Auto expo features antique cars, parts

JAKARTA (JP): Thousands of car and motorcycle enthusiasts flocked to an automotive exhibition at the Gelora Senayan sports stadium on Saturday and Sunday.

At least 25 booths offered new or used parts at discounted prices, while others offered new and secondhand vehicles.

Organizers said the event aimed to give people the opportunity to either sell or buy vehicles or parts at reasonable prices.

Andre, a visitor from Kebon Jeruk, West Jakarta, said he found most of the items displayed at the expo interesting.

"But the items are not complete. Most items being sold are things like oil additives, rubber carpets, sparkplugs and other accessories which we can find at about the same price elsewhere," he said.

Bambang from Kebayoran Baru, who was accompanied by his wife and son, said he found the booths offering used spare parts more interesting than the other booths.

"I came here to buy a new tire for my car. But I ended up looking around more at booths selling used spare parts or old cars," he said.

At least five participants sold modified or old cars, including jeeps, Mercedes and Volkswagens.

A 1970 1,700cc Volkswagen van was on offer for Rp 30 million and a modified 1981 1,700cc CJ softtop jeep was on offer for Rp 13.7 million.

One of the participants selling used Mercedes was Jarot, a college student from Central Jakarta.

He had a 1965 220-type Mercedes for Rp 40 million (US4,444) and a 1969 230 Mini Mercedes for Rp 16 million on offer.

"The 220 version is valued much higher because it is considered more prestigious than the 230 in the sense that it is old, unique and most of its parts are genuine. I have only repainted it," said Jarot.

He said he hoped his cars would be bought by people who really loved antique cars. "I want them to treat the cars as well as I do."

Jarot said he grew up with a fondness for old Mercedes. "We have five old Mercedes at home. The oldest is a 1956 model and the youngest a 1982 model."

He said he decided to participate in the exhibition for fun. "I'm not intending to gain profit. If I get lots of customers, that's fine. If I don't, it's no big deal."

Jarot was also selling used spare parts, like engines, grilles, hubcaps and small side windows. He also sold seat belts, rims, air filters and headlight housings for different car makes.

He said he got the items from family and friends who had replaced them with new ones.

"I started collecting old but genuine spare parts last year simply because I found them unique," he said.

He claimed that the prices of his spare parts were quite reasonable. The grilles, for example, were priced Rp 100,000 each. "You couldn't get it for Rp 300,000 in the market," he said.

He said he decided to sell the spare parts, which worked well despite their timeworn looks, because he wanted to clear out his garage.

Another participant, Irwan, also had a Mercedes on offer. The blue 1971 Mini 200 Mercedes was priced at Rp 19 million.

"I'm selling it not because I desperately need money. We have two Mercedes cars at home but only one of them is regularly used. So we decided it would be best to sell the other," he said.

According to Jarot, selling a car that consumed a lot of fuel like a Mercedes was not easy.

"But there are some people would not think twice about spending a lot of money for an old car and then having it modified." (cst)