Maintenance For American Classic Car...

[buddhafly]

ive been considering buying an old lincoln (1960's) or impala etc.

but what are the maintanence options available in thailand?

is there any specialist to fix these cars?

i realize parts may have to brought in... but who fixes them?

thanks.

[buddhafly]

yikes! nothing!?

[dvk1951]

Buddhafly,

I don't know the exact name (a google should find it) but there is a Classic Motor Club in Thailand who have regular rallys and shows, a number of them have older American cars (reminents of the Vietnam days).

Contact them and I am sure they can steer you in the right direction.

A resurrected 65-66 Impala would be a sweet ride.

Edited May 4, 2007 by dvk1951

[PeaceBlondie]

I thought the 1956 Lincoln Continental was the most beautiful car, but the convertibles of 1954-56 Oldsmobile Starfire, and the 1957 Lincoln Capri convertible, were outstanding (especially the Lincoln's fins). LBJ drove a four-door Lincoln convertible around on the ranch while drinking a can of beer!!

But parts and service would be a nightmare. These people only have had Chevrolets for the last few years. They generally have never seen a Lincoln, though I saw one coming from the palace in Hua Hin last year.

For our UK listeners, Lincoln might rank with a Daimler Sovereign, but a much longer wheelbase. Not unlike a R-R Phantom IV, in the case of the custom-built limousines. Kennedy was assassinated in one. The presidential Lincolns had running boards for the Secret Service bodyguards.

[cm-happy]

ive been considering buying an old lincoln (1960's) or impala etc.

but what are the maintanence options available in thailand?

is there any specialist to fix these cars?

i realize parts may have to brought in... but who fixes them?

thanks.

Think of the kpl of these behemoths. usually 6-8 mpg(miles per gallon) = 10-13 kpl(kilometer per litr). Lets see a typical20-25 gallon tank = 80-100 litres about. At 30 baht/ litr "filler er up" is 2400-3000 baht.

If you're serious google "Hemmings Motor News" a source for purchase & parts for many marks of classic and antique autos. Some services advertised can do mail order repairs of mailable parts ie radiator, carb, rechroming. Mundane maint. like brakes,shocks, exhaust etc should be easily done by local mechanics. Even tune up would be easy to do by locals as long as you have the correct plugs, distributor parts, & air cleaners.

These engines are not nearly as complicated & sophistacted as those found in autos today.

A word of advise on the initial auto purchase. Try to get one in # 1 or # 2 condition, which means nearly or close to showroom condition to minimize any restoration work that may have to be done. And please dont forget to get an owners manual for the particular make & model along with service manual. These can also be ordered separately, Dont be surprised if you decide to import the auto to Thailand at the duty you would have to pay.

Good luck, you'll certainly draw alot of attention cruising the local drive up burger joint. Hope I didnt discourage you, but the import duty keeps me from bringing over some of my babies.

I'm a Buick freak and have a few cars in the States ranging from 1910-1958

[stingray]

Welcome to the club! I my self restored over 150 US Cars, but if you locking for somebody, please contact CMS Trucks Pattaya, Mister Martin 081 621 71 05 He is Expert about US Cars

[Clipped]

theres a place on petchburi road that specializes in american cars, its close to the tong lor intersection...

saw a clean dropped 64' impala there once and it was freakin sweeeeeeetttttttt....

[PeaceBlondie]

On the other hand, you could consider a Nash Metropolitan, complete with Austin engine.....a Kaiser-Darrin 161...an Arnolt-Bristol...a Crosley Hotshot...a Corvette twin-cam....

[Clipped]

ive been considering buying an old lincoln (1960's) or impala etc.

but what are the maintanence options available in thailand?

is there any specialist to fix these cars?

i realize parts may have to brought in... but who fixes them?

thanks.

if you arent worried about keeping it original, thai mechanics are good at adapting japanese parts to ANYTHING.....

one time my car broke down and the mechanic came with a hammer and a piece of wire....and got it started....

[buddhafly]

great info here.

thanks everyone.

i know it would be a bit wild to see a farang in 64 imp cruising chiang rai, but i cant escape who i am!

anybody have any idea what one of these in good shape would cost in bkk?

[taxexile]

american cars of the 50's and early sixties were some of the finest examples of the auto stylists art..... ever.

here are the ones that peaceblondie mentioned

and one of my favourites , a 57 buick roadmaster.

[stingray]

US Classic cars are hard to find overhere. Mosthly they replaced the V8 with a japanese engine, so they are not classic anymore. I my self had a couple Trans Ams of the 70ties, a 72, T- bird, a 73 Challanger, a 82 Camaro Z28, and now i still have a 77' Olds Regency. I had them all here in Thailand. You have not much choice overhere. You can contact Mister Narong in Bang Na. He is the only one who have this kind of cars. You have to consider between 350'000 Baht for a junk car, up 1 million for a good one. Doesn't matter if it's a 2 or 4 door car. Mister Narongs cars are not cheap, but they have correct paperwork. If you buy something arround 400'000 baht you have to consider to spend another 300'000 Baht for fix up everything. US Cars are not economical at all, but if somone ever drove a Trans Am or a Cadillac for a long time, they would never drive a Soluna. It is a hobby where you spend your money. Some peaple have families, some peaple spend money on houses, some peaple spend money for other things and some peaple spens money for cars. I had always a V8 in my life and i will allways have one. It's something i wan't miss in my life.

[Clipped]

narong's shop has been torn down the last time i drove past it...

man if you couldve seen that 64' impala....dropped,chopped, shaved and axed...it was beyond words man...my jaw just dropped.

theres an antique car club in bangkok, may want to hook up and see whats up.

[stingray]

Narong have new area on the Bang Na trat Highway. there is not many cars in his old shop anymore. there is a big junkyard, in Lam Lu Ka, of american cars, belong to mister narong too. There are many project cars, arround 100 cars, mosthly from the early 70ties. Caddys, T- Birds, Olds, etc. Mosthly Luxury cars, 2 door and 4 door, but not many muscle cars. The cars are restoration projects, but some of them are in quite good condition, and complet. Nobody no about this Location. It's in Lam Lu Ka, in the middle of nowhere,. I was there. You have to contact mister narong. Mister Narong isn't the boss. the shops belong tho another guy, wich speeks fluent english and he owns a large machine factory. He has more than 50 US Cars in his home, all in excellent shape, but mosth of them not for sale.

[kubota]

Welcome to the club! I my self restored over 150 US Cars, but if you locking for somebody, please contact CMS Trucks Pattaya, Mister Martin 081 621 71 05 He is Expert about US Cars

I know it's an old thread, but is CMS trucks Pattaya still around? i sent them a mail, but no reply so far. I need somebody to have a look at my Buick GS 350. Any idea in the Chonburi area?

[transam]

If it possible, go for something with a small block Chevy motor. Parts are cheap from USA '' IF '' you get a problem, and is a very reliable motor and easy to fix, if your that way inclined , like tools that is. Good luck.

[stingray]

Welcome to the club! I my self restored over 150 US Cars, but if you locking for somebody, please contact CMS Trucks Pattaya, Mister Martin 081 621 71 05 He is Expert about US Cars

I know it's an old thread, but is CMS trucks Pattaya still around? i sent them a mail, but no reply so far. I need somebody to have a look at my Buick GS 350. Any idea in the Chonburi area?

CMS is out of business. Most of foreigers who does Auto repairs in Thailand are out of business today. Over 10 years ago, i use to have a large auto repair shop in Pattaya as well, until i learned that there is no money to made with a auto repair shop, especially with the cheap labour overhere, specially for a foreigner with compay and WP. Taxes are to high in compare what you earn. Today we do only car rentals and sales. But if someone is interested he can use my mecanic, the same one who works for me 10 years ago. He has a lot of exprience about US Cars (i teacxhed him) and he repairs until now my US Cars. I can help with parts amd supervise the job. We do profesionally jobs only until the car runs trouble free. (No Mickey Mouse midifications).

PM me if you are interested

[kubota]

Welcome to the club! I my self restored over 150 US Cars, but if you locking for somebody, please contact CMS Trucks Pattaya, Mister Martin 081 621 71 05 He is Expert about US Cars

I know it's an old thread, but is CMS trucks Pattaya still around? i sent them a mail, but no reply so far. I need somebody to have a look at my Buick GS 350. Any idea in the Chonburi area?

CMS is out of business. Most of foreigers who does Auto repairs in Thailand are out of business today. Over 10 years ago, i use to have a large auto repair shop in Pattaya as well, until i learned that there is no money to made with a auto repair shop, especially with the cheap labour overhere, specially for a foreigner with compay and WP. Taxes are to high in compare what you earn. Today we do only car rentals and sales. But if someone is interested he can use my mecanic, the same one who works for me 10 years ago. He has a lot of exprience about US Cars (i teacxhed him) and he repairs until now my US Cars. I can help with parts amd supervise the job. We do profesionally jobs only until the car runs trouble free. (No Mickey Mouse midifications).

PM me if you are interested

Thanks Stingray, pm sent

[Rdrokit]

There are a few mechanics in Bangkok who specialize in American cars if you need a name PM me. I have a guy up here in Korat who does my work. I would do it but labor is so cheap it doesn't pay to do it yourself. There is an Thai American Car Club in Bangkok and they have a chapter in Chiang Mai. Here is their Bangkok link. http://www.thaiamericancarclub.com/

[kubota]

There are a few mechanics in Bangkok who specialize in American cars if you need a name PM me. I have a guy up here in Korat who does my work. I would do it but labor is so cheap it doesn't pay to do it yourself. There is an Thai American Car Club in Bangkok and they have a chapter in Chiang Mai. Here is their Bangkok link. http://www.thaiamericancarclub.com/

Thanks Rdrokit, i send you a PM.