Alex Restoration showcases car restoration excellence

The Manila International Auto Show (MIAS) 2012 will once again showcase some of the country’s most desirable classic and customized cars. Petron, the country’s leading fuel brand will be presenting the Petron-MIAS Custom and Classic Car Competition, with over 100 classic, vintage and customized cars to be showcased at the Philippine Trade Training Center, adjacent to the World Trade Center Manila, from March 29 to April 1.

One of the judges for this year’s competition is veteran car restoration expert Alex Isip of Alex Car Restoration who has been in the automotive restoration business for 20 years and has won several awards in since its inception in 1992. His uncompromising attention to detail and dedication to his craft has given him numerous recognitions and awards including several “Best of Show” titles in major auto competitions.

He won the coveted “Best of Show” award in the 2010 MIAS Custom Classic Car Competition with his entry—a 1967 Mustang Fastback owned by ABS-CBN director Edgar Mortiz, and also won several other category awards. Last year, the Best of Show and overall winner of the competition was a classic first-owner 1964 Mercedes-Benz 190SL owned by Benjo Dizon of Pampanga.

Isip has worked on several types of restoration and customization jobs, ranging from rare vintage and classic cars to current and modern exotic cars. His expert team of painters, tinsmiths, mechanics and other specialty craftsmen apply their trade to preserve and restore every component of each car giving world-class results.

For two decades, his works has duly earned recognitions including several Best of Show awards from several local auto shows. Nowadays, instead of joining competitions, he lends his expertise in judging car show competitions and help preserve automotive traditions and provenance by allowing a new generation car shop owners and aficionados to shine in competitions.

To celebrate his two decades in the auto restoration industry, Alex Restoration will be showcasing some of its award-winning cars including a rare 1971 Pantera Detomaso and a recently restored 1969 Australian version Mini Cooper S owned by TV personality and motorsports enthusiast Dominique Ochoa. The Pantera won the 2011 Concours De Elegance “Best of Show” title at the SMX held last May.

The Pantera was produced by Italian car company De Tomaso from 1971 to 1991, and the word “Pantera” is Italian for “Panther.” Penned by American designer Tom Tjaarda, the car made its public debut in Modena auto show in March, 1970, and was presented at the 1970 New York Motor Show a few weeks later.

The slat-backed seat design caused a sensation at the New York Show but drew a lot of criticisms so it was later replaced by more conventional body-hugging sports-car seats in the production cars. One of Pantera’s most notable owners was the King of Rock n’ Roll himself, Elvis Presley, who once fired a gun at his car after it would not start.