To begin with I’d like to mention that the main car museums of the UAE - Sharjah Old Cars Club and Museum, Emirates National Auto Museum, Al Ain Classic Car Museum – were visited by our team and memorized at the pages of the 360CarMuseum. You may find virtual tours on these museums at 360CarMuseum.com . We were quite surprised when in a small article in a local magazine we found out information about Al Serkal Classic Cars Private Museum in Deira old area right in the heart of Dubai city.

A small travel around Dubai brought us right to the Al Serkal cars collection. The building of the collection noticeably distinguishes from the general modern architecture of Dubai, it looks more “Renaissance” from the edge of the XIX and XX century somewhere in France. The shape of the building is of irregular quadrangle. It worth mentioning that the building is the office of a multidisciplinary Arabic company called Al Serkal Group. The company was founded in 1947 by Nasser bin Abdullatif Alserkal. Exactly Mr. Nasser and his family are the owners of this private collection. There are no specific visiting hours and Al Serkal Classic Cars Collection is opened for visiting when the office is opened for workers.

A hall where all cars are displayed has transparent roof decorated with stained-glass window in the Arab style. The natural light shades on the exhibits, creates great atmosphere of car-themed Sim-Sim treasury. Let’s get right to the collection. Its composition is quite traditional for private car collections of Arab sheikhs: exclusive and luxury cars, 4x4, oldtimers. 70% of exhibits are American cars. This collection is one more proof that Arab car collectors have passion to American pickups.

In Al Serkal Classic Cars Collection you may see a 1940 Dodge Pickup 1/2 ton…

…three models of Ford F-1…


…and a 1950 Panel Truck…

…and a 1954 Ford F-100 Pickup…

…and few exhibits of this type of a vehicle from Chevrolet: a 1948 Thriftmaster Stock…

…and a 1956 Chevrolet 3100 PickUp V8.

The second distinguishing feature of this Dubai private cars collection is presence of many luxury cars. Many of them are limousine trims of regular business-class cars. One of them are 1996 Rolls-Royce Silver Spur Park Ward Limousine…

...Plymouth Fury Desoto Limousine 1959...

…and almost presidential 1964 Cadillac Fleetwood Seventy-Five Sedan…

…there is also a more modern 1980 Cadillac Fleetwood 75 Limousine.

A Military part of Al Serkal Classic Cars Private Museum is represented by regular Willis and Dodge: U.S. Army Willis M38E 1950…

…and a marine corps 1950 Willys M38 Jeep…

…1943 Dodge WC52 is AWD truck with ¾ ton carrying capacity…

…and a real truck Chevrolet C8A 1939 - Canadian Military Pattern. This truck was massively produced during the Second World War and used in the Allied armies. These trucks were exported to the USSR as part of the Lend-Lease program.

At Al Serkal Group car collection you may also see special purpose vehicles. 1954 Dodge M37 Fire Truck is one of them…

…it seems that 1955 Chevrolet Series 6500 Firetruck was not able to get inside the building, that’s why it’s effectively displayed at the entrance.

An exotic part of the collection is represented by two traditional vehicles from Philippines, notable representatives of local car culture called Jeepney.

Jeepney is a kind of public transport in Philippines. Firstly these vehicles were American military SUVs (yes, of Jeep company) which were later purchased by Filipinos from American military bases. Locals transformed these SUVs into public transport by extension of frame. The exterior then was interpreted in specific local manner.

As a result of this massive sale, many customized cars appeared in Philippines. After some time Jeepney became a part of Philippine culture.

Today these custom truck-buses are assembled on the basis of many used cars, of Japanese production predominantly, however it’s possible to see Korean and Chinese Jeepneys. There are special workshops in Philippines which produce few Jeepneys each month (each by individual orders).

Some enthusiasts make Jeepneys by their own hands. As far as Filipino use logos of popular automotive brands as decorations some inexperienced people may think that they see Jeepney from Isuzu or Mercedes.

Great pieces of Al Serkal Classic Cars Private Museum in Dubai are two modernized “classics”. These are stylish Hot-Rods made from Ford Model T and Model A. First piece is a dragster-style Hot-Rod, it is obvious by tiny front wheels and wide rear tires of the custom car.

A modern engine, suspension details and exhaust are successfully decorated by old-fashioned elements of “a brass era”. Many chromed details and “pinstriping” decorations make this custom Hot-Rod look more luxury.

The next step of Hot-Rodding customization is this example of 1930 Ford Model A in a 5-window Coupe body. The car was successfully customized by hot-rod enthusiasts, it’s a great example of how hot-rod cars looked in the past.


These and many other gems of car culture you may see by your eyes walking in a virtual tour of the Al Serkal Group car collection here: 360carmuseum.com . Go to the tour and see each detail of each exhibit, ready its story and learn more new things about old cars.