Why Bill Richardson Transport World Is a Must for the Motor Types

It started with one man's obsession

This isn't a corporate museum built to a brief — it's the product of decades of one man's genuine passion. Bill Richardson, a Southland transport entrepreneur, began restoring trucks as a hobby and never really stopped. What started in a back shed grew into a serious collection over more than 50 years, and in late 2015 it opened to the public as Bill Richardson Transport World. After Bill's death in 2005, his family carried the vision forward and expanded it with their own interests — which is why the museum today covers far more than just trucks.

The vehicle line-up alone is worth the trip

For the motor types specifically, this is the drawcard:

• Vintage Trucks — a serious collection reflecting Bill's original obsession, spanning decades of trucking history.
• Classic Cars — a broad sweep of restored vehicles across different eras and marques.
• Early Ford Vehicles and Henry Ford Letter Cars — a dedicated deep-dive into Ford's early lineup, the kind of detail that'll mean a lot more if you know your Model A from your Model T.
• Volkswagen Display — a standalone exhibit for VW devotees, including an ongoing restoration project on a rare microbus.
• Texaco Tanker — a fully restored piece of automotive-adjacent history, for the fuel and signage nerds as much as the car people.

Everything is restored to a genuinely high standard — Bill Richardson spent his life chasing authenticity in these restorations, and it shows.

There's a sister museum next door for the two-wheeled crowd

If your taste runs more toward motorcycles, Transport World also connects to Classic Motorcycle Mecca, and a Turbo Pass lets you combine both museums at a discounted rate. It's a smart move if you're making the trip to Invercargill specifically for the metal — you may as well see both collections while you're there.

It's not just vehicles — there's genuine kiwiana in the mix too

Alongside the cars and trucks, the museum has built out a few quirky side collections that are worth a wander even if engines are your main focus: a Goodbye Pork Pie film display (complete with the Mini used in the modern remake), a vintage jukebox collection, and a "Vintage Vault" of nostalgic memorabilia. It's the kind of detail that turns a straightforward car museum visit into a proper afternoon out.

Good to know before you go

• Open daily, 10am–5pm, at 491 Tay Street, Invercargill.
• Book online to skip the queue — online ticket buyers get a free coffee at The Grille, the on-site café.
• Group bookings, annual passes, and accommodation packages are all available if you're planning a bigger trip or a return visit.
• Toilet Tours are a genuinely well-loved oddity here — worth asking about if you want to see a different side of the collection.

The bottom line

Bill Richardson Transport World isn't a quick roadside curiosity — it's a proper pilgrimage for anyone who loves engines, restoration work, or just the golden age of motoring. Give it a couple of hours minimum; between the trucks, the classic cars, the Ford collection, and the VW display, it's easy to lose an entire afternoon in there without noticing.

Website: www.transportworld.co.nz