by Dr. Iain Corness

Lim Peng Han

A few weeks ago I wrote about a Jaguar SS 100 that was buried during the Second World War in Singapore. According to the legend, the car had been disassembled by an enthusiast, Lim Peng Han, buried in his garden so that the Japanese forces did not find it, and after the war he dug it up and reassembled it. At the time, I did write that this was a story given to me secondhand, so I could not verify it. I also wrote that this was the kind of story that should be made a movie.Lim Peng HanI am now very proud to report that the item was indeed correct, with Lim Peng Han’s son having made contact with me by email. It appears that his father saved more than just the Jaguar, but a special Maserati and a Bugatti as well!Here is the letter I received:“Dear Dr Iain,“I just want to let you know that the story that you have written is a true one, as I as a youngster did sit in that SS 100. Also I was with my father when we went to Silverstone, when we walked past a chap who was explaining a similar story that was told to him when he bought his Maserati, so my father stopped to talk to gentleman and asked him would he like to meet that man? The man was a bit baffled and looked at my father as to say, what are you talking about, as he had not realized that we had over heard his previous chat. My father then said, “You are looking at that man. Yes I buried that car and if not you wouldn’t have it now!” See some info at http://www.LimPengHan.org/Mburied_ by_Lim_Peng_Han.html “My father has his own website, maybe you care to take a look at www.LimPengHan.org - I think you will see some historical moments.“He did have a Bugatti which was supposed to be for when I could drive but it vanished to the USA and still I have not traced it.“He also raced a Supercharged Keift to which he fitted a 1000cc JAP engine and a supercharger and boy did this thing fly, check out old Singapore Motor Club events.“If I was able to get a film producer interested in writing this love story cum historical film would you be able to retrace the SS 100 for a possible making of a film to a tribute to Lim Peng Han Singapore’s finest Racing Drivers of the time?”

Regards,Arthur.

Naturally I am delighted to have heard from Lim Peng Han’s son Arthur, and when I next go to Singapore we will meet. Unfortunately, the man himself, Lim Peng Han died last year aged 91. However, his cars live on as living testament.

Apart from the SS 100 he also resurrected a Maserati Tipo 4 CS 1100, chassis # 1126, and engine # 1126. This car has a wonderful history, with Luigi Villoresi and Count Giovanni Lurani being amongst former owners, and a Singaporean owner, Joshua Lee being murdered. Lim Peng Han ran the car in the Johore GP in 1950, fitted with an SS 100 engine (THE Jaguar SS 100 perhaps?). From there it went to a Ted Holloway, without engine, gearbox and body, in the US, and was fitted with a De Soto V8 engine. After this shuddering experience it went to a Ken Painter, in the UK in 1969, restored by 1985 and raced at the VSCC Silverstone in 1991. This would have been the gentleman Lim Peng Han spoke to at Silverstone! All the pieces are now clicking into place! Any other enthusiasts like to add to this saga?