Sharjah Vintage Classic Cars Museum – a Photo Essay
Sharjah Vintage Classic Cars Museum is a MUST VISIT if you are an automobile pundit! The variety of classic cars of early 20th century displayed here is mind blowing. They have car models from as early as 1917.
In addition to those they have motor bikes and bicycles too. Display area of the museum is huge, a little bit of planning will help cover the museum displays in a very organized manner. You can cover the museum in half an hour but for true car lovers even 3 hours may seem less.
History of Vintage Cars Museum Sharjah
The museum is a recent one. It doesn’t really have a long story behind its origin. Classic Cars Museum was first opened in 2008, but for some reason went into oblivion and then reopened with a bang in 2013. Today it has turned out to be one of the best resources of information on cars ruling the roads during the years 1917 to 1960.
Classic cars here symbolize the very best of design and engineering of their time. Development of automobile technology over the years has been well showcased here. The museum is sought after by school groups, families and tourists. Models displayed here rekindle the memories of seniors having driven them and also build a passion in young minds to design new automobile.
Various models of bicycles on display at Sharjah Vintage Classic Cars Museum.
Ford Model T Modified, 1918 USA
People can have the Model T in any color so long as it’s BLACK. – Henry Ford
It is always better to do a thing the second time. – Henry Ford
Classic Cars Collection
Stepping in to the huge hall of cars we saw the museum is divided into 5 sections. There are 85 cars in all. Plan well how to tour so that you can cover it fruitfully in case of crunch of time. You can tour through 4 of them first which primarily showcases the development of cars and the automobile industry.
Finally tour the 5th one which is dedicated to displaying special cars on loan from the public. They have segregated an area specifically for activities and interactive games where children can happily indulge. You will find a replica of an old emirates petrol station too.
First section – displays cars manufactured in the years 1915-1939. To name some: the model T Ford, Rolls Royce 25/30, and Fiat.
Second section – includes cars manufactured between 1940-1959. You can see models of the Cadillac Fleetwood and Stood Baker Wood, Riley RM, Bentley Mark VI, and Chevrolet Bel Air.
Third section – features cars manufactured between 1960-1987. Several important cars are on display in this section. To name some: Mercedes Bolman, the car of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, as well as a Ford Mustang, a MG Midget, and a Volkswagen Beetle.
Fourth section – features big vehicles and cars used in the UAE. They are the Jeep Land Rover, Nissan Patrol, Renault Van, and Chevrolet Tanker Truck.
Vintage Plymouth Classic Car
Studebaker Champion USA
Hood Ornaments of Vintage Cars
I love cars and vintage cars even more. I drive for regular use, I have test driven some new launches by TATA Motors India like the Tata Tigor and Tata Hexa, but I have never driven a vintage car. It is a dream to do so some day. What interests me more while photographing these beauties are their hood ornaments. It is a pity that new cars have done away with hood ornaments. More attention is paid to interiors, the seating, air conditioning, storage boxes and other practical stuffs. Only the extreme high end ones roll out with one.
Manufacturers of early 20th century cars in a bid to cover up the radiator caps dressed them up with winged beauties, sleek beasts, and mythical figures. 2 factors contributed to their disappearance; one being the safety of pedestrians and other the fear of theft. Customers hardly care, as they will have to shell out extra for the ornament. All we have now are the old models and their photographs.
Jaguar Mark VIII Sedan
The hood ornament became factory-installed on the Mark VIII sedan in the 1950s and continued to appear on many Jaguar vehicles like the 240, S-Type, and X-Type up until the 2009 Jaguar XJ. Throughout the years the leaper was featured as a hood ornament, it evolved to be left-facing as standard and positioned in mid-leap rather than in a crouch.
Jaguar Mark VIII Sedan. F. Gordon Crosby was the artist who created the first official Jaguar emblem. The original leaper design, featured a jaguar crouching and ready to leap.
Rolls Royce
The Spirit of Ecstasy is certainly the most attractive and probably the best known motor car mascot in the world. Designed by Charles Robinson Sykes, she has adorned the radiators of Rolls-Royce motor cars since 1911 and concealed a hidden passion. This marvelous mascot was modeled after a woman who had bewitching beauty, intellect and esprit – but not the social status which might have permitted her to marry the man with whom she had fallen in love.
Rolls-Royce 25/30. 1934 UK. Everyone who buys the best things… buys only Rolls Royce motor cars. – Lord Northcliffe, UK Newspaper Owner.
Pontiac Torpedo 1942 USA
Pontiac, the car brand, was named after Pontiac, a badass war chief of the Ottawa people in the 1700s. Conveniently, the city the cars were manufactured in was named after him too: Pontiac, Michigan. The cars featured hood ornaments of Chief Pontiac, and this model’s clear yellow bakelite looks stunning. The cracks from age makes it priceless.
Pontiac Torpedo 1942 USA – Hood ornament – jet plane with a glowing Indian head!
Here is my haul of hood ornaments of vintage cars from Sharjah Classic Cars Museum.
Entry Fees to Classic Cars Museum:
Children (under 2 years): Free
Children (2-12years): 5 AED
Adults (13+ years): 10 AED
Opening Hours of Classic Cars Museum:
Saturday to Thursday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Friday: 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM
I was in Sharjah in the month of February 2017 on invite from Sharjah Tourism to witness Sharjah Light Festival. This visit to the Classic Cars Museum is courtesy Sharjah Tourism. My sincere thanks to them.
Wonderful collection they have. Each car looks well maintained as well. 🙂
Yipee!
Wow, amazing collection of vintage cars! These models takes you back in time, just like watching some classy vintage movie.
Wonderful pictures. Good to know about the classic cars museum.
Quite an interesting range of cars! 🙂
Interesting collection!
Quite a variety of cars. Beautifully captured & narrated, Indrani 🙂
What an amazing collection! U have captured everything in such detail!
Ultimate collection ! In the first image Cars are looking bicycle more than cars .
Not really into cars but would still visit for the photo opportunities, some of the cars are so cool and I love the vintage look about them, so unique. Thanks for sharing!
Wow!!! The photographs reminded me of the car museum in Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala. Such museums make history interesting. Stunning photographs! Thanks for sharing 🙂 TC and keep smiling 🙂
Wow! Amazing collection of cars and great capture from you on the details esp. the focus on the hood ornaments… I have been to a vintage rally in Chennai once and I really enjoyed and the old cars are still fresh in memories.
I am a fan of vintage cars and I love the range that they have in Sharjah. Very impressive collection I must say.
I am not a big fan of cars but when it comes to classic and vintage cars, that is another story . I love them. Definitely a museum I have to visit.
Beautiful collection of vintage cars! My husband and my father would certainly enjoy this kind of museum.
I could seriously look at hood ornaments all day. There’s something about the detail and the appearance of them that sucks me in. I love a good vintage car museum. I also loved that you showcased the bicycle, as well.
I would really love to plan a trip for my father to the Vintage car museum. He is a huge vintage car fan and I can imagine how excited he will be to visit this museum. The collection of cars is just lovely. Thanks for sharing this post.
It is my dream too to ride a vintage car one day. Such an awesome display of vintage cars. I haven’t heard of this place but will definitely keep this in mind next time I visit. I loved all the photos of hood ornaments.
I have watched movies that featured vintage cars. They are really lovely. I would like to visit this museum someday. I like that the colors of the cars are still bright. The owner must be doing his/her best in maintaining these cars.
Whoa! Now, that’s something my guy would totally love! Definitely I would have tough time to pull him out even after 3 hrs.
Cars from 1915? Whoa, that’s like real vintage!!!
Fabulous display! Reminded me of the Heritage transport museum we visited in Haryana 🙂 I missed this but thanks to your post got a glimpse into the wonderful display of such vintage cars!
We love a great car museum, and the Sharjah Vintage Classic Cars Museum looks quite good indeed. Love seeing all of those cool hood ornaments!
Wow, how did they get all these classic cars to the UAE! It’s amazing you can see all these classic cars in the middle of the desert for just 10 Dirhams. I love your image of the hood ornaments!
Lovely. I like exploring such museums. I saw a similar museum in Amman, capital city of Jordan. I was holed up in Sharjah airport during transit while returning from Jordan. I regret not thinking of getting a visa so that I could see Sharjah as well.
Ahhhhh Classic cars get me every time! I love the RR one- so chic and classic {I guess, that’s a duh description, but couldn’t think of a more accurate word}. I would love to go visit a museum like this!
Truly Amazing . Nice to read about the Museum. Awesome photos.
Very informative. Also, nice pictures.
Always wanted to have a haul of hood ornaments myself!! They could sell them separately. Do they?
I love the Pontiac Torpedo. It seems like it should be pulling up to a Hollywood gala in the 30’s. It’s so regal and old school elegant.
This place looks AWESOME. I hope I can take my son there one day ?
I once got to ride in a Rolls Royce! My sister and I used to often walk home from the railway station along a main road and we’d sometimes see a Rolls going by. One day it stopped and the driver asked if we wanted a lift – I think he’d seen us walking a few times. He made our day!! It’d be so great to see these old cars – I don’t think the modern cars look anywhere near as good!
That’s an impressive collection of classic cars. It’s great to see history being preserved. I have a friend who would give his eye teeth to go to that museum. Will pass it on. Wonderful!