For travellers who love cars and history, Museum Angkut is the best site to visit near Malang. But when I went there in March 2026, I realized something was missing: a soul.

​There were no expert guides to tell the stories behind the cars, and exhibit plaques were just plain boring. Since most people were only there to take pictures, it didn't feel like a real museum. Instead, it felt more like a giant photo studio.

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Since I don't know much about cars and no one was telling stories, I focused on the design of the room. The vibe of the displays and some of the rooms are actually quite surprising. One of them is this:

This room is full of German cars! They have Mercedes, the "fancy" car for people who want to show off and ride in total comfort. Then there’s VW, the "everyday" car built for regular families who just need something solid and reliable. A great example is this 1970 VW T2 Pickup with its 1600cc engine; it really shows why they call it the "People's Car."

I love how this room was designed to make me feel like I've stepped right into Germany. The building facades, the warm lighting, and the Berlin Wall display really bring history to life. Looking at the vintage cars on the cobblestone street, I can almost feel the atmosphere of the past.

​However, exploring without a storyteller is like wandering a beautiful city in a vacuum: the views are stunning, but the soul of the place remains hidden.

It reminds me of Jeremy Clarkson’s book, I Know You Got Soul, where he argues that machines built with passion carry the spirit of their creators. He describes it as a visceral feeling—the way a machine 'talks' to you and behaves under pressure. Standing among these vintage cars, I can almost hear those stories, but without a storyteller, they remain just a whisper. I hope one day this museum adds a guided tour so visitors can see the story, not just the scenery.

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