A CLUB for enthusiasts of Japanese vintage cars has brought together Sabahans with a love of hunting spare parts and body kits to complete their latest projects.

Sabah Old School Car Owners Club leader Bob Syahrin said members find great satisfaction in seeing a once-dilapidated vehicle up and running again.

“This hobby has become a lifestyle for many of us. You don’t need to be wealthy to be a vintage car enthusiast in Sabah.

“But, you need a huge amount of patience, an eagerness to learn and to solve problems, and lots of friends who will support you throughout your project,” said Bob, who owns a Mazda 808 Coupe.

The club was started in 2012 by a group of friends who attended a car show 10 years earlier. Today, it has 118 members and vehicles ranging from the Toyota KE80, KE30 and Celica TA28 to the Nissan Skyline GTR and Datsun 120Y.

It also boasts in its collection rare models, like the Isuzu Billet and Toyota Corona RT40.

Teacher Jerry Jong, the proud owner of a Corona RT40, said his car has impressed many students.

“My students were all in awe when I drove the car to school. ‘Kereta antik’ (antique car), they said.

“These days, people are so caught up with new things that they sometimes miss out on the beauty of the classics,” said the art teacher at La Salle Secondary School in Kota Kinabalu.

“Along with the car comes the fashion,” said the 40-year-old, who, in his flat cap and jeans, looks like a much younger hipster.

He said his passion for vintage cars has led to friendships that go beyond race, religion and status.

“When we set aside our differences, it’s much easier to share what we know, exchange parts we need… and try to help each other keep the hobby alive.”

Mechanic Shuffian “Pirate” Yusof said although money is a factor in restoring old vehicles, getting into the hobby “is all about taking one step at a time”.

“I drive a Celica. It was my main car for many years. It has given me all sorts of problems. Along the way, I learnt about fixing the car, and became a self-taught mechanic.

“When there are no parts available… we have a welder who can put back together broken tail pipes and other parts. There are also those who do body work, and can restore cars to look like new.

“We have Ah Fung, who is in the rim business and can find us the right design for our cars.

“I can restore original emblems, which are very, very hard to find. We also have a friend who built the visor on Jong’s Corona,” said Shuffian, stressing the importance of close ties in the group.

Engineer Jumaidin Gumstello said peninsula folk are increasingly turning to Sabah and Sarawak for vintage vehicles, as there are few such cars where they live.

He said he sold his beloved Mazda 808 to a buyer from Kedah who had pestered him for it.

“I finally gave in. Sold it for RM9,000. I went without a vintage car for several years. But with the money I had, I was able to start a bigger vintage car project,” said Jumaidin, adding that he is now almost done refurbishing his Skyline GTR.

Alan Atan, who owns a modified Datsun 120Y, said: “You can’t predict some of the problems you will face while trying to complete your project. But the answer is among friends.”

Thanks to the internet, he said, such projects are less of a headache, with the easy availability of tutorial videos and tips on where to source parts.

He said he was able to solve all kinds of issues with his Datsun by going online.

Bob said the club’s members spend between RM20,000 and RM60,000 on each vehicle, but the bonds they form are priceless. – September 16, 2019.