If bystanders thought the Opel 4/8 PD leading the parade of around 30 vintage and classic cars away from the Avani+ Hua Hin Resort was leading the parade in deference to the age of the vehicle, they would have been very wrong.
The Opel 4/8 PS, also known as the doctor’s car (Doktorwagen in German) was originally produced by the German manufacturer in 1908, built especially for the middle class.
It was small and agile compared to other cars of this time and was used by many doctors for house calls whereby the vehicle quickly got the nickname “doctor’s car” and was the first car which bore the Opel lettering on the radiator. Opel successfully marketed the vehicle with statements, such as “simple mechanism”, “incredibly easy to use”, but also “without using a chauffeur”.”
However the Opel proudly leading the parade and heading for the Monsoon Valley Vineyard is only eight years old, a replica built in a labour of love and usually immaculately maintained and garaged in Kanchanaburi by the Dutch builder and owner.
The Opel usually only makes appearances at community and civic events around Kanchanaburi, but was very carefully transported to Hua Hin to feature at the 2020 18th Vintage Car Parade.
There was no expectation that the Opel would lead the parade all the way to Monsoon Valley; other vehicles, including some big American ‘muscle cars or sports models from Jaguar, MG, Porsche, Alpha Romeo or Triumph, will be setting a much faster pace. But as the first vehicle away from the parade’s start, the ‘doktorwagen’ was a big ‘head turner’ as the parade set off to meander through downtown Hua Hin.
