Illuminating Filipino car culture in a fresh perspective
THE tuner car culture in the country is more prevalent today than ever, thanks to the power of the internet. Car enthusiasts have found their online haven, especially on platforms like YouTube, where they can indulge in a plethora of car-related content. It’s akin to the contemporary version of the traditional Greenhills “tambays” (bystanders), where car aficionados gather to share their passion for these four-wheeled wonders, only this time, it’s in the digital realm.
Taking this enthusiasm from screens to reality, a collective of Filipino car content creators joined forces to organize an event that magnificently showcased the current state of Filipino car culture. Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to NeoClassic.
Through the collaborative efforts of Filipino car content creators Alex Lim of BanaweBoy, Justin Santos of Buzzhype Motorsport, Bryan Revilla of Manila Street Chronicles, and Kevin Carlos of Stance Pilipinas Manila Fitted, an exceptional indoor car show was brought to life. Beyond assembling a tasteful selection of cars to represent the country’s car culture, this latest motoring event in town has raised the standards of local car shows to new heights.
Held on Jan. 28, 2024 at the Filinvest Tent in Alabang, the inaugural edition of NeoClassic saw the participation of 66 cars. The showcased builds ranged from Japanese classics featuring parts from renowned aftermarket brands, elegant European sports cars, to a couple of American gems.
The Best of Show award went to a white Nissan Skyline GT-R R34, boasting refined aftermarket upgrades, including a fully built HKS RB28 engine and a rare set of Nismo LMGT4s with centerlock caps. Notably, no female models were employed to add allure to the showcase. All 3,000 visitors at the show immersed themselves solely in the beauty of cars, offering a refreshing take on today’s car shows.
Dino Dalle Carbonare, a judge at the event and an author at the international automotive media outlet Speedhunters, expressed his admiration for the Philippine car scene during the awarding ceremony. One of his favorites was the Nissan RB-swapped Porsche 944, showcasing the creativity of Filipino car enthusiasts.
Adding to the spirit of innovation, in addition to the indoor car show, the parking lot within the venue served as a massive car meet. Owner-type jeeps, featuring remarkable engine swaps like Toyota 3S-GTE and Mitsubishi 4G63 Turbo, were among the captivating displays at the outdoor section of the show. With over 800 cars scattered in the nearby car parks, the parking areas themselves became a show.
Following the success of NeoClassic, the organizing team expressed their satisfaction with the outcome, stating, “We are glad to host and serve our local car culture here in our roots, the Philippines. It was amazing to see the diversity of our audience which cuts across all ages and genders. Thank you. This is for you.”