The Prince of Monaco has his own car museum: Prince Albert and his cars

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Such a thing only exists in Monaco: a real prince, Formula 1 driver Thierry Boutsen (65) and Ferry Porsche’s grandson Ferdinand Porsche (62) come together to form a circle of friends – “Friends of the Auto Collection Prince Albert II.” Otherwise, Prince Albert II (65) wife Charlène and the duo’s relationship status dominate the headlines, but this time the regent is about their passions. This spring, he enriched his personal car collection, which is on display in a small but beautiful museum in Monte Carlo, with pieces on loan to mark Porsche’s 75th anniversary as an independent car brand. Porsche’s factory museum sent cars as well as private collectors. You help each other among friends.

Just last year, car superfan Albert II made his collection accessible to everyone. Among all the borrowed Porsche race cars stands a green 911 Carrera RS. Albert’s father, Prince Rainier III, has it. (1923-2005) was bought once – as a used car. As a young man, Albert was rarely allowed to use it. It was the only Porsche 928 he owned: “It was the ideal everyday car for me,” he recalls. Born into a car-loving family: “Cars have always been my passion, I grew up with them.” It was even sporty: “I actually drove a few races in 1985 and 1986. However, not in a Porsche, but in a Mitsubishi.”

A family of car enthusiasts

Her father, Prince Rainier III. He bought his first car, the 1903 De Dion Bouton, while he was a student in 1953. After all, he drove it in the London-Brighton Rally in 1968 – the car is still part of the collection today. In 1953, he competed in rallies at Deutsch & Bonnet under the pseudonym Louis Carladés.

It is said that there are about 75 cars in the principality’s collection today, but only a fraction of it fits in the museum. Among other things, a Ford V8 48 station wagon from 1936, which was once the royal family’s hunting car; plus a convertible Ferrari 250 GT, a Maserati Mistral 4000 Coupé from Frua, and a Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud from 1956, which the public is said to have given to the monarch. The Chrysler Imperial is famous for when Prince Rainier took his bride, US actress Grace Kelly (1929-1982), on board while on his way from America. It was repainted from green to black for General de Gaulle’s visit in 1960 – making it look more representative.

mom’s movie car

Below is a 1959 Renault Floride in Borneo green, gifted to the Princess by the French automaker. He probably didn’t use it often – the meter only showed 7,000 kilometers. 1954 Sunbeam Alpine Mk1 is purchased by Prince Albert II to commemorate his mother’s film career. It’s a replica of the car from Hitchcock’s Catching the Thief. Also on display: A Nash-Healey, Rainier III. mistakenly bought another car from a Hitchcock movie.

Race cars await on the ground floor – in the back corner, for example, the Bugatti 35A that Marcel Lehoux drove at the first Monaco GP in April 1929. Next to it are the BMW M1 from 1982, the Lancia 037 from 1984, the Peugeot 205 Turbo and the F1 Lamborghini 291 from 1991. But not in Porsche – he prefers Lexus.

Source: Blick