Show beauties

A little off the center of the exhibit hall, amid its glittering Porsche 356B siblings, BMW roadsters, and tacky, over-polished, overdressed Japanese sedans, quietly sits a pristine, completely un-restored, red Porsche 356A. With a paint job that’s almost four decades old, this venerable (and venerated) ancestor of one of the most successful sports car lineage in the world – the Porsche 911 and all its iterations – gets its glitter not through sparkling paint but by a patina that glows with character that comes only with age. A relic this car is, but one that has more depth any modern sports car can only hope to achieve.

This and some other cars can be seen at this year’s staging of the Trans Sport Show, dubbed by many as the country’s biggest summer motoring event. Having opened its doors last April 6, the show runs till April 14, or this coming Sunday. It is held at its usual venue at the Megatrade Hall in SM Megamall.

The show boasts of 65 meticulously prepared cars on display, and numerous exhibitors hawking car-related services and products. A must-see for any self-respecting car nut, the show truly is.

Highlight of the affair is the Trans Sport Show Cup, which is an open-class car competition or what is essentially a beauty pageant for automobiles. Here, cars from whatever national origin and genre vie for "Best of Show" honors.

There is also "Best of Show" honors waiting for the cars’ human counterparts. Called the Miss Trans Sport Show, the competition is open to the promotional girls hired by the corporate exhibitors. A candidate’s beauty, personality and the knowledge of the product she’s promoting are all taken into account in the judging. Show organizers said this contest is one of the most awaited programs in the event.

The theme for the 2002 Trans Sport Show is "Auto Design Evolution," which focuses on cars with timeless designs that – through years of refinement and re-engineering – has evolved into the modern, sizzling sports cars of today. But managing to retain its heritage at that, too.

And there can never be a better example than that Porsche 365A. – Brian Afuang