Carol Galea has gone ahead and executed what many have talked about for decades: setting up a private exhibit to display his collection.
Situated in Tourists Street, Qawra, in the heart of this touristic village, it covers more than 3,000 m2 (including a new wing opened last August) with 73 cars and 22 motorcycles and scooters on display.
Yet this is more than a display of vehicle marques - among them are Mercedes-Benz, BMW (cars and bikes), Jaguar, Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, DKW (Auto Union), NSU, Sunbeam, Triumph (cars and bikes), Fiat, Ford, Austin Dodge, Bentley, Trabant, Citroën, MGB, Lotus, Corvette and Mini, and Vespa and BSA scooters motorcycles.
Carol is trying to recreate the era of the Fifties and Sixties with full-size mannequins dressed in clothes of the era, apart from displaying flipper/gambling machines, jukeboxes, prams - even an Albatross aluminium-hulled speedboat with a Ford inboard engine.
"I have a nautical theme, an aviation theme and plan others to place my collection into context," he told me enthusiastically when I visited the museum some weeks back.
And there is more, for there are over 3,000 model cars in their display cases, a cinema seating 60, a seating area, where visitors can relax and take it easy while taking it all in, and a cafeteria. The museum has its dedicated Website: www.classiccarsmalta.com.
Carol, 56, said he has been a collector for 33 years. Before, he says he was an amateur. Now he is a professional, building an impressive collection over a decade, combining buying privately with attending auctions across Europe.
He started out owning a number of Mercedes SLs, which he subsequently sold so that he could buy a family cabin cruiser. The first car in the present collection is a Jaguar E Type of 1962, which he bought in 1998.
"I was very lucky to find this car, which has a very rare colour," he recalled. "I bought it from an old lady in the outskirts of London."
He has been in business since he was 18, although now he is semi-retired, dedicating himself practically full time to the museum.
"I am asked to give my opinion with regard to classic cars," he said, "receiving calls and e-mails all the time."
His father Joseph ran a restaurant in St Paul's Bay. People going to Armier would stop over for a drink and his fascination with cars and bikes started when he was in his teens.
He first started working in industry and then construction, hotels, restaurants and through his company Prestige Properties, real estate and property development. He has a son, Mark, a daughter Mandy, and a grandson, Benjamin, who was a year old on January 1.
Among the exhibits in Carol's museum is an Alfa SS superleggera, which he saw at the classic car museum in Geneva. He bought it from its owner and did the Mille Miglia. "It was a dream come true," he commented. Another car which was also on display in a European museum was a 1958 Alfa Duemila. It has also found its way into Carol's collection.
The new wing includes cars from the Fifties and some modern acquisitions: a Dodge Viper 8.3-litre V10 convertible with 550 bhp; and a Ford Mustang, originally built to replicate that featured in the Steve McQueen film Bullit.
Also in the new wing are a 3.5-litre Ferrari Maranello V8 coupé with 280 bhp, a Bentley Continental GT, a Honda Shadow and a BMW 1200, among others.
According to Carol, the museum has been a success. He has a visitors' book that is full of compliments, including the one in the attached box. "I speak to visitors and explain the background of the various displays, which they really appreciate," he said.
He employs eight full timers, whom he thanked for their dedication and certain local clubs for their support and encouragement.
The next step is to prepare to organise an international rally in Malta, Gozo and Sicily, to be included on the international calendar, as a joint venture with a UK club, whose members would come to Malta with their cars to take part.
A first for Malta
According to The Malta Book of Records and Firsts 2007, the Malta Classic Car Collection museum is the first of its kind in Malta.
The museum is also featured in the centre pages of the prestigious Museums of Malta 360° publication.
Mr Galea commented: "I am very proud with what I have achieved. I undertook this project unaware of the large amount of work and dedication it requires.
"Were it not for my undying love for cars and the support of my family I would have shut my doors and kept my collection to myself. I dedicate this museum to Malta first and foremost."
One of the things that hurt Mr Galea is the lack of local support from certain car associations. He referred to an interview on national TV just before Christmas in which the interviewee was hopeful that one day Malta would have a Car Museum without acknowledging one already existed.
This feeling is, however, quickly replaced by the vast amount of correspondence and compliments received from foreign clubs, among which are the Jaguar, MG and Austin Healey owners' clubs and many more.
20070218-motoring--muscar.jpgOne of the latest additions
The NSU of 1965, a red two-seater convertible, has been acquired from the UK.
Powered by a 1,500 cc single rotor Wankel rotary piston engine, it has a maximum power output of 50 bhp at 5,000 rpm.
There are four forward gears, front suspension with wishbones, roll springs, telescopic dampers and anti-roll bar, and independent rear suspension with swing axles, semi-trailing wishbones, coil springs and telescopic dampers.
There are ATE-Lockheed hydraulic brakes with discs in front and drums in the rear.
Carol said the car is in pristine condition and needs very little work - that is the way he prefers to buy new additions to his collection nowadays.
A visitor's letter
R.J. Scrase, writing from Lewes in East Sussex, wrote:
"I have enclosed a few pictures of some of the vehicles in our museum. After visiting your beautiful collection, I see we have a long way to go to reach the standard of your exhibits.
"I have enclosed a few leaflets for your museum. I have put your leaflets on display and they have all gone, so you may get a few more visitors from England...
"Once again, thank you for being able to see such a fine collection, which I hope to see again."
Situated in Tourists Street, Qawra, in the heart of this touristic village, it covers more than 3,000 m2 (including a new wing opened last August) with 73 cars and 22 motorcycles and scooters on display.
Yet this is more than a display of vehicle marques - among them are Mercedes-Benz, BMW (cars and bikes), Jaguar, Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, DKW (Auto Union), NSU, Sunbeam, Triumph (cars and bikes), Fiat, Ford, Austin Dodge, Bentley, Trabant, Citroën, MGB, Lotus, Corvette and Mini, and Vespa and BSA scooters motorcycles.
Carol is trying to recreate the era of the Fifties and Sixties with full-size mannequins dressed in clothes of the era, apart from displaying flipper/gambling machines, jukeboxes, prams - even an Albatross aluminium-hulled speedboat with a Ford inboard engine.
"I have a nautical theme, an aviation theme and plan others to place my collection into context," he told me enthusiastically when I visited the museum some weeks back.
And there is more, for there are over 3,000 model cars in their display cases, a cinema seating 60, a seating area, where visitors can relax and take it easy while taking it all in, and a cafeteria. The museum has its dedicated Website: www.classiccarsmalta.com.
Carol, 56, said he has been a collector for 33 years. Before, he says he was an amateur. Now he is a professional, building an impressive collection over a decade, combining buying privately with attending auctions across Europe.
He started out owning a number of Mercedes SLs, which he subsequently sold so that he could buy a family cabin cruiser. The first car in the present collection is a Jaguar E Type of 1962, which he bought in 1998.
"I was very lucky to find this car, which has a very rare colour," he recalled. "I bought it from an old lady in the outskirts of London."
He has been in business since he was 18, although now he is semi-retired, dedicating himself practically full time to the museum.
"I am asked to give my opinion with regard to classic cars," he said, "receiving calls and e-mails all the time."
His father Joseph ran a restaurant in St Paul's Bay. People going to Armier would stop over for a drink and his fascination with cars and bikes started when he was in his teens.
He first started working in industry and then construction, hotels, restaurants and through his company Prestige Properties, real estate and property development. He has a son, Mark, a daughter Mandy, and a grandson, Benjamin, who was a year old on January 1.
Among the exhibits in Carol's museum is an Alfa SS superleggera, which he saw at the classic car museum in Geneva. He bought it from its owner and did the Mille Miglia. "It was a dream come true," he commented. Another car which was also on display in a European museum was a 1958 Alfa Duemila. It has also found its way into Carol's collection.
The new wing includes cars from the Fifties and some modern acquisitions: a Dodge Viper 8.3-litre V10 convertible with 550 bhp; and a Ford Mustang, originally built to replicate that featured in the Steve McQueen film Bullit.
Also in the new wing are a 3.5-litre Ferrari Maranello V8 coupé with 280 bhp, a Bentley Continental GT, a Honda Shadow and a BMW 1200, among others.
According to Carol, the museum has been a success. He has a visitors' book that is full of compliments, including the one in the attached box. "I speak to visitors and explain the background of the various displays, which they really appreciate," he said.
He employs eight full timers, whom he thanked for their dedication and certain local clubs for their support and encouragement.
The next step is to prepare to organise an international rally in Malta, Gozo and Sicily, to be included on the international calendar, as a joint venture with a UK club, whose members would come to Malta with their cars to take part.
A first for Malta
According to The Malta Book of Records and Firsts 2007, the Malta Classic Car Collection museum is the first of its kind in Malta.
The museum is also featured in the centre pages of the prestigious Museums of Malta 360° publication.
Mr Galea commented: "I am very proud with what I have achieved. I undertook this project unaware of the large amount of work and dedication it requires.
"Were it not for my undying love for cars and the support of my family I would have shut my doors and kept my collection to myself. I dedicate this museum to Malta first and foremost."
One of the things that hurt Mr Galea is the lack of local support from certain car associations. He referred to an interview on national TV just before Christmas in which the interviewee was hopeful that one day Malta would have a Car Museum without acknowledging one already existed.
This feeling is, however, quickly replaced by the vast amount of correspondence and compliments received from foreign clubs, among which are the Jaguar, MG and Austin Healey owners' clubs and many more.
20070218-motoring--muscar.jpgOne of the latest additions
The NSU of 1965, a red two-seater convertible, has been acquired from the UK.
Powered by a 1,500 cc single rotor Wankel rotary piston engine, it has a maximum power output of 50 bhp at 5,000 rpm.
There are four forward gears, front suspension with wishbones, roll springs, telescopic dampers and anti-roll bar, and independent rear suspension with swing axles, semi-trailing wishbones, coil springs and telescopic dampers.
There are ATE-Lockheed hydraulic brakes with discs in front and drums in the rear.
Carol said the car is in pristine condition and needs very little work - that is the way he prefers to buy new additions to his collection nowadays.
A visitor's letter
R.J. Scrase, writing from Lewes in East Sussex, wrote:
"I have enclosed a few pictures of some of the vehicles in our museum. After visiting your beautiful collection, I see we have a long way to go to reach the standard of your exhibits.
"I have enclosed a few leaflets for your museum. I have put your leaflets on display and they have all gone, so you may get a few more visitors from England...
"Once again, thank you for being able to see such a fine collection, which I hope to see again."