Visitors to Cyprus don't just get to see great beaches and fascinating landscapes. Over thousands of years, Egyptians, Romans, Ottomans and Venetians have left their mark on the history of the island in the far east of the Mediterranean. The British are to thank for the left-hand traffic here. Situated at the crossroads of three continents, the island, which is divided between Greece and Turkey, offers numerous interesting archaeological sites. On the way from Lárnaka to Páfos, however, it is essential to leave the picturesque south coast near Limassol to make a detour to the "Cyprus Historic & Classic Motor Museum" there.
Parked in front of the museum is a left-hand drive 1958 Edsel Pacer, a car that is either hated or loved. The car with the controversial radiator grille in the USA did not live up to its advertising promise of "never before a car like it" and its production was discontinued after just three years. Next to it is a well-preserved Humber Hawk from 1953, which King George VI is said to have owned. An original vehicle pairing that arouses interest.
Inside, next to a Vespa, you are greeted by "the bike that runs by itself", as the Solex moped was advertised. However, this should not hide the fact that this is an automobile museum.
If you want to see two-wheelers, you will hopefully have stopped off in the divided capital Nicosia on your round trip to see the "Cyprus Classic Motorcycle Museum", where an old 1957 Morgan with plenty of patina is placed at the entrance.
Rarities such as a Hudson "run and jump" without a clutch, which is less suitable for current city traffic, attract visitors to this small museum, especially those who like to philosophize about the technical details of times gone by.
But back to Limassol. Dimi Mavropoulos - racing driver and participant in international and Cypriot rally competitions - dedicated himself to collecting classic cars after his active time, which is a passion with addictive potential.
After the first 80 exhibits, word got around about what there was to marvel at. The vehicle collection now comprises well over 120 examples. Around the year 2000, the idea was born to turn it into a museum. However, there was still a long way to go before it opened in 2014. 3000 square meters of space need to be covered. The advertisement "Visit the one and only" is to be taken literally. We couldn't find a second automobile museum in Cyprus.
"People collect and admire what they dreamed of in their youth" is not a new insight. Some manufacturers have chosen this wisdom as the advertising slogan for their Classic division. When asked about the museum's motivation, they explain: "To show all classifications, not just Aston Martin and top Mercedes. I want people coming here to feel friendly with the cars they used to see when they were young. Low class, middle class and upper class."
Mavropoulos, born in Cyprus to a British mother, spent many years in Great Britain, which explains the numerous exhibits "from the island". The Rolls-Royce brand must have particularly inspired him...
But now back to its execution. The idea of inspiring as many visitors as possible, because everyone can find the cars in the museum that they dreamed of in their youth or that they drove themselves, has really succeeded. I was able to discover my first car and a few others that I couldn't afford at the time, as well as one from the series that I now drive with an H license plate. It won't just be me.
Thanks to the selection of not only extremely rare, high-priced vehicles, but also everyday cars such as the VW Beetle, NSU Prinz, Ford 17 M, Mini or Suzuki, everyone will find an exhibit that they can associate with personal memories.
But vehicles with history are also presented. A Ford T-Model Roadster, which has spent a good 100 years of its life on the road, or the officially certified Mini from Mr. Bean and a replica of the first Benz Patent Motorwagen invite you to talk about old times.
In addition to the 1973 Rover P5, which was used by the "Iron Lady" Margaret Thatcher, the armored Cadillac built for President Makarios III in 1977 is also on display, which naturally brings an emotional component into play for Cypriots.
It is well known that the prophet counts for nothing in his own country. The visit here is reminiscent of this quote. There are few local visitors here. But there are international visitors from England, Germany, France, Switzerland and the USA. Classic cars are at most a rare sight on the streets of Cyprus. We only saw one older Porsche, and it was here on vacation.
Due to the lack of air conditioning, the visit is "a hot affair" depending on the time of year. A visit at 9:00 am is usually more pleasant than around 4:00 pm, but this is not the only reason why work is currently underway on a new building in the immediate vicinity.
There are too many vehicles parked close together in too little space, sometimes two storeys high, which makes photographing the exhibits much more difficult. For this reason, visitors with rucksacks and the like are also asked to store their luggage in storage compartments at the entrance so as not to risk scratching the paintwork of the classic cars. If the planning works out, things will look very different in two years' time.
There are also plans to exhibit engines in the new museum, whose occasional test runs are sure to delight visitors, and not just acoustically. We can only write about other planned attractions once they have been presented on site.
The agricultural vehicles, to which an extra room has been dedicated, should also not go unmentioned. They (like the more than 300 model cars) add variety to the exhibition, which is enlivened by many other technical objects from the last hundred years.
The "Cyprus Historic and Classic Vehicles Club" was born from the idea of offering further attractions to classic car enthusiasts. It organizes trips, rallies and meetings in which you can also take part with cars borrowed from the museum. Either with a chauffeur or - provided you have the right driving skills - as a self-driver.
In order to introduce local people to the fun of old cars, the idea was born to offer wedding trips in some of the vehicles - mainly old convertibles. Registered city tours in a two-storey vintage bus are also possible. However, an appropriately large group is required for this.
Even the youngest visitors were catered for. A coloring book in English, the official language of the island, with a crossword puzzle keeps many a youngster from disturbing their father while exploring the gems.
If you want to park your classic car safely and at a comfortable temperature (service and battery maintenance included), you will also find a place to go here. Interested parties wishing to import or export vehicles can also benefit from the know-how acquired over the years. The sale of vehicles that have been purchased as part of a collection but have not found a place in the museum has also delighted many an enthusiast.
Finally, a consolation for German classic car fans. There are also some models with the star and the VW logo on display. BMWs, on the other hand, are less to be seen. Only one NSU and one Porsche have found their way here across the Mediterranean so far. But that will certainly change when the space in the new hostel is ready.
The invitation for a drink at the end of the visit seems to be obligatory. During the four hours we spent there, nobody left the museum thirsty.
Click here for the museum website.
Cyprus Historic & Classic Motor Museum
Epimitheos 6, 3056 Limassol
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday 9:00 to 17:00 (in summer until 18:00)
