Car rally hero donates model car collection

Malcolm Tyson donated his model car collection

A Cumbrian man famed for competing in the Monte Carlo Rally has donated his personal model car collection assembled over more than 70 years to the Lakeland Motor Museum.

Malcolm Tyson, who is from Ambleside, was well known on the car rally scene in the 1960s and has been collecting the models since he was around 8 years old. Over the intervening years, his collection has grown to more than 200 models including rare examples from famous manufacturers such as Dinky, Corgi, Solido, and Politoys. As well as racing and rally cars, it also brings together fine displays of Alfa Romeo, BMW, Jaguar and Mercedes.

Malcolm has now gifted his collection to the Lakeland Motor Museum at Backbarrow. Many of the items are still brand new and in the original boxes.

Malcolm’s passion for motoring started in the 1940s with trial biking. He then went on to compete in numerous car rallies and was a respected navigator who took part in several Monte Carlo rallies. He later took on the role of team service car driver for Vauxhall, driving the vehicles over numerous Lakeland passes.

Malcolm Tyson says, “Cars have been a very special part of my life and this collection brings together some unique motoring memories over the years. I’m proud to pass my model car collection over to the Museum and I hope visitors will enjoy viewing these miniature gems as much as I have enjoyed collecting them.”

Director of Lakeland Motor Museum, Bill Bewley, adds, “We would like to say a massive thank you to Malcolm donating this fascinating collection. He is well-known for his enthusiasm and passion for motorcycling and motoring, and on a personal note, he was a great inspiration to me when I began restoring vehicles and entering ‘concours’ competitions all those years ago. It is fantastic that Malcolm is now giving younger generations the chance to see some rarely-seen model cars at the Motor Museum.”