TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Back when Indonesia was still colonized by foreign countries, there had been 200 car brands circulating in the country. The data was dug out in an in depth research by Azman Osman, an antique car collector and conceptor of the Otoblitz Indonesia Classic Car Show (OICC-Show), before his debut classic cars exhibition in 2007.
“Indonesia had imported cars since 120 years back.The peak was 100 year ago when the country hosted 200 car brands which Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and other neighboring countries did not have it,” said Azman who was born in 1959.
“I visited every single harbor, recorded stories, looked for historical evidences, and collected existing documentation.”
His efforts were fruitful as he managed to collect around 60 units of classic cars from each era of car development, in addition to map the development itself.
Hundreds of enthusiastic visitors flocked to his exhibition each time and it reassured Osman that Indonesia is rich of classic cars culture.
“The richness is part of the country’s culture that must be preserved as heritage,” Osman said.
BISNIS.COM
