A couple of weeks ago there was a display of some interesting cars held at the Holiday Inn, organized by the Phoenix Rotary Club. Advertised as a display of Classic Cars, this was of interest to me, as the TBX Escort Mk 1 is a genuine classic and I mulled over the opportunity to show it off. Unfortunately, the organizers told me with a week to go, that they were oversupplied, so the Escort stayed in the garage.
In the list of Classics were some interesting cars, such as a 1909 Opel, two vintage MG’s (a TB and a VA), a 1910 Overland, a pair of E-Type Jaguars, a 1917 T Model Ford, a 1966 Ford Mustang and a drag Corvette.
However, I have to say I was a little disappointed in that the majority of the cars was coming down from Bangkok on trailers. Half the fun would have been in seeing them mixing it with the Pattaya traffic.
1909 Opel.
In the Post-War cars was a 1950 Fiat 1100, with another Fiat 1100 alongside, but this time the van variant. So these cars were 66 years old – that makes them old bangers, not desirable motor cars that in some way or another influenced the direction of automotive design.
Likewise, in the Classic category was a 1969 VW Beetle. Sorry, for me that model of the Beetle was not outstanding either.
But the one that caught my eye in the list was a 1956 Commer, the commercial variety of the Hillman Minx. No, no, and a thousand times no.
There was even a 1960 Volvo 122S entered, again old, but if it had been a Volvo P1800, that would have been welcomed by me. The Saint car, which was actually not built in Sweden, but in the UK.
I had thought there would be at least a couple of Alfa’s, but no.
However, the organizers plan to make this an annual event, with the backing of City Hall, so congratulations on getting the ball rolling.
