More people turn to old cars for hobby, fun and nostalgia

More people turn to old cars for hobby, fun and nostalgia

Sudibyo M. Wiradji, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

To many people, an old, rusted and wrecked car left in the
corner of a garden or a scrap heap is no more than just discarded
and useless junk -- but not to old car enthusiasts. Even such
cars that have obviously seen better days are considered
invaluable items that might augment their collection.

Collecting old cars has become a trend over the last two years
amid the appearance of a wide range of new models in the country.

The number of car collectors continues to increase from year
to year, with old or classic car buffs not confined to wealthy
businessmen or former high-ranking officials as in the past, but
now inclusive of ordinary people. Driving an old or classic car
in a tour or rally has become a new lifestyle, with many
collecting old cars as a genuine hobby or just for fun, and
others doing so as a way of invoking nostalgic experiences.

More car clubs have emerged in response to the increasing
number of old car enthusiasts, with each having its own criteria
as to what constitutes an old or classic car. The Indonesian Old
Cars Lovers Association (PPMKI) with 300 members, for instance,
insist that only cars produced before 1965 can be considered old.

However, many other clubs specializing in particular brands
such as Mercedes Benz, Fiat, VW and Land Rover consider cars
produced before 1970 to be old or classic.

PPMKI secretary general Robby Djojosaputro said that in line
with the increasing number of old car owners joining the
association, the number of automotive events, such as tours,
rallies and exhibitions is also on the rise. "In the 1998s, only
a few events were organized by the association, but since two
years ago, the association has organized around 40 events per
year," said Robby, who owns several old cars himself.

Through the association, members can regularly share the fun
and pleasure of driving their favorite old cars in a tour or
rally around town. "We also hold a tour covering thousands of
kilometers, traversing several areas outside Java, such as
Sumatra, Bali and Lombok," he said.

Like PPMKI, the clubs also regularly organize rallies, such as
those in Yogyakarta, Central Java, or Surabaya, East Java.

So, don't be surprised if one day you witness dozens of old
cars of different makes such as Chevrolets, Buicks, Jeeps,
Chryslers and Mercedes Benzes rolling out into street to join a
rally in the capital.

One's passion for owning an old car, however, will be tested
by time, considering that maintaining the vehicle, as Robby puts
it, has many challenges. "We should not be too easily flustered
when we find that the car has broken down all of a sudden in the
middles of heavy traffic, because there isn't enough water in the
radiator or there's an electrical problem," he said.

"So, before taking the car out for a spin, we have to make
sure that it will run well, although at the same time, we have to
stay alert in case something goes wrong while on the road," he
said.

As an old car collector, Robby hears about old cars by word of
mouth. He will first take a close look at the old car on offer,
checking the body, engine, make, model and registration
documents, before eventually deciding whether or not to have it
sent to a car restoration shop.

"The old cars I purchased were not necessarily in a good state
but, quite frequently, I get the ones which are 50 percent good.
Others are only 10 percent good.

"As long as the body and engine are the originals and the
registration documents can be processed, I will take it," he
said. "But of no less importance is the make."

Robby, who is now 53, fancied American old cars as a child.
His dream of owning an old car did not come true until 1980, when
he bought a '48 Chrysler from a relative in Bandung, West Java.
Since then, he has collected dozens of old cars of various makes,
but "I let other car enthusiasts collect them, especially those
I've already tired of," he said.

His collection includes a '60 Chevrolet Impala, a '62
Chevrolet Impala, a '57 Dodge Coronet, a '54 Dodge Kings Way, a
'47 Chevrolet Fleetmaster, a '65 Dodge Valiant and a '45 Ford
Anglia.

"Three of them are still at the garage because they were in a
very poor condition when I bought them," said Robby.

The ones he considers a "masterpiece" is his '62 Chevrolet
Impala that he bought directly from its first owner, who rarely
used the car and kept it in a garage. Most of the various
components of the car were original, including the engine,
carpet, seats, chrome an paint. "When I bought the car in 1999,
the odometer showed only 20,000 kilometers," he said proudly.

Owning old and rare cars can also mean a different kind of
luck for collectors. "Occasionally, my cars are rented out for
different purposes, including wedding parties, film productions
and advertisement photo shoots," said Robby.

Roy Suryo Notodiprojo, 37, is a newcomer at collecting old
cars. He specializes in collecting Mercedes Benzes. His passion
for this particular make stems from his childhood, when he deeply
impressed by a black, classic Mercedes Benz driven by James
Bond's adversary in Goldfinger in the 1970s.

His admiration for the car kept growing in his mind, and his
dream of having his own classic Merc came true only three years
ago - he now owns a model similar to the one that inspired him.
Since then, Roy, who is a lecturer and a noted multimedia
consultant, has purchased several other old Mercedes Benz models.

Roy's passion for disassembling and restoring cars has greatly
helped support his hobby of collecting old cars. He has an
automobile workshop at home where he spends his spare time, with
the assistance of a technician or two, restoring his newly bought
old cars.

"I try to restore the car to resemble its original as much as
possible, by first seeking information on the original Mercedes
Benz from websites," he said, adding that the vintage of cars
should be retained.

Now, his Mercedes Benz collection includes vintage models from
1955 (180), 1961 (180), 1962 (220S), 1965 (190), 1967 (200) and
1972 (280S).

Finding spare parts for the old cars is not an easy task, but
that's the challenge, the collectors say. They usually hunt for
spare parts in Asem Reges, Sawah Besar or in Senen Atrium,
Central Jakarta. But if the spare parts are not available at
shops in those areas, they will place an order with a shop owner
who will then contact shops outside Jakarta, such as in Semarang,
Central Java, or Surabaya.

"Once, I tried to find a windshield wiper motor, but I
couldn't find it in the shops. So I asked my e-mail pal in the
U.S. to do me a favor and look for it in junkyards over there,"
Roy said.

Unlike new models that can be used as a means of daily
transportation, old cars are generally used for an event. But as
part of their maintenance, it is advised that the old cars are
driven once a week, said Robby. "But if the owner has a really
tight schedule, he should at least start the engine every day to
keep the engine working," he said.

For Roy, who lives in a small town in Yogyakarta, he can drive
his old cars every day, alternating between them. "To me,
collecting old cars is not about storing 'distinct' items. But
they have to be used regularly so that the engine and other
components such as wheels, the steering and brakes keep running
smoothly," he said.

Roy said restoring cars has given him a sense of belonging.
"That's the pleasure of driving my old car," he said.