Cars Before Proton And Perodua Which Are Pre-Merdeka Popular Auto Brands
If you were around and driving a car in the 1960’s and 1970’s you will want to remember the cars that dominated Malaysian roads. Yes, it started with British auto brands and soon after Japanese auto brands started making an impact. This was before Proton and Perodua arrived.
Before Proton (which was established in 1983) and Perodua (set up in 1993), Malaysia’s automobile market shifted from British and European dominance in the 1950s to 1960s to overwhelming Japanese dominance by the 1970s and early 1980s.
Local Completely Knocked Down (CKD) assembly plants began operating in 1967, leading to a diverse range of locally assembled foreign models for Malaysians to choose from.
Popular Japanese Models (From the 1970s to early 1980s)
By the late 1970s, Japanese manufacturers captured over 70% of the market due to fuel efficiency, selling price and their lower maintenance costs.
The Datsun 120Y / 130Y (Nissan Sunny B210/B310) was the undisputed best-selling car in Malaysia prior to the Proton Saga arrival. Distributed by Tan Chong Motor, it became the benchmark family sedan and also city taxi.
Then there was the Toyota Corolla (KE20, KE30, KE70) which was Datsun’s chief rival. The KE30 and rear-wheel-drive KE70 were massively popular among middle-class families.
Lets not forget the Mitsubishi Colt / Lancer which gained strong traction in the late 1970s for its handling (and notably served as the base platform for the original Proton Saga).
Little known car manufacturer at the time, Honda arrived after the success of the motorcycles with the Civic (1st & 2nd Generation) which introduced the CVCC engine range and established Honda’s reputation for sporty hatchbacks in urban areas.
There was also Mazda with their 323 and 808 cars which became a frequent sight on Malayan roads, favoured for its value and reliability.
Before Japanese brands took over, European cars dominated sales in Malaysia.
Not surprising as back then British automotive brands ruled in the Commonwealth nations and there were more than a dozen automotive brands coming from factories in England. In Malaysia we had British brands and only of handful of European rivals.
The Ford Escort (Mk1 & Mk2) was the best-selling car in Malaysia from 1964. Ford had a massive presence in Malaya dating back to the 1920s and the Escort range was a returning best seller.
Swedish brand Volvo had the 144 which was notable for being the first locally assembled car in Malaysia, rolling off the Swedish Motor Assemblies plant line in Shah Alam in November 1968. It was the default luxury car choice for senior government servants.
The Austin Mini and Morris Minor were ubiquitous compact British cars during the late colonial and early post-independence era and a favourite with school teachers and junior government officers.
The ‘people car’ Volkswagen Beetle and the small businessman factory van, the Kombi was widely imported at first , then locally assembled, serving as popular personal transport and also as a commercial vehicle for many.
The Mercedes-Benz W114 and W115 was the premier luxury choice for business executives and government officials and even till today its admired for its build and comfort.
There were small numbers of Opel, Holden, Saab, BMW, Jaguar, Range Rover, Peugeot, Renault, Citroen and even Porsches coming into Malaysia but their registration numbers were very low.
Local Assembly (CKD) Industry
In 1967, the government imposed high tariffs on Completely Built-Up (CBU) imports to spur local manufacturing. This led to the creation of multi-brand assembly plants across West Malaysia, including:
Swedish Motor Assemblies (Shah Alam) – Volvo
Associated Motor Industries (Batu Tiga) – Ford, BMC, Land Rover
Tan Chong Motor Assemblies (Segambut) – Datsun and then Nissan
Assembly Services Sdn Bhd (Shah Alam) – Toyota
Kian Hoe / Oriental Assemblers (Johor Bahru) – Honda, Peugeot
Fast forward to 2026 and to catch a look at one of the above mentioned cars in pristine condition you need to visit classic car meetings and visit car museums in England.
