Isle of Man Motor Museum - a cool car museum you MUST visit!

Find out more about the Isle of Man motor museum:
www.isleofmanmotormuseum.com
Thank you Darren and Steve from the museum team - you are a brilliant duo!
Check out channel sponsor Bidding Classics to buy yourself a classic, or perhaps sell the one in your garage at home to free up the space for something new: bit.ly/BiddingClassicsIDriveAC...
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Situated on the former RAF Jurby in the sunny north of the Isle of Man, the privately funded Isle of Man Motor Museum was purpose designed and houses over 500 vehicles. Opened in May 2015, it has become a petrolhead’s paradise with something for everyone to enjoy. Starting with the 1904 Gordon Bennett Trials, the Isle of Man occupies a unique place in both motoring and motorsports heritage. Every year, TT riders take on the fearsome 37.73 mile Mountain Course now averaging well over 130mph. Throughout the year, the Island’s fabulous driving roads and stunning scenery provide all enthusiast drivers and riders with an ideal destination to exercise their machines.
The core of the Museum’s collection is the Cunningham Collection. Assembled by father and son team Denis and Darren Cunningham over the past 30 years, this unique gathering of both historically significant vehicles and cars with very personal family stories led them to privately fund the establishment of the Isle of Man Motor Museum in order to share their passion. We are also honoured to host over 250 other vehicles on loan from other enthusiasts and collectors.

[@yuusasa4283]

I was surprised when I found a Japanese hearse in a British museum😳. The decoration varies from region to region; this type is the 'Kanazawa-kata' 「金沢型」 and the decoration is called 'Jinguji-miya-gata shiho-hafu dairyu-zukuri'「神宮寺宮型四方破風大龍造り」.

[@michaeltreadwell777]

WOW Steph, that was BRILLIANT ! You really picked out some gems there, and it looks like they have some very rare cars indeed. The Daimler looks fantastic in its original state, and with a secret history never to be revealed. What a shame the Museum is so far away from North London, but thank you for making the journey and sharing such an interesting place with us - thank you Fred too - what a team ! Can't wait for the follow up you promise. Take special care 🙂 X X

[@jkk244]

Great video Steph (and Fred too)! I’m an American but I’ve only seen flower cars in movies. I don’t think most Americans even know what they are.

[@basilhatte]

That green flower car on the commercial chassis is actually a style of hearse; the coffin rides inside that stainless steel compartment, that opens with that fake convertable bit, raising the flower-deck and releasing the tailgate. An old one like the two next to it can be seen in "Alice's Retaurent"; one like the shorter '67 can be seen in "The Blues Brothers". Great tour, it looks like you could do at least 2 more, judging from the vehicles in the background. Say,there's an idea!

[@stanwbaker]

As an American I was stunned to see an International Travelall, the less famous competitor to Jeep Wagoneer and Chevrolet Suburban. I'm pretty sure we haven't saved any. You may wish to research Cadillac's coach and commercial chassis division. Hearses, ambulances and similar vehicles were built on special Cadillac chassis until 1979 when regulations compelled emergency vehicles to move to taller vehicles.

[@frenchfriar]

That Cadillac Meteor ambulance-hearse took me back to my childhood, where our neighbors behind us had one parked against the property line. It was a gorgeous red and white, with a bright red interior, but it was in very sad shape indeed. Stunning vehicle, though. I never once saw it move from where it was sitting there, just rusting away. The interior was rotting away as well. I've never seen another one until now.

[@jonholding3880]

Wow, what an amazing place, great video, thank you Steph and Fred

[@giulioz.4928]

Show more of Fred. We like him and are greatful for him bringing you to us in all your glory

[@d.w.j.1114]

I think it's great that Fred has some time in front of the camera sharing his opinion and story.

[@caspaabriel4794]

For the type of vehicle transport I like, this is the best Museum I've ever seen. So eclectic, such a huge range of cars, styles and years. Fantastic, I could easily spend a week revisiting this Museum. Thanks Steph and Fred keep up the great work.

[@mdshonkkc]

Great video from a great museum! Flower cars weren't that common in the U.S. I remember only seeing them on TV. More Fred!

[@Phiyedough]

That was interesting about the flower cars as I also didn't know they existed. The more I hear about American culture, the more I realise that it is unique and a bit bonkers!

[@caw25sha]

I think there were some in one of the Godfather films. As Steph mentioned they were popular with the Mafia! There was also a station wagon based ambulance, it brought Don Corleone home from hospital. Again a uniquely American thing as in most countries ambulances are van based.

[@terrytait28]

Most American ambulances from the 1970’s on are van or pickup truck based.

[@lynellestagman2604]

I'm American and I had also never heard of a flower car. They must not be popular in the Midwest where I live. Usually we just have the hearse and everyone follows in their own car with their lights on with a little flag that says Funeral on it.

[@douglasfur3808]

Even as an American the flower cars were new to me. Of which the mob connection was interesting. Somewhere in the dark recesses of brain, where memory and imagination are dangerously close, something says that those super fancy Japanese hearses are popular with Japanese mobsters...

[@kellybrickey4300]

Great video, loved that you featured the hearses, and it was great to hear from Fred! He always does such nice work behind the camera, it's nice to see him out front.

[@manofthehour6856]

Oh my goodness, Steph....I will include the Isle of Man as the first stop on my next visit to the UK!!! This musuem is exceptional! The collection is so ecclectic and exquisite with some of the last vehicles that you would expect in a location like this! I've always been intrigued by hearses and limousines, not because of a morbid fixation with death, but the beautiful coachwork on such cars. And the more you explained the Daimler Limousine Ambulance, yes, I do suspect if was built for use by George V considering Daimler's relationship with the Royal household at the time, his condition, etc. I do remember articles about the Dodge Lafemme in more recent motoring magazines, realized it was not just a '56 Dodge as I considered the paint job, was surprised something so rare is here, and most of all, I enjoyed your personal reaction to it. Articles that profiled it shared their critical disdain for how Chrysler executives would build something so patronizing to women. It was refreshing to see a young woman accept it for what it is (an option package that was marketed to appeal to women), and how it is your favorite model in the museum! Its a bit of history, and thankfully preserved like everything else in this collection by the museum! The variety makes this a must for anyone who adores the "golden age of motoring" from the 1930s to the 1970s. Thanks for sharing this treasure!!!!!

[@purplerhodes]

Thanks for posting this video - I am absolutely going to have to go & visit, now! It's only a drive up the other end of the island, for me. I'd driven past it last year, thought I must go back & visit it, and forgot all about it!

[@bri77uk1]

Thanks Steph, that was a really well chosen selection of oddities :-) Amazing collection! I shall have to visit!

[@dougieb3589]

When you opened the show with Norman Wisdoms car i thought back to being on the Isle Of Man in the mid 90's, there was a classic American car show and he turned up for a look, thinking about it he may well have handed out a few of the trophies, ever the showman he did his walk down the line of cars much to everyones enjoyment!

[@garymackley-smith]

What a fascinating Museum. Thank you for bringing it to our attention.

[@idriveaclassic]

Thanks Gary!

[@philhawley1219]

@@idriveaclassic You said American Culture. An oxymoron surely!

[@noexpensespentstudios]

The pilot of Fred's Favourites was a neat addition to a well stuffed video. Looks a great museum to visit with some genuinely interesting exhibits.

[@rocklover7437]

In Hull we had the biggest Humber museum, sadly gone now .

[@user-zt5xq5hw6u]

Thank you for picking up the Japanese hearse. In Japan today, it has become a rare hearse. And such carved hearses saw off both dignitaries and ordinary citizens in the same luxurious hearse. The price of a single unit was high, typically $100,000 or more😅

[@ClaireUKBarnFinds]

Great video Steph. Very enjoyable and learnt a lot too 😊 I love the LaFemme too, I’d live in it if I could!

[@pauldeacy9989]

Fred's favorite is a great feature. Enjoyable vid!

[@palmermccall7309]

Great tour! My first car was a 1972 Miller-Meteor combination ambulance/hearse on a Cadillac commercial chassis, with a ridiculous wheelbase of 166", or 422 cm. This was in 1985, when the car had been relegated to first-call duty in my grandfather's funeral home, and it needed to be cleaned up and sold. I'm in western North Carolina, and said grandfather lived from 1886-1982. I only had my driving permit, so I had to have a licensed driver on board. If that driver was my father (1927-2022), he would usually lie down in the back with his arms crossed over his chest. Particularly funny since he was a well-known doctor. The car had the fold-up ambulance jump seats, removable panels for the rear side windows, and the flip-able floor panels that were flat for a stretcher, or with rubber rollers for a casket. Thanks for putting this museum on my radar - will have to visit on my next visit to the UK!

[@kellybrickey4300]

I'm with Fred on the Viper. I was at the Detroit auto show when they unveiled it. People flooded to it. MoPar was BACK!

[@rocklover7437]

Love the black Cadillac pickup next to the Cadillac ambulance ( 1st car you showed ) .

[@mattw8332]

Very impressive! Nice to see a glimpse of the Ford Zodiac mark 4 (Executive?) and an NSU Ro80.

[@alanwilson6367]

Fred did a wonderful job. Thank you young fella.😊😊

[@Rigel_Chiokis]

That car that was built as a cut-away reminded me that in the War History Museum here in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, they have a WWII tank that was cut-away like that. It was very cool.

[@graemew7001]

What a place, that would need to be a 2 day visit to take it all in. It's like the Lakeland Museum in the respect of I took loads of photos of the reading placards so I could read it at home to take it all in as there's so much of it. I do love the Sunbeam Talbot 90, I'd be taking loads of photos of it.

[@11carbuff19572011]

Hiya Steph. Love that Dodge La Femme that was there in the museum. There was something similar produced on this side of the Pond almost seven decades ago as well, it was the Daimler One-0-Four, there was actually a Lady's Model produced. I have some footage from the Motor Show of 1954 actually on DVD, featuring three smart girls (as the period commentary describes them) visiting the Show. They were Veronica Hurst, Valerie Curtin & Dianne Hart, who were actresses from London's Windmill Theatre.

[@korbanholmes]

6:52 A Japanese hearse, how incredible.

[@stephenricketts7764]

I know You have visited museum's before but I thank you for showing us the things that are different. I am in my 60's but I hadn't heard of some of those things so great that you picked them out for us to see. It is good to let Fred have some input once a while and I liked his choice of car. Thank you once again Steph and I look forward to the test drives to come from this trip. 👍👍

[@derekantill3721]

Wow Steph they have some extremely rare exhibits. This just has to be one of the finest motor museums in the world. ❤

[@allanmollison6971]

Thanks for sharing part of your trip with us Steph, enjoyable as always. 😊👍

[@hisheroship]

This is the first time I have seen your content. Well done! You are interesting, know what we want to know, and don’t talk too much. Absolutely brilliant. Well done.

[@philroach7074]

Brilliant video Thank you

[@mannywilliams6409]

Flower cars are rarely used today in the states today.

[@rogerpritchard]

Brilliant discovery Steff!!!!! Thankyou, I shall definitely put that on my bucket list!! I shall spend the whole day there.

[@richardmendham5278]

I absolutely loved that museum. Like you, I loved the bus. I loved the ambulance/hearse, to name only two. I so want to go!

[@johnjtm1097]

Brilliant video Steph and Freddie. Who knew that this place ever existed. Some great and unusual vehicles here.

[@williamdeegan7840]

Great video. You do a great job.

[@peterriggall8409]

WOW, that was great Steph. Never knew this museum existed. It is really something very special. Loved seeing the Aussie Royal Tour Humber. Such a pin unusual collection. That Dodge…..so unusual. Good to see Fred having an input. 👍

[@rossdoughton7638]

Loved seeing the Humber Super Snipe. In 1953 as a young school boy in Australia I remember seeing the Queen and Prince Phillip being driven around the local showground to the cheers and flag waving of hundreds of school children.

[@TheStobb50]

Excellent

[@BB-gt1eg]

Great highlights! Always nice when you show unique cars, wherever they are from. I like "Fred's favorites". Even if I don't agree that out of that entire museum a Viper is the top...I can't disagree with Fred's reason for the choice. 🙂 Thanks both of you!

[@13Photodog]

The open flower cars were primarily used in the New York and New Jersey area. They were not a thing in the middle part of the US. Many funeral homes did use a flower car which was an older hearse that ran to the funeral home out of site of the mourners. The flowers would be unloaded at the cemetery then that hearse would return via a different route so it remained unseen. I had a part time high school driving one.

[@mickphillips6735]

Grea vid enjoyed Fred's fave

[@alecporter1784]

well done Fred

[@davecooper3238]

This piece has reminded me that quite a few around WW2 posh cars came with built in jacks. If I remember correctly they were hydraulically operated.

[@robstirling3173]

A great place to visit, A lot of motorbikes too!

[@hennyverheij5969]

What an amazing museum and what a beautyfull cars they have! 👌👍

[@TheDarkPhoenix23]

This is great Steph! I always love your take on our American cars. It's interesting to hear other people's thoughts and opinions on cars that we often find common place here.

[@liverpoolman1990]

also you may recognize the cadilac miller meteor a modified version was used for ecto 1 the ghosbusters car

[@Really658]

I love that meteor!

[@michaelm5601]

You can still find a flower car today at larger more established funeral homes. These cars had another purpose, that the interior of the rear of the flower car could be used to retrieve a body from the location where the death occurred without using your hearse.

[@hotpuppy1]

Cool cutaway. back in the late 1930's, Pontiac built a see-through car body made from acrylic, which was a brand new material then.

[@martindehavilland-fox3175]

Looks a great place to visit! Thanks for the tour Steph

[@mikewysko2268]

Such an interesting collection of vehicles.

[@patrickmcneilly4293]

I noticed a beautiful American LaFrance tiller that appears to be unrestored. Very nice.

[@DanaTheInsane]

I wasn't expecting a Scenicruiser!

[@gren509]

Superb video, and another good reason to visit "The Island" again.

[@drwho534]

What an amazing museum....especially the large variety of amazing U.S. classics more than in many U.S. museums I've seen! Another fantastic tour, thanks Steph for taking us around. 👍

[@terencehawkes3933]

Some really interesting vehicles. I too have never heard of or seen a flower car here in Canada.

[@stephenperry6024]

That was great! I've been to the IOM twice but never knew about this place, looks like a proper day out

[@tonyinit8488]

I really enjoyed that video Steph - thanks very much ! 👍 👍

[@chrisagnew2923]

Really enjoyed this video. Now I'm left to ponder how a Dodge Le Femme ended up on the Isle of Man.

[@timelwell7002]

I take it that if the Meteor doubled as an ambulance and a herse, if the patient should die on the way to hospital, it's just a case of grabbing the coffin and then going straight to the funeral parlour? Boy, those guys at Cadillac must have had a really twisted sense of humour...

[@bokhans]

Brilliant video. Thanks from Stockholm. Need to see this on my next visit to the Isle of Man, haven’t been since 1976.

[@zm321]

Some great exhibits in there.

[@jasondear8440]

That was wonderful Steph! love motor museums from beaulieu to Lakeland! but never this one? probably because my little Jimny would take ages to get me there from Dorset! so big thank you Steph! x

[@JP-su8bp]

Brilliant tour! Amazing museum. Thank you.

[@scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain]

A brilliant video Steph and Fred, really enjoyable and loved Fred's favourite on the Viper,I think you have to include this in videos as well.

[@rodhili3946]

Fabulous video Steph ❤ I thought I was pretty clued up (+ I'm old) but there's stuff there I've never heard of. I must visit

[@idriveaclassic]

You must! Worthy of the ferry over

[@worshipthenephilim]

What a brilliant place! Cracking tour thank you so much, brilliant to see these rarities and one-offs! (Oh dear ANOTHER place now on my bucket list 😆!)

[@mikeburnitt403]

oh you tease Stephanie (note the use of the Sunday name).what a great video of a superb museum.

[@lesklower7281]

Steph that Humber Super Snipe used for the Royal Tour of Australia l once saw it in a motor museum in Echuca Victoria Australia wow and a lot of cars you will not see in any other motor museum or classic car show and of course been The Isle of Man there had to have a Peel

[@terribelbliss9646]

Thanks so much, that was a lovely tour.

[@mikmik9034]

I am in the U.S. and I never heard of a "Flower Car", I just assumed that the flowers were tacked onto normal vehicles or carried in pickup trucks (aka uni). Note the fill pipe door on the right side of c1950 vehicles, At that time there were still, in some areas, Curb side Fuel Pumps. During the transition period the fuel fill was in the center under the rear registration plate, and in later years on the drivers side for service station fueing pmps. Regarding vehicle colours, in 'good' times the vehicles are painted bright, even pastel. In lessor times they tend to less bright colours, sand, brown, silver, grey. Black & White are always 'popular'.

[@seankirby1327]

I want to go to this museum today! It is is going to have be a stop on our trip to England. I love automotive history and unique vehicles. You always do such a great job of giving the history of all the vehicles you showcase. This has to be one of my favorite videos you have produced. And now a totally random observation. You had a great hair day when you made this video ! I really enjoy your more composed demeanor. I love all of your videos,. I have noticed that you appear more composed and less over the top when presenting in your newer content. Lastly, yes I would love to hear the prospective of. "The man behind the camera."

[@ericchristopher1687]

Marvelous stuff. Since I live in the USA, I find it especially touching that you find American cars so interesting and even exotic - exactly my feeling for many years about British and various other cars from Europe. That being said, I had never seen or even heard of a Dodge La Femme, although the hearses and flower cars I had seen before. Thanks for your wonderful videos.

[@enigma1865]

I saw a hearse like this in Tokyo back in 1979. Just about walked in traffic looking at it.

[@garrysimpson4056]

I went last year while visiting freinds it's amazing

[@kdsboosted4954]

Very cool! I have my eye on a 48-49 cadillac flour car.

[@alanwilson6367]

Wonderful video thank you for your hard work. Your enthusiasm is infectious.😊😊

[@michaelhalsall5684]

The Daimler Double Six being left unrestored is great. Some museums have collections of vehicles that are often restored to showroom condition hiding their past lives. The rather rough looking "royal ambulance" has an interesting history and all its blemish tell its story.

[@troygreen9321]

Great collection

[@buck9739]

I love your work beautiful. Thx

[@johnlavender242]

Interesting to see the McClain Flower Car. Francis J. McClain owned a used car and leasing business. Russ Parker was the body man who fabricated the Flower Car. I worked as a salesman for Mac from 1969 - 1971.

[@martiniv8924]

Wow ! Great episode, everyone should do an IOM at one point in their lifetime, great eclectic collection 👌🏻😎

[@jrgenp.nielsen1243]

Love your vid. Got to be a great Way to spend a day.

[@Saskue78]

Some interesting cars. Awesome video.

[@stevewilson8467]

Luckily, this great collection is only a couple of miles from home for me. So much to take in, my personal favourite would be the Fiat Samantha(s), such a stunning coupe that I never knew existed. Great to see you on our craggy island!

[@markkelly5326]

Great video. Thanks

[@pinstripingbybear.]

@8:26 that's Thomas the train 🚂, from the TV show here in the state's. that's just a school bus for us in the U.S.

[@pauljackson6593]

Interesting point about the flower cars . I had never heard of them. And my uncle had a Humber super snipe brand new in the 60s brings back memories. Was a enjoyable video thanks.

[@Phiyedough]

Humber must have been quite an upmarket brand in those days, a far cry from the tarted up version of the Hillman Hunter that they churned out in later years.

[@pauljackson6593]

@@Phiyedough yes it was . My uncle was the wealthy one in the family and I think the only one with a car! It was a estate car in metallic grey with red leather I would have been about 10 years old in 1965.

[@roygardiner2229]

Thanks for truly fascinating facts and reviews. Now I'm a bit worried about myself....I liked the Dodge La Femme 😶....... Heck!

[@passengerseatpodcast]

Really tempted to make a trip over there at some point now! It's a great museum! The Daimler reminds me of one of Dad's cars - it's rumoured to have been owned by the Secretary of King Edward the 8th and to have carried his abdication papers - a previous owner wrote to the Queen Mother, the last person likely to remember it, in the 90s and just got a letter that basically said "we can neither confirm or deny that" 👀👀🤷

[@scottstrails9369]

Fab video Steph,thanks again

[@idriveaclassic]

Thanks Scott!

[@d.w.j.1114]

- I found it interesting that the '56 Cadillac hearse had New York inspection & registration stickers but plates from Ohio, guess the owners in Ohio never removed the NY stickers. I'm from lower NY and flower cars were fairly common, here anyway as I've seen them being used on more than one occasion, I think they were mostly used by people whose families could afford it. Surprised to see a Japanese hearse on a Cadillac chassis or even a Lincoln as you mentioned they used. I've only seen them on Japanese made cars. Great video Steph🍻