Vintage Cars of the Philippines On Display

The Vintage Car Club of the Philippines (VCCP), a local group of private car owners, is gathering some of the best vintage cars in the Philippines on September 13 and 14 at the Esplanade Sea Side Park of the Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City. The two day event offers free admission to everyone. The occasion promotes various activities such as bazaars and a mini car show that will showcase vintage cars from the different eras of the country's automotive history. The organizers said that they hope to promote the colorful tapestry of classic cars in the country which have been featured in local films such as "Asiong Salonga", "Boy Golden" and "Rosario".

Why owning a vintage car is fun

Classifying a car as “vintage” usually varies depending on the market it is in. Here in the Philippines, a vehicle that is 30 years or older is already considered a classic. As such, cars made earlier than the 1980s are now considered "vintage". Andy Sta. Maria, a VCCP member, said that there are a number of reasons why owning a vintage car is fun, among them: the history surrounding the vehicle, the therapeutic effect you get from nostalgia, the rewarding feeling of restoring a vintage vehicle and meeting like-minded people.

Philippine automotive history

The Philippine automotive industry started during the American Colonial Period from 1898 to 1946, when the country saw many US-made cars being imported into the country. However, it was not until the 1960s that many Filipinos' fascination with cars grew as affordable cars were shipped into the country from brands like Volkswagen and Mitsubishi. Today, an average of 200,000 cars are sold locally from major brands like Toyota, Honda, Ford, Mazda, Nissan and Hyundai. This figure is expected to grow in the coming years because of the increasing number of middle class families in the Philippines. According to a survey from Nielsen, 76 percent of Filipino respondents intend to purchase a car within the next two years.

The oldest car in the Philippines

The first car to ever travel the old roads of the country was a Richard Brassier roadster which was brought to the country by the trading firm Estrella del Norte in 1904. It used a 2-cylinder engine which produced only 9 horsepower. Richard Brasier was a French car manufacturer that produced automobiles from 1902 to 1930. The car is currently displayed at the Mind Musem in Taguig, on loan from Pilipinas Shell.

Registering for the event

Those who would like to register their cars can send their details and photos to vintgecarsphilippines@yahoo.com. For more information, contact Sean Lim on 0917 814 1982.