New wheels: The Star’s front page on July 10, 1985, celebrating the roll-out of Malaysia’s first car, the Proton Saga.

       EACH time he goes to the petrol station, writer Zulkifli Abd Rahman will notice that people stealing glances at his car.

       But he isn’t even driving a posh car. His metallic brown car is the first model of the Proton Saga 1.5 which he inherited from his late mother.

       “My mother bought the second-hand car back in 1992. It was owned by a teacher,” he recalled.

       According to him, he was often told that those who bought the first model were the lucky ones “because the body is supposed to be tougher” compared to the later versions.

       “Everytime I go to a workshop, I would also get curious looks. And I am often asked whether it is the first model,” said Zulkifli, 55.

       He believed that the car was an attraction because almost everything about it was in its original state.

       “Even the wheel rims are original,” he said.

       Despite owning a newer Proton, Zulkifli said he had no intention of selling his mother’s car.

       “My mother had kept it well. It wasn’t heavily used. I have spent money to respray it. I don’t want to part with it,” he added.

       But aside from memories about his mother, he was also clearly proud to keep a car that has been a symbol of Malaysia’s entry into the automotive industry.

       The Proton Saga, Malaysia’s first national car, was rolled out on July 9, 1985, and established itself as a favourite among car buyers.

       Its first model was based on the 1983 Mitsubishi Lancer Fiore.

       Only 700 units were produced for the launch and the cars were quickly snapped up.

       The name “Proton Saga” was selected from 102,823 entries in a nationwide “Name The National Car” competition.

       Retired soldier Ismail Jaafar won the competition and received a red Proton 1.3S saloon.

       As of July 2020, nearly two million units of Proton Saga cars have been sold in the country.

       Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was the first buyer of a Proton Saga 1.5S, which has the number plate Proton 1001. He also drove a red Proton Saga across the Penang Bridge when it was opened in 1985.

       The second generation Proton Saga only succeeded the first generation in 2008, 22 years after the model was launched.

       One of the first Proton Saga cars to roll off the production line in Shah Alam is kept at Muzium Negara in Kuala Lumpur.

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