If you have a hydraulics setup that hits back bumper or is making you "go for broke," e-mail some images along with basic information to: saul.vargas@sourceinterlink.com.
Sal Mata has been an active member of the Dallas Lowrider Association (ULA) for a few years and is also one of four founding members of Dallas Lowriders Car Club. The Dallas ULA was formed to strive to uphold a positive image within the lowriding community and maintain that same positive image in local communities as well. The ULA aims to alter the negative stereotypes associated with lowriders and lowriding, so they came up with the "King of the Street" hopping belt. Sal built his '63 with a goal to be the best in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
If the name "Tomb Raider" isn't intimidating enough, the fully chromed undercarriage is a sight to see when it's hitting more than 80 inches. Built as a fully custom show car, Tomb Raider's no trailer queen and was set up with four pumps, two allowing the wishbone rearend to rise with the 18-inch cylinders while the other two pumps control the hopping of the front end with 8-inch cylinders. The setup's powered by 12 Trojan batteries and controlled by four switches. The fully reinforced frame was built by Cesar at Irving Customs in Irving, Texas, while the bodywork was done by Joe Ruiz from J.B. Customs in Dallas and the mural of Lora Croft was laid down by the one and only "Shadow."
After the car was put together, Sal started to hit the streets and hop at numerous car shows, street battles, picnics and other gatherings. Al would like to thank his fellow Dallas Lowriders C.C. members, the Tomb Raider crew, and Cesar from Irving Customs for the 100-percent backup. If you want to step up to the battlefield with Tomb Raider, be ready to give it all you've got since Sal's '63 has claimed the belt and held it for 21/2 years straight.