As times and technology changed, Dufresne started to save the old machinery that came his way, wishing to safeguard the heritage of both the machines and the lifestyles they once represented.
After accruing the mechanical collection in various locations, Dufresne realised he needed to display the collection on one site. In 1983 he bought a derelict paper mill on the banks of the Indre river at Marnay, near Azay-le-Rideau.
Dufresne and his supporters then spent the ensuing nine years restoring both building and exhibits before opening the museum in 1992.
Musée Maurice Dufresne is a fine tribute to French engineering
Entry is via an avenue flanked by heavy machinery, from an American Obusier M8 tank, via tractors and cranes to locomotives and even a mobile still.
And don’t miss the 1911 Delahaye lorry converted into a mobile home, complete with shuttered windows.
Inside, the museum is spread out across a number of large, tall rooms, with cars, motorcycles and even aircraft on display.
Each hall is a snapshot of the mechanisation of rural France in the 19th and 20th centuries, with more than 3000 items reflecting the evolution of all types of transport and industry.
A handsome 1922 Panhard et Levassor X39 tourer on display (left); 1924 Citroën Type C 5CV