Oplet (Opelette)

This name has been used since the 1950s, which means small-sized passenger car. The oplet  mode of transportation uses a term called "sewa" "lease" which means carrying a few passengers whether carrying baggage or not. The oplet is a public transport vehicle that originated from MORRIS sedans, a UK brand with a tire that has been modified. In addition, the Austin brand of cars is also used to manufacture oplets. As a result the Betawi people generally prefer to call them ostin and not oplet. In the olden days, the carrosserie factory where oplets were modified was located in Meester Camelis. The two parts of the oplet that are modified is the part where the driver is located with a side door and passenger seat and the second part is the rear passenger area. The oplet flooring for passengers is made of wood, and the roof is made of iron sheeting supported with a wooden frame. Windows are made of wood with sheet of plastic that can be raised or lowered.

If passengers want to hire the oplet, a contract system is used; meaning only one person carrying goods may use the oplet and may not carry other passengers. The oplet is required to give cigarette money to the terminal guards or the young people who ask for money, to ensure their routes are safe. The oplet has been operating in Jakarta since 1930. Originally, oplets operated only in areas of East Jakarta or Pasar Kramat Jati, Cijantung, Cibubur, Cilangkap and Cisalak since the 1950s with an official licensed route. In 1979, the route permit was eliminated and its function was later replaced by the Mikrolet, Metromini, or Koperasi Wahana Kalpika (KWK) (Cooperative Vehicle).

 Braga Street, Bandung. Although some European cities in Java also see the latest car models from Europe and the United States, they are nevertheless immediately identified as Indies cities by the typical colonial architecture. The facades of the buildings are almost always completely white, and most buildings were built between 1900 and 1930, a period of strong economic growth. The architecture closely followed European fashions. Yet it seems the implementation is usually slightly more playful than in the motherland, as if the architects felt freer in the Indies than at home. There was a very distinctive colonial architecture, which to date remains visible. The car on the left is a 1936 Chrysler with an Oplet in front, while the car on the right is a 1934 Chevrolet

Bandung busy street near the Post-en Telegraaf Kantoor (Post and Telegraf Office) in 1938. The Post-en Telegraaf Kantoor now become Kantor Pos Besar (Great Post Office) Bandung. It was built in 1928 by J Van Gent with Art Deco Style. The cars are as follows from left to right: 1937 ford, Oplet probably on a Morris chassis, Oldsmobile 1935, and Chevrolet 1936.

Gunung Sari Straat in Jakarta, 1953, a time of national reconstruction. We can see traditional public vehicles such as becak, delman and oplet. Facing the camera at left is a 1941 Studebaker Champion Cruising Sedan

 Jakarta. The Oplet is a Morris Minor Series 2 from around 1956-57, while the truck in the background is a 1957 Chevrolet

Sources :
http://commons.wikimedia.org/

http://www.jakarta.go.id/