A petrolhead’s passion project starring 105 priceless vehicles from the Golden Era of 1950s and 1960s.
Here’s a fact you’ve probably already guessed: the Maltese are nuts about cars. Let's gloss over the argument of how we drive said cars. But, well, we truly love our cars. As at the end of September 2017, there were 369,261 licensed motor vehicles on the roads and rising by a net average rate of 41 vehicles per day, and I remind you, there are only 440,000 of us on this island, and not all are old enough to drive.
While most would claim we own a car because we need to (of course we do) there is one person who has taken car ownership to a whole different level.
Former property developer and one-time car-racing driver Carol Galea is the proud owner of a whopping 107 cars. And they’re not just any old cars. Yes, they’re old, but the right kind of old, that makes them priceless collector’s dreams.
And they’re all on display in his beautiful museum, sprawled over 3,500 sqm in the popular tourist resort of Qawra, near St Paul’s Bay.
“I started collecting 48 years ago after I stopped racing cars. I used to build my own cars for hill climb and quarter mile races,” reveals Carol. “When I was young, I used to promise myself that one day I would buy this car or that car. And now, I’ve bought them all!”
The collection was initially split between small garages where Carol would enjoy restoring them to their former glory. He originally bought the current premises in Qawra as a garage to bring all his precious cars under one roof, but his family encouraged him to share these beauties with the public, and the museum opened 14 years ago.
It’s not difficult to find the museum - it’s the one with the bright blue 1920s Bugatti parked outside. While that may be one of the oldest cars in Carol’s collection, he focuses mainly on sports cars from the mid-1950s, 1960s and early 1970s. Inside, you can feast your eyes on vintage Corvettes, Mercedes, MGs, Fiats, Mini Coopers, Thunderbird, Austin, Jaguars and, possibly Carol’s favourite, one of the best collection of Alfa Romeo classic cars in Europe. And they are all in pristine, road-worthy condition. In fact, Carol regularly chooses a car from the museum for his Sunday drive.
In truth, he finds it hard to decide which is his favourite. Every one was an investment, not just in financial terms but also in time and effort to source and often restore to road worthy condition. “Every car is like one of my children to me. But I do have a little soft spot for the Alfa Romeo and the Jaguar,” confesses Carol.
What sets this museum apart is that this is a very personal collection, and all the cars reflect Carol’s own love affair with the vehicles. “I only buy the cars that I like.”
There are currently 105 cars in the museum, but he has just bought two more Alfa Romeo at auction in Germany, which will be added to the collection soon. The museum also features 45 motorbikes and scooters, as well as Carol's old racing cars.
The classic cars are put in context with a colourful display of clothes, juke boxes, vending machines, furniture and thousands of other memorabilia from that era. And all items were collected by Carol himself. Uniquely, the museum now features the first ever reference library on motor vehicles, featuring hundreds of bench books, indispensable for any car enthusiast restoring or servicing a vehicle.
The museum’s restoration section always attracts a lot of interest from visitors. While Carol used to get his hands dirty himself, these days he employs a team of seven people to help service and maintain the cars. In fact, staff start working two hours before the museum opens every day in order to ensure that all vehicles are looking their best. The dedication and passion is beyond compare.
Carol points out that since he started collecting classic cars, he has noticed a shift in attitude towards old vehicles. “When I started this hobby, my friends used to say I was crazy, spending lots of time on my own in the garage restoring old cars instead of socialising. Back then, nobody wanted old cars. Today old cars are considered an investment. Most Sundays, half the cars on the roads in Malta are classic cars. Malta is now getting a reputation for classic cars which are maintained to an exceptional standard.”
In fact, classic cars are showcased every year in two special events. The Malta Classic in Mdina, this year taking place between 10th and 14th October, features a static display as well as an exhilarating race around the medieval walled city. The spring time Valletta Concours D’Elegance, being held on 20th May 2018, will once again see the best classic cars displayed in all their glory alongside people in period costume, all judged by an internationally acclaimed jury. And of course Carol will be there, with three of his prized possessions: a black 1967 Jaguar E Type with red interior, an Alfa Romeo Giulia Speciale and the Alfa Romeo Giulia Spider both from 1959 and both, of course, in Alfa red.
The Malta Classic Cars Collection, Tourists Street, Qawra. Open Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm; Saturday & Public Holidays 9am to 1:30pm; closed on Sundays.