s brand new television advert.

The presenter looked perfectly at home on the turret of the Tiger tank as he discovered the 200 military vehicles on display at the Bovington based museum. The Tank Museum holds many fond childhood memories for the TV star; just one of the reasons he so generously donated his time to this worthy cause.

“I’ve been coming to The Tank Museum since I was about five, back then it was just a load of tanks parked outside and all a bit rusty” remarked James. “It’s changed a lot since then, it’s become quite posh for a tank museum. It’s refurbished, new building, more tanks, more interactive stuff, and as a fan of old machines I think it’s really good, well worth a look.”

The Tank Museum’s £16.5 million re-development and its new exhibition The Tank Story - the focus of the TV ad staring James - has been carefully designed to bring the fascinating tale of the tank and the Museum’s awe-inspiring collection to life, with a range of family friendly interactive exhibits and some of the most notorious tanks in history including the Tiger I.

The Museum’s Director, Richard Smith, said: “We are home to a world class collection of military vehicles but we are also a registered charity. That’s why we were thrilled when James agreed to donate his time so generously and help us shout about the completion of the project.

“It’s great to know that such a prestigious figure in British motoring believes in our determination to preserve and exhibit some of the most amazing vehicles in the world. We cannot thank him enough for his time, everyone at the Museum is extremely grateful.

To see The Tank Museum advert on You Tube, click here.