By Shruti Menon Seeboo
On a balmy January afternoon in Beaux Songes, the air was thick with more than just the tropical heat; it was heavy with the scent of leather, heritage, and high-octane ambition. In an exclusive preview hosted alongside the CIPR International Mauritius Network, the Milestones Collection pulled back the curtain on what promises to be a world-class landmark—a love letter to the history of human movement.
The Milestones Motor Museum will house one of the most significant collections in the world with a value, at cost, of approximately MUR 3.5 billion. Together with the cost of the land and construction, the project represents over MUR 6 billion of direct investment into the Mauritian economy. The construction of the site began in April 2024 and is due to be completed by the end of 2026, when the museum is set to open its doors to the public. The museum will showcase cars from the Milestones Collection, which comprises over 200 vehicles, encompassing movie cars, supercars, race cars, rally cars as well as failure cars and motorcycles.
The event served as a manifesto for the founder’s vision. Terry Smith, the driving force behind the museum, was clear that this is no mere hobby project. “We want to build the best car museum in the world,” Smith shared. He noted that many international collections suffer from a certain regional myopia. “An awful lot of car collection museums that I’ve visited are very centric to the country or the region that they’re in. If you go to Europe, you won’t find an awful lot of American cars, and you may not find any Japanese cars.”
Milestones, however, aims to break that mould. Having personally scouted museums across Europe, America, and Japan, Smith and his team have curated a collection that spans from 1903 to 2012. “How will we prove it [is the best]? Well, first of all, the selection of cars,” Smith explained. With 33 American cars and 22 Japanese models, the museum celebrates the global evolution of the industry. “Americans didn’t invent the automobile, but they certainly took it to heart. Japan has also made some fantastic contributions to the world of engineering over time.”
This educational mission is central to the project. Smith intends to tap into the island’s vibrant car culture to show “how cars develop, how engines develop,” even drawing parallels to business history. He cites Henry Ford’s success as a prime example of “capitalising on production by increasing demand… rather than increasing the profit.”
Samantha Seewoosurrun, Founder of the CIPR International Mauritius Network, highlighted that this depth of detail is exactly what makes the project so compelling. “PR professionals will be reminded of the importance of storytelling that should be at the heart of any PR strategy,” she said. “The museum will not only tell us about engines and cylinders but will reveal the inspiring tales of vision, passion, and determination—and even rivalry—that shape the cars we drive today.”
CIPR International is one of the largest sectoral groups of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, which is based in the UK with members in over 80 countries worldwide. Samantha set up the Mauritius Network of CIPR International in 2019, which has attracted members across the PR community in Mauritius. Its members are active in a range of sectors, seeking to enhance their skills and knowledge, network with like-minded peers, and share best practice.
CIPR International’s sponsors for the event were AfrAsia, Rogers Capital Management Services, Kolos, Eagle Insurance, Africa Specialty Risks, Medine Property, Moments by PhoenixBev, Moka Mocha by Courts Mammouth, and Impact Production Group.
A Gallic Icon: The Presidential Citroën DS 19
The preview journey began with France’s most avant-garde contribution to the road. Terry Smith presented the Citroën DS 19, a car so revolutionary that it famously saved the life of the late President Charles de Gaulle. “The collection includes vehicles which have their rightful place in international automotive history,” Smith remarked. “The stories of the cars are equally as fascinating as their mechanics.”
H.E. Frederic Bontems, French Ambassador, was struck by the car’s enduring elegance: “Seeing this DS 19 here in Mauritius is a poignant reminder of French innovation. It represents a marriage of engineering and art that still resonates today.”
British Sophistication: The Quintessential Aston Martin DB5
No collection of “Milestones” would be complete without the UK’s most famous export. Terry highlighted the Aston Martin DB5, a vehicle that defines the “Supercar” and the enduring legacy of British engineering.
H.E. Paul Brummell CMG, UK High Commissioner, was visibly moved by the car’s presence, sharing a story that resonated with every former child in the room:
“This is actually quite an emotional moment for me to stand here, because I have quite a deep personal connection with the Aston Martin DB5. If anybody knows anything about the salary of foreign office diplomats in the UK, you’ll quickly realise that I’ve never owned an Aston Martin DB5. But I did, as a child. The Corgi model Aston Martin DB5 was, I think, the first car I was ever given in miniature.
And it was just fantastic, this thing. It was a little model car, and it did everything. Unlike the usual Corgis that you just sort of wheeled around, this thing had buttons. The ejector seat really worked—you propelled your passenger up out of the top. There was another button for a screen that lifted up at the back, and right at the headlights at the front there were Browning machine guns. It was magnificent.
I discovered later that the version I had was the gold DB5 from the very first Bond movie. But the weird thing about the later versions—like in GoldenEye—is that all the military stuff disappeared. It had a secret drinks compartment and a fax machine. So, strange things! What a wonderful addition to the collection. This is going to be a great feature for Mauritius.”
The High Commissioner’s story highlights the “Corgi No. 261″—the most famous die-cast toy in history. Interestingly, the toy was originally produced in gold because the metallic silver paint wasn’t ready in time for the 1965 Christmas rush, creating a unique “milestone” of its own in toy history.
Japanese Engineering: The Legend of the 2000GT
The museum’s global scope was further cemented with the inclusion of the Toyota 2000GT, a car that Terry describes as the antithesis of what people expected from Japan in 1967. While Toyota was already becoming “Ichiban” (number one) for practical transport, the 2000GT was a different animal entirely.
“At that time, Toyota was known for making large numbers of very practical cars which mobilised the masses,” Smith explained. “The Toyota Corolla would go on to be one of the most popular cars ever… and then they came out with this. It doesn’t look very much like a Toyota Corolla. It’s kind of like a E-Type Jaguar.”
Smith pointed out the fascinating mechanical pedigree of the car, which was famously developed in partnership with Yamaha’s music department—a connection visible in the intricate wood veneer of the dashboard. “It’s a fantastic performer with a six-cylinder, two-litre engine. They only made 351 of them. It was engineered for performance, winning 16 speed races and even placing third in a Grand Prix.”
He also shared a humorous anecdote regarding the car’s most famous “modification” for the silver screen. When the 2000GT was selected for the James Bond film You Only Live Twice, star Sean Connery was too tall to fit in the sleek coupe. “If you’ve got a short body and it’s quite tall, you can cut the roof off if you need to,” Smith joked, referring to the two open-top versions built specifically for the movie. “When James Bond employees were polled on their favourite ‘Bond car,’ this often beats the DB5 or the Lotus. Every time I’ve driven it, I can see why; it’s a fantastic car to drive.”
H.E. KAN Masahiro, Japanese Ambassador, shared this infectious excitement, noting the immense pride the vehicle brings to his nation:
“The Toyota 2000GT is a very iconic sports car. Only 337 (production) cars were ever made, and this is one of them. It is a very good opportunity for us to see this car in Mauritius. For the past six years, in the global new car market, Toyota has been number one—Ichiban. This car is a very iconic representation of how Toyota developed into a leading automotive company. It is a very, very great honour to see this car here. I am very excited.”
The Ambassador’s mention of “Ichiban” underscored the museum’s theme of excellence, proving that the collection isn’t just about looking back, but about understanding the DNA of the world’s most successful manufacturers.
American Grandeur: The Power of the Cadillac V16
“We thought we’d bring a bit of polish to the stage,” Terry remarked as the Cadillac was unveiled. “There aren’t very many cars that have got V16s in them. People often forget it now, but there were periods where saying this was the finest automobile in the world was actually a real contest. While people think of Rolls-Royce, Cadillac certainly had a claim to that title with the development of these much bigger automobiles.”
The V16 was a feat of “more is more” engineering, developed by legendary designer Harley Earl. Smith noted the rarity of the machine: “1930 was the beginning of the Great Depression, so only about 2,000 were made that year. There aren’t very many of these wonderful cars in existence.” He described it as a “gentleman’s car”—a more refined, tame counterpart to the raw power of the Duesenberg Model J (the car that gave us the expression “it’s a doozy”), which also features in the Milestones collection.
Craig A. Halbmaier, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires, was struck by the rapid evolution the car represented.
“This stands as a testimony to the evolution of American car-making history. For us Americans, the Model T Ford was produced until 1927—people were still driving those buggies when this V16 came out just three years later. Imagine that jump in technology.
We Americans just can’t be discreet; we can’t do things subtly. I’ve been told this car is actually incredibly quiet and reliable. It had a good run for ten years until the beginning of World War II, when all car production in the US ceased. If the Model T brought the car to the masses, the Cadillac V16 ensured that humans fell in love with these machines. If this preview is just the amuse-bouche, my son and I will be first in line for the main course when the museum opens.”
The inclusion of the V16 serves as a reminder of a golden age of American luxury, where the goal wasn’t just transport, but an unparalleled statement of status and smooth, silent power.
Marking the legacy of Captain Matthew Flinders
The museum’s reach extends beyond automotive engineering into the very fabric of maritime history. In the presence of H.E. Mrs Kate Chamley, Australian High Commissioner, Terry Smith revealed a special project involving the only original stone building on the estate, which he intends to preserve and transform.
“We are intending to turn that into a museum to commemorate Captain Matthew Flinders,” Smith announced. As an English commander, Flinders was the first to circumnavigate the continent and is credited with giving Australia its name (Terra Australis).
Smith noted the poignant local connection: Flinders was famously imprisoned by the French in Mauritius for nearly seven years. “He has very little to commemorate him here, though he has a statue in the UK and nearly 100 memorials in Australia. He was imprisoned in Vacoas/Plaines Wilhems, but he frequently rode his horse down to the water right behind where we are now. Officially it was denied he was in the area, but he certainly ‘hung out’ here. We intend to turn that building into something significant to mark his legacy.”
A Destination Beyond the Dashboard
Terry is adamant that Milestones is not just a collection of metal, but a holistic lifestyle destination. To distinguish it from traditional galleries, the museum will feature an extraordinary restaurant designed with 17 private “cupboards” alongside an outdoor service area.
“We want to be the best car museum in the world,” he explained. “The design of the restaurant is extraordinary. We will run events here—Bastille Day with French rooms and French cars, the 4th of July, and even local celebrations. We want people to keep coming back.”
For film buffs, the museum includes a dedicated cinema that brings the screen to life. “We have lots of cars from movies and TV,” said Terry. “If you want to watch the famous Bullitt car chase with Steve McQueen, you can watch it with the actual Ford Mustang and Dodge Charger sitting right there on stage. We even have the Lincoln Continental from The French Connection.”
Beyond the glitz of Hollywood, Terry sees the museum as an educational tool for business and engineering. He uses the evolution of the engine and the production genius of Henry Ford as case studies for success, but he also values the lessons found in failure. He even finds inspiration in the local Mauritian “bus culture.” Terry pointed out that when you see a “Nissan Motorsport” (NISMO) sticker on a peaceful local bus, it’s a nod to a massive development in Japanese engineering: the Nissan Skyline R32, famously nicknamed “Godzilla” for its total dominance on the track. While the buildings are expected to be ready by April, he notes that is when the “hard work” begins—conditioning the vintage gas pumps, installing car elevators, and, most importantly, recruiting.
Building Prosperity: A Legacy for Beaux Songes
As construction at Beaux Songes nears completion, the focus shifts to the “hard work”—the memorabilia, the vintage oil cans, and the curation. For Terry and his team, the goal is to move beyond being just a “garage” and to become a world-renowned destination. But the true engine of the museum, he insists, is the local community.
“And then we get to the really, really big part of it, which is the people,” he explained. “We need to recruit a lot of people to secure the place, to guide people around, to sell things, to do food for them, to maintain the grounds of the museum… So, I hope that we will be able to maintain the cars, fairly obviously. I hope to move on, of course, to some degree to do a bit of car restoration as well.”
Ultimately, the Milestones Motor Museum is an investment in the future of the region. The project is deeply personal for Terry, whose wife grew up in the area. “I can literally walk out and throw a stone and reach her parents’ house from here,” he joked. By employing local engineers, guides, and groundskeepers, he hopes the museum will act as a catalyst for local growth. “I hope that a number of people who live in Beaux Songes and the surrounding area will flourish and build their careers at Milestones with us.”
By the end of the year, the doors will open. Mauritius won’t just be gaining a museum; it will be gaining a legacy.
The Collector’s Soul: From Childhood Dreams to Motorway Legends
During an intimate Q&A session with attendees, the first question posed to Smith was about the origin of his passion: “Have you always been into cars? Where does that love come from?” “My dad,” he replied simply. His father was a professional driver—handling trucks and buses—and a meticulous test driver who specialised in perfecting brake lines. “He’s now doing it now, the brake lines, so that’s how he makes his cars,” Terry shared, noting how that mechanical DNA stayed with him. He recalled one of his earliest photographs of his father sitting on a horse, a stark contrast to the high-performance machines he would later master. Terry clarified that he doesn’t view himself as a “collector” in the traditional sense; instead, these machines are a series of stories that “grew over time.”
He shared a preposterous tale about his first classic car—an AC Cobra. When he was ten, he read a newspaper article about the Cobra being developed. Because the team had no test facilities, they famously took the car onto the newly built M1 motorway at 4:00 AM. “It ended up with questions being asked in Parliament, and that’s why we’ve got speed limits today,” he explained. Decades later, when he bought his own Cobra, the seller produced a surprise: the original 1964 newspaper clipping Terry had read as a boy. “It seems like a privilege, doesn’t it? To want to have cars like this… but I don’t actually collect anything. You start with one, and before you know where you are, you’ve got all this stuff.”
The second question pushed for his personal preference: “Out of all the cars over here, which one is your favourite?” he pointed toward the Ford GT40, a car born from a legendary “grudge match” after Henry Ford II attempted to buy Ferrari, only for Enzo Ferrari to kill the deal at the last minute. “Enzo basically told Ford he was fat and made ugly cars,” he chuckled. “I’m not here to say he was wrong, I’m just saying it probably wasn’t the most diplomatic thing to say.” In retaliation, Ford took a British chassis, the Lola Mark VI, and turned it into a car that achieved a 1-2-3 finish at Le Mans in 1966.
Terry noted that it is “colourfully known” as the GT40 because it stands exactly 40 inches high—the height of a standard kitchen counter. “The problem is when you open the door, they take a big bite out of the roof because you couldn’t get in and out without it,” he said, describing the “beast” that requires a specific sequence of sitting and sliding just to enter. “It’s extremely tricky; if you go below 2,700 RPM, the car starts to ‘kangaroo’ up and down the road and flames come out of it.”
His other favourite, the McLaren F1, represents a similar refusal to compromise. Designed by Gordon Murray, it features an engine bay lined with 24-carat gold foil for heat insulation. Murray famously ignored engineering models for top speed, wanting only to build the perfect car. “If you want to go to London, you buy a Mercedes,” Terry joked. “But if you take the McLaren, you look like a rogue. It’s a three-seater—a ‘luggage bus’ where the driver sits in the middle like a fighter pilot.” Despite receiving lucrative offers to house his collection in the UAE, Malaysia, or Austria, Terry chose Mauritius. “I live here, and I want to share it.”
