{
  "id": 18796955,
  "title": "The Alfa Romeo he never forgot: One Singapore collector’s lifelong passion for classic cars",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/the-alfa-romeo-he-never-forgot-one-singapore-collectors-lifelong",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-07T21:35:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Channel News Asia",
    "slug": "channel-news-asia",
    "url": "https://www.channelnewsasia.com/remarkable-living/kumar-balasingam-alfa-romeo-classic-car-collector-6492636"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Kumar Balasingam's love for classic cars began at the tender age of 19 when he purchased his first Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV for S$12,000 borrowed from his mother. This marked the start of a lifelong passion that would eventually result in a collection of around 45 vehicles, predominantly Alfa Romeos, but also including Ferraris, Aston Martins, and Mercedes-Benz models. Kumar's initial collection grew organically, with no professional backing or support network to assist him. Instead, he relied on owner's manuals, self-taught mechanical skills, and a willingness to learn from his mistakes. One notable car in Kumar's collection is the same 1972 Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV that sparked his interest years ago. In 2013, the vehicle went missing after Kumar visited a Czech Republic aircraft factory on a business trip. His wife informed him that renewing its COE would cost more than S$40,000, prompting him to reluctantly sell the car. However, Kumar later discovered that the seller had not properly deregistered the car when it was shipped to Malaysia, leading to a series of fines and a drawn-out legal battle to reclaim his beloved GTV. Kumar's collection has evolved over time, with some acquisitions driven by passion and others by calculated decisions. For instance, he once purchased an entire set of 15 Alfa Romeo Spiders from a Texas collector for a single price, despite the condition that no cherry-picking was allowed. Today, this collection is spread across Singapore, London, and Hungary, with ongoing restoration efforts involving specialists from multiple countries. Among his most prized possessions is a rare right-hand-drive Alfa Romeo Montreal, for which he once turned down a US$400,000 offer. Despite the financial and logistical challenges, Kumar remains committed to preserving his cherished vehicles, believing that each car has taught him valuable lessons and holds a special place in his heart.",
  "summary": "Kumar Balasingam was 19 when he bought his first Alfa Romeo. After losing the car and searching for years to recover it, he has no intention of parting with it again.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}