Photography by Shane Hunter
Gonzalez is no stranger to building. Having first helped his father with race cars at the age of five, the process has quickly become a passion. When he first brought the 2014 Scion tC home, purchased after totaling his 2011 model, he wasn鈥檛 too sure if he had made the right pick. He was sure of one thing, however, and that was his vision: to build the hottest daily driven show car on the lot.
There are two brands that Gonzalez calls to attention 鈥� APR Performance and Racing Solutions. One of his first modifications on the tC was an APR front lip kit, a brand that quickly became a loyalty when Gonzalez went back for a second part, saying the company 鈥渉as been the most amazing to work with on getting a splitter kit made for my 2014 tC.鈥� Then there鈥檚 Racing Solutions, which Gonzalez says is the most supportive of the entire tC community. They鈥檙e responsible for the duck bill spoiler and the new RS lip for the 鈥�14 and 鈥�15 models.
Being part of the tC community comes with its own challenges. Trends continue to change and it becomes an ongoing battle of being the first to show off new parts. Having a low, stanced, uniquely set-up daily driver is Gonzalez鈥檚 goal, which he says has managed to keep up with the community. This is supported by his communication with various companies and their interest in building body kits and other parts that aren鈥檛 readily available.
Gonzalez draws much of his inspiration from the Scion鈥檚 2013 Tuner Challenge. He says the potential for a build illustrated by those champions helps motivate his efforts of making ongoing improvements. Moving forward, Gonzalez has plans to duplicate the stylings of R35 GT-Rs and Kei Miura鈥檚 Rocket Bunny.
#TBGLIVE WINNER | HOT IMPORT NIGHTS
ANAHEIM STADIUM, ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA
52% OF THE POPULAR VOTE
ESSENTIALS
LOCATION: Upland, CA
CAR CLUB: Scion Image
ENGINE: Toyota 2.5L AGT20 I-4
HORSEPOWER: 185 hp
TORQUE: 180 lb-ft
ENGINE
- Injen (dry filter, cold air intake)
- Weapon-R throttle management
- Royal Purple 5W20 motor oil
EXHAUST
- Agency Power cat-back exhaust system
WHEELS/TIRES/ BRAKES
- VIP Modular VRC13 wheels - 19x9.5 +30 (f/r)
- Delinte Thunder D7 tires - 235/35 R19 (f/r)
- R1 Concepts 12-in. 1-pc. drilled & slotted rotors (f/r)
CHASSIS / SUSPENSION
- TEIN Super Street coilovers
- Cusco strut bar (f)
- TB Performance (adjustable C-pillar brace, mid-chassis brace V2, traction bar V2, strut bar (r))
EXTERIOR
- APR Performance custom (wind splitter, side skirts)
- Racing Solution TC2 duck lip spoiler
- Rolled fenders (r)
- Dr. Stickers vinyl graphics
- Password:JDM red battery tiedown
- TRD black oil cap
- Takata Formula Drift tow hook
- Carbon fiber B-pillar appliqu茅 kit
- NIA eyelids
- LED (red; side markers, running lights, turn bulbs, white; reverse bulbs)
- 6K HID (headlights, fog lights)
INTERIOR
- Carbon fiber skinned interior pieces
- Takata Drift II harnesses
- LED (red map light, white dome light)
MOBILE ELECTRONICS
- OEM Audio plus reference 400CF system
