This bowling icon rides a 4x4 classic

MANILA, Philippines - In May 1978, Delta Motors Corporation, then Toyota brand owner in the Philippines, arranged a unique showdown between two Bowling World Cup champs: our own Paeng Nepomuceno (who won the first four titles in 1976) and lefty Norwegian Arne Stroem (1977 winner). The victor would take home a Toyota Crown, and the loser a Toyota Corolla.

Not too shabby, indeed.

Sanctioned by the prestigious Federation Internationale des Quileurs and the Philippine government (through the Department of Youth and Sports Development, precursor of the Philippine Sports Commission), the event was dubbed “World Champions’ Showdown in Manila” and consisted of a best-of-five series of 12 games each played alternately between Astrobowl in Magallanes and Coronado in Greenbelt, both in Makati. The spectacle was stretched into a deciding fifth encounter that culminated in Astrobowl where Paeng finally prevailed.

Then, the 21-year-old Paeng did something strange – swapping the more premium Crown de Luxe for a Land Cruiser. “I had always been fascinated with the Land Cruiser – and I preferred it because I thought the Crown was too luxurious for me. It was for executives – not for a young guy. I couldn’t imagine driving it to school. I thought that people might think I borrowed it from my father,” Paeng now says with a laugh.

Paeng remembers that Delta Motors execs gave him back P12,000 – representing the price difference between the two vehicles. “The Land Cruiser cost P98,000 that time, and the Crown was worth P110,000. So, aside from a new car, I had extra money to boot!”

The bowling legend says that he has spent time, money, and effort to modify his ’79 Land Cruiser through the years. As he traveled the world, Nepomuceno not only harvested bowling accolades and prizes, but parts for his beloved Toyota – sometimes sending them home in a balikbayan box.

For starters, he fitted the yellow Land Cruiser sports with an ARB bull bar that Paeng says is “really for Land Cruisers of that era.” Two big Warn fog lamps are there too, along with a rare upright Warn winch. “This upright model has been discontinued, so most winches you see these days are horizontal,” he reveals.

Paeng also bought a couple of Recaro seats at a surplus store, and had them reupholstered with leather a few years ago. Significantly, the seats of the Cruiser were moved backwards to accommodate Paeng’s 6’3” frame. “I can stretch out my legs any time, and there’s so much headroom!” he gushes.

When the vehicle’s original engine conked out, Paeng opted for replacement instead of having it overhauled. “I bought a used Land Cruiser 2H six-cylinder in-line engine turbo diesel engine from a surplus shop. I also equipped it with surplus Toyota power steering and disc brakes.” For good measure, he also put in a new off-road suspension system – effectively raising the ride six inches.

Paeng also replaced the tires with bigger Mickey Thompson 35x12.5x15 MTZ off-road radial tires, then screwed on a Sparco steering wheel. Finally, he had the interiors carpeted.

These days, the Nepomuceno household goes around in, along with the Land Cruiser, an Innova and Fortuner. “But by far, my favorite is my Land Cruiser,” Paeng maintains. “It is the most comfortable to drive, and I can drive over potholes with no worries. I also had it equipped with a safari snorkel, so I can pass through flooded areas.”

Just recently, Paeng Nepomuceno added another trophy to his already considerable one. Nope, it wasn’t for another bowling win. Paeng’s beloved Land Cruiser won in a car show: the 5th Bumper to Bumper Car Show at the Bonifacio Global City. The Land Cruiser notched first place in the Best Big Vehicle (SUV, AUV, pickup, van) category.

Paeng is all smiles at what he calls a “fortunate” win. “I don’t even consider myself a car buff,” he insists. “I just believe in being hands on with the maintenance of my vehicles.” And, get this, it was his first time to enter a car show. “I entered the Land Cruiser only because I was encouraged by a friend to give it a try,” he says.

Since that bowling victory in 1978, Paeng went on to win three more Bowling World Cup championships (1980 in Jakarta, 1992 in Le Mans, and 1996 in Belfast), appear on the Guinness Book of World Records three times (for being the youngest World Bowling Champion at 19 years, for winning the most World Titles in three different decades, and for winning the most Worldwide titles in a career). Today, he is also the international bowling ambassador of the United States Bowling Congress, and regularly holds coach certification courses all over the world.

Throughout all these, this bowling icon continues to love the classic Land Cruiser he won when he was all of 21 summers old. “I plan on driving it until the day I can’t clamber onto the driver’s seat,” he says. “Besides,” Paeng says with a grin, “I dated Pinky in that vehicle before we got married.”

Amen, Paeng.