Unexpected Cars

[Berty]

I saw a Ferrari Enzo heading up to Don Muang.

I'd be surprised if there were any Enzos in in Thailand, real ones that is.

[moonoi]

I saw an old Pontiac GTO during lunchtime at Silom......looked a bit of a shed though

Edited June 15, 2007 by moonoi

[PeaceBlondie]

I've seen a couple of old Valiants over the last few years. I think one was a Ranger. Valiants were made in Australia by Chrysler.

Valiant was also a Plymouth compact car starting in 1960, very lumpy styling, and probably the first car to have the Chrysler 'slant six' engine. Its stablemate was the Dodge Dart.

[jaiyenyen]

I saw a Lancia Thema in Bang Bua Thong yesterday, a very loud yellow with a saucy black bonnet.

Unreliable in Europe, it must be a nightmare getting parts here !!!!!!

[A_Traveller]

I see some photos of Pattaya in the early 70's and there were a number of Ford Cortina MK1's around back then. Never seen any around in Thailand myself but always had a soft spot for them.

I'm pretty certain there's one lurking around Fortune in BKK.

Regards

PS On the Jensen Interceptor point I recall that there was supposed to be just one in the kingdom, which belonged to a guy at Bangkok Post {he had one in the UK too} for years. Apparently it was up for sale a couple of years ago but missed it. Wonder if there are more than one?

[VTR1000]

In my little town there is an old Allegro (remember them?), a couple of Morris Minors, Cortinas Mk 1, 2 ,3 and 4s, a Morris 1300 and a Ford Mustang. All of these are still driven and apart from the Mustang, they all look in pretty good nick.

Reminds me of when I was young!

[Pink Mist]

Have seen a Monaro in banpaed(near Khon Kaen)

[qualtrough]

The other day I was in a Soi not too far from Central Lat Prao and saw later 40s or early 50s RHD Chrysler 4 door in pretty much original shape, including the hubcaps and radio. It was in a body shop, and would make an ideal resto project as you would not have to chase down all the difficult to find body parts. Hardparts are relatively simple by comparison.

There are quite a few interesting old cars here, but it may not seem like it since they are awash in a flood of newer cars. You would be surprised that you can often still find parts for these cars here. In the early 80s I met a man who was exhibiting a 1954 Packard at the Lufthansa car show. He was an embassy employee and had shipped the car here. We got to talking, and I asked him if he had ever had any problems with the automatic transmission, as that vintage Packard was known for that. He told me that as a matter of fact the tranny did go out. I asked him how he got it running again, and he told me he found a new replacement transmission in the crate in Chinatown!! My experience in dealing with Chinese businessmen is that they would rather die than sell anything at a loss, so they will hang on to stuff that in the West would have long ago been disposed of for scrap or through a discount sale.

[qualtrough]

A few more reminisces if I may:

I once saw a Citroen Traction Avant here in mint shape that had never been sold, and was one of four that had been rescued from a warehouse and restored.

How about some motorcycles?

Have seen the following:

1950s Royal Enfield 500CC in military trim. Was a sample sent by a exporter in the hopes of obtaining a military contract, but the deal fell through.

350 CC Maserati (Yes, there was such a thing).

Unknown WWII Japanese motorbike used by Japanese Army

East German Simson Suhl 250 cc shaft drive

500 CC BSA Gold Star

Sunbeam

Indian Chief

Pre-War BMW and early post-war BMW motorcycles

Ariels, Nortons, pre-unit Triumphs, AJS, MZs, etc.

Heard there was a Vincent here once that ended up going to Mexico.

[teejay]

Saabs, I love em....

How many of these converts do you see in BKK? So rare (and nice looking, IMO) in fact a director rented for a hair shampoo commercial shooting shot today! Wait a month or so for post production, and you'll see it on TV in a nice little Sunsilk spot.

[teejay]

OH and I saw a BLACK FORTUNER TODAY!!!! TOTALLY UNEXPECTED!!!!!

[rychrde]

saw a FIAT 600 near Aranyaprathet. God knows how it got there!

kinda ugly sister to the prettier topolino.

[thai thai]

A guy between Soi 13 and Soi 15 Sukhumvit in Bangkok has parked out in his front yard:

1) Jaguar E-type Series III Roadster (red)

2) Alfa Romeo Spyder (late '70's - red)

3) Mercedes 190SL Roadster (early '60's - silver)

All look to be in good condition, but I don't think he ever drives them...just kind of on 'show'

Edited June 17, 2007 by thai thai

[LivinLOS]

190SL.. Superb looking vehicle.

[Murf]

Still yet to see a Mk2 Escort, but have seen several Mk1's.

There are 2 cortinas and a granada parked on the street near me.

Also spotted this... looked in really good condition

Heres the Granny, bit worse for wear.

AND.............................. how about a Ford 323???? lol

As you can see... i'm a bit of a Ford Nut!!!!

[thedude]

I saw a Ferrari Enzo heading up to Don Muang.

I'd be surprised if there were any Enzos in in Thailand, real ones that is.

Prepare to be surprised.

I've also got photos of the one that was at Motor Expo 2006.

No question of any of them being fake, even if that was possible.

Ferrari Chat users claim there's only one in Thailand however, sold for a fortune...

Ferrari Chat - Ferraris in Thailand thread

Here's the photo of the Enzo at Motor Expo 2004

i saw a red enzo on the ferrari showroom floor at siam paragon last year.

its worth noting that enzos are all individually custom fitted to the buyer's height, reach and body profile, so its less attractive to buy as a second hand car unless you get the car re-fitted to your own measurements by ferrari.

[teejay]

I saw a Ferrari Enzo heading up to Don Muang.

I'd be surprised if there were any Enzos in in Thailand, real ones that is.

There is one here. It's real. In Bangkok.

[PeaceBlondie]

Remember, not all Granadas are the same; my father in law's early American Granada Ghia sedan didn't look like the one in the photo, which appears to be a British Ford. Likewise, not all Escorts or Capris are the same.

I had a late 1950's Renault Alpine red convertible, maybe series A-104. I'd be in shock if I saw one of those in Thailand. 4CV engine tuned to maybe 36 horsepower.

[A_Traveller]

Remember, not all Granadas are the same; my father in law's early American Granada Ghia sedan didn't look like the one in the photo, which appears to be a British Ford. Likewise, not all Escorts or Capris are the same.

I had a late 1950's Renault Alpine red convertible, maybe series A-104. I'd be in shock if I saw one of those in Thailand. 4CV engine tuned to maybe 36 horsepower.

Maybe wrong but the Granada in the picture looks like a Cortina/ Taurus MK 4 to me. The US Granada was based on the Mercury range I think and the European Granadas was very different, the MK I being a more flowing shape, MK II similar to the straught lines of the Cortina shown.

Regards

Edited June 17, 2007 by A_Traveller

[Murf]

Deffo a Uk style Granny.

Although it does look very similar to a cortina.

[PeaceBlondie]

Not to be getting further off track I hope, but the pictured Granada doesn't look like the Cortina Mark 1 models imported to the US, or to a Consul Corsair. Many sedans look alike in the same era, and increasingly, multinational car firms use the same stylists (and bodies) for world cars.

Come to think of it, there used to be a 1990's Vauxhall in a small soi in Chiang Mai, inside the moat.

[chrisyork]

Hi All

Just in our local village there is (in running daily use) a Mk1 4 door Escort, several very early 60's Fiat 1500 and a late 60's Alfa coupe (guilietta? - I can't remember its model designation from then) The Alfa in particular is an amazing daily driver; it is owned by a doctor at the local hospital, but I have yet to discover whether it has acquired Japanese mechanics or not! In the nearest town there is a Citroen CX - not the ordinary (!) version but the Prestige LWB and high roof with a division. Only tiny numbers built and mostly for French state use. Of course theres also the usual smattering of MkIV Cortinas and one Mk1 Cortina plus there's a '63 Buick Special. Also a number of interesting non runners including the inevitable Allegro.

Chris

[A_Traveller]

Didn't see the car so I may well be wrong, but the car really looks like a UK/German Cortina L MK 4, wheels, prominent arch and cross door strake, straight headlights to grill, wheels are Cortina L too.

The Ford Consul Corsair in the UK was a model above the Cortina.

Regards

Ford Corsair

Ford Cortina Mk IV

PS Guess what one of the family businesses were in the UK

/edit add PS//

Edited June 17, 2007 by A_Traveller

[JuniorExPat]

Custard coloured Lotus Elan in Chiang Mai yesterday - the colour was more unexpected than the car!

Bright canary yellow Porsche in Vientiane, Laos last month - ditto!!

JxP

[moxhambi]

A few more reminisces if I may:

I once saw a Citroen Traction Avant here in mint shape that had never been sold, and was one of four that had been rescued from a warehouse and restored.

How about some motorcycles?

Have seen the following:

1950s Royal Enfield 500CC in military trim. Was a sample sent by a exporter in the hopes of obtaining a military contract, but the deal fell through.

350 CC Maserati (Yes, there was such a thing).

Unknown WWII Japanese motorbike used by Japanese Army

East German Simson Suhl 250 cc shaft drive

500 CC BSA Gold Star

Sunbeam

Indian Chief

Pre-War BMW and early post-war BMW motorcycles

Ariels, Nortons, pre-unit Triumphs, AJS, MZs, etc.

Heard there was a Vincent here once that ended up going to Mexico.

This is my first post here, in jan/feb I was in That Phanom for a festival and I got this picture. I believe its the Enfield? But it didn't look like a 500cc maybe you could take a look. It was right across the street from the Wat/Cheddi downtown.

[wilko]

Totally gob-smacked to see MY car shooting off down the road at a rate of knotts!

[quiksilva]

Hey TeeJay I'm also a Saab man, I drive 900 SE Draken 1998, fun to drive, but probably needs custom suspension to improve handling at higher speeds, whilst not exactly rare it does stand out from the legions of Toyotas and Hondas on the road.

As for truly unexpected, I couldn't resist popping into a showroom on Rachadapisek to have a gander at a Marcos Mantis last year, absolutely gorgeous, shame I couldn't fit inside

I also saw a chrome spoked MGBGT convertible here too, in really good nice. I also know of someone in the legal industry who has an E- Type here....sigh

[corkscrew]

Quite a few old-style Beetles and old minis I've seen around. Most unexpected modern car is probably a Smart Car - didn't think they'd made it as far as Asia...

There is a Smart Car that lives near the Portugese Embassy. This is the only one I have seen in Bangkok.

[INTJ]

Saw a Ford Ka in Pattaya today.

Think I saw the same car a couple of years ago with UK plates, now it is Thai registered.

[warwick7735]

Hi all

A dark blue Hillman Hunter 1500GL on suk107 today, my dad had one of these as a company car back in the 70's.

Warwick