Cover Lim Chin Han and his classic Volvo P1800
Lim Chin Han and his classic Volvo P1800
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Tatler+
In a special series for Volvo Car Malaysia, Lim Chin Han draws parallels between the nation and Volvo cars, which have been part of our history since the 1960s
The first in this two part series sees Lim Chin Han, the managing director of Willis Towers Watson, sharing about the classic Volvo P1800, which he owns, and relates it to a sense of freedom, much like that we Malaysians enjoy after gaining independence.
In fact, Volvo Car Malaysia has a longstanding history with our country, being among the first foreign investments—and first carmaker—to enter into the nation about a decade after Independence.
Lim shared that the Volvo P1800 he owns was first owned and brought into Malaysia in the 1970s by a foreign pilot who resided in Sabah for a while. After which the car ended up in the possession of Hijjas Kasturi, from which he eventually purchased it.
“I grew up loving cars. When I was a child, I would get these Matchbox diecast models, and I’ve got hundreds of them, and luckily now I have a few real ones,” shares Lim about his passion for cars. A passion that fuelled his labour of love for the classic Volvo model he owns.
“The car came into my life when I was in my mid-20s, and of course, the car would break down at times; it required work. I would happily take it to the workshop, tinkering around or fixing it to make sure it kept on running, but I didn’t care. The workshop visits eventually lessened over the last ten years, but currently, it’s going through a fairly major restoration to make sure everything is in fine working condition,” Lim says about the amount of work he has put into the classic car.
Despite other car models being available, the Volvo P1800 stood out most for Lim. “It’s beautiful and iconic. At the time, Volvo was all about safety, and this was a tough car; it was quite exciting—even compared to other Volvo models at the time,” Lim explains his decision. He adds that the car has become an extension of him, “Over time certain things define you, and for me, the P1800 is part of my life.”
See also: The Volvo XC60 Recharge complements Chen Su-San's lifestyle
Here's a closer look at the beautiful machine:
The front of the Volvo P1800
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On what he enjoys most about the Volvo P1800, he mentions, “It’s a terribly reliable car, and back in the day, things weren’t over engineered—the engine works, the dials work, and that’s good enough for me, on top of it being a good looking vehicle as well.”
Lim also connects having the P1800 to a sense of independence and freedom. “I could have always used my parents’ cars, but once I got the Volvo P1800, I understood that this is mine, and it’s my responsibility, and that gives a sense of freedom to my mind and a sense of joy; that beyond anything, I’m my own person, and this is my car—I’ve got to take care of it and make sure it works,” he says.
In a sense, his car also unites Malaysians, as it’s one of the models he owns, which draws many people to come up to him to ask him about the Volvo P1800—whether while pouring fuel or simply at a public parking lot. Then there's also the fact that famous Malaysian cartoonist Lat even drew a comic featuring the Volvo P1800.
“A few years ago, I was at a mall where Volvo Car Malaysia was having an event, and then I saw some Lat drawings, so I went up to the salesperson and said, ‘I have this model, could I please have this drawing?’ They were gracious enough to give me a copy. It’s one of my prized possessions now,” he gladly mentions.
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Photography: Daniel Adams
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