Manila Auto Salon 2016: Show of exotics and classics

At left, this 2015 Jeep Wrangler owned by Juan Miguel Reyes and customized by Ramon Toong’s 199 Off Road House won Best of Show Sport Truck. At right, J Works did an awesome job on this blue Lamborghini Gallardo owned by Raymond Ronquillo of R33.

Photos by Brent Co and Sam Liuson

With the Manny Pacquiao-Jessie Vargas fight making Sunday another traffic- and crime-free day, car buffs happily went to visit the 2016 Manila Auto Salon and the Sport Truck Show at the Mall of Asia’s SMX Convention Hall.

As one of the most anticipated last-of-the-year major car event, over 200 cars and trucks the most talented customizers and car restoration outfits in the country were on display at Halls 1 to 4 of the SMX.

The show’s participants vied for top honors in the various categories of the two-in-one truck and car show.

The booth setups were much better this year, and the corporate and aftermarket brand exhibitors put in more effort to making their displays more attractive and properly executed.

The event is basically divided and categorized into two competitions: one group for pickup trucks and SUVs, and another group for cars.

Here are some of the major winners and awards during the event.

Rare exotics

Among the Best of Show winners in the car category is R33’s blue Lamborghini Gallardo fitted with a Liberty Walk kit and DPE wheels. R33 owner Raymond Ronquillo was in Las Vegas watching the Pacquiao-Vargas fight when he heard about the award.

Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution

Customized by J Works and Autoline Motorsports, the car won both Best in Paint and Best Custom Car.

Another highly notable win was Alex Restoration’s Ferrari F12 fitted with a Novitec N-Largo S aerodynamic body kit, exhaust system and special rose gold 20, and 21-inch wheels.

This car is only one of 11 in the world built with this kit.

German designer Vittorio Strosek co-developed this new wide body conversion kit specifically for the Ferrari tuner brand.

Alex Restoration owner Alex Isip is a veteran in car shows, with 25 years of experience in car restorations and customizations.

Isip was also out of town when he heard the news. He was doing 5150 triathlon in Bohol that Sunday, and incidentally was also one of the top finishers in his category.

Toyota BJ40 Land Cruiser

The show also gave out several awards for classic Ford Mustangs done by Alex Restoration and Classic Speed.

Veterans keep on truckin’

In the truck category, Best of Show Sport Truck award went to a 2015 Jeep Wrangler Sport owned by Juan Miguel Reyes and done by 199 Off Road House owned by 4×4 expert and customizer Ramon Toong who has bagged several awards in previous shows.

Another notable win is another show veteran, Black Rhino Philippines’ Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution, which won Best Japanese SUV 4×4.

Finished in matte black paint by Car Kreativ Technik, this Evolution was radically customized into a pickup format with custom body work and roll cage fitted by Project O, and steel bumpers by 199 Off Road House.

Another win for Black Rhino Philippines was its classic Toyota BJ40 Land Cruiser. Among towering pickups and SUVs with oversized wheels and tires, it was not tough for this classic Cruiser to stand out.

The BJ40 won Special Award for Classic 4×4, with its paint and customization job also done by Car Kreativ Technik and designed by Jaykee Evangelista of Rocketpunch Graphics.

To complete the off-road setup, both vehicles were fitted with Bilstein suspension, PIAA lamps, and Black Rhino wheels.

Popular car customizer Atoy Llave of Atoy Customs bagged several wins again this year, and among them was a Toyota Hi Ace Grandia specially customized for MMA fighter Brandon Vera.