The museum, on the former RAF Jurby site was built with private funding from the Cunninghams’ to exact specifications, Darren pointed out for example that the floor is flat to within 1mm per three metres and the sky lights were designed to lessen the impact of light shining on cars.

And to ensure visitors can get a good picture of the exhibits, there are no ropes or barriers and the information on each vehicle is on the floor, again to allow visitors to get the picture they want.

The attention to detail shows the type of people the Cunninghams are: petrol heads who know what people want.

Darren said: ’We had a collection of cars because Dad (Denis) would buy cars and never sell them, so we had a massive collection and we knew we needed to do something with them.

’When we came to the island in March 2014, we knew it was ideal and by May 2015, we had the museum open.

’We spent a long time looking at features of other museums we liked, so for example no barriers so they’re not in the way.

’And we also focus on the history of the vehicles, rather than speed or anything. We find that people who are properly into them, know all that and people who aren’t don’t necessarily care but the history of the vehicles is something anyone can enjoy.’

It was the history of the motors I was particularly interested in, from Joey Dunlop’s Mini Cooper, a bus which Darren and his friend lived in as they toured America, and even a piece of my own history, a former motor boat from Onchan Park where I had my first job, the stories are fascinating.

And in the workshop, a real gem of a car is a 1930s Royal Daimler converted for medical use, which it is believed was intended for King George V.

While the exhibits, including a spaceship and part of an airship, are part of the family’s passion, Darren said the museum and the adjacent Guard House cafe, is still very much the day job.

He said: ’Getting out in the museum and being able to speak to people is great, both for the feedback we get and for meeting returning visitors and new ones.

’We had a German couple send us a letter and a book of pictures they’d taken of the exhibits which they’d then changed on Photoshop so it was all different colours. That was really great to be sent.’

But Darren still has a passion for driving his cars and said the Isle of Man is the ideal place to drive classic cars, especially compared to their home in Barnet, North London.

’It is so much more fun to have classic cars in an environment where traffic isn’t a constant like it is in London’, he said.

With TT 2019 approaching, the museum is gearing up for moving its entire stock to create a new feel to it. Darren said: ’We like to mix it up, so people always have something new to come see and that will involve moving every exhibit in the museum.

’It will take us about two or three weeks to do and we’ll be moving the bikes first in preparation for our TT exhibit.’

The Motor Museum in Jurby is currently open on Sundays, 10am to 5pm. Its summer season starts in April.