1985 Proton Saga Donated to Proton COE by the Family of the Late Owner

One of the first 1985 Proton Saga units is now on display at Proton COE, courtesy of a donation by the family of its late owner.

It’s been almost 40 years since our nation welcomed its first car, the legendary Proton Saga, which debuted back in 1985. Befitting its 39th anniversary this year, Proton has added one of the earliest samples of the 1985 Proton Saga to the display lineup of its Centre of Excellence (COE) headquarters.

Revealed via Proton’s official LinkedIn page, we can clearly see that the car is well maintained, with all of the original parts, including its blue paint, being kept in mint condition. However, there’s more to this classic Saga than its nicely-kept wellbeing.

This 1985 Proton Saga unit was donated by the family of the late Arrifin Hew, who was one of the first buyers of the original Saga back in 1985.

What’s more important is that this 1985 Proton Saga was actually donated by the family of the late Ariffin Hew, who was the original owner of the car. Back in July 1985, Ariffin was one of the earliest Malaysians to get their hands on the newly launched Proton Saga, and the car was always in his possession until the day he passed away.

Being a passionate car enthusiast, Ariffin has managed to keep and maintain his Saga in the best possible condition, with all his efforts and hard work still apparent in the car even decades after it was bought.

In a bid to recognise the significance of the Saga to the Proton brand as a piece of our local automotive history, the family of Ariffin decided to donate the car back to Proton to ensure the Saga legacy continues to be appreciated by future generations. The car was personally handed to Proton deputy CEO Roslan Abdullah by Rosni Rahmat, wife of the late Ariffin Hew, who was accompanied by her son-in-law, Imran Abdullah.

Proton DCEO Roslan Abdullah (left) with the late Ariffin Hew's wife, Rosni Rahmat (right).

“We are deeply honoured by Ariffin Hew’s generous donation. The 1985 Proton Saga is a significant part of our history, and its display at our headquarters will provide a unique opportunity for visitors to connect with our legacy. This exhibition celebrates not just the car but the spirit of innovation and progress that Proton has gone through,” said Roslan Abdullah, deputy CEO of Proton.

Those who are keen to check out Ariffin’s original 1985 Proton Saga can visit Proton COE at Subang Jaya, where it will be displayed for one month as part of a special exhibition on the Proton Saga.