Auto expo features antique cars, parts
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)