Sharjah Classic Cars Museum reopens with 85 classic cars

Sheikh Essam bin Saqr Al Qassimi, Chairman of the Ruler’s Office in Sharjah, today reopened the Sharjah Classic Cars Museum, which was first opened in 2008 by His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah.

The museum has been refurbished to better present the historical phases of the auto manufacturing sector, and display the most famous classic cars of the early 20th century.

Following the opening, which was attended by Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Thani, Chairman of the Department of Civil Aviation – Sharjah, Sheikh Marwan bin Rashid Al Mualla Chairman of Emirate Car & Motorcycle Racing Club, Abdullah Bin Mohammed Al Owais Chairman of the Department of Culture and Information in Sharjah,  Mohammed Ben Sulayem President of the Automobile & Touring Club of the UAE, and Manal Ataya, Director General of Sharjah Museums Department (SMD), in addition to members of the municipal council in the Emirate of Sharjah and members of the Sharjah Old Car Club and Museum, and interested members of old cars; Sheikh Essam toured the museum’s various sections featuring 85 classic cars of different brands that were manufactured between 1915 and the late Eighties.

Sheikh Essam listened to a detailed presentation on the museum’s sections by Haifa Al Hammadi, Senior Project Manager at Sharjah Museums Department.  At the end of his tour, Sheikh Essam lauded the role of the Sharjah Museums Department (SMD) and its staff and thanked them for their efforts to present the newly refurbished Classic Cars Museum in an image that reflects the reputation of Sharjah and its internationally recognised position.

On the occasion, Manal Ataya, Director General of SMD, said :“The aim of refurbishing this museum was to allow us to re-evaluate the previous design and interpretation and improve it significantly" She emphasized that the current in house projects and design team achieved the goals set out by management to ensure the addition of a great attraction for families, school groups, tourists, and car lovers in the UAE and region.  The newly redeveloped museum helps visitors to appreciate the aesthetic and historical value of classic cars in a space that integrates a new children's interactive area and a gallery space for temporary exhibitions .

The museum features 85 classic cars, two motorcycles and five bicycles, as well as a model of an old car and an engine to allow visitors to become better acquainted with parts of an engine and how they function.

The museum is divided into five sections, four of which are about the development of cars and the automobile industry, while the fifth one is dedicated to displaying special cars on loan from the public, in addition to an area specifically allocated for activities and interactive games.

 The first section is designed for displaying cars manufactured between 1915-1939, such as the model T Ford, Rolls Royce 25/30, and Fiat, while the second section includes cars manufactured between 1940-1959, such as the Cadillac Fleetwood and Stood Baker Wood, Riley RM, Bentley Mark VI, and Chevrolet Bel Air.

The third section features cars manufactured between 1960-1987. A number of important cars are on display in this section, including 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.

The fourth section features big vehicles and cars used in the UAE, such as the Jeep Land Rover, Nissan Patrol, Renault Van, and Chevrolet Tanker Truck.

Entry to the Sharjah Classic Cars Museum will be free until January 31, 2013. 

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