“On his last return trip from England on January 19, 1999 and despite his health condition, King Hussein visited his garages. Was he simply checking on his cars? Or was he reflecting on his eventful reign as registered in the memory of each one?”
These are the words you read at The Royal Automobile Museum of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, built by Abdullah II in memory of his father King Hussein (1935-1999), a man devoted to his people and carrying a life-long passion for the automobile.
The hill climb and the 300SL
I was 13 when my father and I attended a hill climb race in Lebanon where I was born. Spectators were crowding both sides of the mountain road to catch a glimpse of a famous visitor, King Hussein of Jordan, affectionately nicknamed “le petit roi” in French due to his small stature, one that made him the perfect size for a race car driver. Indeed, Hussein was here to compete in his magnificent 1955 Mercedes 300SL, the illustrious descendant of the legendary “Silver Arrows”.
In the many years since that day on a roadside in Lebanon, King Hussein and Jordan were witness to tragic events that have shaken this whole region of the world. Wars were fought, people were displaced, borders were redrawn, but one thing remained: the King’s passion for cars and motorcycles.
History depicted by the automobile
This past fall, while visiting Jordan to discover its Roman settlements, its Biblical sites and the Treasure of Petra, I found out by chance from a taxi driver the existence in Amman, the capital of Jordan, of the “King’s car collection”. So off we went to what I thought would be a garage where some of Hussein’s cars were exhibited. What I found is The Royal Automobile Museum and its impressive collection of cars and motorcycles. And what I learned is the history of modern Jordan from 1920’s till today, beautifully told through the automobile.
These are the words you read at The Royal Automobile Museum of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, built by Abdullah II in memory of his father King Hussein (1935-1999), a man devoted to his people and carrying a life-long passion for the automobile.
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| 1955 Mercedes 300SL |
The hill climb and the 300SL
I was 13 when my father and I attended a hill climb race in Lebanon where I was born. Spectators were crowding both sides of the mountain road to catch a glimpse of a famous visitor, King Hussein of Jordan, affectionately nicknamed “le petit roi” in French due to his small stature, one that made him the perfect size for a race car driver. Indeed, Hussein was here to compete in his magnificent 1955 Mercedes 300SL, the illustrious descendant of the legendary “Silver Arrows”.
In the many years since that day on a roadside in Lebanon, King Hussein and Jordan were witness to tragic events that have shaken this whole region of the world. Wars were fought, people were displaced, borders were redrawn, but one thing remained: the King’s passion for cars and motorcycles.
History depicted by the automobile
This past fall, while visiting Jordan to discover its Roman settlements, its Biblical sites and the Treasure of Petra, I found out by chance from a taxi driver the existence in Amman, the capital of Jordan, of the “King’s car collection”. So off we went to what I thought would be a garage where some of Hussein’s cars were exhibited. What I found is The Royal Automobile Museum and its impressive collection of cars and motorcycles. And what I learned is the history of modern Jordan from 1920’s till today, beautifully told through the automobile.
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| In front of The Royal Automobile Museum, Amman, Jordan |