The Photography of Dr. Jeff Harper

Yes! Hot Rods in Bangkok Thailand! The Bangkok Hot Rod Show proves it!

If you know me, you know I am a "car guy" . . . a "Gear Head."  You have no idea how happy I am as a long-term Thailand resident to have discovered (years ago) that there is a thriving Thai hot rod scene. A very tasty '60 Chevy convertible well presented.

A pristine 1959 Buick La Sabre Coupé . . . as good a show car as can be seen anywhere in the world.

Very clean and tastefully done semi-custom Ford Galaxy 500.

There are many fine craftsmen in Thailand.  The restoration work on this 1959 Chevy pick-up was flawless. Excellent understated pin stripping as well.

Every kind and classification of "hot rod" was represented at the show.  A nice 1959 Chevy panel in the rat rod motif.  I came across this very Chevy panel about 15 years ago in a 'wrecking yard' in Bangkok and had the opportunity to buy it . . . but passed because I had a race car at the time that kept me busy. Nice rodded old Ford COE in the background.

The classic, traditional mid '20s Dodge hot rod.  Very nice. Also a very cool fat fender pick up in the background (A Hudson pickup?).

There were a number of home-built-from-scratch hot rods. A local re-interpretation within the hot rod style idiom.  Fun.

This one may have started off as a late '60s Nissan pick-up.  I love all the cues and nods to hot rod heritage throughout this rod. The Navajo blanket themed paint taken from the '50s custom of covering your hot rod seats with Navajo blankets until you could afford the Tijuana tuck-and-roll upholstery.

A 'lakes' themed Crown Toyota wagon.  Nicely done with full Moon discs, beautiful paint, tuck-and-roll, and the right stance. A real hot rod.

Individual. Idiosyncratic. A true hot rod.  I bet this guy has a lots of fun with this Toyota (1UZ) V8-powered homebuild.

One of my favorite cars at the show.  This Bad Boy Fiat 500 was modified as a street racer.  The workmanship on this car was world-class, creative and extremely clever.

The interior of the Bad Boy Fiat 500.  Incredible design of these seats.  WOW!

A beautifully prepared 1969 Ford Mustang "Mach I" in candy apple red.

The Mustang Mach I had a 406ci Windsor with EFI.  Beautiful engine detailing.

My friends at Volcano Customs entered this pristine 1957 Chevy . . . and walked away with the show's Grand Prize.  Well done. [Notice the 'American Car Club of Thailand' plaque in the background]

This car is perfect in every way.  Remember . . . this is in Bangkok, Thailand.  Fantastic.

What would any car show be without a C2 Corvette?  This white one was beautifully done.

The engine compartment on the white 'Vette was nicely done with individual throttle body EFI.

A near perfect C3 Corvette.

A blown big block wedge (540ci) 1969 Dodge Charger, what else? A street rod that would draw a crowd in L.A.

Yes . . . he drives it on the street.  There is some monkey-bidness going on here!

An early '50s mild custom Buick with outrageous paint . . . and an LS Chevy motor.

Loved the paint, pin striping, and the laced roof.  Super cool!

A rare 1959 Chevrolet El Camino.  Too cool as a rat rod custom.  Where in the world did they find this in Thailand?

An interesting small block Chevy powered channeled 1926-1927 Model T Sedan with a Model A radiator.

I have to say . . . I like this sponge daubed paint!  It's got the right look.

A nicely prepared Toyota pick-up with a turbocharged engine.  I liked the 'throw back' graphics.  Maybe I will enter my V8 Hilux Tiger next year.

As fantastic as the cars were . . . the cycles may have been the stars of the show.  The ingenuity, creativity, and craftsmanship of the motorcycles at the show was truly fantastic.

Fine artistry and detail everywhere.

From fast street bikes . . . .

 . . . to famous drag bikes . . . .

 . . . to outrageously stylized choppers, the show had a huge variety of two-wheeled art.

How does a 500cc twin powered "Gongzilla" minibike tickle your fancy?

Maybe a 400cc single minibike is more your thing?

A 250cc 2-stroke motocross engine in an "off road scooter" could be hours of fun!

A cool scooter with wonderful paint.

The paint was flawless and incredibly creative on this scooter.

This "rat rod Vespa" was highly modified and displayed in an "under construction" state. Is that an early BSA 500cc twin in there? Radical, to say the least.

The ultimate scooter . . . now THAT IS STYLE! As you can see, I liked the scooters.  There were so many of these . . . they are small, cheap, and offer a canvass for creativity.

A totally outrageous Harley.  Just fantastic!

The Harley motor is fantastic!

Another beautiful Harley with real gold accents.

Gold details and twirled billet spokes.  WOW!

I believe that is a 20" wheel right there.  Big tire too.

I went to this show with a couple of buddies of mine who were real motorcycle nuts.  They pointed out this bike as a famous MotoGP Ducati 900 from the early 70s.  Looks great to me.

A big single chopper with lots of springs.

I love all the mechanical bits & pieces on this bike.

Nicely presented four cylinder chopper.

I liked the pipes and the brass bits on this bike.

A scrambler bike with roll bars.  Nice.

Rebel Indeed! One of my favorites in the show.  I don't know what it is about this bike I find so attractive.  Clean, modern, machinelike.

Another small 75cc bike demonstrating that you do not need a big Harley to express your ingenuity and creativity.  This one is 'under construction' . . . but look at the innovative solutions and engineering magic . . . and just plain FUN in this one!

The event started just before sunset on a warm, but not too hot late afternoon in Bangkok.  As night fell, more people came, and the lights were turned on creating a very different mood. This is the last bike for now . . . .

Part of a Moon Racing Equipment pop-up shop at the show.

Odd as it may seem, there is a Moon Racing Equipment dealer in Bangkok.  This was a very nice display . . . I bought a couple of decals here.

When night fell my friends and I climbed up on some containers for some wide shots of the show.  Lots of people attended after the sun set. Nice old '58 Chevy pick-up.

It's hard to believe your own eyes! Bangkok, Thailand! Very cool red Trans Am.

So many fantastic hot rods in one place.  The show was a big success, according to the promoters.

There were many nice displays, like this one, all round the show grounds.  Nice early 50s Chevy and an even older CEO truck.

The promoters even built a 50s-style garage to display some of the hot rods, like this 50s Buick.  Beautiful.  I had a great time at the Bangkok Hot Rod Show and am looking forward to going again next year . . . to see the Thai artistry and creativity.