Home > Author Archives: Lester Dizon (page 37)

Author Archives: Lester Dizon

A Personal Memento: Minichamps 2001 BAR-Honda 003

In March 2003, Honda Cars Philippines (HCPI) took several members of the Philippine motoring press, including yours truly, to Australia to watch the Foster’s Australian Grand Prix Formula One (F1) races at the Albert Park in Melbourne. As the guests of Honda, we were privileged to go into the paddocks of the BAR-Honda Racing Team after the Friday afternoon practice ...

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At the Peak of the Era: Greenlight and Hotwheels 1968-69 GM A-Body Muscle Cars

In 1968, General Motors (GM) restyled their A-body platform with a more curvaceous, semi-fastback styling, on which the Buick Skylark, Chevrolet Chevelle, Oldsmobile Cutlass, and Pontiac LeMans models were all based. The two-door sedan, hardtop, and convertible variants had a 112-inch wheelbase while the four-door and station wagon variants had a 4-inch longer wheelbase at 116 inches. 1968 A-body 2-door hardtops ...

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The New Normal

The announced third extension of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila from May 15th to the end of the month may have disappointed a lot of people who are looking forward to going back to work and getting back to their daily normal lives. However, because of the absence of an effective new vaccine against the COVID-19 virus ...

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Changing the Course of History: Maisto 1993 Porsche Boxster Concept

In the late 1980’s, German sports carmaker Porsche was in a financial pinch. Their front-engine sports cars – the 928, 924, 944 and 968 – didn’t sell as well as expected. On top of poor sales, there was a global economic recession, an unfavorable exchange rate, and aggressive competition from other carmakers. Porsche needed the capital infusion to continue operation, ...

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BMW Concept Car: Revell 1991 Italdesign Nazca M12

When I was a young boy in the mid-70s, a friend and I used to peek into a shoe box containing the Lesney Matchbox Superfast toy car collection of my friend’s dad. Since we were not supposed to even touch the shoe box (his father would be furious if he ever found out), we cannot play with the toy cars. ...

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Fueling My Route 66 Dream: ERTL 2002 Harley-Davidson Road King

In 2006, I was in Vietnam for a 15-day motorcycle tour from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. During one of our several forays into local flea markets, I stumbled upon a 1:10 scale ERTL 2002 Harley-Davidson Road King in its protective plastic packaging case. Through an interpreter, the Vietnamese vendor said that the model motorcycle was a used but ...

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Enamored by a Monster: New-Ray 2001 Ducati Monster S4

In April 2015, I was in Chiang Mai, Thailand for the Asia Premiere of the all-new Ducati Monster 821. My initial impression is that the new naked bike retains the character of the original Monster even with its new chassis and increased muscular styling. The good people of Ducati Asia laid out a ride around Chiang Mai through long country ...

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American Muscle, European Chic: Auto Art Millenium Ford GT

At the 2002 North American International Auto Show, the Ford Motor Company unveiled a new mid-engine two-seat sports car concept that was initially dubbed as the GT40. It was designed in anticipation of the automaker’s centennial year and as part of its drive to showcase and revive its “heritage models” such as Mustang and Thunderbird.  The GT40 was designed to ...

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Archives: 1st Independence Day Classic and Muscle Car Show (June 12, 2010)

Traditionally, June 12th is celebrated nationwide as the day that the Philippines claimed independence from foreign rule. But June 12, 2010 showed that many Filipinos are NOT really free from foreign control, specifically from their passion towards American classic and muscle cars. Dubbed as the “1st Independence Day Classic and Muscle Car Show” and held at the old parking grounds ...

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Race Car For The Road: Maisto 1997 Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR

The only connection between this Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR (W297) and the McLaren Mercedes MP4-16 that we featured yesterday are their tri-star emblem and their racing heritage. But there’s a deeper and more “secretive” connection between this über German super car and the 1993 McLaren F1 that we featured two days ago (Tuesday, May 5). You’ll find out in a while. ...

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