Old cars don’t die, though some get sent to the junkyard for recycling. At the Jesada Technik Museum (เจษฎาเทคนิคมิวเซียม), the recycling center will have to wait — we’re having too much fun enjoying them. Opened by Mr. Jesada Deshsakulrith in 2004, the two distinctive sections require a little flexibility in understanding.
It’s unclear why there are two sections, but the first section (to the left) seems to be a storage area for vehicles other than cars. Along with plenty of human-powered vehicles, some cars and motorbikes are around, but they haven’t had much work done with them.
Some, like this one, have clearly seen better decades. Be careful walking through this area, as the bikes and vehicles are parked precariously close together.
It’s unclear as to what the story is here — the museum opened to the public in 2007, and the car collector got his start in 1997 with a 1958 Bubble car from Switzerland. If you’re looking for rhyme or reason, though, you’re in the wrong place.
It’s when you get to the other larger side that things get brighter and far more colorful. There’s plenty more three-wheeled cars around, though part of me wonders how comfortable they were…
Mr. Jesada Deshsakulrith himself, complete with a few pictures of his collection.
Walking around this unordered, eclectic collection means you’ll come across a few exhibits where you can’t help but wonder. Call it a ‘conference bike’ or a ‘bicycle built for 7 — everyone pedals, while the power goes to the chain and the rear pair of wheels. One person steers, while everyone else hangs on to to the circle in the center.
Perhaps one of the larger collections of Vespa’s and Lambretta’s in the country.
Why, yes, I drive a BMW… loses some of its ring when you see what kind of BMW…
If you don’t get flashbacks to the famous sci-fi movie upon seeing a gray Delorean, a remedial course may be required.
Found on a Morris — gotta love when hood ornaments had some style to them.
Wedding car, anyone? You’ve probably noticed how squeaky clean and gorgeous most of these cars are — at any given time there were a few guys, keeping watch on the cars while waxing or polishing.
This double-decker pulled up and a few people jumped out — a reminder that many of the cars not only look good, but most of them still work as well.
As museums go, it’s a lot of fun to meander through the decades of designs and colors — especially if you’re a car enthusiast. Only a handful of cars had English-language signs, so you’d be left to look for the make and model along the front or back. It combines well with the Human Imagery Museum or the Thai Film Museum both somewhat nearby, so make a day in the next province over from Bangkok.
Name: Jesada Technik Museum (เจษฎาเทคนิคมิวเซียม)
Address: 100 Moo 2, Ngew Rai, Nakhon Chaisri, Nakhon Pathom, 73120, (GPS: 13.812347,100.197104)
Directions: This one’s a tough one to reach via public transportation — there are zero buses that stop anywhere nearby, and it’s quite aways from the main road. A Bangkok taxi may need to call the museum to find it, since it’s not exactly a popular tourist destination.
Option A: Starting from Bangkok, get to Wongwian Yai BTS. Exit west, walk 300 meters to the major intersection. Turn right, walk 600 meters to the roundabout; head left (clockwise) around the roundabout and take the first left. Bus 84 (among others) heads west on Phetsakem road out of Bangkok. The bus won’t go all the way — it’s still quite a few kilometers away — so look for a songthaew heading west, towards Nakhon Pathom.
Option B: Starting from Nakhon Pathom, look for a songthaew heading east, towards Bangkok — it’ll be traveling along Phetkasem road. It’s somewhat (but not majorly) closer to Nakhon Pathom than Bangkok.
For either option, get off when you get to rural road 3094 (at GPS 13.794489,100.169299). Get on another songthaew heading down this side road (confirm with the driver!) or walk along rural road 3094 for 2 kilometers until you reach a large intersection. Turn right, walk a couple hundred meters, turn left onto Thammasop, cross the river, then walk another 1.2 kilometers to a zig-zag in the road. Follow the road to the left (ZIG), but stay straight onto a smaller road (DON’T ZAG to the right). From here, it’s a 1 kilometer walk — cross over the railroad tracks and look right for the museum. When leaving, wait for a songthaew to get you back to the main road.
Hours: 9am-5pm
Admission: free
Phone: 034–339–468,
Website: http://www.jesadatechnikmuseum.com
