A Few Posts on Singapore – The Cathay Mall
Posted: April 22nd, 2011 | 2 Comments »Talking of what might become of the Capitol Theatre in Singapore you have to say (as this is Singapore after all) that shopping mall would be top of the list! Hence it is perhaps worth considering the redevelopment of the Cathay cinema when thinking about the potential fate of the Capitol. I used to know the old Cathay before it was redeveloped and loved it then – a terrific 1939 structure that’s now been incorporated into a shopping mall. The facade is protected. The mall is not that exciting to be honest (even by retail park standards!!) though it is a nice arty cinema. Just to show I’m not a complete stick-in-the-mud on preservation I do quite like how this has been done – as you come around the corner from Prinsep Street onto Orchard Road the rounded art deco curves and lovely sand blasted clean stone of the Cathay fair takes your breath away. More details on the history of the Cathay here.
The Cathay and adjoined mall as is now…and as it was….
The car, bottom right, looks suspiciously like a classic Triumph Dolomite but not quite…a free copy of my Old Shanghai A-Z to the first person to tell me the make and model of that car
Paul,
I’ve already purchased a copy of the A-Z, but I ‘spose a copy to pass on to a friend would be handy.
Therefore, here’s my vote on the car: I think it’s a Mazda SS (around 1972 model, I should think).
Here’s a pic of the standard 1500 model: http://www.mazdarepairmanuals.com/images/mazda-1500-150.jpg
Another here from a different angle: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c4/Mazda-LUCE-1st-generation01.JPG
Sort of Mazda’s version of an Alfa sedan/Dolomite in its day – all leather bits and faux wood grain in a vehicle that, despite its sporting pretensions, wasn’t that quick.
My Dad had one on appro for a while and decided the lovely but heavy body / underpowered motor combo didn’t make it for him. I remember he ended up buying a Mazda Capella instead from the same dealer, but always had a wistful fondness for the lines of the SS when we saw one on the road.
The equivalent Alfa or a Fiat 124s would, I think have been his ideal, but both were a bit too pricey for his budget and not reliable enough.
Rust and self-imploding engines came as a no-cost option on early ’70s Italian vehicles imported to Australia (always shipped as deck cargo) in those days.
Mr Benham Sir you win…and cheers for the information…Sending Alfas to Asia remains a tad expensive!
Do please send your address to my private email (paul@accessasia.co.uk) and I’ll sort out a book for you, the lucky winner!!