Garage builds fancy cars

December 04, 2016 - 09:00

People in Đà Nẵng are able to change their cars into looking fancier and more modern. This is because an enterprising man called Đoàn Chí Thành has a special garage where he does such work.

Street style: A front view of Thanh’s modified Ford Ranger. VNS Photo Công Thành
Viet Nam News

People in Đà Nẵng are able to change their cars into looking fancier and more modern.

This is because an enterprising man called Đoàn Chí Thành has a special garage where he does such work.

He says that building up cars in this way is still quite new to Việt Nam.

Having operated a garage in Đà Nẵng, Đoàn Chí Thành, 27, has started a business of car modification, drawing on his ample experience with cars to design and create innovative models for his demanding clients.

The garage, situated on Xô Viết Nghệ Tĩnh Street, is a creative space for Thành and his team of mechanics to put together the new custom models.

Most of the modified cars are luxury brands, for which Thành’s garage provides maintenance and spare parts. However, customers are showing a preference for attractive bodywork and interior decoration, as well as a significant roar from the exhaust pipe.

“There are hundreds of choices in the modification of a car, from spare parts, wheels, tyres, exhausts, engines, and styling. Users also ask our garage for upgrades to a car’s engine capacity or storage,” Thành said.

“Some car owners want their old-style vehicles to be equipped with a new, fresh design. For example, we can change a 2009 model to a newly launched one. It takes a little change to the body and a few modifications to the interior, and car users have a new style car on an old engine and frame,” he said.

Thành said searching for specific spare parts and accessoriesfor the modifications can take up to one or two months, because they are not available in Việt Nam.

He said most spare parts and accessories need to be ordered from the US and other agents abroad.

Fresh Ferrari

The Đà Nẵng-born garage owner said the mechanic team took three days to complete an upgrade on a Ferrari 488 GTB, comprising a full-body kit, rear air wings, and exhaust pipe.

“It’s a really hard job for us when the 2016 model is near perfect. However, the car owner wanted an extraordinary look for the classic Ferrari model in his collection,” Thành said, adding that the team had to replace the lower plastic rear air wings with carbon fibre one.

“We also ordered software for our modification model, to make sure that the car runs safely, and the engine capacity is kept in line with the modified spare parts and accessories.”

The 27-year-old mechanic was also impressed with an order to upgrade a military-use off-road Mercedes G Class model.

The four-wheel drive vehicle, which was originally designed for use by the Swiss Army, was one of only two commercial copies imported to Việt Nam.

Thành said a technician from Mercedes Benz in Việt Nam resold one to a local buyer, and the car was disguised as a military off-road vehicle with camouflage paint.

“It’s a manual design for off-road trips and forest patrol. The diesel six-cylinder engine was kept original, but the interior needed redecoration with leather seats, the intake air filter was changed, and the halogen head lamps were replaced with LED bulbs,” Thành said.

“We also fitted larger tyres and rims to really make it a ‘muscle warrior’ around town. It’s still a rare car in Đà Nẵng, and the model has remained unchanged for decades,” he said, adding that it’s really extraordinary vehicle to see on the street.

Off-road Ford Ranger   

Thành has his own modified truck, created from a 2005 Ford Ranger pick-up, with camouflage decals covering the vehicle’s body for off-road trips.

A little change to the interior, with leather seat covers, made the truck a little more comfortable.

He also installed LED roof lights and head lamps for driving at night.

Thành said he had to upgrade the truck’s diesel four-cylinder engine from a 2.5 litre to a 3 litre.

“We fitted a turbocharger, air filter, and larger fuel injection unit to supply enough fuel for the bigger cylinders,” Thành said.

Two portable fuel tanks were installed on the vehicle’s body and disguised with paint, while a small gasoline drum was installed to store personal belongings on off-road trips. 

Thành said most new car models often feature an automatic gear system, but professional drivers and off-road lovers prefer a manual transmission.

He said car modification is only just emerging in Đà Nẵng, and the number of buyers is still limited.

Thành wishes to have a team or a modified car association in Đà Nẵng – where mechanics and mechanical engineers, as well as collectors, can share their innovative ideas, experience, and passions.

“It’s really an endless fascination when you think about it. It’s a constant series of challenges that you have to overcome before every new modification project is complete.” — VNS

 


GLOSSARY

Having operated a garage in Đà Nẵng, Đoàn Chí Thành, 27, has started a business of car modification, drawing on his ample experience with cars to design and create innovative models for his demanding clients.

Modification means making changes to something.

Ample experience means enough experience to know what he is doing.

Innovative models are new models based on new ideas.

Demanding clients are clients who are not easily happy and make sure people do lots of work for them.

The garage, situated on Xô Viết Nghệ Tĩnh Street, is a creative space for Thành and his team of mechanics to put together the new custom models.

Custom models are models made especially to meet a certain order.

Most of the modified cars are luxury brands, for which Thành’s garage provides maintenance and spare parts.

Maintenance involves looking after cars and checking that their oil levels, tyre smoothness and other important things are always up to date.

However, customers are showing a preference for attractive bodywork and interior decoration, as well as a significant roar from the exhaust pipe.

If you have a preference for attractive bodywork, you like a car with that more than one without it.

Interior decoration is the style of the decoration inside the cab of the car.

A roar is loud noise.

 

Thành said searching for specific spare parts and accessories for the modifications can take up to one or two months, because they are not available in Việt Nam.

Specific spare parts are very particular spare parts.

Accessories are things that can be added to something to make it more useful.

The Đà Nẵng-born garage owner said the mechanic team took three days to complete an upgrade on a Ferrari 488 GTB, comprising a full-body kit, rear air wings, and exhaust pipe.

Rear means back.

The four-wheel drive vehicle, which was originally designed for use by the Swiss Army, was one of only two commercial copies imported to Việt Nam.

Commercial means made for the business market.

Something that is imported is bought from another country.

Thành said a technician from Mercedes Benz in Việt Nam resold one to a local buyer, and the car was disguised as a military off-road vehicle with camouflage paint.

A technician is someone who works with technical equipment.

To be disguised means to be dressed up to look like something you are not. In this case, a civilian car is disguised to look like a military one.

Camouflage means dressing that makes you look like your surroundings.

“It’s still a rare car in Đà Nẵng, and the model has remained unchanged for decades,” he said, adding that it’s really extraordinary vehicle to see on the street.

If it is a rare car in Đà Nẵng there are not many of that type in the city.

A decade is a period of ten years.

Thành has his own modified truck, created from a 2005 Ford Ranger pick-up, with camouflage decals covering the vehicle’s body for off-road trips.

Decals are a type of sticker used as decoration.

 “We fitted a turbocharger, air filter, and larger fuel injection unit to supply enough fuel for the bigger cylinders,” Thành said.

A turbocharger is a supercharger driven by a turbine powered by the engine’s exhaust gases.

A fuel injection unit is the direct introduction of fuel under pressure into the combustion units of an internal-combustion engine.

Two portable fuel tanks were installed on the vehicle’s body and disguised with paint, while a small gasoline drum was installed to store personal belongings on off-road trips. 

If something is portable you can carry it.

Gasoline means petrol, which is the fuel used in a vehicle.

Thành said most new car models often feature an automatic gear system, but professional drivers and off-road lovers prefer a manual transmission.

The transmission of a vehicle is its system where power is transferred from the engine to the axle, to which the wheels are attached.

 A manual transmission is one that requires the drivers to change gears by hand.

Thành wishes to have a team or a modified car association in Đà Nẵng – where mechanics and mechanical engineers, as well as collectors, can share their innovative ideas, experience, and passions.

If you have a passion for something you love doing it so much that you don’t care how much time or money you spend on it.

 

WORKSHEET


State whether the following sentences are true, or false:

1.      Đoàn Chí Thành does not have much experience with cars.

2.      A LED is a type of light.

3.      Many copies of the military-use off-road Mercedes G Class model were brought into Viet Nam as commercial copies.

4.      Đoàn Chí Thành’s own modified 2005 Ford Ranger pick-up has fuel tanks that can be picked up and carried.

5.      Fitting larger tyres can turn a vehicle into a ‘muscle warrior’ around town.

 

ANSWERS:

© Duncan Guy/Learn the News/ Viet Nam News 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. False; 2. True; 3. False; 4. True; 5. True.

 

 

 

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