British policeman drives, collects and celebrates classic Protons
KUALA LUMPUR: More than three decades after Proton cars first entered the United Kingdom market, the Malaysian marque continues to attract enthusiasts, including a British policeman who has built a personal collection of six models.
More than three decades after Proton cars entered the UK market, a British policeman named Jon Coupland has amassed a collection of six classic Proton models. Coupland, who resides in Boston, Lincolnshire, was captivated by the distinctive designs of older Proton models, which have become scarce in the UK. His interest began in 2019 when he purchased a used Proton Saga 1.5 from a dealership after seeing an online advertisement. Since then, Coupland has sought to preserve the Proton brand by gathering these vehicles together.
The policeman's first acquisition was a 1990 Proton Saga 1.5 SE LE UK Special Edition, which he bought for £700 (approximately RM4,000). The car is still in excellent condition with an odometer reading of 48,000km. Coupland's enthusiasm grew as he discovered how challenging it is to find Proton cars in the UK, where they are primarily available through the used-car market.
He particularly admires early models like the Saga and Iswara for their unique angular designs and superior reliability compared to other cars commonly seen on European roads.
Coupland's prized possessions include a 1989 Proton Saga 1.5GL Black Knight Edition, which won a prize for being one of the most unusual and unpopular cars at the Festival of the Unexceptional: A Concours de l Ordinaire. Maintaining his collection is a family affair, as Coupland relies heavily on his father, an experienced mechanic, who also understands Proton models in the UK. Trim components, such as exterior and interior accessories, are scarce, so Coupland often salvages them from scrapped vehicles.
The policeman hopes to visit Proton City in Tanjong Malim, Perak, as well as the Proton Centre of Excellence in Subang Jaya, Selangor, to learn more about the carmaker. He shares his passion for Proton through social media and YouTube. Coupland uses a white Proton Saga Iswara as his daily driver to work, while his other Proton cars are reserved for special occasions and local automotive exhibitions.
Proton officially entered the international market in November 1987 when the National Automobile Enterprise chairman Tan Sri Jamil Jan signed a distribution agreement with Proton Cars (UK) Ltd chairman David Alan Brown for the Proton Saga in the UK, Ireland, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands.
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