When Henry Ramos, 73, pulled into Hesperia's inaugural charity car show last year, few expected the elderly San Bernardino County resident to take home the top prize.
"I wasn't expecting to win," Ramos said. "There were some really nice cars out there."
He had long wanted to customize his 2013 Nissan 370Z Roadster, but professional modifications typically cost thousands of dollars well beyond his budget.
The car show was held to benefit Victor Valley Christian School's football program, which had been inactive for seven years due to funding shortfalls. Motivated to support the cause, Ramos decided to enter his Nissan.
But first, he needed to make it competitive.
Do-It-Yourself Ingenuity
Ramos turned to Temu for affordable car accessories and modification parts, finding everything he needed to transform his stock vehicle into a show car.
Working alone, Ramos installed a comprehensive flame-red theme throughout the vehicle. His modifications included striped hood decals, custom seat covers, an aftermarket gear shift, a rear spoiler, red trim for the grille and headlights, LED door lighting, themed windshield wiper accents and a decorative dashboard camera.
The Unexpected Win
Competing against more than 50 entries, including restored muscle cars and high-end customs, Ramos considered himself a long shot. His DIY modifications drew attention from fellow enthusiasts, but he remained modest about his chances.
He initially did not believe that he had won. "I thought they were joking," he recalled. "It felt really good, just a big surprise."
The car show raised funds for new uniforms, training equipment and facility improvements at Victor Valley Christian School. The money will help the football program return to competition after its extended hiatus.
For Ramos, who frequently encourages his grandchildren to pursue their goals, the project demonstrated that budget constraints don't have to limit creativity. “Thanks to my car, people recognize me now and call me Grandpa Ramos, even people who aren’t my grandchildren,” he said, smiling.