Jakarta residents will have something different to celebrate this festive season with vintage and classic cars on display at Balai Kartini on Jl. Gatot Subroto, South Jakarta.
The Third Otoblitz International Classic Car Show of 2009 (OICCS), which runs from Dec. 23-27, boasts a 1972 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 that is expected to be the highlight of the show, as well as a 1966 BMW 2000CS.
“Classic cars have a long history that we can feel. I hope the spirit of old-car lovers can be channeled through this event,” said Asman Osman, the founder of OICCS.
Apart from the cars’ history, he added, passion, obscene wealth, enough time and a team of mechanics to restore the cars were other factors necessary to prevent the cars from turning into a rusting junk heap.
This year’s show will also include workshops for enthusiasts on tips to restore classic cars.
“We’d like to spread our passion and knowledge of classic cars through the workshops that we will conduct,” Asman said.
The workshops will cover issues such as sandblasting, bodywork, choosing paint colors, chrome works and maintenance of classic cars.
Indonesian Vintage Car Enthusiasts Community (PPMKI) chair-man Bambang R. Effendi said such exhibitions increased the popularity of classic cars. Such shows also prove to the public that classic cars were not always troublesome, he said.
“I heard the government wants to ban old cars from the city’s streets. It’s not right because many classic cars can still run quite well,” he said.
Another attraction at the show are founding President Sukarno’s cars, a 1952 Chrysler and a Cadillac Fleetwood Limo.
“Those cars still hold great prestige [because they were presidential cars] even though they might be
old. The owners have maintained them in very good condition,” Bambang said.
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