Vehicle:
'91 Lincoln Continental
City/State:
Pasadena, Texas
Club:
Latin Kustoms Car Club
If you have a hydraulics setup that hits back bumper or is making you "go for broke," email some images along with basic information to: saul.vargas@sorc.com.
Robert Robledo started his lowriding days when he joined the Latin Kustoms Car Club in 1996. His buddies Mark and Mosca got him in the club because he was into fixing and building street cruisers. Robert's day-to-day job is managing his successful trucking business, but he's a lowrider builder in his spare time. Since the beginning, he's always helped his fellow car club members fix up their cars by using his knowledge of hydraulics and frame reinforcing. He built some fully custom show cars that have been featured in Lowrider, like "Hood Rich" and "Hood Certified," but he got into street hopping after watching everyone from his 'hood hit the streets and switches, while competing with each other at picnics and car shows.
After owning those few show cars, he decided to build a hopper that was going to make a name on the streets. Robert decided to go with the Lincoln Continental because of its longer wheelbase, plus everyone else was hopping Monte Carlos and Cutlasses. Robert installed a four-pump setup, two of which were used for the hopping. The setup includes 8-inch cylinders and 3 1/2-ton springs in the front, and 26-inch cylinders for the rear with 4 1/2-ton springs. It's powered by 14 batteries and is held in place by a custom battery rack that was built to stand the abuse from the bounce of the hydraulics.
The Lincoln was dubbed "Hood Hopper" because it's winning all over the 'hoods in Texas. Robert is willing and able to travel four hours to serve somebody up. He was crowned "King of the Streets" in Dallas and Houston in 2008. He knows that the competition is getting better and better each day with more competitors building street hoppers. Robert knows he has nothing to worry about because he has his club backing him up when something goes wrong. Just to give you an example of how his members help out, while doing this photo shoot, the pocket of the cylinder broke in a few places. Robert fixed it on the spot by using his homey's mobile welding machine, and in less than 20 minutes had it hopping over 85 inches until the back bumper hit the pavement on the third hit of the switch. The Lincoln has taken a small break to get rebuilt but it will be ready to serve up more competition on the streets soon. So if you think you're up to meeting with him at the next picnic or car show, be prepared to get hood hopped and served.