Classic Cars in Thailand – Rare “Daily Drivers”, Lovable Pickups

Today for some very recent sights – this week in fact. Whilst out and about in Sattahip, we came across these rare workhorse classic cars still in daily use.

Vintage Pick Up Classic Cars

Pick Up trucks have long been the best selling type of cars in Thailand. It’s little wonder then many are still in use, rolling and road registered being used as workhorses to this day. This is a selection of a few of the typical older models you may come across on your travels.

Peugeot 504 Pickup

The first, something I’ve not seen around for a long time – a Peugeot pickup truck. Probably around 40 years old or more, approximate year 1980. Peugeot being a French brand, this must have been imported at some point. What a fabulous thing it is – fabulously finished in mint green paintwork, matching the walls of the owners pet food store.

The bed was long, flat and wide – a really practical looking load carrier. Appeared to being used by a pet shop wholesaler and store, could carry quite a number of boxes and sacks of pet feed or litter I imagine.

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Peugeot 504 pickup

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Pet store daily driver and work horse

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This Peugeot is a very good example of how well these classic cars were built back in 1970s and 1980s. They were engineered to be driven on rough roads and across farms, and as such can last a very long time if taken care of. The reputation for durability these and other 504/505 variants had back in the day also made them a best seller in South Africa and Brazil.

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The wing mirrors are a giveaway, they’ve been replaced with some newer pieces that have built in indicators. They look to be from a Japanese pickup truck. They also tell us the green may or may not be the original colour scheme.

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Well, some things just go unnoticed until almost too late. Only when going through the pictures did I realize the whole block of shops is painted in a similar shade of green. Definitely no coincidence, it’s the owners matching truck and building. Wonder what their favourite colour is?

What a cool choice of classic truck. It’s classy, practical and capable, it’ll take on many miles – yet oh so humble. So much better for the environment and oh so much more of an investment that going to the showroom and loosing thousands buying or leasing something new. Up-cycle the old like this truck, it’s actually very ‘green’ … environmentally speaking!

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Mazda for Sparky

Next up on this little classic cars spotting expedition, what did we see other than this sparky (electrician) working on something at a municipal building. At first it just looks like a cool old truck, then we see around the other side and that it’s a working mobile electrician’s workshop.

It’s a 1980’s era Mazda Familia pickup truck, with some period rims (alloy wheels) and it’s original ‘supercab’ configuration, with the large awning attachment to create a van-like space at the rear. A great little workhorse, and ideal choice of useable classic car. This one seems to be in very tidy condition. Great to see it still being used daily!

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Mazda Familia pickup 1980s

In full period spec

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Nice original awning over the truck bed

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Clearly a daily workhorse

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Mitsubishi Shogun (Pajero)

Another banging classic from the 80’s heyday of Mitsubishi. Named Pajero in these markets or ‘Shogun’ in Europe, this was a Japanese contender to the Range Rover. In many ways it’s an early 4×4 SUV. A very capable machine, which went on to dominate in Paris-Dakar rallies. Here in a very crisp white with all the trimmings and accessories imaginable. It looks like it just rolled off the factory floor! At least 30 years old (1991 at the latest when the gen 2 came out). These came with a powerful 3000cc V6 engine and were made from 1982 – 1991 in this first generation body shape.

Again, apart from maybe a little fuel consumption – these makes for awesome useable classic cars which can even handle some overland adventuring.

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Flashback … We’ve landed in 1987

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Nice Ralliart mudflaps

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I’ll leave it to you to pick out the details

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Ready to take on the world

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Now for a bonus spot … the looks may divide opinion, it’s Thailand’s answer to the Hummer and living room rolled into one … the THAIRUNG.

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It’s a Thairung, a big box on wheels

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4 Leaf Clover

Final one for this round, this time near Pattaya. A daily driver Alfa Romeo 156 with 156 as the number plate. Very red, very Italian. Rather stylish compared to all the usual Japanese metal around. Also, very much a rare sight although you do see a few around. I think they had an import showroom in Thailand for quite a long time.

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If Ferrari made compact execs …

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Lovely styling on this 156

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Notice the rear door handles hidden in the window frames

It’s a wrap

Thanks for reading, and if you enjoyed this content, please do share like comment and so forth. It’s been fun making sure I stop now almost whenever I see some cool vehicles. The last few posts went through photographs taken in past years around Bangkok, and today has solely been the past week in Chonburi. Until next time, stay car crazy and build the mancave of your dreams. Preferably with kittens.