Indonesia flaunts its vintages at the 2nd Otoblitz International
ALFRED THA HLA
 |
 |
The Kreidler (above) is a German motorcycle that accounted for a third of all German motorcycles in 1959. Founded in 1903 by Anton Kreidler, the company made its name in motorsports.
BMW classics (left) reflect the appeal of expensive two-wheelers in Indonesia that fetched prices beyond one's imagination. |
The 2nd Otoblitz International Classic Car Show 2008 (OICCS) is the largest and biggest of its kind in Indonesia.
But for a classic event in this region to roll out the red carpet and send invitations to regional press and ship in a Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Cabriolet owned by Syam Sethaputra of the Classic Car Association of Thailand (CCAT) is not normal, to say the least.
It speaks volumes about the enthusiasm and sheer abundance of automotive classics accumulated from the good old days when the opulence and wealth of Indonesia's elite basically meant that there barely existed a middle class. You were either absurdly rich or down right poor.
"This is a long achievement to bring the heritage of Indonesia's classic cars to go international," said IOCCS 2008 organiser Azman Osman.
 |
Nicholas Cage's unicorn aka Eleanor in `Gone in 60 Seconds' is a 1967 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 or Shelby Cobra that was the first American car to feature a factory roll bar; taking up major floor space and showing off lots of chrome was this huge Chrysler (right) which served as the presidential car for Indonesia's charismatic leader of yore.
|
The show was a potpourri of future classics, Japanese classics, replicas, vehicles which had their 15 minutes of fame on the Hollywood screen, personal transport of past Indonesian presidents, hot rods and souped-up monsters to name a few.
Motorcycles of yore to BMW and Harley Davidson favourites greeted you at the entrance of the Barlai Kartini convention centre in the capital city of Jakarta.
Even new Mercs and Chevrolet displays joined the bandwagon.
"The organisers brought in grade school children and showed interesting film documentaries and held painting competitions. That was very interesting and is something which the Thai chapter will consider," said Syam.
Motoring thinks there's obviously some room for improvement for the Indonesian classics, some of which weren't on par with show-winning versions, judging by the quality of paint job on the exterior, interior restoration work and overall vehicle condition.
But the enthusiasm was just contagious.
 |
 |
The Merc 170V (above) spanned the entire war and Mercedes first post-war model. This 4-cylinder mated to 4-speed manual was actually converted to charcoal burning models during the war. Production run was 49,367 units.
|
 |
0Homage is paid to the world's first automobile (left) which was invented by Karl Benz. This version which greets show-goers is an exact replica of the real one housed at the Merc museum in Germany.
|
 |
 |
| 0The hot rods (right) are made in Indonesia. There's no disputing that this iconic American symbol has captured the hearts of motorists worldwide. |
Prev
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Next
