Most Disneyland visitors would describe the old cars on the Matterhorn ride as aging and cramped.

The chairman of the National Roller Coaster Museum and Archives is calling the cars “the holy grail” of roller coaster artifacts.

Disneyland announced Tuesday that it had donated two of the cars from the Matterhorn Bobsled attraction at the Anaheim theme park to the museum in Arlington, Texas. Museum officials couldn’t be happier.

“The Matterhorn started the modern era of roller coaster design and launched the themed ride industry,” said museum Chairman Gary Slade.


The popular ride, first opened in 1959, underwent a major renovation that closed it for six months this year. The makeover included adding new bobsled cars. The old vehicles crammed two riders per car, with one sitting in the lap of the other. The new cars offer individual seats for each rider.

The 14-story replica of a Swiss peak sends riders speeding nearly 20 mph along more than 2,100 feet of track, ending in a splash into a pool at the bottom.

ALSO:

After dark, the dirty work at Disneyland begins


See Disneyland’s Matterhorn makeover in only 47 seconds

Disneyland ordered to study use of Segways after disability suit

Follow Hugo Martin on Twitter at @hugomartin