Copied in Bangkok – the world’s finest supercars |
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Owning your favourite car may no longer be just a dream because a Bangkok factory churns out replicas of the best models at a fraction of the real price
Maxmilian Wechsler | Published: 15.09.2011 09:26
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By Maxmilian Wechsler
AMONG the hundreds of fake products made in Thailand, the one that never fails to turn heads and shock onlookers is the Replica Supercar. You name it, and the car of your dreams can be yours at a fraction of the authentic version’s price. Aston Martin, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, Jaguar – lookalike versions of the car world’s finest models.
They’re all created in a factory just outside Bangkok. And they’re apparently breaking no laws.
Says Chris Pongpitaya, who runs this replica business: “The cars have no logos and often the measurements don’t correspond with the original. Nobody can sue me.”
Chris is also about to begin production of his own brand, named after his company, Schönes, meaning ‘beautiful’ in German.
Why the German name? Chris, who is fluent in German, lived in the country for 14 years and gained considerable
experience while working at the Porsche Design Studio on interior designs for airplanes. He also spent a few years with Brabus, the high-performance after-market tuning company specializing mainly in Mercedes-Benz.
On his return to Thailand, he started his own business in 1998, initially installing accessories on Ferraris and other top brand sports cars. Making cars and other products like jet skis, boats, airplanes, furniture and even bullet-proof vests came later.
He has been in the business of making replicas of supercars for over a decade, but can’t recall the exact number.
His newest factory, still under construction, is located on a narrow lane on the outskirts of the city. It’s virtually impossible to find the compound without getting directions from Chris.
On our visit, there were about 30 replicas in various stages of production, mostly shells made from carbon-fiber or carbon
Kevlar. Five or so were being assembled by a group of 10 workers, some of whom have been with Chris for many years.
Two vehicles were completely hidden under a cover. After several requests, Chris reluctantly agreed to unveil one of them. It was the prototype for the Schönes, which he says he will introduce to the public at a press conference when it is finished. However, he refused to remove the cover from the second car parked next to the Schönes.
The BigChilli was allowed to take photos of the replicas along with the workers who appeared to be very busy. We walked around the factory floor among the cars, spare parts and various tools while Chris gave details on the vehicles under construction, including the engine types to be installed.
“I am now very busy due to many orders, mainly for replica Ferraris and Lamborghinis, the two most popular brands with my customers at this moment. About 90 per cent of my customers are foreigners who want the cars shipped back home; the rest are Thais.”
Chris doesn’t advertize or have a website and insists he doesn’t know how customers are able to find him. “It’s most probably down to word-of-mouth. Some overseas orders come through my Thai friends and customers, “he says.
“I don’t check the backgrounds of people who come to see me here, but if someone wants me to make a replica for them and can put up a 30% to 50% down payment, I am going to do it.”
Chris said he never registers or insures the cars. “This is entirely up to the customer.”
He believes that he was once “marked” by Ferrari after a replica of a Ferrari P4 with a Subaru engine became a centerpiece at an exhibition in Brussels in March 2008. An original Ferrari P4, of which only three were ever made, is worth several million dollars.
Some of the cars in his factory have an empty space on the bonnet where a logo could be attached. If this happens, says Chris, it is done by the customer after delivery and it doesn’t concern him. A car with a logo can be seized and the owner arrested as it represents a trademark violation, as with a fake Rolex watch.
Some parts of his cars, such as a steering wheel or speedometer, may be second-hand and therefore genuine, so the appearance of an original logo in such cases is within the law. Anyway, he says he doesn’t worry much about trademark violations. Chris’s main worry is to satisfy his customers and finish their cars on time.
The starting price for one of his replicas is now one million baht, an increase from 400,000 baht three years ago. Most of his customers apparently come from Europe, the Middle East and the US. Chris also claimed that some of his Thai customers are influential people.
However, when asked what kind of people order a supercar from him, he replies: “Rich people won’t order replicas because they can buy the original. My customers are both foreigners and Thais who can’t afford the genuine car but want to have one anyway to show off.”
One such character spotted in Pattaya by this writer a few months back is a foreigner who drives a very noisy Lamborghini with a black-and-white number attached to the car.
Chris asked if this lookalike Lamborghini was yellow, which it was. He immediately claimed responsibility,
saying it has a Honda MTX engine.
However, he knew nothing about a fake Rolls Royce seen driven last year by a foreigner, also in Pattaya. “I don’t like to produce this brand, as I am only making supercars,” Chris said.
He readily agreed to be photographed with his Schönes and other replicas that resembled Ferraris and Aston Martins. He also invited his close friends and colleagues to join the photo session.
Chris claims he is not motivated by money but for the challenge. “Every time I make a car it gives me great satisfaction and
happiness. I don’t make them for money. In fact, the profit is very small as there are many expenses, like buying second-hand spare parts and engines, and looking after my workers.”
Chris clearly enjoys his work. He spends whole days at the factory, which has only a large metal roof with no walls and is pretty hot and dusty. It is definitely not a comfortable environment. Air-conditioning is installed only in Chris’s small office, where he spends a minimum of time.
A few years ago, he produced on behalf of a Thai political party some 50 bullet-proof vests from the same type of carbon shell as his cars. The vests had seven layers, whereas the cars have only one.
He imports carbon-fiber and the more expensive carbon Kevlar from Europe. “Kevlar is strong, hard, lightweight, durable and it doesn’t burn,” he says and then illustrates his point by trying unsuccessfully to set a piece on fire.
“I test every car at a race track behind Seacon Square or Bira Circuit in Pattaya before it is delivered to the customer. I am sure that my cars are safe.”
He tries to help when there are complaints from the buyer whether they are in Thailand or abroad, but he doesn’t provide warranty.
Currently his workers are building a replica of a German supercar for a customer in the US. Only one genuine model has been manufactured to date. Staff working on this replica didn’t object to being photographed. As for Chris, he seemed proud to have his picture taken beside the car, which he said will be finished and ready for delivery within three months.
“I am selling it for three million baht,’’ says Chris, adding that a relative of the buyer is interested in the same model.
His biggest challenge to date has been the Bugatti Veyron, which Chris describes as the world’s fastest road car. He had planned to produce a replica of the car in 2009, but shelved the project for reasons he didn’t explain.
In the past, he produced replicas of sports and luxury cars without engines for Hollywood, Hong Kong and Thai movie productions, including Suriyakhat (Curse of the Sun). “These cars, including replica Ferraris, were blown up or otherwise destroyed,” he notes.
This was my fifth meeting with Chris – twice at this factory and three times at another which has since closed. He’s always been happy to talk about his work and allowed unrestricted access to the premises.
Although willing to share his experiences, he does stop at revealing where the car bodies are molded and completed.
Meanwhile I can’t wait to test drive one of his complete shiny new supercars at the Bira Circuit in Pattaya. Over to you, Chris.
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