I am sure the people of Jordan loved their late king for many reasons. But one reason is perhaps more unusual than others.
The King of Jordan, whose official name was, Hussein bin Talal, was a petrolhead.
The late King (I will allow myself to call his HRH- Hussein) belonged to the Hashemite family who have ruled Jordan since the early 1920’s.
His grandfather was assassinated when Hussein was just 15 (and Hussein himself almost killed were it not for a medal which deflected the bullet). Just two years later the young prince was named King of Jordan at just 17 years of age. Perhaps to escape from the huge pressures placed on him at a young age, King Hussein was a talented operator of anything with a motor. He could fly planes (he was a qualified pilot), helicopters, loved riding motorbikes and particularly enjoyed fast cars.
Few people might know this, but King Hussein owned a fabulous car collection that included the rarest and the best that money could buy at the time.
King Hussein seemed to have loved two brands above all others, Aston Martin and Mercedes.
In one famous picture that surely dates still from the 1950s, King Hussein can be seen with his 1954 Mercedes Benz 300SL Gullwing.
(Credit: Unknown).
The king must have been no older than in his early 20s in this undated picture above.
I assume this because he most definitely bought the Gullwing a new car and production of the Mercedes Gullwing was only from 1954-57. Since the King was born in 1935 he cannot be older than 22 years of age. Another picture of the King with his Gullwing below.
Notice the ‘impossibly cool’ license plate number: 1 and Jordan.
(Credit: Hamit Kundak Classic cars).
The King was known to have a particular love for Mercedes cars.
He owned a Pullman 600, a 540K and a 6.3L 380 as well as a 450 SEL. His dream of owning a CK 111 never came to fuition as Mercedes only built 6 cars as prototypes. It is said that in the end the Mercedes Benz company donated one to his museum (as there is one sitting in Orange in the Royal Automobile Museum in Amman).
The King had other fine cars like a 1960’s Ferrari 275 GTB/2 long nose (see below) and a few Rolls Royces and Bentleys.
(Credit: Ferrari Yearbook 1966).
Below the King in a Bentley.
(Credit:Unknown)
King Hussein also loved British cars, not only Bentley. Aston Martin was also his favourite choice.
He was a keen collector and enthusiast of Aston Martins and owned a DB2/4 (top right of picture below) as well as open headlight DB4 (left car in white, notice Jordanian license plate). On the right below he is seen with Sir Jackie Stewart the race driver (left) as well as Walter Heyes – who was the driving force behind the DB7.
(Credit: AMOC Aston Martin Owners Club magazine by Robert Hartmann).
What is clear from doing some research – is that the king loved pretty much anything with a motor in it. Below he is go-karting circa 1963 in Kent, England.
(Picture Credit: Getty Images).
The late King was not only a keen car enthusiast. He could operate almost anything that had a motor in it.
He was a licensed pilot that could fly commercial planes, fighter jets and Helicopters. He also loved motorbikes (more on that later). Below you see him fly a helicopter (which he did relatively often).
(Credit: Unknown).
Another great picture of King Hussein piloting a helicopter (bel0w). Notice the Breitling watch of the co-pilot.
(Credit: Alamy but paid for by Le Monde Edmond).
The King was extremely athletic and an outdoorsman and sporty. Below he can be seen wake boarding around 1966 off Cap d’Antibes South of France.
(Credit: Alamy but paid for by Le Monde Edmond).
Another form of transportation the King also was known to be very fond of was the motorbike.
He had several Harley Davidsons (and other brands like Honda) which he would ride with his wife (Queen Noor) at the later stage of his life. Below an early picture of him on a bike (probably 1950s).
(Credit: Associated French Press – undated).
A later picture of the King (1970) on his bike (seems to be a Honda) in Amman, Jordan.
(Credit: Alamy but paid for by Le Monde Edmond).
Closing remarks
The longest service Arab Monarch, King Hussein passed away in 1999 of natural causes.
Although he ruled for an incredible 47 years – he didn’t have an easy life. There were many assassination attempts on his life and King Hussein survived all of them.
Maybe because of this difficulty – one of his escapes in form of pleasure involved fast cars, this was apparent at a young age already.
What fascinated me most writing this story was that he could operate almost anything with a motor- which is rare for King. He could fly planes, helicopters, drive motor bikes and cars. He seemed to love adventure and being outdoors.
What is most interesting is his grandson, the crown prince Hussein – seems to be following in his footsteps. He not only looks like him, is named liked him, but acts like him – he can be spotted on Harley bikes, flying helicopters and also enjoying fast cars with this father. You can follow the grandson on instagram here.
It seems the story of Royal family of Jordan and the fascination with flying and driving is set to continue.
NB: It should be mentioned that in his later years King Hussein also liked modern cars. There is 959 Porsche in green, a Porsche Carrera GT, an F40, F50 and other super cars that he owned sitting in the Royal Automobile Museum in Amman in Jordan. The museum does not have an official website but you can look at a video here.
