The Museum of Cars belonging to Hussein I bin Talal, King of Jordan is not only the biggest royal garage in the world but also a living history of the country: each of the 60 cars played a certain role in the King’s and country’s life.
King Hussein’s Museum of Cars is located in the historic part of Amman, Jordan’s capital city. In 1997 the Royal Family opened to the public the greatest car collection gathered by King Hussein, an avid automobile fan, and thus the museum was founded. After the adored King of the Jordan people died in 1999 the museum became his memorial: each car was given a description saying when, where and under which circumstances it was used by the King; the walls were covered by photographs of the King and his iron "favourites"; the loud speakers broadcast Hussein’s voice – his speeches made while he was sitting in those cars.
The museum is of a national and historical value to the people of Jordan; as for tourists from Europe, they come to see unique cars many of which are singular experimental models: the King liked buying exclusive exhibition cars that weren’t going into production.
The real King
King Hussein had ruled Jordan for 47 years, from 1952 to 1999. The charismatic leader who was even more popular among his people than Fidel Castro among the Cubans, started driving at 15. Since then cars had become his second passion – after ruling the country, of course. He was fast to settle conflicts with his Middle Eastern neighbors (the war with Israel lasted 6 days), and just as fast to win car races and make lengthy journeys across the Middle East. He was equally graceful driving a bolide and an electrocar.
Ford
King Hussein’s first car – Ford Pilot – had remained his favourite during his whole life. It was bought in 1950, straight after His Majesty’s favourite motorcycle had been sold at a charity auction. The King learned how to drive that very Ford with a trainer and drove it into the city at 15 sitting at the wheel all by himself! An impression not to be forgotten. That’s why when Hussein felt he needed an inconspicuous car to drive around the city he bought a 1970 Ford LTD.
Mercedes
Sentimental feelings aside, King Hussein thought German cars to be the best. That’s why his collection includes an almost complete line of Mercedes vehicles. Since 1975 he’d been using a business-like minimalistic Mercedes-Benz 450 SEL 6.9 for official trips and for driving around the city with a motorcade. The pearls of his sports collection were the experimental 1970 С111 and 300 SL Gullwing that won the King his first race – the 1955 Rumman Hill Climb. The King was so inspired by his success that he preferred using this very automobile for racing up to 1965. Only in 1968, when the model got obsolete, Hussein replaced it with a Porsche 406. However, in 1988 he bought another racing masterpiece by the German automobile manufacturer - 190E 2,3-16 Valve, and set a Rumman Hill Climb record that very year. Only 7 years later was the King’s record broken.
Because Mercedes vehicles had proved their reliability in action many times, the King equipped his army with prototypes of the modern Gelandwagen – 280 GE 4x4, the classical desert jeep.
Rolls-Royce
King Hussein was fond of fast and functional cars, that’s why he was a bit scornful about luxury Rolls-Royce limos, thinking them too bulky and slow. However, there was a 1968 Silver Shadow for guests of high standing in his garage, as well as a 1968 Phantom V for the King’s wife. The pride of Rolls-Royce collection – snow-white Phantom V 1961 – became a wedding limo for the Jordan Royal Family. Many King’s siblings – Princess and Princesses of Jordan – have rode in a wedding motorcade across the streets of Amman, headed invariably by the white Phantom. Because marriages in the Orient never break, people of the West started considering this car a lucky wedding talisman. Richard Nixon’s wife jokingly asked to sell the Phantom to her for her daughter’s wedding, because the marriage would definitely be successful then. The King understood the joke, but didn’t sell the car. He didn’t give it away either!
Detroit Electric
Detroit Electric 1915, an electrocar and a unique means of transport that’s more like a carriage than a car, was bought from the LA Peterson Automotive Museum. Why did the King buy it? This he couldn’t explain even to his relatives. Simply because this thing looked so fabulous! In spite of the car’s speed – up to 20 kmph – and poor manageability (worse than that of a carriage with a team of horses), the King had the masterpiece restored in England and, when in low spirits, entertained himself with leisurely electrocar trips around the palace grounds.
Anastasia Vyalikh
Photoreport
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