Amazed
I was invited by the wonderful ‘Bea’ to have a chat with Andreas, who I first met the year I got here, back in 1993. Little did I know what I was about to discover. Amazingly, for the past 35 years, he has been creating what is, to my knowledge, Cyprus’ premier personal collection of over 100 vintage and collector’s cars and motorbikes, including the first car to arrive in Cyprus in 1929, a Wolseley Mayflower. This place has quickly emerged as one of Cyprus’s most distinctive cultural attractions! …
Passion
At the heart of the museum lies the lovely story of its founder, a Cypriot entrepreneur whose career began way back in the 1970s. Just walking around the museum, you can tell the passion that must have gone into acquiring such an impressive collection and then to share them with us by establishing the museum.
The Vision
I wanted to have a chat before Andreas gave me a personal tour of the museum, so we met upstairs in the cafe and ice cream parlour, my delicious cappuccino brewed with ‘Vittorio Coffee’ pure Arabica from Brazil. I asked Andreas to tell me how it all started? He said, “It started as a hobby, I would find old cars, in Cyprus, mostly Fords, buy them and restore them myself, to showroom perfection, sometimes having to source spare parts from all over the world. Then he said, ” Next thing you know, whenever my friends were selling a vintage or classic car, I would buy it”.
World Wide
He continued, “Eventually, I started buying cars from all over the world, including the UK, America, Italy, Germany, and France, to mention but a few. As my collection grew, I kept the cars in storage and would take a different car for a drive to enjoy a coffee with my friends on a Sunday. I asked which is your favourite? He said, “It’s hard to say, but I looked everywhere to find my 1955 Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn, which Queen Elizabeth II once owned.
Unique Collection
Andreas continued, “But it was my very good friend Kikis Constantinou of Nissi Beach Hotel fame who once said to me, ‘You have such a unique collection, why don’t you open a museum? He smiled, “It took me another 12 years to finally do it!” … The more we chatted, the more I couldn’t wait to go downstairs …
Car Lovers Heaven
On the way downstairs, there was a Mini turned into a bench, the walls adorned with really cool prints … then over 1600 square metres of motoring pleasure, shiny paintwork and sparkling chrome … Walking the red carpet, the first two, on your left, are Morris Minors, on your right a Labroghini and a Ferrari Spider, then an AC Cobra, a Vintage BSA, and a 1936 Mercedes. Next to that, an exact copy of Mr Bean’s Mini, coz Andreas said: “Rowan Atkinson has the original”.
My Favourites
There’s too many to mention, but you can get a sneak peek from my Live Video around the collection, including a few of my favourites … The 1961 Austin-Healey Sprite … a 1975 911 Porsh Targa … 1971 E-Type Jaguar … and the 1948 Lincoln Coupe, which was used to build this copy of the Batmobile that sits side by side, with Batman standing next to it keeping guard … and one of only 108 copies of the first Mercedes-Benz 3 Wheeler patented in 1885 … a VW Caravanette Splity, right-hand drive. I love the fully loaded cars mounted on the wall, engines and all … I asked Andreas, how did you do that? And he said, “You wouldn’t believe the trouble we went through’ …
Must Visit
It was my absolute pleasure to interview Andreas, a man with a passion for cars you’ll be amazed to find in Ayia Napa. Seriously, if you love vintage and classic cars and motorbikes, and you’re looking for something a little different to do, a visit to this museum is a must! Go grab a coffee or an ice cream and discover Andreas’ private collection.
Back to The Future
Andreas also let me in on a little secret: Ayia Napa’s Municipality has promised to build a museum big enough for him to present his whole collection, which currently stands at over 250 cars … I can’t wait …
Open Long Summer Season
March ’til November
Daily: 8.30 am ’til 10 pm
Discounts for Group Bookings
Directions
You’ll find them at 20, Kryou Nerou Avenue, Ayia Napa 5330 … with free off-street parking behind the museum … it’s just past the New Famagusta Hotel, opposite Opas Tavern … Click on the Google Map icon below …
GPS: 34.987513, 34.004308
Machines That Made History!
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