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Driving this restored Proton Putra is like time-travelling to Malaysia's glorious motoring past

Sanjay Β· Nov 20, 2021 09:00 AM

Driving this restored Proton Putra is like time-travelling to Malaysia's glorious motoring past 01

Ask about notable things and Malaysia has lots to offer – we have our food, our places, and somewhere along the lines between the penjajahs and politicians we made rather cool cars, of which the Proton Putra sits regally in a category of its own.

Driving this restored Proton Putra is like time-travelling to Malaysia's glorious motoring past 02

To date, the Putra stands alone as the only national two-door coupe. Nothing preceded it, and it sure as hell looks like Proton won’t be making something like this again in this age of SUVs.

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Driving this restored Proton Putra is like time-travelling to Malaysia's glorious motoring past 01

Which explains the owner's fascination and wild goose chase with the Putra. It was love at first sight for him, but alas, responsibilities following a newly-set-up family then meant that scoring one new in 1996 was out of the question.

Driving this restored Proton Putra is like time-travelling to Malaysia's glorious motoring past 02

As it was originally purchased by the owner in 2020. Photo credit: DSR

Driving this restored Proton Putra is like time-travelling to Malaysia's glorious motoring past 03

It was subsequently repainted and got new wheels, but obviously it far from the form it's in now. Photo credit: DSR

The dream never died, and a few years later he – who keeps a rather low profile – got one, and here we are today.

Rebuilt by those who know it best

Driving this restored Proton Putra is like time-travelling to Malaysia's glorious motoring past 04

DSR is spearheaded by Mr. Suriya Sankaran (right) and his son, Mr. Dharveen Suriya (left), pictured here with an equally well-restored Satria GTI

Just like the Proton Wira C99 ‘tiang gol’ we reviewed some months ago, this 1996 Putra has been restored by the people at Dream Street Restoration (DSR), built with a certain theme in mind.

Also read: Driving the 1996 Proton Wira 1.8 EXi LE (C99) - Every bit a corner-carving legend, 25 years later

Driving this restored Proton Putra is like time-travelling to Malaysia's glorious motoring past 05

Spot the Advantis – the same beautiful wheels found on the Proton Satria Neo Lotus Racing

Deep blue hues dominate the Putra’s ins and outs, and can you already tell what football club is the owner's favourite?

Driving this restored Proton Putra is like time-travelling to Malaysia's glorious motoring past 06

Not just a fresh lick of paint – the Putra was shorn to bare metal and rebuilt from the ground-up. Photo credit: DSR

Never mind the complete exterior refresh, there are special touches in this Putra that sets it apart from regular restorations.

Driving this restored Proton Putra is like time-travelling to Malaysia's glorious motoring past 07

The good stuff

For one, DSR has transferred the Satria GTI’s Lotus-touched Direct Active Link suspension setup onto the Putra, matching the rest of the setup that’s tuned by local suspension manufacturer Fawster.

Also read: Used Proton Satria GTi, Malaysia's first hot hatch from RM 25k. Expensive to repair?

Driving this restored Proton Putra is like time-travelling to Malaysia's glorious motoring past 08

Just like how it left Pekan, but better. Photo credit: DSR

The suspension also benefits from stiffer springs and new perch positions to go, as well as a fully-rebuilt steering rack.

Driving this restored Proton Putra is like time-travelling to Malaysia's glorious motoring past 09

Driving this restored Proton Putra is like time-travelling to Malaysia's glorious motoring past 10

Nary a hair out of place. Photo credit: DSR

The next best thing to come after a box-fresh engine is having one that's completely rebuilt and blueprinted, and that's exactly what's under the hood of the coupe. 

Driving this restored Proton Putra is like time-travelling to Malaysia's glorious motoring past 11

DSR's traditionally red ignition coil cover and battery brace are blue here, another homage to Tottenham Hotspur F.C.

'Blueprinting' is like it says on the tin, the engines are rebuilt following the manufacturer's blueprint, effectively returning it back to factory tolerances. Lots of honing, machining, and boring (but certainly nothing boringfollows, and the result is an engine that's arguably better than new.  

Driving this restored Proton Putra is like time-travelling to Malaysia's glorious motoring past 12

There's 140 PS and 167 Nm to play with, and yes, power's sent to the front wheels through a rebuilt 4-speed automatic transmission.

Driving this restored Proton Putra is like time-travelling to Malaysia's glorious motoring past 13

Not the typical Putra orange-on-black dials – these are custom-made to mimic the Satria GTI's style

But oh no, don't mistake it for a slushbox – it has been retuned to match the blueprinted engine, which rewards the driver with seamless shifts that's bang-on impressive for new cars, let alone a 25-year-old one.

Also read: The Proton Putra, Satria GTI and Wira 1.8 EXI - once marvels of Malaysian motoring

Driving this restored Proton Putra is like time-travelling to Malaysia's glorious motoring past 14

Driving this restored Proton Putra is like time-travelling to Malaysia's glorious motoring past 15

As for the rest of the bodywork, it's worth mentioning the extra attention paid to the MIG-welded roof by the Petaling Jaya outfit. It's been redone with epoxy coating to prevent any future rusting, as it happens with cars of this vintage.

Saying its held on well is an understatement

Driving this restored Proton Putra is like time-travelling to Malaysia's glorious motoring past 16

Dripping with details. Peep the blue seat belts

Slipping into the Recaro N-Joy driver’s seat, the Putra instantly teleported us to an era where cars were much simpler.

Driving this restored Proton Putra is like time-travelling to Malaysia's glorious motoring past 17

Whether or not that’s better than now is debatable, but it’s in its simplicity that the Putra shines.

Driving this restored Proton Putra is like time-travelling to Malaysia's glorious motoring past 18

The Putra is a car with wide appeal, and it was offered with both 5-speed manual and 4-speed automatic transmissions. This Candy Blue example has the latter; but like we said earlier, don’t pooh-pooh it as it lends an altogether different character to the car.

Driving this restored Proton Putra is like time-travelling to Malaysia's glorious motoring past 19

The smooth engine and reworked transmission makes the Putra a stately cruiser that equally relishable for daily driving. Matched with its sharp handling and an interior devoid of creaks and rattles, this Putra is ready for any interstate travel that may be asked of it.

Also read: 8 reason why the Proton Putra was more than just a prince on wheels

Driving this restored Proton Putra is like time-travelling to Malaysia's glorious motoring past 20

Another major plus point is how the chassis and suspension are set-up. Calling on Fawster’s Faidzil Alang – who raced for Proton R3 back in the day – and his breadth of racing experience, the Putra soaks up bumps and holds level through different road surfaces with ease.

Driving this restored Proton Putra is like time-travelling to Malaysia's glorious motoring past 21

Though the steering does feel a tad heavy, but the feedback from the Momo unit is extremely direct. Speaking of feedback, the brake pedal feels soft (typical of cars of this vintage) but it bites hard to still remain reassuring.

There won't be another like it

Driving this restored Proton Putra is like time-travelling to Malaysia's glorious motoring past 22

The Proton Putra has cemented itself in Malaysian motoring history as a legend in its own right.

Driving this restored Proton Putra is like time-travelling to Malaysia's glorious motoring past 23

There’s lots to like about Proton’s only coupe, and DSR’s restoration more than does justice to the model.

Driving this restored Proton Putra is like time-travelling to Malaysia's glorious motoring past 24

Yes, there's a five-figure asking sum for one to be completely done-up like this, but short of a time machine this is one's next best way of time-travelling to a bygone heyday of Malaysian cars.

Also read: Rarer than a Satria GTi, RM 13k for a 24-year-old Proton Putra, how much to repair?

Sanjay

Senior Writer

With humble beginnings collecting diecast models and spending hours virtually tuning dream cars on the computer, his love of cars has delightfully transformed into a career. Sanjay enjoys how the same passion for cars transcends boundaries and brings people together.

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