Can I have an Auto Museum?

I've always dreamt of setting up and running an Auto Museum here in Malaysia. Apparently we do have one in Sepang but I’ve never been there and I don’t know of anyone who has. But from the little I gather from the www, it’s nothing much to shout about. Yes, I will go pay the place a visit and eat my words. Or will I be vindicated?

Anyway, back to my Auto Museum dream, I will allocate one section to the history of automobiles in Malaysia in particular and in the world in general. Pictures and literature on the first car, the development of the automobile, innovations over the years, the road network in Malaysia over the years, road signs, road maps, traffic regulations, model cars even documentary on how petrol stations evolved! There will also be a section on auto statistics in Malaysia, number of cars sold per year and car prices over the years. A collection of car magazines from the days gone by would also be on display. a section will be dedicated on traffic ethics and education.

The next section will be dedicated to vehicles once familiar on Malaysian roads like the black and yellow Peugeot 404 Taxi (made famous by Nan in his comic strip Din Teksi), Mercedes W110 taxi from the 60s, Alfa Romeo & Alfetta police cars, Datsun 160J SSS, Morris Minor and Oxford, Volvo 122 and 144, Austin Cambridge, Rover P5, Ford Escort and Cortina, Toyota Corolla KE20/30, the first generation Honda Civic, Datsun 120Y and Nissan 130Y (Malaysia’s best sellers pre-Proton), Ford Transit ambulance, the Land Rover used by the Army and Police, Volkswagen Beetle, PDRM’s Suzuki 550GSX, Postmen bike from the 60s, the infamous “Bas Mini”, The best selling Honda “Cup” C70, Nissan 220C/Toyota Crown Subang Airport Limo, and maybe the first generation Proton Saga next to it’s Lancer twin.

The third section will display cars used by prominent Malaysians. The car that Tunku rode in Melaka after coming back from England (it’s an American made car), the many luxury marques used by the Sultans and ministers etc.

Another section will exhibit race cars like Karamjit’s PERT Mitsubishi/Proton or Alex Yoong’s Minardi or even Ron Lim’s RX-7.

A section will showcase classics such as the Jaguar E Type, BMW 2002, Citroen DS, Ferrari Dino, Datsun 240Z, Mercedes 300SL Gullwing, Volvo P1800, Mini Cooper, Fiat 500 and Porsche 911.

Every section will not only exhibit the cars but will also include literature, news reports and pictures related to the vehicle displayed.

There will also be an exhibition hall where new car launches or automobile related functions can be held.

An undertaking such as this requires a lot of capital expenditure and is not one that would be able to generate strong cashflow. For this reason, I can’t see any private initiative unless subsidised by the government.