It seems almost like an unspoken rule that every leader in the Middle East – the Sultan of Brunei comes to mind – needs to have an impressive car collection, and the King of Jordan is no different.
King Abdullah II is a massive motoring enthusiast and inherited his car collection from his father. Over the years, he added some pretty amazing vehicles to the collection, eventually creating the Royal Automobile Museum in the Jordanian capital of Amman. Unlike other museums, the King still drives the cars shown off there, occasionally taking his fantastic Porsche Carrera GT or Mercedes-McLaren SLR Stirling Moss for a spin around the streets of the capital. The Royal Automobile Museum features some pretty impressive vehicles, such as an armored WWI Rolls-Royce, a collection of vintage motorbikes, and a string of custom-made cars which the monarch used when showing famous guests around his country – including the ‘Sand Rover ‘, a special Range Rover with a landaulet roof for when the Queen of England visited the famous ruins of Petra.
The King of Jordan is a gearhead just like most of us, with a car collection rivaling some of the best on the planet. Here are ten cars from the King of Jordan’s collection that we wish we could take a spin in.
10/10 1978 BMW M1
The BMW M1 was the first mid-engine vehicle the German brand made, as well as the first M-car in the line-up. It used a specially designed 3.5-liter straight-6 engine which produced 274 hp and sent all the power to the rear wheels, only via a 5-speed manual.
The M1 was styled by Giorgetto Giugiaro at Italdesign and built in Italy, with final assembly and inspection occurring in Germany. Only 453 units were ever produced, with many of them being in private collections – including the Jordanian King’s.
9/10 2009 Mercedes SLR Stirling Moss
The Mercedes-McLaren SLR was a cooperation between the German giant and the small British supercar maker. It used parts manufactured by Mercedes-AMG, with tuning and maintenance being done by McLaren.
To celebrate the career of Sir Stirling Moss, Mercedes and McLaren made a special topless version called the SLR Stirling Moss, which featured updated styling, more performance, and less weight. It was inspired by the original SLR of the 1950s, with a cover for the passenger seat to aid aerodynamics.
8/10 1964 Aston Martin DB5
The Aston Martin DB5 is one of the most famous cars on the planet due to its roles in the James Bond movie franchise. The DB5 was manufactured between 1963 and 1965, with just 1,025 units produced – excluding the 25 brand-new ones manufactured since 2020.
Like most popular luxury and sports cars of the era, the DB5 was styled by an Italian coachbuilder – namely Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera – and featured a 4-liter straight-6 producing between 280 and 325 hp. The DB5 is a beautiful vehicle worthy of any collection.
7/10 2003 Porsche Carrera GT
The Porsche Carrera GT was the first car designed, engineered, and built by the special GT division. It was a brilliant supercar with a bespoke 5.7-liter naturally aspirated V10 which produced about 600 hp and makes one of the best engine noises of any car, ever.
The Carrera GT was only ever sold as a manual, making it a proper driver’s car. The Carrera GT is one of the King of Jordan’s favorites, often seen blasting around the wide streets of Amman with the roof down. It’s fantastically cool!
6/10 2005 Bugatti Veyron
The Bugatti Veyron is one of the most important cars in the automotive world, beating the McLaren F1’s production car speed record and re-writing what it meant to go fast. It has the first iteration of the Chiron’s 8.0-liter quad-turbo W16, producing the magical 1,000 hp.
As with seemingly every wealthy businessman, sports star, or internet influencer, the Bugatti Veyron is a must-have car to set the trend – even today. The Veyron is a historic vehicle and will go down in history as an automotive icon.
5/10 1952 Aston Martin DB2
The Aston Martin DB2 was the second iteration of the famous DB series of sports and GT cars. It was manufactured between 1950 and 1953 and featured a 2.6-liter straight-6 manufactured by Lagonda – Aston Martin’s luxury side.
The DB2 in the Jordanian Royal Automobile Museum was bought by the King’s father when he studied in London. He drove it around there before transporting it to Jordan after being crowned king, where he then used it. It is a beautiful car.
4/10 1970 Mercedes-Benz 600 Big Pullman
The Mercedes-Benz 600 Grosser was the German brand’s biggest and most luxurious model, usually owned by captains of industry, leaders of countries, and royalty. The wealthy usually end up being chauffeured around, depending on the circumstances.
The 600 was available in multiple body styles, including a short-wheelbase sedan, a long-wheelbase sedan, a special Pullman version, and a Landaulet version reserved for leaders and royalty. The 600 featured the famous 6.3-liter V8, using around 30 hp to operate all the revolutionary hydraulic systems.
3/10 1954 Rolls Royce Phantom IV
The Rolls-Royce Phantom IV is a rather special car. It was produced between 1950 and 1956, with only 18 units ever made, making it one of the rarest cars on the planet. The Phantom IV was the pinnacle of luxury and cost an incredible $300,000 in 1954 – in today’s money.
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Most Phantom IVs are owned either by English, Spanish or Iranian royalty, with most cars still being used on a regular basis. Many of them have been restored by Rolls-Royce and are still in the same condition they were when new.
2/10 1966 Amphicar
The Amphicar was a West German car manufactured by the Quandt Group between 1960 and 1966. It was a waterproof convertible that could float and be driven like a small boat. The Amphicar was powered by a 1.2-liter inline-4, powering both the wheels and the propellers at the back.
According to the Royal Automobile Museum, the King would often drive his Amphicar along the Aqaba coast when he had guests. He would drive around and explain something before veering off the road and into the water, scaring his guests. The car would float, and he would nonchalantly continue touring the coastline.
1/10 1949 Buick Roadmaster Convertible
The 1949 Buick Roadmaster Convertible is one of the most gorgeous cars of the 1940s due to its abundance of chrome, soft leather, and amazing styling. It was also the car that the King decided would be the official ceremonial vehicle for the Jordanian Royal Family – to this day.
The Roadmaster in the museum is painted in a dark red color with a cream leather interior. It has the same whitewall tires and chrome hubcaps that the original vehicle had. Due to its royal nature, this Roadmaster is probably the only one in the world with official flags on the front corners.
