AUTO NOSTALGIA IN CHIANGMAI
Pick-ups are fine if you have things to pick up! Jeeps are fine for
jaunts in the jungle. But if you are more interested in moving people comfortably,
safely and with all the advantages of modern technology (real seats, suspension,
good looks, turning circle etc) the answer is here. Wrapped up in a great
value, well-styled package, it’s called a classic car!
The best value for money in car ownership in Thailand - some may say
the world - is a post-war classic car in good condition. Cars which are
modern and practical enough for today’s road conditions, for which spares,
repair expertise and insurance are all readily available, which enhance
your enjoyment of driving - yet which are cheap by any international standard.
The climate here (far from the ocean) even favours Fiats! You could probably
buy and ship something far finer, eg a good Alfa GTV to the
USA more cheaply than only buying a rusty one in salt-strewn Europe.
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Very rare 60's 2-door, 4 seat Japanese saloon,
complete, original,runs well. Looks like VW but water-cooled rear engine
like Fiat 600. Substantial offers please.
Nice original car, column change, white interior.
Pay 200,000 Baht and watch it appreciate!
Super-clean 1600 cc twin cam, 60,000 Baht
Totally original lwb Safari 10 seater. Ultra-smart,
air-con, petrol, 160,000 Baht.
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Easily
available with typical prices in Thai Baht:
Alfa-Romeo 1750 & 2000 GTV and Giulia 1.3 and 1.6 saloons
(350,000b and 150,000b).
BMW 2000, 2002, 3 & 5 series saloons (from 100,000b).
Fiat 124, 125 and 132 saloons (from 60,000b).
Ford Anglia 105E, Escort Mk 1, Cortinas of all shapes, Capris
(from 40,000b).
Land-Rover long & short wheelbase, Series 2 onwards (from
90,000b).
Mercedes. Most models from 1949 on (variable!).
Volkswagen Beetles (more saloons here than were built in the
first place)including convertibles, Type 2s of all 3 shapes, Microbuses
incuding split-screens, Kombis ditto (from 85,000b).
Nothing here takes your fancy?
Do I see someone yawning at the back? Well imagine any mid-range, immediate
pre or post war American saloon, say a Chrysler, Hudson, Ford, Chevvy,
Buick, whatever - they are ALL here in complete and usually easily
restored condition! Prices on application - just tell me what you want.
Dodge Powerwagon did I hear someone whisper? There are at least
two, one immaculate and unobtainable, one in need of a total re-build may
be for sale.
Fancy a Kaiser, Bill? Two saloons, one "small" by US
standards, one enormous, both cheap and easy restoration projects for a
pro. Now I have your undivided attention, the missing Bugatti Royale
is actually hidden in a temple on the former French side of the Mekong
River, guarded by mysterious monks. What??!! No, just my little joke, but
I am following up rumours of an immaculate post war 4-door Mercedes
open tourer with twin side mounts; right hooker XK140 fhc; nice
but different left hooker big-finned Olds (and a rather later muscle-bound
442 manual shift) and flat-fronted Ford Econoline trucks.
There is at least one gullwing Merc and Ferrari Daytona in
Thailand but they’re not for sale. Yet. And bikes? Sorry but it’s now my
turn to yawn, but if a genuine WW2 BSA from Burma (200,000b) or
a post-war shaft-drive BMW (same-same) gets you drooling, they’re
here. Just ‘e’ me!!
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wlotus@loxinfo.co.th
or gmcm@chiangmai-online.com
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"Any Guilia capable of rolling on its own tyres
is worth at least $ 5,000." (Pat Braden 1991).
This one is only 100,000 Baht!
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ALFA ROMEO 1750 GTV
Immaculate car with every authentic detail intact.
Spent all of its life in a salt-free climate.
A bargain at 350,000 Baht.
ALSO: Later 2000 GTV, also immaculate in red at only 320,000 Baht.
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THE BEST CAR WE’VE EVER BEEN ASKED TO SELL! -- This ‘ground-up’ restoration of a 1964 Jaguar S-type has produced a potential ‘Concours d’elegance’ winner!
It’s a 3.8 litre, left-hand drive automatic in white with royal blue leather interior and a full-length, manual, royal blue sliding roof. Air-con is fitted and there are the original manuals and tool kit of course.
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Offers in the region of 2.2 million Baht. The car can easily be converted to right-hand drive at an extra cost to be negotiated.
e-mail us for more details on this, one of Coventry’s finest!
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