The rides of a lifetime

NATICHAI TANSAKUL spent decades collecting models of Porsche cars, forever prodded by the nostalgic memories of youth. Then he hit the same wall that all serious enthusiasts encounter: He ran out of storage space.

So in 2012 Natichai and several friends opened a funky shop called Unique to show off their various miniature vehicles – and to begin building a community of collectors in Bangkok. 

Some of the model cars, bicycles, scooters and other toys and collectibles in the store on the ground floor of the little Int-Intersect mall are for sale, but not all of them. Many are on display only to drive you crazy with envy.

“We all loved the Porsche models – they were really popular with young guys in the ’90s,’ Natichai says. “Some of us also played with tin cars and figures as kids. Eventually our attics just weren’t big enough anymore to hold all our stuff, so we decided to build a ‘playground’ where we could share our passion and experience.”

The place is set up to look like a private garage, but of course the fantastic vehicles are miniaturised and there’s hundreds of them. You’ll quickly spot a Porsche 911 Carrera, a vintage Porsche 924 Turbo from Tomica and a 911 GT 2RS direct from the Porsche Museum. There’s a 1:43-scale Polizei Wagon and a 1:18 Honda Ebbro.

“Most of these came from Europe and Japan and date as far back as the ’60s,” Natichai says. “The toy fairs in Germany are a really popular source for collectors. Some of the pieces we’ve amassed are quite rare and valuable, though, and they’re the ones that aren’t for sale.”

Thus a demonstration model of a Porsche 911 Carrera RS engine made in 1973 serves only as decor, strictly for drooling purposes. 

Instead, your credit card will have to settle for, say, a limited edition 1998 Paul Smith Mini with actual leather seats and graphics created by the fashion designer. 

Or there’s a set of rare (but second-hand) Honda NCZ50 Motocompo scooters in red, yellow and white. Theses were the bikes that Japanese motorists used to stow in the back of their sub-compact cars back in the early 1980s.

Another limited edition, a Moulton 60 bike, shares shelf space with a Honda Giorno and Monkey Baja and a Choi Nori Suzuki. There are remote-control cars, cartoon-character models, vintage signboards, Lego showrooms and magnets made just for motorists.

The guys at Unique also make funky stools and sofas from the bodies of Porsche 356s and Vespas. Pick a colour – they have 16 to choose from – and put in a custom order.

And they’re not even close to being finished yet, says Natichai. “We’re opening a new, much bigger branch on Ekamai Ram-Intra Road. It’ll have a car-care centre and toy store and a restaurant where you can eat while sitting inside a car!”

 

 

TINY TOYS AND BIG MEMORIES

>>Unique is in Room A13 at the |Int-Intersect community mall on Rama III Road. 

>>It’s open daily except Monday from 1 to 8pm. 

>>Call (02) 682 9771 or visit www.Facebook.com/UniqueToys.th.