Below The Radar heaven - automotive obscurities galore in the Isle of Man Motor Museum

Darren and Denis Cunningham have built up what must be the premier collection of obscure cars (and other vehicles) in the UK. In this film we take a look at what's in the collection, including no fewer than three Monicas, a quartet of Fiat Samanthas and an eyebrow-raising four Facel Vega Excellences. Well, four might be stretching things a bit because some of them are hardly what you'd call pristine...

[@user-yx6ry5ow2r]

Visited this museum two years ago

[@johnfh]

Fascinating! I've been to Beaulieu and Schlumph, but... I'm 80, I live in Stockholm, and I don't know if I'm up to the trip. Have to think about it!

[@Sonnymonster]

Definately paying a visit in the summer. Didn’t know about this hidden gem❤️

[@friedjohn]

Great collection and video. I used to think I knew most of the cars of Sixties and Seventies including many "Below the Radar" makes. I actually clicked on the video because I thought I spotted a rare Bi-Rotor Citroën GS in the corner. But instead I discovered the Fiat Samantha (never heard of that Fiat 125 derivative), the GSM Flamingo (or that), and the Monica (had heard that name). Well done. I'm looking forward to hear more about all the strange cars in the museum, and I just got one more reason to want to visit the Isle of Man.

[@BelowtheRadarCars]

Thank you for that Finn - that is a Birotor that you can see, and it's fully functional, so hopefully when I return to the Isle of Man in a month, that will be one of the videos that I can do for you. Remember there's a whole website full of obscure car stories at www.below-the-radar.com. I have a very long list of cars that I want to write up and put onto the website but there aren't enough hours in the day doing this on my own when it's purely a hobby!

[@MrNotmanyifany]

@@BelowtheRadarCars I'm keen on an in-depth on the Birotor!

[@robertturner4955]

I wish I could come and see the collection, but I am 4000 miles away 😢

[@Curiousdriving]

Great video, Dave.

[@BelowtheRadarCars]

Thanks Bob!

[@tomcat7525]

I would love to see anything on all of the rare and fascinating Citroens and then there are so many more makes and models that are interesting. I am in Australia so unable to get to the museum so will rely on your coverage. 👍

[@BelowtheRadarCars]

I'm hoping to do the Birotor and M35, but the latter is a non-runner

[@CycolacFan]

Nice to see a museum where the exhibits aren’t all roped off and hidden behind barriers, must make seeing and photographing them more straightforward. Like to see more of their hearse and flower cars collection.

[@richardfiennes3616]

Motoring enthusiast's heaven with rarities like the Monica. Perhaps Darren and his father should contact Rodger Dudding and ask to borrow some of his rarer automobiles?

[@suffolkngood]

Please do a vid on the Autech Stelvio Zagato. Pretty please !!!

[@BelowtheRadarCars]

I'd say that's a pretty good shout! I shall do my best to make it happen...

[@DonAl9114]

How on earth can people collect so many cars..? Unbelievable. 😊😊😊

[@BelowtheRadarCars]

Ha! I have another video to upload soon, about a chap with far more than this. Should be up within the next week or so

[@robinburn4974]

Quite easily 😂

[@jonathancarson1974]

Would love to see more Monica's and the Autech Stelvio.... What a great looking place

[@BelowtheRadarCars]

A short Monica video will be uploaded tomorrow - but they're all non-runners unfortunately

[@GasoliniASMR]

Wonderful cross section of odd balls

[@bokhans]

Funny how you talked about the Monica car brand. I did some business with a Monica owner and when I talked to him again he had another one! 😂

[@BelowtheRadarCars]

There aren't many of them about, so that's a very special collection!

[@smhorse]

I'd be very surprised if they have examples of the VW K70L and K70LS....

[@BelowtheRadarCars]

They don't - and they've all disappeared from the UK now. But maybe there's a nice one in Europe with their name on it...

[@smhorse]

@@BelowtheRadarCars: I think there's still a couple of RHD K70s still running in the UK, and at least one in Ireland

[@lordleonusa]

2.5k subscribers, nice. Well done Richard

[@BelowtheRadarCars]

Not yet - but hopefully soon!

[@MOSSFEEN]

Irish Registered VW Polo 88 LD 394 (1988 Longford 394)

[@peterv3642]

Monica and M35, Richard

[@BelowtheRadarCars]

Aha! I did a Monica film when I was there last year and I'll put it up on Monday. Bear in mind the cars are non-runners though... I'd like to do the M35 - but the one in the museum is also a non-runner, or at least it was when I was previously there. That GS Birotor is fully up and running however...

[@mikeperry8598]

All the Cadillacs

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

👍👍👍👍

[@robwesselink6070]

The Rover Jet Car. Is it a real one or a replica.

[@BelowtheRadarCars]

There was only one real one and that's in the Science Museum. So it's a replica only, sadly...

[@robwesselink6070]

@@BelowtheRadarCars Thank you for your reaction. First I thought that it was the Rover Jet Car from Jools Holland but that car looks different.

[@Suprahampton]

Didn't the Museum burn down?

[@BelowtheRadarCars]

No - Darren and Denis moved to the island just over a decade ago and built their museum from scratch. The only museum I know of that has burned down was the Birmingham Motorcycle Museum - I can't think of any other car museums that have caught fire.

[@QuickSplashVideo-rm2kh]

That'll be car museums of the future featuring early EVs. 😁

[@email4664]

Not one pan of the upstairs motorcycles