Greetings from Manila, the Classic Musclecar Capital of Southeast Asia!

[technophobia]

Hello, everyone. My name is Frank Koh. I live and work in the Republic of the Philippines, and I am an avid classic American musclecar enthusiast. I learned about this wonderful website when I recently purchased a GMP 1/18 scale Street Fighter 1968 Camaro. I must say, all your rides are rockin'!

The Philippines has a rich motoring history, and due to the fact that our country was once a commonwealth of the United States, American cars have played an important role in "motivating" our nation. Luckily, we have always been left-hand drive, so our beloved Yank Tanks have always felt "at home" here.

In fact, the Philippines is the only country outside of North America where Chevrolet Camaros were assembled in large numbers! Yes, from 1967 thru 1969, Yutivo Sons Hardware Company, Automotive Division, built around 900 first-generation Camaro Rally Sports in its main assembly facility in Paco, Manila. These cars, known as the "Yutivo Camaros", have become prized collectors items in the Southeast Asian region, and in other parts of the world as well. All Yutivo Camaros feature special export-only equipment, and have exclusive VIN numbers that serve as proof of their special origins.

I own what is reportedly the last known recorded production 1968 Yutivo Camaro in existence, a sound, 47,000 original kilometer LeMans Blue coupe. Fellow hobbyist Alex Claudio and I have recently restored and modified my Yutivo Camaro with a comprehensive line of era-correct components to make it qualify as a "G-Machine of the Sixties".

The "Blue Brutus" 1968 Camaro RS Yutivo Tribute Car now sports a professionally-blueprinted 350 small block with a Lunati Voodoo cam, a Weiand dual plane aluminum intake, a Holley Avenger 670 cfm carb, Hooker Super Competition Headers; a Muncie M20 wide-ratio four speed manual with a Hurst Competition Plus T-Bar shifter; a 3.90 Limited Slip rearend; Disc Brakes; Camaro SS Quick-Ratio steering box; HD Springs and HD aftermarket swaybars front and rear; era-correct 7" negative-offset Ansen Automotive 5-spoke alloys on premium Toyo touring radials; Trans Am-spec ducktail spoiler and front airdam; fiberglass "Outlaw" Cowl Induction hood; R134a airconditioning; modern sound system by Pioneer and V10 with Soundstream components. I will attempt to post photos soon.

Sharing garage space with the "Blue Brutus" Camaro is a stock-appearing 1966Corvette coupe with C3 brake and suspension upgrades and a Flaming River rack-and-pinion steering kit, and an original 1972 Chevelle Super Sport with Keystone Classic wheels and minor engine and suspension upgrades.

Now that I have discovered Lateral-g.net, I will share the good news of this distinguished Forum with my Filipino musclecar enthusiast buddies. I am confident that they are going to love it here too!

To learn more about us and the Musclecar Hobby in the Philippines, please check out our local website:

http://musclecarsph.1.forumer.com

The Philippines has, in recent years, become a haven for classic car restoration and preservation owing to the world-class quality of work that characterizes many local establishments. Many musclecars have also benefitted from some mighty fine restomodding techniques, and these can be viewed in our website.

I look forward to spending more time here at Lateral-g.net. Many thanks!

[rsk68]

Frank welcome to the site, looking forward to some pics, I myself just returned from the philippines and have been there many times, I'm always looking for one of the Yutivo Canmaros when there.

[gearheads78]

Welcome... I look forward to the pics from you and you friends

-Richard

[G_T]

Welcome aboard! I've been to the Phillipines many times on business trips (Manilla, Baguio, and Clark). I've seen a muscle shop with camaros located in Clark. I'll have to stop by it some time.

[cherrybomber]

thanks for the invitation and for Techno pointing this forum out.

nice place! cant wait to search through this some more. pics already got me drooling though.

ill try and post some pics when i get home later.

[ohcbird]

Frank-

Welcome sa aming website; ikaw ay makahanap ng magandang mga tao dito. I hope I said that right!

What part of Manila? I've been all over the PI... beautiful country & beautiful people. Looking forward to going back someday.

Jeff

[technophobia]

Heartfelt thanks for the warm welcome, folks!

OHCBird, your written Tagalog is first-rate! I would presume your spoken word is even better! Kudos!

It's good to know that some of the wonderful peeps in this Forum have visited the Philippines. For those who are planning a trip to the Philippines, please accept our cordial invitation to participate in the activities of our group! You'll meet a lot of avid enthusiasts, you'll get "up close and personal" with our rides, many of which have won national car show competitions (and a few have been victorious in some legal and not-so-legal drag races too!) and you'll surely find the "warmth" of Tropical Cruisin' much to your liking!

While the MusclecarsPH group has members all over the nation, most of us are based in the nation's capital, Metro Manila, and neighboring areas. Others are located in the major cities of Cebu and Davao in the South, and in the Clark Air Base area, North of Manila. If the Philippines is in your travel itinerary, feel free to PM me so we can exchange contact details. We'll be more than happy to roll out the red carpet and burn rubber!

Great to see you here too, Comrade Cherrybomber! Lateral-g.net is really a great place to hang out, YES!

MABUHAY!

[Theresa]

Welcome Frank.
I love your enthusiasm.

[jared201]

Thanks for inviting me Technophobia, I'm Jared from Manila and I don't have a Muscle Car yet. But really enjoys just looking at them!

Just want to share some of Technophobia's rides (girl not included) LOL!

[XcYZ]

Awesome, welcome to the site. Great stuff!