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Vintage Collection
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Spirits were as high as the temperature in Phuket on December 17th, when, as part of the 10th anniversary celebrations of Phuket's authorised Volvo dealership, Muang Mai Motor Phuket Co. , Ltd , the company's M. D. , |
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Khun Piriya Tantipiriyakij, along with Khun Ingvar Enberg, Vice President, Customer Service, of Vovlo Car (Thailand) Ltd. , hosted a sumptuous seafood luncheon for members of Malaysia's Kelab Volvo Klasik ( Volvo Classic Car Club) at Phuket's Thai Naan restaurant. On December 15th, 31 club members set out from Kuala Lumpur, in 11 classic Volvos, for their second trip to Thailand. The trip was dubbed the "Phuket Charity Run" and "Thai Adventure" by the T. A. T. (Tourism Authority of Thailand) in Malaysia. The 11 cars, mostly of mid-1960s vintage, bore bright stickers and attracted much attention along the way. From the border area near Satun, where there was a slight delay sorting out all the paperwork, they spent one night in Trang before completing the journey to Phuket, arriving on the 16th. Happily, there were no breakdowns along the way, thus adding testimony to Volvo's proud record of their cars' longevity. The most serious casualties were a couple of burnt out light bulbs, readily replacable in Phuket.
The Kelab Volvo Klassik was founded in July 1997, and now boasts 156 members. The club's current President, Dr. Ahmad Anwar Ismail, is very proud of the members' love of their old cars and enthusiasm for the club's various activities. Apart from their regular meetings to exchange ideas, information and experiences, the club organises regular runs within Malaysia and annual runs abroad. The trips abroad, however, have only recently started. In 2001, Khun Ingvar received a call in his Bangkok office, from one of the club members, to say that they were planning a trip up to Bangkok and would like to call in at a Volvo dealership. Ingvar offered his help in planning their trip and activities in Thailand, including a police escort. This was the start of what Volvo Thailand and the Classic Car Club in Malaysia hope will be a long and happy relationship. The image and enthusiasm of the Classic Car Club is also a positive development for Volvo's general marketing strategy. Khun Ingvar has previously tried to initiate the birth of a Volvo Owners' Club in Thailand, but has so far been unsuccessful in this mission. He is therefore very pleased at the obvious pride and joy the Classic Car Club members show for their old cars and he clearly enjoys the diversion from his city-based routine.
The fleet for this trip comprised two- and four-door 122S models, also known as "Amazons" and one 144. Club members also own models other than the 122 and 144, including the P1800 2-seater sports car; perhaps best known for its appearance in the British TV series, 'The Saint', back in the late sixties and early seventies. For this trip, however, the sports car owners felt that the compact interior coupled with the rigours of the relatively long run under such a hot sun might prove too much for them, if not for their trusty vehicles. One guest on this trip, travelling with his member father, had come all the way from Peru and had cancelled plans for an Australian holiday, just to be able to visit Thailand and Phuket on such an exclusive outing. The two had been given special dispensation to visit the famous "James Bond Island" in Phang Nga Bay and thus were unable to taste the epicurean delights at the Thai Naan.
Lt-Col (R) Lee Hai Chooi, the Club's Vice President and Chairman of the organising committe for the trips to Thailand, explained that this trip, along with other club activities, will help the club to raise funds for several charitable causes in Malaysia, including helping dialysis patients to foot the bill for their treatments, homes for abused wives, abandoned children and cancer patients, as well as a youth training centre. A new development for the club, whose members have hitherto needed to be owners of classic Volvos, is that plans are afoot, with Volvo Car Malaysia, to enable owners of newer models to become associate members of the club. In this way, it is hoped to swell the club's membership and to encourage more participants on 2003's planned run to Chiang Mai in the north of Thailand, as well as on a Round Malaysia Tour, also in 2003. Whilst in Phuket, the club members stayed at the Royal Crown hotel in Patong, not least for its central location and ample and safe car-parking facilities. Several wives accompanied their husbands on this trip, and all clearly enjoyed the Thais' customary hospitality and delicious, if sometimes rather-too-spicy, food. The Thai Naan certainly put on a tremendous show and the afternoon was made all the more enjoyable by the many "after-lunch" speeches and welcoming addresses from the incumbents of both Volvo Thailand and the Classic Car Club. On the evening of the 18th December, Muang Mai Motor Phuket Co. , Ltd. put on a grand show to open their enlarged and revamped showroom, in order to bring it into line with Volvo's worldwide showrooms' new look. Sadly, the Classic Car Club members were already on their way to Had Yai, in the South, where the wives had scheduled two days of Christmas shopping. And the men? Well, I'm sure they had some shopping on their agenda, also. Note: You can find out more about Malaysia's Classic Volvo Club by visiting their web site at: www. kvkmalaysia. com |
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Tropical Living: February 2003, Volume 2 Issue 9 |
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