From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 3, November 2002.

Cruising the capital, Nuku‘alofa, in a mean-looking, moody and magnificent Master Eunos car, is 23-year-old Semisi Fonua, from Longolongo

“You can’t miss it— just a sight of it is breath-taking for those who know a great car when they see one, like myself,” said Semisi, who bought his car from the New Zealand branch of Tonga’s own Si’i Kae Ola Motors, owned by his uncle Tevita Misi Fifita. At first it was just an ordinary 1999 model, but Semisi, who works as a mechanic for the company in Nuku‘alofa, imagined the re-modeling he would do, “to turn it into the most outstanding and unique car that Tonga has seen.…But, more importantly, I wanted this car to reflect my taste and personality, and I am very proud today to see what I have achieved”.

His mean machine not only has New Zealand’s quickest rotary engine, but also a powerful twin turbo engine, which you can turn on above 80 kph to reach the car’s full speed of 220 kph, said Semisi. But, this could be difficult in Tonga where the top speed limit is 65 kph and there are no motorways. “I can’t really use the turbo engine to reach the car’s full speed here, because if I did I might be fined or even arrested,” he admitted.

Semisi grew up always fascinated with cars. “I had a variety of cars but I never seem to be quite satisfied that it was ‘the car’ I wanted,” he said. He then saw the first model of his car in Tonga, and he knew right there and then that this was the car that he wanted. After buying the 1999 model Semisi moved to the fun part of browsing through the Performance car magazine to choose the parts that would make his car riveting. The kit at the back, the wheels, the rainbow paint were specially ordered from New Zealand, as well as a fusion car audio, complete with a 12 seat CD player, and the posh black leather seats for the interior. The transformation was done in Tonga by a newly established Panel Beater at Popua, owned by Sione Manu.

“The best part is driving…it is like flying on an airplane, smooth riding all the way, except for a few bumps here and there, especially if you are not careful with the roads you take,” laughed Semisi. “But when it comes down to it, I reckon that this why being young is fun, because you can be cool in any way you want to be. Like me, I’m cool, because I am the cool owner of this cool car,” he said. ▲