Iran's vintage cars display racy and lavish past of toppled Pahlavi dynasty

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Iran's vintage cars display racy and lavish past of toppled Pahlavi dynasty

Iran's vintage cars display racy and lavish past of toppled Pahlavi dynasty

FP Staff • December 1, 2021, 23:08:10 IST

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Before they were ousted by the 1979 Islamic revolution, Iran’s royal family enjoyed a lavish lifestyle with a taste for fast cars. Now, after half a century hidden away, the royal racers are back on show, with the Iran Historical Car Museum drawing in thousands since it opened to the public

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Iran's vintage cars display racy and lavish past of toppled Pahlavi dynasty

Iran's royal family, before being ousted by the 1979 Islamic revolution, enjoyed a lavish lifestyle with a taste for fast cars quite unlike any ever built. Image credit: AFP

After a century, the royal racers are now displayed at the ran Historical Car Museum and drew in thousands since it opened to the public in recent weeks.

The museum is run by the Islamic republic's Bonyad Mostazafan organisation -

In 1972, Mercedes, Porsche and Volkswagen teamed up to create the

The museum houses 55 cars, two coaches and four motorcycles, one of which was once driven by Farah Diba, the last empress and widow of the shah. But a hundred other vehicles are still in warehouses awaiting to be meticulously restored and put on show. Another prize exhibit is a black Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, built in 1922. This car is notable because the Islamic republic kept hold of the historic gem after a battle with the exiled former monarchy. Image credit: AFP

'Six months before the revolution, the car had been sent to Rolls-Royce for repairs,' said Faal, the museum's director. 'After the fall of the monarchy in 1979, the Pahlavi family demanded that the factory return it to them, claiming that it belonged to the dynasty.' It sparked a furious legal battle. But a British court ruled that, according to its documents, the vehicle belonged to the Iranian state and not the ex-royal family. 'The car returned to Iran,' Faal said. Image credit: AFP

The jewel of the museum is a 1930 Pierce-Arrow

Another favourite for visitors is the 1934 Mercedes 500 K Autobahn Kurier, a gift from Adolf Hitler to Reza Shah. The car is the last of its kind; of the six built by the German company, five were destroyed during World War II. 'Mercedes offered to buy it at a price we would set, because the firm was eager to have it in its museum,' said Faal. 'We refused.' Image credit: AFP

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Iran Mercedes ImagesOfTheDay Volkswagen Porsche Islamic Republic Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi Shah Reza Khan

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