One of the joys of being a petrolhead is going on so called "car capers". Last year, I undertook a rather interesting trip in this ilk to Shoeburyness in Essex to see a friend. A retired friend of his was giving up driving and selling her car. This 1993 Proton 1.3 MPI GLS had done just 45,000 miles from new, and had been owned by her and her husband ever since.
The bonnet lacquer was have completely gone, some of the door locks did not work properly and there was a bit of rust somewhere, but this little car, originally built as Malaysia's national car in 1985 as the Proton Saga, was something of a gem. We checked the MOT history, and she had been doing around 100 miles a year over the last few years. With a completely flat battery and plenty of moss around the window seals, she took a little bit of coaxing to get going, but after a jump start, the 1.3 Mitsubishi Orion engine fired into life.
My friend tried to keep his slightly embarrassed face covered up as we cruised down Southend sea front on this exotic Asian automobile (they are pretty rare these days), and we ended up at a hand car wash. The clientele consisted of BMWs, Mercedes-Benzes and Range Rovers, and so the Proton fitted in perfectly. Once she was cleaned, we took her for a longer drive, and tried out the still functioning Blaupunk cassette stereo system (although I was convinced I was going to blow the speakers on the rear shelf) as well as the slick five speed manual gearbox.
Being a later car (this is post the so-called 'Iswara' facelift), it had a multi-point fuel injection system, so runs very sweetly. The engine bay was amazingly clean for a car its age, with only a very slight oil leak, a brand new battery, and oil that was a lovely golden honey colour. She drove remarkably well, apart from an issue where she would sometimes cut out when coming to a stop after a long drive and had been kept in really good condition with virtually no mechanical maladies at all.
Whilst probably being the least fashionable car of the moment, the lack of rev counter, electric windows, central locking, air conditioning, electric mirrors or really anything over than power steering mean that it was strangely appealing. We ended up taking her to Santa Pod (although was not drag raced, unlike several other temporary acquistions I could mention), after having had the bonnet resprayed.
Eventually, she was sold to a family from Croydon who needed a reliable temporary car, and was the sole first generation Proton on Auto Trader at the time. I don't think I have seen another in quite a while, but given how cheap they are, I don't think it is the last one I will have. Maybe next time I won't get one with a squeaky fanbelt which deafens the neighbours, though...
