More than an old car #24: Chevrolet Corvette C3

American classics are even more rare than the usual Ferraris and Lamborghinis here, given that GM did not establish a presence in the Asian market. This 1977 Chevrolet Corvette C3 5.7L is a sight to behold even though it is not native to Singapore.

The Corvette C3 is the 3rd generation of Corvette cars made by Chevrolet from 1968-1982. Its name is derived from the smallest class of warships known as a 'corvette'. Designing started in 1964 with the release of the Mako Shark 2 concept, which was ironically leaked by Hot Wheels when they released a toy car model. It was powered by a 5733cc Chevrolet Small-Block 8-cylinder engine, allowing it to reach a top speed of 174km/h with an acceleration of 9.3 seconds (0-100km/h). For the 1977 model, it was 4.7m long and weighed 1605kg.

More than 540,000 C3s were produced, of which almost 50,000 were produced in 1977 alone. However, it is worth noting that all models were left-hand drive. This specimen was imported from Australia, where it underwent a right-hand drive conversion. There are currently 3 C3s in Singapore, one red and one blue in colour. Corvettes have become the icon of Chevrolet and it is heartening to know that there are people who are still passionate about these uncommon classics!

More than an old car #23: MG YA

This MG YA calls up images of the 1950s as seen in various black-and-white films from that era. Just by looking at it, you may get the feeling of a rich British gentleman calling the shots as he patrols around his estate. It continues to exude its classiness even until today.

The MG Y-Type was thought of back in 1939, but due to the war, production had to be put on hold until 1947. No effort was spared in designing the interior--the seats were all leather and the trim was wooden such as the door window frames. The headlights were also separately mounted even when most cars were integrating the headlights with the front frame. It also had a front 'suicide door', where the door hinge was fitted at the back instead of towards the front. The name came about due to the higher risk of injury when people got in or out of the car. The YA was powered by a 1250cc XPAG 4-cylinder engine, allowing it to reach a top speed of 115km/h with an acceleration of 33.5 seconds. It was 4.09m long and weighed 1034kg.

Production ended in 1953 with 2 generations of Y-Types produced, of which only 6,131 were YAs like the one in the picture. Based on my knowledge, there are probably around 5 examples here. This specimen could have been present here before Singapore became independent, and the owner could have gotten it registered later on. It is quite surprising that it is still running on normal plates given how old the car is, so the owner must be really passionate about his ride. You should be able to spot it easily--its unique shape gives it away!

More than an old car #22: Alfa Romeo Giulietta

Alfa Romeo cars are instantly recognizable by the triangular-shaped grille with its logo inside it. It is relatively common on our roads--you or your parents may have driven one before. Yet, this 1983 Alfa Romeo Giulietta 1.6 [Tipo 116] is not something you will get to see here often.

Alfa Romeo, an Italian car maker, initially started out surprisingly as a French firm [Società Anonima Italiana Darracq (SAID)] in 1906 which was backed by Italian investors. The company came under the direction of entrepreneur Nicola Romeo in 1915 and was subsequently renamed A.L.F.A Romeo--a combination of the original name "Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili" and the last name of Nicola Romeo. It is now owned by the conglomerate Fiat Chrysler Automobiles since 2007. 

The Alfa Romeo Giulietta was launched in 1977 and production ended in 1985, with around 380,000 made. The 'Tipo 116' [Type 116] refers to this particular generation as there was a previous model which was called the Giulietta also. This specimen was equipped with a 1570cc Alfa Romeo Twin Cam 4-cylinder engine, allowing it to reach a top speed of 175km/h with an acceleration of 11.3 seconds [0-100km/h]. It was 4.21m long and weighed 1070kg. It may look similar to many cars in the 1980s, but a defining difference was the short car boot length and a small aerodynamic spoiler that was merged in the car body. 

Only 2 currently exist here as far as I know and it seems the owner has preserved it ever since it was bought here, due to the period-correct number plate. These older cars do have a higher chance of breaking down and having this specimen survive until today is an achievement. You can consider it your lucky day if you see this in person!

More than an old car #21: SS Jaguar 1.5 Litre

Pre-war cars [older than 1939] are very rare in Singapore, given the humidity and the extreme heat all year round. As a result, practically all of such vehicles have been imported here and given a new lease of life under these enthusiasts. They do look somewhat out of place in modern society and this 1938 SS Jaguar/Jaguar Mark IV 1.5 Litre is a prime example of past versus the present.

Many of you would have seen Jaguar Cars, mostly driven by what we call 'rich people'. However, it was initially known as SS Cars Limited, which was founded in 1922 by William Lyons. No one really knows what SS stands for--it could be either 'Swallow Sidecar Company' or 'Standard Swallow'. SS Cars became known as Jaguar Cars in 1945, where it is now part of India-based Tata Motors since 2008.

Production of the SS Jaguar 1.5 Litre began in 1935 and it was the smallest car compared to the larger models such as the 2.5 and 3.5 Litre. The horns are actually somewhat visible under the headlights and the side indicators were welded on the fenders [ie the curved portion over the wheels]. It was powered by a 1776cc Standard 4-cylinder engine, allowing it to reach a top speed of 113km/h. It was also 4.39m long and had a 4-speed manual transmission.

When production ended in 1949, 10,430 were made and this specimen here had been imported here recently. I find it amazing that there are people who are willing to go through all the hassle and paperwork in order to drive an antique piece of history given the COE system here. Here;s to hoping that the owner will keep it running in the years to come!

 

More than an old car #20: VW Karmann Ghia

I believe all would have heard of Volkswagen, especially after the emissions scandal. This is a throwback to the times when things were simpler. The VW Karmann Ghia has been noted for its beauty and its timelessness, but do you know that its rather long name is due to a collaboration between 2 coachbuilding [car-body manufacturing] firms?

Wilhelm Karmann GmbH, a German firm, was founded in 1901 while Carrozzeria Ghia SpA was founded in Italy in 1916. They were contracted by Volkswagen in the early 1950s, as VW wanted a 'halo car' [ie a premium model] to its lineup. The Karmann Ghia was first produced in 1955, where the public reactions exceeded expectations. It was marketed as a more luxurious model compared to the Beetle, as it was more expensive and time-consuming to make the car body by hand.

The Karmann Ghia was equipped with a 1584cc 6-cylinder engine, allowing it to reach a top speed of 138km/h with an acceleration of 21.3 seconds [0-100km/h]. It was 4.14m long and weighed 870kg. When production ended in 1974, more than 440,000 were produced, out of which only around 80,000 were cabriolets like the one in the picture. As with other VW cars at that time, the engine was located at the back of the car [rear-engined]. Throughout its production period, it underwent some modifications such as the tail-light size and the bumpers. This specimen is a 1970 model, as the tail-lights have gotten bigger but the bumper had not been changed yet.

To the best of my knowledge, there are around 5 here in Singapore, making this a rare car in its own right. You can see the exquisite design of its curves and how unique it would have been back in the 1950s. Hopefully, you will get the chance to see this gem for yourself one day!

More than an old car #19: Volvo 240 GLT

Say the words 'safest car' and chances are you might mention Volvo. Volvo has a large presence here, from the everyday models to police cars, and even the PMO's motorcade. Yet, did you know that some of its cars were made right here back in 1979? Local production ended very quickly in 1980 but 500 cars had been produced. The Volvo 240 GLT was one of them.

Volvo was founded in 1927 as a subsidiary of SKF, a Swedish ball-bearings manufacturer. Its name, which is Latin for 'I roll', was supposed to be for a certain type of ball bearing but was later patented for cars. Volvo was first bought over by Ford in 1999, and was later sold to China car manufacturer Geely in 2009. Volvo has always prioritised their reliability and solidity, and it was no surprise when they introduced safety measures which we take for granted: the three-point seat-belt, laminated glass and crumple zones are examples. As a result, it has won people over worldwide.

The 200 Series [of which the 240 GLT was part of] was introduced in 1974 in a number of variations. Initially, the naming was based on the number of doors and the trim level but this was changed in 1983 where all cars were simply called the 240. The 'GLT' in this case stands for "Grand Luxe Touring", which is basically a sporty premium version compared to the basic model. It was equipped with a 2664cc PRV 6-cylinder engine [a collaboration between Peugeot, Renault and Volvo]-- the maximum top speed was 150km/h and its acceleration was 17.5 seconds [0-100km/h]. It was 4.9m long and weighed 1370kg.

When production ended in 1993, more than 2.8 million had been made and it remains popular with enthusiasts and common folk alike. However, it is difficult to find one here despite how numerous it was, no thanks to the COE system. I have only seen a gold-coloured model even though I believe there are more. What attracted me was its boxy shape and how dated it looks, but hopefully the old-school charm can still work its magic on you!

More than an old car #18: Morris Minor

You don't really hear of cars having nicknames, unless they are really endearing/well-known to people. Such is the case with the Morris Minor, affectionately called the 'Moggy'/'Morrie'.

Morris Motors started out as WRM Motors Limited, founded by bicycle manufacturer William Morris in 1912. It later merged with Austin Motors to form the British Motor Corporation in 1952, which is now part of China car manufacturer SAIC after a series of mergers and acquisitions. The Morris brand name lasted until 1984 with the production of the Morris Ital.

The idea of the Morris Minor was conceived in 1941 by Alec Issigonis, a junior engineer at the company. He envisioned a car that the average man would want, which was also spacious and easy to drive. Interestingly, it was called the Mosquito during the planning stages but was later changed to Minor, in reference to the 1928 Morris Minor. Over its production run from 1948-1971, more than 1.3 million were made of varying types and it became a representation of 'Englishness'.

The first generation [Minor MM] was produced from 1948-1953 with more than 250,000 made, and was powered by a 918cc 4-cylinder engine. It could reach a top speed of 100km/h, but acceleration was very slow at 40.8 seconds. It was 3.76m long and weighed 762kg.
The Minor 1000, which was made between 1956-1971 had certain differences as seen in the pictures: the split windscreen had been replaced with a single one, the traffic indicators had changed orientation and the grille design was also different. It was powered by a 948cc BMC A-Series 4-cylinder engine, which allowed it to reach a top speed of 117km/h with an acceleration of 33.4 seconds [0-100km/h]. 847,491 were produced during its lifetime. Both models had a 4-speed manual transmission also; the 1st picture is a 1951 model while the 2nd picture is a 1959 model.

In Singapore, it was used as learner cars for driving lessons back in the 1970s--your parents might have passed their driving test in one! Although they may not be as common, they are still recognizable as quite a number of classic car owners still own them. Some of them still have normal plates, which shows the dedication of their owners to keep it on the roads. I am aware that this is also a popular choice for a wedding car-- hopefully you will appreciate the beauty of these gentlemen and allow it to be a part of your special day!