Model: Queen Esther
Lowriding is a passion that often consumes us from a young age, and Danny Martinez of Corona, California, is no different. He was not yet a teen when he first got into Lowriding in the year 2000, but the Lowriding bug bit him anyway, and he began customizing bicycles and showing them at the local car and bike shows. When Danny would walk around the events, he would look at all the cars and dream of one day having a customized low-low of his own. The one ride that always fascinated him was the Chevy El Camino. Coincidently, Danny’s father had purchased an El Camino and when Danny was old enough to get his driver’s license, his father graciously gave him the car. From there, Danny quickly started putting together his plans to customize it.
Danny and his father began sanding down the car’s body, preparing it for paint. Once the body was ready, they took it over to their good friend, Gustavo, over at the Utility Body Shop. Gustavo painted the ride with a beautiful Silver finish. Danny ended up adding chrome accessories to the engine before paying a trip over to Victor, of Best Polishing in Pomona, to have him chrome-plate the steering linkage and the A-arms. The chrome-plating shop, Taps, in Riverside re-chromed the front and back bumpers. Danny eventually added a custom hydraulic suspension, allowing him to lay the El-Co low or lock it up high. The front clip was upgraded to that of an ’82 El Camino and Danny had airbrushed murals and pinstripes round out the exterior appearance of his custom Silver ride.
Danny says his ride wouldn’t be in the shape it’s in today if it weren’t for the help he received from his father and his Uniques Car Club brothers. Of course, the support of his girlfriend helped too! Danny says he’s pretty much done with this chapter of his ride, but says he will be starting a new chapter very soon: a total frame-off rebuild of his El Camino, cleverly embodying the name, “Forever Unique.”
Tech Specs
“Forever Unique”
Owner: Danny Martinez
Vehicle: 1979 Chevy El Camino
City/State: Corona, CA
Car Club: Uniques Car Club (Inland Empire Chapter)
Engine: The 350-c.i.d. V8 engine was rebuilt by Danny and his father.
Body/Paint: Gustavo, from Utility Body Shop in Riverside, California, shaved the firewall in the engine bay for a cleaner, custom look, before painting the body with an eye-catching Silver finish. Mike Lamberson of Draggin’ Lines (also in Riverside) added his elegant touches of pinstripping and Sal Alias of Sal Art Works in Orange County, California, added unique airbrushed murals.
Interior: Hector Nuñes of Nuñes Upholstery in Corona took on the interior responsibilities, re-upholstering everything in a light or dark grey color. 3-D inserts, in the shapes of the car club’s crown logo, were added to the headliner and throughout the interior. Mr. Nuñes also took care of the battery covers and other vinyl necessities in the bed. American Auto Upholstery in Corona provided the tonneau bed cover.
Sound System: Danny took it upon himself to install the sound system in his own ride. The Pioneer head unit and the Performance Technique amplifier send the sounds out to two bumpin’ 10-inch Rockford Fosgate woofers.
Setup: Porky, of Moreno Valley, California, installed two hydraulic pumps and four dumps. Six deep cycle marine batteries power the system and four switches allow Danny to alter the height of his ride at anytime.
Tires: 155/80R13 Hankook whitewall.
Wheels: 13x7 Krystal Wire Wheels.