By Ian Stalker

Islamic Tourism: Jordan's Royal Automobile Museum has a collection of vehicles that were truly fit for a king - and one slow-moving one that clearly lacks regal comfort but would have likely been appreciated by a man synonymous with the Middle Eastern kingdom.

The Amman museum's collection includes a range of cars that belonged to the late King Hussein, who continues to be remembered fondly in the country years after his death and who was fascinated by wheeled transportation throughout his long reign.

The museum has over 80 vehicles, most of which belonged to the Hashemite Kingdom as Jordan is often known and many of which were an integral part of Hussein's life.

"He loved cars and he loved everything mechanical,' says museum director Raja Gargour. "They [cars] were not only a means to transport but a means of enjoyment.

"At the end of the day, the museum is history with the themes of the country and King Hussein through his cars."

Among displayed vehicles are an Aston-Martin that Hussein learned to drive in and was given while studying at Britain's Sandhurst military academy; a 1952 Lincoln used in Hussein's 1953 coronation motorcade; and a 1961 Lincoln convertible used at different times for the opening of Parliament, head of state visits, and Jordanian royal weddings, including that of current King Abdullah II in 1993.

A displayed 1979 Mercedes-Benz 450 SEL served as Hussein's daily personal vehicle, while a 1955 Mercedes 300 SL was used by Hussein in races.

But not all displayed vehicles featured comfort and speed, with the museum having a replica of the type of armor-plated car used by T.E. Lawrence - better known as Lawrence of Arabia - during the Arab Revolt. Gargour has driven the vehicle, patterned after ones made in the 1910s, and pronounces it a "horrible experience," with the slow-moving, machine gun-equipped, turret-topped vehicle lacking air conditioning and difficult to see out of because of  the armor. "I love rough and tough, but not that one," he says of a vehicle patterned after one that had a Rolls-Royce chassis.

More to Gargour's liking is taking a museum Porsche or Ferrari out for what he describes as "exercise."

The museum would like to acquire more vehicles, with Gargour hoping that cars that belonged to a former Hashemite ruler of Iraq  -- a cousin of Jordanian royalty - might some day be located, while conceding that that country's violent situation complicates the task.

The Royal Automobile Museum now hosts around 120,000 visitors a year, visitors Gargour says will learn about both important vehicles and important figures who drove them.

 "Visitors will see the history of the country and get a glimpse of King Hussein's life," he says of museum displays. "This is a survival of treasure."

More information can be found through www.royalautomuseum.jo.