Latest news with #WestCoastCustoms
Miami Herald
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Exclusive with West Coast Customs' Ryan Friedlinghaus Ahead of Charity Auction
West Coast Customs founder Ryan Friedlinghaus has spoken with Autoblog ahead of Saturday's Mecum Auction in Indianapolis, featuring five custom vehicles from his personal collection. The auto shop legend's five lots include a Darth Vader-themed 2012 Volkswagen Passat, a NASCAR-inspired 2022 Toyota Camry, a Star Trek Discovery 2018 Polaris Slingshot, a Dukes of Hazzard-themed 2006 Dodge Charger, and a 1997 Toyota 4Runner featured on the cover of Minitruckin' magazine in 1997. The proceeds from each lot will benefit the West Coast Customs Academy, which centers on giving the next generation of custom automotive professionals hands-on training through instructional classes within specific disciplines, culminating in a final custom car project. West Coast Customs Academy has already graduated three classes of emerging professionals. "Each one of these cars [listed for Mecum's auction] has been a very special moment of my journey at West Coast Customs," Friedlinghaus told Autoblog. When asked how he formed the West Coast Customs Academy, Friedlinghaus said: "The academy was something I thought about back in 2016 when we were just struggling trying to find good talent, good workers. [I] kinda pushed pause on it for a bit and focused back on the business, and then during COVID, I think it was really obvious that people were starting to get lazier, and there were less and less workers, [so I thought], 'how do we create the new generation of people who work with their hands?' And not just in automotive, but in anything. From plumbers to electricians, the trades have been dying. So I just started doing it again. We teamed up with Burbank Unified School District, which is a local school district here, and took kids that were graduating from high school that really didn't have a career path and didn't wanna go to college and put them in the program and basically taught them hands-on the 360 of building a car from start to finish." "I think that's what's unique about the shop is we do everything here, so we're able to train them [students] through the process, from bodywork and paint, to interior, to suspension and fabrication. I mean, just pretty much everything we do here [at West Coast Customs], we take the students through that, and they build a car." Friedlinghaus noted that California used to have many auto shops for students in high schools, but their presence has significantly declined. The West Coast Customs founder said he wants to teach his academy's students that custom automotive work is a career path, and if you're passionate about it, you can do it and make a lot of money. When detailing more aspects that he believes set his academy apart, Friedlinghaus explained: "I think what's unique about our program is we do it all. They [students] get to learn every aspect of building a car from start to finish. So it gives them the ability to kinda try everything, because I've noticed a lot of the students when they come, they're very interested in one trade. Like, one of them wants to learn how to be a painter, but in the end, they really wanna focus on being a fabricator. So I think it has given them the ability to do it all and really come back and say, 'this is what I wanna go and focus my career on.'" Friedlinghaus added that his fans had been asking him what he was going to do with his 1997 Toyota 4Runner featured on the cover of Minitruckin' magazine since it had been sitting at his shop, so he designed a program around the vehicle for the West Coast Customs Academy and had students rebuild it. The process consisted of redoing the suspension, the interior, and the audio system, in addition to a repaint. "It [1997 Toyota 4Runner] turned out, I think, better than it did in the beginning." Friedlinghaus also described his experience working on the auction's Charger given by Dodge: "I did my thing to it. I was a little uneasy, thinking, 'What is Dodge going to think of [me] cutting this car in half, shortening it, widening the door, and chopping the roof?' I basically changed the whole look of the car, but I think, ultimately, it got their attention, and they gave us a design order for it." Mecum's upcoming auction, featuring custom builds from Friedlinghaus's personal collection, tells the fascinating story of an automotive professional who followed his dream and is giving back after achieving success. "I think it's really [about] staying focused on what your dream is, and I think, when I was younger, there weren't a lot of opportunities. I had to kinda go down the path and learn on my own. But I gotta say, if I didn't have wood shop and auto shop in high school, I probably would've never even chosen this path, you know, because it really gave me the ability to say, 'This is something I like. This is something that I wanna do," and I found a way to do it," the West Coast Customs Founder emphasized. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
The Drive
13-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Drive
West Coast Customs' 'Deconstructed' Lamborghini Urus Is the ‘Otis' Maybach Reborn
@westcoastcustoms | Instagram The latest car news, reviews, and features. A lot's been said among car enthusiasts over whether the Urus SUV is a legitimate Lamborghini or not—the Audi Q8 switchgear, powertrain, and underpinnings do it absolutely no favors—but step outside the bubble of automotive nerds, and the car has become a bona fide status symbol. Among certain circles in Los Angeles, you aren't anybody unless you're rolling in a Urus (that may or may not be shared with, like, four other guys) and the car has been name-dropped frequently in hip hop—a surefire indicator for any car that, culturally, you've made it. The big Lambo's latest music video appearance may just be the coolest we've ever seen the Urus. Modified by West Coast Customs of Pimp My Ride fame is a 'deconstructed' Urus made to feature in Young Thug's video for the song 'Money on Money.' Doors were removed, the roof and hood were cut up, Mad Max -style fenders were added, and exhaust tips were extended very far and made to shoot flames. Forget the Performante, this is what a truly wild, weight-shaved Urus should look like. Rap fans of a certain age will recognize the whole bit as an homage to 2011's 'Otis' video in which Jay-Z and Kanye West did something very similar with a Maybach 57. Coincidentally, that very car was present at the West Coast Customs display at last year's LA Auto Show. My brain is broken, so whenever I hear the word 'deconstructed,' the only thing that comes to mind is a pretentious chef serving up separated components of a childhood classic and thinking they're really doing something. This Lambo, however, is deconstruction I can really get behind. Screenshot Screenshot Screenshot Screenshot Screenshot Got a tip or question for the author? You can reach him here: Chris Tsui is The Drive's Reviews Editor. He oversees the site's car reviews operation in addition to pitching in on industry news and writing his own evaluations of the latest rides. He lives in Toronto. .article-sidebar]:pt-0>
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Beam It Up: Custom Star Trek Slingshot Heading To Auction
A car transformed into the U.S.S. Discovery from Star Trek is heading to auction. The custom-built 2018 Polaris Slingshot, transformed into a tribute to Star Trek: Discovery, is set to cross the auction block at Mecum Auctions' 38th Original Spring Classic in Indianapolis on Saturday, May 17, 2025. The one-of-a-kind vehicle, designated as Lot S37, is part of the West Coast Customs Collection, with all proceeds benefiting the West Coast Customs Academy - a non-profit organisation dedicated to training the next generation of custom automotive professionals. Crafted by the renowned team at West Coast Customs, the Slingshot features a custom 3D-molded hood and side wings that emulate the iconic saucer and nacelle design of the U.S.S. Discovery. It rides on 20-inch Lexani air-brushed wheels and boasts a waterproof cockpit outfitted with RGBW LED lighting and a futuristic control centre. The seats are adorned with gold Star Trek insignias, further enhancing its sci-fi allure. The unique vehicle is one of five imaginative builds from West Coast Customs CEO Ryan Friedlinghaus's personal collection being auctioned to support the West Coast Customs Academy. Other standout creations include a Darth Vader-themed 2012 Volkswagen Passat, a NASCAR-inspired 2022 Toyota Camry, a General Lee-styled 2006 Dodge Charger, and a flame-painted 1997 Toyota 4Runner built by academy students. The auction will take place at the Indiana State Fairgrounds and Event Center, with the Slingshot offered at no reserve. Interested bidders can find more information and register to participate at
Yahoo
04-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Fast & Furious' Stars Take It Slow for Häagen-Dazs Super Bowl Ad
Häagen-Dazs is getting in on the big game this weekend with its first-ever Super Bowl ad, which features a surprising automotive twist. Titled 'Not So Fast, Not So Furious,' the 30-second spot shows a very different side of everyone's favorite high-octane family. The commercial itself comes after being hyped up by two recent teaser videos that drew clear inspiration from the Fast & Furious franchise. Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, and Ludacris all more or less reprise their roles from the series in the main ad, which starts with an iconic tight shot on a rushed shift into gear. A smash of the skinny pedal brings some wheelspin and smoke out of a first-gen Chevy Camaro SS convertible containing Diesel and Rodriguez, before merging onto the coastal highway outside of Los Angeles. The camerawork initially suggests we're in for a high-speed endeavor... until a quick cut to Rodriguez highlights her revealing a Vanilla Milk Chocolate Almond Bar. The sweet tunes of Smokey Robinson begin to play, and the pair start enjoying the slower side of driving. This prompts an appearance from Luda, who rolls up behind the duo in an open-top Jeep Gladiator. It's a cute twist on the typically outrageous group, and a nice first entry into Super Bowl commercials for the ice cream. That said, there's no teasers for the next installment of the Fast franchise hidden inside. The film is currently expected to arrive in the spring of 2026 following delays spurred by 2023's writer's strike. Diesel's love of the product is seemingly genuine, with the actor sharing an oh-so-in-character story following the commercial's appearance online ahead of the game. "My mother introduced me to Häagen-Dazs when I was a teenager, coffee was her favorite,' Diesel said, in a press release marking the ad's debut. 'I can still remember rewarding myself after an audition as a young actor. Just recently I organically posted after a script meeting with Michelle, and what were we doing… Enjoying Häagen-Dazs! A brand with roots in the South Bronx, that has grown into a global pastime, feels meaningful because it's been part of my story for so long. It's more than just ice cream, it's memories." There's going to be a notable lack of automotive ads during this year's game, with Stellantis serving as the sole automaker with a proper spot. That's not all that surprising, given all of the uncertainty surrounding the business at the moment, but it's a shame nonetheless. Die-hard ice cream fans can attempt to track Häagen-Dazs's trip to the Super Bowl in a custom 1963 Cadillac by West Coast Customs, with a chance to earn prizes along the route if you spot them. No word on what flavors they'll be carrying in the built-in freezer. You Might Also Like You Need a Torque Wrench in Your Toolbox Tested: Best Car Interior Cleaners The Man Who Signs Every Car Sign in to access your portfolio
