Published: August 30, 2018, 1:50 PM
Updated: September 6, 2018, 8:01 PM
Royal Automobile Museum of Jordan
Chances are, your bucket list of great automotive museums doesn’t include the Royal Automobile Museum of Jordan. But perhaps it should. Here’s a sample of some of the interesting vehicles you'd find there and the intriguing stories they tell.
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Roads from Roman times survive
The nation of Jordan is a jewel of the Middle East. Despite being surrounded by incessant conflict, Jordan is a welcoming and diverse nation. It’s also a place with a historic love of transportation, stemming back to the ancient East-West Caravan routes with many Roman collonaded roads still easy to find in the country.
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A son’s tribute
The late King Hussein was known to be an ardent fan of cars, motorcycles and aircraft. In his honour, reigning King Abdullah II created a museum in the Jordanian capital of Amman to celebrate his father’s passions. These are some of the highlights from a recent visit to the museum.
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The beginning
In 1952, then-Prince Hussein was studying at Harrow in England and received his first car: a 1952 Rover P4 – 75. While His Majesty credits the Rover with starting his automotive passion, he only enjoyed this particular model for a short time before moving on to other, more exciting British machines from Aston Martin and Bristol.
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Armoured Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost circa Lawrence of Arabia
Even before King Hussein became a motoring enthusiast, fine machinery had already played a significant role in Jordan. T.E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) commissioned nine armoured Rolls-Royce Silver Ghosts to help battle the Ottomans near Aqaba in southern Jordan. A functioning example is on display at the museum.
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Humber Super Snipe Mark I
This 1946 Humber Super Snipe Mark I was used by the Late King Abdullah I before his assassination. The 4,086 cc six-cylinder engine would motivate the Humber and its royal occupant around Jordan for official duties and for trips from Amman to Jerusalem for Friday prayer. Humber started as a bicycle maker, then motorcycle producer, and by 1903 had built its first car: a single-cylinder model with a modest five horsepower.
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1952 Lincoln Capri
Following Jordan’s establishment as a fully independent, sovereign state in the late 1940s, the Royal Family’s appetite for British cars waned in favour of more contemporary and fashionable American luxury machines. One of approximately 1,200 made, this 1952 Capri convertible was the pinnacle of the Lincoln brand at the time. Making this particular car more important, the Late King Hussein commissioned it for his Coronation in May, 1953. It remained in the Royal Motor Pool for years after, used for official functions by the King, and is considered one of the most important cars in Jordan’s history.
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1954 Buick Skylark
King Hussein was particularly fond of early Buicks. This 1954 Skylark 100 Convertible is one of only 836 produced. Today, examples in pristine condition, like this gorgeous red one, can fetch upwards of $200,000, and that’s without the royal provenance this car possesses.
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1961 Lincoln Continental
Another Lincoln of great importance is the familiar (and very stately) 1961 Continental Convertible depicted here. Despite its home in the Royal Museum (lead photo), this particular Continental remains “in commission” for Royal occasions. It was previously used by King Hussein in 1986 to Open Parliament and for the marriage of King Abdullah II to Queen Rania, as well as their coronation. The 1961 four-door Continental Convertible is best known as the starting point for the SS-100-X limousine used by John F. Kennedy when he was assassinated in 1963.
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Rolls-Royce Phantom V
No self-respecting royal family should be without a Rolls-Royce (or several), and the Jordanian Royal Family is no exception. The Rolls-Royce Phantom V is a model frequently associated with royalty, with many of the limited-production run being commissioned by kings around the world. This particular Phantom V wears a Phantom VI headlight arrangement, indicating it was a late production model. Originally hand-crafted for Queen Zein Al Sharaf, it was later gifted to her son, King Hussein.
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Mercedes-Benz 600 LWB Pullman
If there is a particular model most people associate with world leaders – particularly those from the Middle East – it is this car: the Mercedes-Benz 600 LWB Pullman. Every Pullman was a special-order purchase, created for each client, and no two were alike.
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Mercedes-Benz 600 LWB Pullman
Different rear-seating configurations were available as well as both four- and six-door options. Properly restored long-wheelbase examples can now command upwards of $500,000 or more. This car, one of 17 made in 1975, was the last car the late, beloved King Hussein rode in before his death in 1999.
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Mercedes-Benz G-Class “Gelandewagen”
Another iconic Mercedes-Benz model even better suited to the desert is the legendary G-Class. Originally designed in the late 1970s as a military vehicle, the “Gelandewagen” quickly earned a reputation for its remarkable durability and go-anywhere capability.
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Mercedes-Benz G-Class “Gelandewagen”
This 1987 GE 280 originally served duty as a military communications vehicle, but was modified to carry the casket of King Hussein in the funeral procession – a notably humble hearse for such an important and revered ruler.
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1994 Land Rover Defender V-8 ‘Popemobile’
Land Rovers are other vehicles developed for military use and offering renowned off-road capability. They were used extensively by the Jordanian Armed Forces dating back to 1951. This 1994 Land Rover Defender V-8 was prepared for King Hussein’s return from medical treatment at the Mayo Clinic, but sidelined for the Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman. Instead, this Defender was repurposed for Pope Francis’s visit to Jordan and Palestine in 2014.
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1936 Alvis SD Speed 20
Not all the machines on display at the museum are tied directly to Jordanian history. This 1936 Alvis SD Speed 20 belonged to King Ghazi I of neighbouring Iraq. King Ghazi was the second cousin of Jordan’s King Hussein, though he tragically passed away in 1939 in a car accident at only 27 years old. This car remained lost until located years later in the desert and completely restored by Alvis specialists in the United Kingdom for King Hussein.
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1938 Packard 12 Dual-Cowl Phaeton
Similarly, the 1938 Packard 12 Dual-Cowl Phaeton is not only an exceptional example of a highly-coveted machine, it has a unique story. Built for Iraqi King Feisal II, this one-of-a-kind V-12 Packard vanished, reappearing in Palestine in the 1970s before being shipped to the United States. Following an extensive restoration in 1987, the Packard won numerous car shows before going into private storage in the US, and ultimately coming to the museum as a special display.
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1977 Ford LTD
Decidedly less ostentatious than most of the cars in the collection, this 1977 Ford LTD looks as if it has just come out of a 1970s-era movie car chase. While used for official government and police obligations, this heavy-duty LTD made an excellent choice for when King Hussein wished to drive around Amman inconspicuously.
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Modern exotics
The Royal Automobile Museum has an impressive collection of modern exotic machines as well. In addition to a few lovely slant-nose Porsche 911 Turbos, and a silver Porsche Carrera GT, two of Italy’s most coveted machines from the past 30 years are parked side-by-side in appropriate rosso corsa paint. For any enthusiast, seeing the legendary Ferrari F40 parked next to its successor, the F50, is a treat, with the latter being exceptionally rare, especially for North Americans.
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A royal competitor
The Jordanian Royal Family has earned the adoration of the Jordanian people and the respect of leaders around the world. Motoring enthusiasts were also enthralled with the late King Hussein’s prowess behind the wheel. A regular competitor in multiple forms of motorsport, the King won numerous races. Several of the cars he campaigned (from a Lotus Esprit to his hill-climb-winning Mercedes-Benz 2.3 16) are on display along with many of his awards and trophies.
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Royal Rally Car
In light of the King’s penchant for motorsports, it’s unsurprising that one of Jordan’s largest sporting events is the Jordan Rally. From its inception in the early 1980s, the event was renowned for its challenging, but compact area, running near the Dead Sea. As the first rally event in the Middle East, it gained the respect of competitors and organizers alike and eventually became part of the World Rally Championship. Vehicles on display are still covered in the dust and grime from events decades ago, including this Jordanian team Opel Manta 400 that was co-driven by His Majesty, King Abdullah II, seen here.
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The Royal Automobile Museum – and the Royal Family’s long-time appreciation for fine machinery – has earned the respect of several key automakers, including Mercedes-Benz who not only presented the King with an impressive sculpture of thanks, but has also loaned the museum this 2009 SLR McLaren Stirling Moss edition. One of only 75 built, this car is noteworthy for its special carbon-fibre roadster body inspired by the legendary 1955 300 SLR race car driven by Stirling Moss.
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Movie Mars Rover
The rarest – and most unusual – machine on display is also one of the newest editions to the collection. Parked out front of the museum is the functional Mars Rover created and used in the 2015 Matt Damon film, The Martian. After filming most of the movie in the Jordanian Wadi Rum area, the producers donated the rover to the Royal Automobile Museum.
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Royal Automobile Museum of Jordan
If you ever have the opportunity to visit Amman, be sure to put the Royal Automobile Museum of Jordan on your itinerary. It's not only a fine collection of cars, it's a lesson in modern history.
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