Our group of guys here at 8000 Miles Later have eclectic tastes and interests, something that spans further than just girls here in Vietnam. We like to take pride in our hobbies, and do like the finer things in life. Ranging from art, fashion, music, and massive rack, we’re as normal as normal can get.
My interests back in the states has been picking, digging, and searching for things that I appreciate. Some collections that I have back home include, 70-80’s BMX bicycles, Italian road bicycles, international militaria, vintage Levi’s, French/East German made Adidas, Jordans, vintage stereo equipment, reel to reel players, Japanese automobile racing equipment, Japanese cars, vintage toys, old advertisements. Literally anything that I find interesting I will try to add to my collection of stuff. I’m not saying that I have the most awesome collection, but its really the things that I like and enjoy. I learned the joys of collecting through being poor, with the limited money I had as a child I found that the older and less flashy things that I could purchase were actually more valuable than what the kid next door had.
My first purchase of things that were collectable was an “old” racing BMX bicycle I purchased from a neighborhood friend of mine named Kyle. Sure I could have bought a new bicycle at the local shop, but I decided to take a chance on this one piece. My intuition paid off, I was the cool kid on the block with a real racing bicycle. 15 years down the road, I found that my bicycle frame was a rare JMC Darrell Young, I sold that frame for 15 times the price I purchased it for. Now the vintage BMX scene has grown for all those late 30’s and 40’s crowd, these are the guys that literally wet themselves reading BMX Plus! and dreamt of the bicycle I had. It’s very common to hear of a vintage BMX bike range from 2000-6000 US dollars. These were bicycles that ranged 150-600 USD when bought new. Nothing can really put a price on nostalgia. This doesn’t mean your bent and rusty BMX bike in your yard is worth something. On the contrary, it’s very rare to find these treasures for an affordable price. People that specialize in this craft are called “pickers.” Being a good picker is about knowing about what a potential piece and knowing the right price to pay for it. Its’ no good if you come across a Lou Gehrig rookie card and the guy selling it wants a gazillion dollars.
Most of all the treasures have been exported from Vietnam. From bronze antique drums of the Nguyen Dynasty, whole royal tea houses, military clothing, to even attractive women looking for suitors across the world.
It’s a bit of a shame, and that’s why my passion for collecting was put on hold for a bit. Every inquiry I had about buying “old” stuff people would take me to markets of things that were produced recently but were “aged.” But there are still treasures to be had here in Vietnam, I have the proof too. Here are some of my recent pick-ups in the pillaged and ravaged land of Vietnam.
Two pairs of German Alpina Glasses…..What you know about that? Popular during the 1980s’
One pair of1960-1970’s Ray-ban Wayfarer 2140. Not the ones that you find at Ben Thanh market either. Yes the all-time classic still with the original slim line case. You can tell their old because of the beige case, 7 barreled hinges, inner inscription, and the absent modern Ray-Ban logo.
1970’s Ray-Ban Aviators with 62mm lenses. Very popular during the 70’s and 80’s for heroin dealers and black guys with big dongs in Vietnam.
My other latest pick up: My 1957 Gilera 175 Sport, a pick up from a dear friend of mine that said that the bike was bought new in VN. Think about that….1957 you must have been a filthy rich player back in the day to afford such a bike…. This is the only one in Vietnam, a real sports bike with clubman bars and a Dell’orto Carburetor.
I am always looking for new treasures. If you have leads or would like to share your pickups, please email us. My journey for treasures of experience in Vietnam will always be my full time hobby, but pickups like these items that were bought new in Vietnam give me hope to know that there are still cool things left in Vietnam.
John
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