If you were growing up in the 70’s and 80’s, there’s absolutely no way you could not know about the A&W Drive-in located at State, PJ.
The fact that there are a number of secondary schools in the area also catered to this place becoming probably the ‘hottest’ dating venue (I sense a bunch of you smiling and nodding right now) in the area.
Apart from being a well-liked hang-out joint among youths, one of the coolest things about this A&W, was that unlike the ubiquitous ‘Drive-thru’ you could actually sit in your car and have your meal, thanks to trays that hooked neatly onto you cars’ window, at the ‘Drive-in’ area (above).
Well, progress and expansion seems to have caught up with this ‘old skool’ area, and we recently learned that the old A&W Drive-in that was very much part of our youth would soon be demolished to make way for a new office complex. News of this travesty spread across the internet and social media sites as fast as the ‘steering-lock’ incident, and after discussing the idea with a couple of like-minded friends, we decided a tribute was in order.
And what better way to pay homage to a place like this, than to actually have a gathering of classic cars there! Remember, back when this A&W first opened in the 60’s, some of the cars you see here were brand new. With that, two well-known classic car Facebook groups, MY Classic Cars and Old Skool Classics, got together and put the word out.
It was quite amazing really, just how many responded to the call. Perhaps it’s due to the fact that most, if not all, classic car owners in the Klang Valley more than likely hung-out here in their youth, and perhaps still do.
About 145 classic cars showed up, and by 10am, the parking lot was absolutely packed with some seriously eye-watering cars, including the legendary 427 Cobra, and classic Ford F150 pick-up truck.
Even the MX-5 Miata club made an appearance, as well as enthusiasts for Alfa Romeo, Mini, BMW E30, Ford Escort, VW Beetle & Kombi, Volvo, as well as some serious Old Skool JDM’s and American Muscle cars.
All in all, it was a very successful event, unexpectedly so, but indeed testament to just how special this old place has in the hearts and minds of those who grew up around here, yours truly included. Enjoy the photos!
Photo by Izad Kasmijan The Brick! Yes, 240’s & 740’s still rock… Beetles were well represented… …as were Kombis That white E30 318iS is extremely rare… American Muscle! This MG’s engine looks more like a work of art… Escorts still have a very strong following here… E24 628CSi “Sharknose” flanked by E30’s DTM replica E30 is stunning! An Italian flanked by two Germans 1934 Austin was the oldest car there… BMW 633CSi & Alfa GTV Stepnose MX-5 crew MX-5 group Francis Wu’s amazing Moke Almost no place to park this except along the side! It’s more than 20-feet long… Hot cars in their era, RX-7, CRX & first-gen Scirocco An extremely rare Lancia! Ed’s ex-Merc W115 made an appearance too… Awesome KE30 Corolla & Merc W115 JDM at its best! Lovely Datsun! Escorts were well represented… VinSen came for this only… With my ex-classmate VinSen, yes, that’s what it’s all about… ElCamino! This Rat-look Volvo 122 is well known More American Muscle! The Saint was there, well his Volvo P1800 anyway… Sanjay’s amazing Beetle Karmann-Ghia, just beautiful beyond words… The proud owners! 427 Cobra 427 Cobra Pure Muscle classic Ford F150 Lotus Esprit, but 007 was missing… Never knew a Morgan Aeromaxx existed here… 1934 Austin was the oldest car there…
