Auto Icons’ curation of collectible cars and creating petrolhead experiences are special interest areas that are growing in popularity.
Singapore - Be it to drive and / or collect, interest in cult cars of the 70s to the late-00s – arguably the golden age of ICE (or Internal Combustion Engine) cars – has never been stronger, thanks in part to the rise of largely homogenous EVs, which many have come to regard as more appliance than automobile.
To many petrolheads, cars aren’t merely beasts of burden used for A-to-B transport. Some of us were born in an era that straddled the analogue and digital worlds of technology. For instance, we started-off shooting with film, before gradually progressing to digital cameras as they became more commonplace.
And it seems we’ve come to that same watershed as far as ICE cars and EVs are concerned.
Enthusiasts who have grown up with great, big belchy engines or high-revving screamers find it hard to muster any excitement for something that effectively serves as an electric appliance for transport.
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So, it is interesting to see how this attitude contrasts starkly to the growing interest in ICE-powered European and JDM icons of the automotive world’s golden 70s to late-00s era.
Many of these auto icons have sound, soul and a sense of theatre about them that turns every drive into a transcendental experience.
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It is all about the engagement and singular purpose of such cars, and driving them is akin to a spiritual event that would never see “effortless” extolled as a virtue.
Money aside, such cars require effort, commitment and a whole lot of blood, sweat and tears not just to drive smoothly and swiftly, but to maintain and upkeep.
They aren’t safe spaces that flatter and boost one’s ego and sense of smug superiority and self-worth.
“Auto Icons” has tapped on the zeitgeist of the automotive collectible niche, which is seeing rising values across certain segments.
Not only does it source-for, curate, maintain and provide storage for such cult classics, it is also creating an eco-system for its clients that involve overseas (and local) driving adventures and community activations.
Mr. Colin Chow (pictured above), the 50-something founder of the eclectic Auto Icons, tells us, “Through Auto Icons, we make car experiences special for our clients. We source for rare and collectible cars, store them, provide maintenance services and create drive experiences abroad. We are your one-stop solution for car collection and enjoyment.”
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“Collectible” is a fluid concept that is defined by prevailing “It” cars during your formative years, especially the ones you tacked up as wallpaper fodder in your bedroom (or computer screensaver!).
Colin says, “Even from a young age, I’ve always had a keen interest in cars, which may seem strange given the rest of my family treated them as a means of transport. Cars always fascinated me and I was the stereotypical kid with car magazine cut-outs plastered on my walls, matchbox toy-cars (I still have some from when I was 8-10 yrs old) and RC cars."
He goes on, "I have a wide appreciation for all things with four-wheels, but I concentrate mainly on German brands for their engineering excellence. Some other cars I like are designer-driven (Paul Bracq, Zagato) and others, motorsport-inspired”.
If you haven’t paid the Auto Icons space a visit yet, it’s well worth a trip to check out its retro-lux ambience and impressive “rack”... of drool-worthy automotive icons that reside behind a nondescript door.
The ambience at Auto Icons is like that of a cosy lounge, with plush leather seating and warm lighting that encourages you to linger, especially as you’re admiring the 3x4 rack of cars.
“It’s small but cosy and serves us well at the moment. However, there are plans to include some bonded lots within our space. We'll take things as they come as we have more than a couple of bespoke builds in place, locally as well as abroad. Some of these cars will eventually reach our shores, but some will reside overseas,” Colin tells us.
He adds, “Post-pandemic, we’ve restarted our European drive tours and plan to do more next year, so coordinating the logistics for that is keeping us busy. Through these community activities, we hope to fire-up more collaborations and camaraderie along the way.”
In case you’re wondering, Colin is no stranger to the automotive trade, having been involved in the car business for over two decades. This background has given him a better appreciation of what to look out for when sourcing special cars with impeccable provenance for his clients.
Colin nods, “I've always been a stickler for details and high-quality-built cars. My 25 years in the car business has taught me how to see if a car is properly restored and put together. So, my expectations for such quality cars can be translated to the cars we source, trade and work on for our clients. Auto Icons was created to serve today’s enthusiasts’ needs for high quality, rare cars that are now more relevant than ever.”
Auto Icons also serves project management duties for its clients’ bespoke builds, and liaises with the necessary vendors to turn its client’s vision into reality.
Of recent note is one of Auto Icons’ customer’s resto-modded 1971 Porsche 911K by Tuthill (pictured above), which was recently shipped to the USA to be shown during this year’s Monterey Car Week.
The lightweight, rebuilt sportscar wears a citrusy Calamansi body-colour, and was commissioned by a Singaporean owner to be stored in the UK for use on overseas drives.
So how did this particular collaboration come about? “Our client was looking for a fun B-road car to drive whenever he was in the UK, so we scouted around for a special build. We decided to visit Tuthill on an acquaintance’s recommendation and learnt of its (then-new) 911K concept car. We were pretty much sold on the idea of a lightweight, carbon-bodied car that was animated by an engine that could rev to a thrilling 11k rpm!” Colin explains.
“This was the start of car number 4's journey. When it was time to spec the car, we assisted our client in selecting colour and trim, and this is where our marketing team got together and decided to give the car some life. The 911K’s colour is inspired by the Cayman R’s Peridot Green, but we reimagined the gold flakes to give it a brighter sheen and stronger visual impact in the sunlight," Colin tells us.
“Kalamansi” was the perfect name for it because it was bright, zesty and full of kick! To complete the experience after the build, we proposed to our client that the car be flown and shown at Monterey Car Week 2024, which would also include an epic drive with some of Auto Icons’ other customers,” he continues.
A big surprise was having a Singapore-registered Porsche 911 Dakar (pictured above) – one of 2,500 units in the world – come along for the epic, four-car, 2,500km road adventure.
At time of purchase, the “Roughroads” livery the Dakar owner originally wanted to spec on his car was no longer available through Porsche, so Colin convinced him to order it in white, which could serve as a blank canvas for a future art-work.
As we have since seen, the completion of the 911 Dakar “art car” was also timed with the Monterey Car Week, where it would join the 911K on display, and also take part in the four-car road trip to take in the sights.
Colin continues, “I got in touch with an American artist I had previously bought artwork from, because he seemed the right fit for the commission. We shipped the car to him, had him do the artwork and then revealed it during Monterey Car Week alongside the 911K 'Kalamansi'.
"These projects were more than a year in the making and we're pleased with how things worked out. One of our clients was planning on spending some time with his daughter during her school holidays so we incorporated this into an epic drive. Creating great memories is why we do what we do!” he tells us.
So what are the core tenets of Colin's business philosophy? “Along with a strong sense of integrity and staying ahead of our clients’ needs, I respect and value time. This is particularly important to wealthy clients, because time is a precious commodity. Thus, I ensure that our time spent is efficiently used throughout every aspect of the Auto Icons experience. This translates to efficient project management of builds and giving them the best experience possible during the drive tours we organise,” he says.
And what are some words of advice Colin has for a newbie looking to get into this “hobby”?
He smiles, “Even if they hold some form of nostalgic value for the buyer, the cars we like don’t necessarily appreciate in value, so you need to be clear about why you’re buying it. Yes, it’s nice to buy your childhood or poster car, but you need to understand it beyond a visual perspective. You should understand the mechanicals, where you’re going to get parts from and who is going to support the car mechanically."
"Tolerance and patience go a long way – these are really important. Don’t expect the car to make you money, not every car is a safe bet,” Colin adds.
Portrait Photos by BENNY KEE
Additional Photos of the 911 Dakar and 911K by AUTO ICONS
