Story: Evan “Evo” Yates
Photography: Andrew Link
The custom car world loosely mirrors the dating scene; just as you shouldn’t take your buddy’s ex to the movies, you shouldn’t cop his custom car and hit the streets, either. At the end of the day, respectively, that girl will always be known as your boy’s boo, and that whip will always be known as his, too. The question here is: If you transport his whip (or chick) out of the country and dress it up a bit, do the same rules apply?
Forgiato Wheels builds display vehicles featuring their products on a regular basis, and one of their more popular rides to customize is the fifth-generation Camaro SS. Forgiato enlisted Topo of TS Designs to bulk up the modern ’Maro via front and rear widebody extensions to accommodate wider wheels and tires. TS Designs also gave the contemporary Camaro a face-lift with a ZL1 front clip conversion, and topped it off with the mesmerizing motorized LED Forgiato DiFalco grille.
After the build was complete and met Forgiato’s criteria, Forgiato threw it up on their website’s For Sale section, and in a matter of weeks, the wide white whip was sold to a buyer in Japan. “Half the time, when we put cars for sale on our site, they end up going to Japan,” explains Forgiato marketing director Gary Tegeleci. “The Forgiato brand name is big there, and they like extreme cars.” This particular ride was sold to Azzurre Motoring of Toyoake-shi, Aichi, Japan, simply because it appealed to Azzurre’s owners and they saw potential in the car. Once off the boat, the Azzurre Motoring crew quickly began the process of making it their own. Before it hit the streets of Toyoake-shi, the exterior needed a new shade, which they found in a unique blue hue, and the interior was reupholstered in a matching material. To complete its transformation, a new set of 24-inch Forgiato Aggio-B wheels were added, and a monster CSD big-brake upgrade was also incorporated. As it sits today, the marvelous ’Maro definitely has a new identity, mixing American bravado with a bit of Japanese flair.
Spec The Technique:
Year/Make/Model: 2012 Chevrolet Camaro SS
Performance: 6.2L V8, all stock; Eibach lowering coil; CSD big brakes
Exterior: Camaro ZL1 front clip; widebody by Topo of TS Designs; Forgiato DiFalco grille
Interior: Blue suede; black leather
Ice: Two Hertz EP 4 amps, sub; Pioneer in-dash display; infinity mirror with LED lights
Wheels/Tires: 24-inch Forgiato Aggio-B wheels; Pirelli P Zero Nero tires, 275/25/24
