Monterey, California — For the first time, a Filipino-owned vintage car was featured in the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance (French phrase for “competition of elegance”), a prestigious classic car show exhibiting vintage cars worth millions of dollars from all over the world, held on August 13-18, 2019 in Peter Hay Hill Pebble Beach, California.
Filipino car enthusiast Edgardo Lim’s 1966 Toyota Corona was among the 200 best-preserved classic cars chosen from among 1,200 entries for the classic car competition. This year’s Concours also showcased classic prominent marques from different country of origins, including those from Italy and Japan.
The 1966 Toyoto Corona was selected by the Japanese Automotive Invitational (JAI) intending to demonstrate the evolution of Japanese automotive industry and how Japanese cars gained their popularity and credibility in the world.
Automobiles and motorcycles participating in the Concours are judged for their originality and elegance. “I have been restoring vehicles since 1986 as a hobby. I never imagined that this car, 1966 Toyota Corona, would gain several awards and be showcased in Pebble Beach. As the First Filipino to join the Pebble Beach event of JAI, it is truly a dream come true,” Mr. Edgardo Lim said.
Concours is the “Oscars” version of car exhibition. It started in France in 17th century “where aristocrats paraded horse-drawn carriages in the parks of Paris during summer weekends and holidays. Over time, carriages became horseless and the gatherings became a competition among vehicle owners to be judged on the appearance of their vehicles.”
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For more information, visit https://www.philippineconsulatela.org or
https://www.facebook.com/PHLinLA.
