Last weekend Bangkok saw the 37th Glossy Heritage Concours in Bangkok. Stuart Penketh (text & photos) reports:
Bangkok, is usually noted for its traffic jams, but it’s not always been like that! In 1904, a grand total of three cars were cruising Bangkok’s streets, (but no record of the makes or Owners)! In that same year King Chulalongkorn’s son got an illness necessitating him to go to Paris for medical treatment. Whilst there, he ordered a Daimler Benz from the company’s Paris agent, a Mr. Emile Jelinek. On his return home he presented the car to King Chulalongkorn .
King Chulalongkorn grew to enjoy travelling by automobile, and in 1905, decided to buy a second one. The task of making this purchase was entrusted to Prince Ratchaburi, who decided to import one directly from Germany, and he decided on a Mercedes 20hp, and the love affair with Mercedes began!
The Glossy Heritage Concours, is a show featuring cars of all vintages, with lots of differing sections for, say, “Original cars”, “Rebuilt cars” etc. People here tend to like the convertible cars, and open top sports cars, even though it’s far too hot to drive with the top down during the day ! Evening is the best time, but then no-one can see you!
Many smaller cars have survived here, most likely due to the absence of salt on the roads. The ubiquitous Austin Seven, is here in abundance, along with its modern counterpart. But there are cars like the 1936 Morris 8 and the 1929 Singer Junior 1936 DKW F5 though this should have been noted as an F3 or F4, since it had a fabric body. " Editor: in our view star of the show was this unmolested 1909 Wolseley Siddeley Special light 2 Seater. It looks like the owner took the wise decision to take things slow.