Malaysian-made Classic Sportscar Launched in Australia

The TD2000, a classic sportscar made in Malaysia, has returned to the country where it was originally designed – Australia. At a special event in the South Australian state of Adelaide recently, the latest TD2000 – made at EON’s Automotive Conversion Engineering unit in Glenmarie, Selangor – was unveiled in the presence of Australia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs & Trade, Alexander Downer; Malaysia’s Chief Minister of Sarawak, Tan Sri Datuk Pattingi Taib Mahmud; and the Malaysian ambassador to Australia, M H Arshad at the historic Sporting Car Club of South Australia.

During the event, it was also announced that Vito Romano of TD2000 (Australia) has been appointed as the Australian distributor for the TD2000.

“It is fitting that two TD2000 cars were previewed here six weeks ago in the Classic Adelaide Historic Rally and now it is a great thrill for our company to make Adelaide the national distribution base for our cars,” said Edward Teo, Managing Director of TD Cars (M) Sdn Bhd.

The TD2000 car was originally designed and built in Australia from the late 1980s before being purchased by TD Cars (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd in 1998. All rights to the design were acquired by Malaysian businessmen and the classic sportscar was brought to Malaysia where its engineering was updated. Australia is the second export market for the TD2000, the first being Singapore where sales are handled by Cycle & Carriage Ltd.

Mr Teo and Mr Romano believe the TD2000 will find many customers in the modern executive and business sector. “I have been involved with the restoration of classic vehicles for many years and after you restore a 50-year old car, you still only have a car with brakes, suspension, electrics and mechanicals designed fifty years ago,” Mr Romano explained.

“The TD2000, on the other hand, has the charismatic English coachwork of the 1950s but the reliability, comfort and drivability of a modern vehicle that you know you could drive right around Australia,” he said.