Oriental Offerings - Reincarnated

[KruJoe]

Thank you gentlemen!

We have been flitting around the North-East's North-East, sans interweb, so no updates, but I'll post each day's pictures one at a time.

 

That's a bit of an oddball Starlet, no? I never knew a 5 door one of these existed - was it a Japan only model that's been imported or something? Looks like it may be a turbo, also.

 

There are a few Starlets about, especially in Chiang Mai, in fact I nearly didn’t bother posting that one! I never know what people will find interesting. From memory, almost all look like that, five doors with a body-kit, and ’12 VALVE’ stickers down the side. Come to think of it, many of the oddball hatchbacks of that era are the same – 205s and AXs spring to mind. They have body-kits on, though all are five doors, and middle of the range motors (1.4s).

 

 

Right, today’s installment takes us from Sukothai old town, an ancient ruined city, north-east to Phu Rhua in Loei.

Hard at work:

 

 

 

Anyone into trolley-busses?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sorry, I'm clueless on the American stuff. All I can make out is 'Premier'.

 

 

 

This old woman's five wheeled mobile snack kitchen forward slash accident waiting to happen nearly made it to Catch of the Day.

 

 

 

 

But the title goes to this:

 

 

Imagine that as a beavertail!

 

 

The rear bodywork, including fins, is all wood.

 

 

Also available in Isuzu flavour:

 

 

These are Sukothai's take on the songtaew taxi bus concept. Glorious.

 

 

 

Moving on:

 

 

I found these adverts in a magazine for Loei's Chery dealership. I like the way they put bricks under the wheels in the showroom! I haven't seen a Chery A1 yet...

 

 

 

@CT: Today we’ve come past another sugar factory 50km east of Udon Thani, with dozens more over-loaded wagons waiting to go in full of ‘leaves and trash’… would that be one of yours too? We couldn’t see any signs for it at all. Listing heavily:

 

 

Don’t know if I mentioned it, but my wife spent a few years of her childhood on a farm in the middle of sugar cane country (Suphan Buri), but the game seems to have moved on rather in the years since!

 

 

 

This greeted us on arrival in Loei.

 

 

Another unusual pick-up.

 

 

A Mazda "Proceed"(?) would respond well to a good rodding, I'm thinking.

 

 

Would have made CotD on a slower day.

The next batch takes us north to the Mekong...

[Lukas]

Your "Premier" is a Holden Premier from Australia. Also sold as Mazda Roadpacer. Rarely.

[ChinaTom]

The white pins are the factories - you'll drive past a fair few on your travels I guess. Usually you smell them before you see them - most smell like maltesers. That lorry is probably on its way to Keset Phol (Mitrphol group).

 

 

If you are anywhere near Mukdahan in mid Feb, let me know - I'll be just across the border in Savannakhet, Laos.

[KruJoe]

Thank you Lukas. I've fallen into that trap before with a big Holden!

 

 

The white pins are the factories - you'll drive past a fair few on your travels I guess. Usually you smell them before you see them - most smell like maltesers.

Wow I didn't realise there are so many. I think I smelt more of them than we saw... much of Isaan (the North-East) has a peculiar smell, and it's not the fermented fish.

If you are anywhere near Mukdahan in mid Feb, let me know - I'll be just across the border in Savannakhet, Laos.

We were within a few km of Mukdahan this week (That Pranom), but we'll be heading back to the gray UK next week

 

Now Pa_Ted’s sig is talking to me. ไปให้พ้น = bugger off.

 

 

Today's batch comes from a short trip north through Loei province, past Loei town to the Mekong River, which separates Thailand from Laos. ‘Loei’ (เลย) is difficult to pronounce but I’ll try to explain! Take the word ‘early’, and move the ‘l’ sound to the start, keeping the vowel sounds the same: ‘l-er-ee’. Now make it one smooth syllable: ‘Loei’. There you have it!

 

 

Back to business. What a weapon! That looks like the back off a Sukothai bus on there.

 

 

 

Another GM-based saloon on a roadside plinth.

 

 

It was probably mounted there as a warning to road users. The Thais are a superstitious bunch, the wife said someone died in it for sure (so it's haunted), otherwise it would have been repaired (!)

 

 

 

There are a few of these about:

 

 

Just a hint of Spirito di Punto from the front?

Nissan March (New Micra). Have these arrived in Britain yet? I hadn't seen any when we left in November.

 

 

 

While we were filling up with LPG:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another town; another variety of public transport.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And we arrived in riverside Chiang Khan. 'Real' retro, this place, with wooden shop-houses along the main street.

 

 

Just waiting for some tat to park here, but worth the shot nonetheless.

 

 

 

 

I noticed more than the usual quota of these Mazdas in Loei, but this was the only four-door.

 

 

 

Catch of the Day!

 

 

The only Vauxhall OF EVAR spotted in Thailand!

 

 

What's going on here?

 

 

^Check out the 'zorst!

 

 

[BMC Dan]

Bet that FD wagon came as a shock!! When I was in Thailand for 3 weeks in 2008 I was surprised to see two Luton products, a 4 door HB Viva in metallic red on modern alloys in Bangkok and a metallic green FD saloon with a vinyl roof pulling into a service station on the way to Pattaya, no photos sadly.

[ProgRocker]

 

There are a few of these about:

 

 

Just a hint of Spirito di Punto from the front?

Nissan March (New Micra). Have these arrived in Britain yet? I hadn't seen any when we left in November.

 

Yes, the new Micra is now available in Britain.

 

The Vauxhall FD is a treat!

[KruJoe]

Bet that FD wagon came as a shock!! When I was in Thailand for 3 weeks in 2008 I was surprised to see two Luton products, a 4 door HB Viva in metallic red on modern alloys in Bangkok and a metallic green FD saloon...

The Victor was a shock!

Now you mention it, I have seen something that was identified as a Viva HB, but I assumed it would be the Opel equivalent, if there was such a thing? This one, spotted in Tesco's car park, Chiang Mai, featured early on in the thread.

 

 

 

Here's another angle of the Victor as it went down well:

 

 

Was there a Holden version of the FD? That might have been more likely...

There's a few Holdens about, I have a 'beauty' to share in a few days!

 

 

Yes, the new Micra is now available in Britain.

Nissan certainly seem to be doing better than Ford at breaking back into the Thai 'small' car market. Both are fresh on the scene in the last year.

 

"Chevrolet" have done ok with these, too:

 

 

A few from the temple grounds where we parked the car overnight in Chiang Khan.

 

 

I have a thing for chod in old fashioned settings.

 

 

 

 

 

These KB trucks are worming their way into my heart with their super clean, under-styled lines.

 

 

^Not a lot wrong with that, is there?

 

 

 

Today’s update comes as we set off down the side of the Mekong from Chiang Khan to Nong Khai

 

 

I wonder why this truck chose to cross here... maybe something to hide?

The road was shockingly bad: thinly surfaced and potholed, so we crawled along, enjoying the scenery.

 

 

 

This part of the country has its own style of 'tractor'. Some of these have motorbike wheels on the front!

I enjoyed the way the headlight illuminates the drivers arse. However, they are less compromised than the more usual rigs that are much longer with similar engine/transmission units dragging them along. Can't find a picture just now. Here are someone elses:

 

 

They are slightly converted cultivators:

 

 

Sometimes they are prepared for the road by simply pushing old lorry tyres over the ironwork! I'll take some of my own pictures one day.

 

 

Slightly altered...

 

 

 

LWB SJ thing, Pontiac Sumthinoruther, 505 with unusual back lights(?) and imported RAV4.

 

Nong Khai is just across the river bridge from Vientiane, the Laotian capital.

We found it in the unseasonal drizzle.

 

 

 

Beaded seat covers, 390B = £8, on the market, so open to offers.

After I trudged around there with Mrs KJ, I went out for a wonder on my own.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yet another form of tuk tuk. The North-East is mercifully free of the noisy, smokey two stroke death traps that plague Chiang Mai.

 

 

These seem to be based on the back half of a HiJet chassis. Take no notice of the stickerage on this one: some belong on a Hilux, others on a Mazda Famila as pictured above with the Corona.

 

 

 

As bad light stopped play, I spotted today's Catch of the Day:

 

 

It's a rotary chicken roaster that (appears to be) cranked around by the cock on the end. The electric motor powers him and the bike chains that run in channels, turning the sprockets on the spits. There are hot charcoals in the tough beneath.

The whole lot appeared on the pavement while I was out spying, and disappeared again during the night!

 

More again soon.

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

I like the extended handlebars for steering the FWD home brew tractor, bet that's hard work.

[Rusty Pelican]

Great posts as always , whats the red car stuck to the sign please

 

[Madman Of The People]

 

Looks like a US-spec Peugeot 505. Big bumpers are another giveaway.

[KruJoe]

 

I thought it was an Austin A50 or a Nissan-built version thereof, as seen on page 21:

 

 

http://autoshite.commlm/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2201&start=300

 

But I think it's more likely to be an Anglia 100E.

(Also p21)

 

 

Both are before my time, so don't hold me to it!

[garycox]

Yep, looks like a 100E Prefect to me. I had one as my first car! The back looks a bit odd though.

[KruJoe]

The back looks a bit odd though.

Welcome to Thailand!

[KruJoe]

Right then you lot, this batch is from the next day's driving from Nong Khai to Nakorn Pranom. We went around in circles a few times as we tried to find the road to continue east parallel to the river, it seemed like an unpopular route - "why would anyone want to go further east than here?"

 

 

I saw a few Laotian oddities in Nong Khai, including a few of these droopy-faced Hyundai MPV/minibus things. Also what looked like a Mk9 Corolla saloon with a rear end reminiscent of a Focus saloon/Ford Laser.

I turned the camera on because I thought these were gas bottles stacked on top of this load...

 

 

...but I think they were bundles of plastic buckets. But now I know it IS possible to achieve several degrees of negative camber on a Vigo!

That's the Thai end of the Laos bridge we are about to go under.

 

Before we escaped the city...

 

 

Gotta be Catch of the Day!

 

 

I overtook it and pulled in, then jumped out to pap it as it passed!

 

 

I make that a Toyota Crown Royal Touring (S40 / Mk2) off of the mid 60's.

 

 

What a glorious thing to see.

It probably changed hands recently, it has the LPG sticker to bring it up to regulation for the transfer office.

Its a long way from home - registered in Pathum Thani, way down near BKK. That is touring in style; so jealous. I hope it has the two speed Toyoglide transmission!

 

Once we broke out of town, we saw literally NO normal cars for literally HOURS. Only a few pick-ups and commercials, step-thru bikes and the odd tractor. The far north-east of the North-East is erm... agricultural.

Then, as we approached Nakorn Pranom...

 

 

BACK OF THE NET!

 

 

This dusty roadside body shop must have the monopoly.

 

 

Hard as nails, that. Just needs the grille sorting, and ready to roll. I would.

 

 

 

This was behind the reception desk of the old Chinese-Thai-run hotel in town. Seemingly still in use, the old telephone switchboard. I thought someone might enjoy it.

 

 

Spottings wise, Nakorn Pranom town was as dull as the long drive to it.

 

 

These Isuzu minibuses are not uncommon, but this one contrasts nicely yesterday's abandoned one.

 

 

 

This slogan intrigued me, but judging by what we can see of the slogan on the hat "People [who] love [their] country...", the owner of the car might be a supporter of the "Red Shirt" protesters in Bangkok.

 

 

 

Nakorn Pranom has a riverside promenade with great views. Those are the limestone karst hills of Laos in the distance.

 

Finally, @ X6 drivers: Stick this in your pipe and smoke it. Ha!

 

 

Carryboy FTW. Or not.

[michiel]

Crown! Fiat!

[ChinaTom]

first of all, a big slobbery hello from Xiao Hei, a Cambodian stray dog who has been adopted as the Ag Team mascot.

 

 

Just driven back to Phnom Penh and took a long detour through the rush hour traffic to check this what what I thought it was. It was.

 

 

Bodywork almost perfect, the undercarriage obviously a result of several years of Cambodian bodgery. Don't let the badge fool you - this was a diesel. In the passenger seat was a foreigner (to these parts) wafting around like an old colonial should.

 

Here's a paintjob many of you would be proud of

 

 

Probably a Norwich supporter.

 

Finally, I saw a car that I never knew existed until today. I thought it was a cut n' shut bodge job, but I saw another a few minutes later. Couldn't get a pic, but (and the web confirms) it was a second gen Camry coupe. Saw a home-made Honda Prelude pick-up as well, but it was going too fast the other way to capture.

[Lukas]

Hi!

 

The second generation Camry (like mine) wasn´t available as a Coupe, but the third generation was:

 

 

Lovely car, I would drive one for sure!

[ChinaTom]

Oops, thought that was the second generation Anyway, that's the one. I'm still getting used to the fact that it exists - not sure that front end suits it tbh, but I'll get used to it.

[Lukas]

First generation Camry:

 

 

Second generation Camry:

 

 

But to be exact, the very first car which had the name Camry was the Celica Camry, a sporty model of the late-70s Toyota Carina:

 

 

Not that easy, I know!

[ChinaTom]

My turn to be Mr Krujoe (it's about time I saw something decent around these 'ere parts)

 

 

Bad pic of a Datsun 1300 pick-up

 

 

Patina.

 

 

Any Ideas? Even the owner didn't know exactly what it was, other than "my brother's car".

[Guest]

Looks like a heavily-modified Mazda 929/Luce (MK1).

[KruJoe]

I haven’t been ignoring this thread, but I’ve had plenty on. My posts here seem to take ages, and I’ve been back in the UK working seven days, including some 20 hour stints, the Corsa has made way for the R8 214, and the BX14 is now edging out the latest Impreza. Yada yada. Improved interweb speed helps no end too.

 

 

My turn to be Mr Krujoe

Thank you CT for your contributions! Cambodian streets look very much like Thailand, but LHD!

The last batch are obviously Thai, maybe in a Tesco car park?

 

 

My first guess is that that was a Corolla coupe as on page 20 :

 

 

But H was bob on as always:

 

Looks like a heavily-modified Mazda 929/Luce (MK1).

 

 

 

Aren't they lovely looking machines?

 

Right, where were we?

Nakorn Pranom, beside the Mekong on the north-east edge of Thailand's North-East. An early start to the day.

 

 

NO refreshments available in the 'hotel', so back to the promenade for brekkies. Mobile kiosk ^ for traditional coffee and tea.

 

 

Also an a roadtrip from Bangkok. It's good to see an estate.

 

 

A few more as we head out of town...

 

 

 

 

 

This morning, we went about 50km south to That Pranom, a town surrounding a huge temple complex that is a major Buddhist pilgrimage site.

 

This glorious old Toyota Stout was just inside the gates.

 

 

 

 

It was pipped to the post of Catch of the Day by this:

 

 

Holden Commodore. Why, you ask...

 

 

Wait for it...

 

 

BOOM!

 

 

Gotcha. Yes, those ARE Hilux Vigo headlights.

 

Time to calm down with a wander around the temple.

An amusing and unusual anti-capitalist(?) mural/relief:

 

 

Also a monk in socks is unusual.

 

 

As is a monk with a dressed up, over-affectionate miniature poodle lap dog.

 

We left the temple for the riverside market, where Laotians come to sell their wares. This one clobbered my legs with her baskets as she meandered past.

 

 

And this old dear mumbled as she chewed on her betel. (Spittoon to the left.)

 

 

Next to her herbs for sale are bundles of sap-rich sticks, which are used to light charcoal for cooking.

 

Back in the car...

 

 

A lovely Pogweasel Pink Corona on Lancer Mk2 wheels.

 

 

As we finally headed away from the river and That Pranom, we passed this pilgrimage column of monks (and nuns in white). It was LIDDERALLEE miles long. Most were bare footed and sun-blackened.

 

 

At this point, heading back west, we had the choice of routes: either slightly north to stop in Udon Tani, or a bit south for Khon Kaen in the centre of the North-East. Both are provincial capitals with not much going on, but reading about their histories, I decided upon Udon Tani because there had been a big US air base there during and after WW2, so I hoped for plenty of old Yankee chod in the vicinity. I put my foot down so I'd have time for a good walk around town.

 

 

These big old open cabbed trucks are all over Thailand's highways.

 

 

They're slow, smokey and very loud.

 

 

One doesn't often see them in towns, or parked up (on the road 24/7), so I'm glad I got these for you.

 

 

This tipper was listing nicely. Just visible are the huge rivets holding the cab together.

 

 

Behind a filling station:

 

 

 

 

And as we enter Udon Tani:

 

 

That's enough for now, I'll save the evening's spottings for another day. Sooner rather than later, I promise.

[ChinaTom]

Nakorn Pranom? I was just down the road from you in Mukdahan. The lads had popped into a superstore (not Tescos) for some provisions before we crossed the Friendship II bridge into Savannakhet. I'll be there (Laos) for 10 days every month for the next year and we use the Ubon airport if we go from BKK. Maybe bump into you one of these days.

[michiel]

What a way to end a post... gorgeous Subaru!

[KruJoe]

Nakorn Pranom? I was just down the road from you in Mukdahan. ...Maybe bump into you one of these days.

I did bear you in mind, but at the time (second week of Jan) you weren't in the area. We didn't quite go as far down the river as Mukdahan. We thought we'd gone far enough be the time we'd seen That Pranom - time to beat a path back home to Chiang Mai in the North (West).

We'll be back in Thailand at the end of the year. AirAsia FTW! *makes mental note: must purchase tickets*

 

@ Michiel:

I thought of you when I was sitting in traffic, thought you'd enjoy the Leone Coupe! I think that was an Mi16 in front, but the lights changed so no image.

 

Right, on with the early evening wander around Udon Tani.

What a beauty to start with:

 

 

^ A monk had been wheeled out for some cool evening air.

This was piloted by a lady of at least 70

 

 

Hyundai H-100. Perhaps another version of the more common Kia Jumbo?

 

 

Also rather modern, but these must be increasingly scarce in the UK already.

 

 

This white one is often parked under our apartment building in ChMai...

 

 

Sporting comedicly sun-faded headlights.

 

 

It gets better. These Accords are in danger of becoming SRSLY COOL.

 

 

A typical local bus.

 

 

Rural Thailand is dominated by pick-up trucks, even in the provincial capital towns like Udon.

 

 

This line-up was punctuated only by one other:

 

 

Cutting through the pleasant town centre park...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Both matt black

 

 

Why would you do that? The Jazz hasn't even been issued it's permanent plates yet. There's a brand new matt black Benz C-class slinking around Chiang Mai, too.

 

Two cars down, a 'Persona' saloon. Do/did they sell a four door Gen2 in the UK?

 

 

Also with a Toyota Soluna neighbour, a Sunny Super Saloon.

 

 

As the light fades, my Catch of the Day:

 

 

Ha! Just noticed: four generations of Souluna Vios in as many pictures. CASHBACK!

 

 

How clean is that? Fantastic.

 

 

So, not even a sniff of a Yank Tank for you after all.

Never mind, I can usually find something worth papping. L8RZ!

[KruJoe]

Bump for a real thread.

 

 

I think we have a Datsun Fairlady Sports!

 

 

Back in the game!

 

 

Today I bring you offerings from the final mega day of our mega North-East Thailand roadtrip. 770km and 13-ish hours back to Chiang Mai from Udon Thani on far from perfect roads. What fun!

Or not; it was a bit of a slog to say the least. It should have been three day's travelling, but we were ready for home.

Making such good ground out of Isaan, over the hills and back into the North, there was little slowing down for shite spotting.

But have a few more trucks 'caning' it:

 

 

 

 

 

On our Isaan trip, we've witnessed some 'unusual' behavior by Buddhist monks...

 

 

This guy was having his Corona LPG'd up.

 

Catch of the Day:

 

 

But WTF? Can you tell what it is yet?

 

 

Am I the only one fascinated by the patterns of crap on the side of cars?

Probably.

Last daylight shots of the trip.

 

 

The old girl is ready for another valet. And well deserved it is too. She did well.

 

More from Chiang Mai when I feel so inclined.

G'night!

[Pillock]

Well the WTF is screaming Mk3 Astra Saloon - cover up the right hand side of the picture and it could have been taken in Basingstoke in 1996.

It's wearing what appear to be the same trimz that an LS had, but with an Opel badge so I'm guessing it's not a knockoff.

But that back end.....?

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

What a baffling machine. I've been interrogating Google but all it comes up with are modern Chinese Buicks based on more recent Astras.

[cms206]

Two cars down, a 'Persona' saloon. Do/did they sell a four door Gen2 in the UK?

 

 

 

They do now, I've only ever seen two in the metal though; must be less than 100 or so I'd imagine?

[KruJoe]

Another five-month-bump... (What can I say, it has been a busy summer!)

Just this week I saw a Gen2 saloon ^ in Skipton bus station, with taxi badges and all LPG'd up! First UK one I've noticed.

 

Re: the WTFmobile

That rear end is oh-so-familiar to me, they have been mentioned a few times in this thread, including this page! I seem to catch them in the background all the time.

The reason I pulled my camera out for this one at the traffic lights, I thought "I never noticed how the flanks of these look so much like a Mk3 Astra." Then I saw the wheel trims, and twigged!

I pulled ahead of it to confirm it WAS an Opel Astra with a Toyota Soluna Vios back end grafted on. VERY well indeed in this case.

Vios re-cap:

 

 

 

 

Right then folks, back to business. Some more chod from Chiang Mai.

A white BX has been our UK daily for the last six months, and a joy it has been. Not a Mk1 though.

 

 

Mk1s are probably more common in Chiang Mai than Mk2s. I say "common"... not really!

 

The background here was complete luck:

 

 

I think the yank tank is a previous spot, but the make and model of them rarely sticks in my mind!

 

 

 

 

 

The Datsun Sunny lights strike again:

 

 

But I think it's a Mazda 808. Oh look ^ another flippin' Vios.

 

 

The owner appeared and drove off, it certainly didn't sound like an RX-3!

 

Almost time for bed. Catch of the day?

Go on then:

 

 

A long distance shot, but still rather special. Would it be a home-brew job or not?