You experience everything in Thailand (74)

If you see a bright yellow Hummer H1 off-road vehicle driving anywhere in Thailand, especially in or around Udon Thani, it is most likely blog reader Pieter Dirk Smit. His hobby is cars, cars and more cars.

Read his story about how he developed this hobby further in Thailand and enjoys it a lot.

In Thailand I was able to fulfill my dream hobby

In the past, how old this sounds, I was crazy about cars as a child. Back then they were all of the same brand, namely Dinky Toys. After getting my driver's license, the problem came, choosing another brand. Likewise in Thailand.

I noticed twelve years ago that many brands had the same body and appearance and it seemed to me personally a dime a dozen. Given the traffic rules in Thailand, I decided to buy a small third-hand car first.

I compared the purchase prices with the Netherlands and then I was shocked here. Not normal what they ask for a used car here in Thailand. This saves at least half and more with the Netherlands. But on the other hand, driving was again much cheaper given the road tax and the inspection and maintenance / repair costs. I gained driving experience and soon knew that this could not be compared to Amsterdam. Scooters and tuktuks had their own laws it seemed. Some drivers apparently had never heard of a turn signal. The law of the jungle and the law of the strongest.

After driving my Daihatsu Cuore for seven months without any problems, my Vietnamese brother-in-law gave me a tip about an old US military Jeep, which was being maintained by his company. I saw the photo on his phone and was immediately sold! What could be better than in a tropical country, open and free to drive! After a test drive with the German owner, I was converted and bought the Jeep within five minutes. My wife asked me: "What are you going to do with two cars?" I had paid 75.000 Baht for it seven months ago and saw this as a write-off, because we had a lot of fun with it for seven months.

But when I got home, my then neighbor heard that we had bought a Jeep and he told me that his niece was still looking for a good car. My wife took over the conversation because I didn't speak Thai at the time and she told me within 5 minutes: "Have the car sold to the neighbor". Sold to the neighbor? Then she must have given him away? But no, sold for the same money I paid for it seven months ago. I was stunned and had to laugh.

Driving the Jeep was a very nice experience, we enjoyed it to the fullest! At road checks, the officers jumped to attention and saluted. Everyone had to stop and we could continue unhindered. And that with a white farang behind the wheel. I loved my Jeep. This was therefore the best purchase in years and I had my Jeep completely refurbished and beautified by companies.

But… a few months later I saw a classic Ford Capri for sale. That were the days! Knowing that I now had addresses that could fix the car to my taste, I also bought the Capri. I could fantasize about it. It took a total of two years for the car to get a completely new metamorphosis. I had all conceivable gadgets made in it by three car companies in Udon Thani and the car eventually became a cross between a Lamborghini Miura and Ferrari 308. It was therefore the only car in the world. Of course this would have been totally unthinkable in the Netherlands. I still drive it every day and enjoy it a lot!

It is a two-door, so this car also falls into the lowest road tax class. This is in total with mandatory insurance and annual mandatory inspection, less than 100 Euro.

My hobby from earlier times came up in me again! Even though these weren't Dinky Toys, my childhood was resurrected. I had a carport placed at my house, which could hold four cars, and I went looking for cars, which you only see sporadically in Thailand, because I'm not the man for normal cookie tins.

The search was difficult and I was bombarded with all the well-known Asian brands. So… what do you do as an enthusiast? Then you just have a car made yourself. Supposedly done. And then the choice was quickly made, namely The King of the Road, or the Hummer H1 Alpha Luxury Junior Open Hard Top. I then requested everything from Hummer and did my homework thoroughly. Took my ideas to a professional and parked my dream there in English.

That professional (Kawin) was also looking forward to this challenge and was happy to take my idea to heart. And so my dream became reality. After 18 months my yellow H1 showed up at my door. Just the way I had it in my head. Beautiful! The version is completely in zinc and the inside looks like an airplane with meters and clocks, etc., etc.

Now, years later, I sometimes see a Hummer for sale on various internet sites in Thailand, but this is the H3 version and this is not my car. With prices that will surprise you, namely 3.500.000 Baht.

So I sold my old trusted Jeep, which we had for almost eight years, with tears in my eyes, and have the name car dealer with some Dutch people.

But we all see that trade is also on its back here and I think this is the case globally. A car also costs money in Thailand. And if you have a car for years, then you are a very bad trader. My wife and I happily drive our four cars and know better. Strange… that some don't allow you a hobby. Of course, a yellow Hummer H1 is a car that attracts a lot of attention. The big advantage is that you can sit in it with 10 people and since we receive many people from the Netherlands every year, we can go on the road together.

When I sold my Jeep, space became available again in the carport. So looking again to fill this empty place. I had set my sights on a convertible, but the prices for this are also almost unaffordable. Almost crazy, what they ask for a special car. So I traded my Harley Davidson on it with tears in my eyes. I still regret that sometimes! My carport has been filled up again. This would never have been possible in the Netherlands with those prices that they charge there.

So in Thailand you can own four cars. And with that my old childhood hobby has become reality again. Unfortunately, I now have to divest again, because we are going to sell our house and will never get that much land back for the car park.