AMMAN — On a hilltop of the capital, a museum with some of the world’s most unique cars and motorbikes recounts a century of Hashemite rule.
The Royal Automobile Museum was built in 2003 under instructions from His Majesty King Abdullah, specifically to pay tribute to the eventful life of his late father, His Majesty King Hussein, who passed away in 1999.
Like his son, King Hussein was a local trophy-winning car racer, who also had a passion for motorbikes. He was often seen in public riding top-notch motorcycles that drew crowds amazed by the powerful machines.
One of his special moments is captured in a photo that made the cover of Conde Nast Travellers’ Magazine in 1994, showed him in a leather jacket, sporting a white beard and a beaming smile as he rode a red motorbike with Her Majesty Queen Noor sitting behind him in the southern desert of Wadi Rum.
“It’s unique and invaluable,” said museum director Raja Gargour of the collection of more than 70 cars, with models dating back to 1916, and 50 motorbikes, with models from 1907 through today.
He said all were operational and underwent maintenance since they were brought in from a Royal palace storehouse.
Historically, Jordan’s location at a crossroads for East-West caravan routes helped it become one of the first nations in the region to acquire automobiles in 1924, when Sharif Hussein Bin Ali, the great grandfather of King Abdullah, brought one to Amman, according to the museum’s website.
Also on display is a replica of the world’s first car, manufactured by Karl Benz, founder of Mercedes-Benz, in 1886. Others include Rolls Royces, Aston Martins and Ferraris.
The museum has drawn more than 1 million visitors, including foreigners, in the last decade.
