Tehran exposes classic cars, vestiges of the imperial family

The Iranian imperial family showed a strong preference for German cars, such as Mercedes Benz, Porsche and Volkswagen, which in 1972 teamed up to build a unique car, the MPV Tehran, a “gift” from the manufacturers to teach the then crown prince Reza, just 12 years old, to drive.

This orange car has two keys: a silver one that limits the speed to 30 km / h and a gold one that allows it to reach 170 km / h.

Immobilized since the 1979 revolution, which overturned the monarchy, he now makes young people who visit the Museum of Antique Cars, near Tehran, dream.

This was inaugurated a month ago at the initiative of the “Foundation of the disinherited” (“mustazafan” in Persian), which administers the assets of the dignitaries of the old regime confiscated after the revolution.

Nearly 20,000 people have rushed in to see the luxurious, vintage models. A higher number than visitors to the National Museum in a month.

“I love this place because it exposes some of the strange things that were left after the revolution. These objects make us travel our history ”, says Farzané, a 55-year-old retiree.

The building has an area of ​​11,000 m2, and houses 55 cars, two floats and four motorcycles, one of which was driven by Farah Diba, the last empress.

Another hundred more vehicles are still in storage, waiting to be meticulously restored and one day integrated into the museum.

This building is located in the industrial zone west of Tehran, where the country’s auto factories are also located.

Legal battle won

With pride, Mohamad Faal, the young director of the place, shows a 1922 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost in black, not so much because of the luxury of the car but because the Islamic Republic managed to keep this gem after an epic legal battle after the fall of the Iranian imperial family.

Six months before the outbreak of the revolution, the car had been sent to the Rolls-Royce factory in Great Britain for restoration.

After being overthrown in 1979, the Pahlavi family demanded that the factory return it to them, arguing that it belonged to the dynasty, ”explains Faal.

But after the legal dispute, a UK court ruled that the vehicle was owned by the Iranian state and not by the Shah’s family. Thus “the car returned to Iran,” says the head of the museum.

But, “the jewel in the crown” is an American car, specifically a Pierce Arrow “Model A” from 1930, which at that time was the most expensive car in America. A true fantasy that cost US $ 30,000 at the time, which was equivalent to one eighth of the Iranian state budget, acquired by Reza Sah, founder of the Pahlavi dynasty.

The bumpers, windshield and headlights are covered in chrome gold, while the doors feature the imperial crest.

The sovereign later gave it to his son Mohamad Reza, dethroned by the Islamic Revolution 42 years ago.

Before being forced to leave power, he used it in ceremonies, such as his marriage to his second wife, Soraya, and his father’s funeral.