The biggest question that remains was why
he was so willing to cut into his brand-new FR-S. His answer, “People really
thought I was crazy for cutting into a brand-new car just to fit a body kit,
but I always told myself that if I was going to do anything drastic like my
brand-new fenders, it would be for a kit I really wanted. It was a very
permanent modification as well, so I knew I wouldn’t so, to put it simply, it
was just necessary to cut.”
Fortunately for Noel, he had an older
brother who could lend a helping, and steady, hand. This would not only ensure
a higher probability of it being done correctly, but Noel would also have
someone to blame in the event that it didn’t. The fact that you see it featured
here in the pages of Import Tuner is proof that the leap of faith worked out in
the Barnum brothers favor. Everything after that feat came pretty smoothly for
his build, including the acquisition of a brand-new set of discontinued Work
VS-KF wheels in the specs perfectly suited for the widened body of his Scion
coupe. The 18x9.5/11 set of Work wheels just seemed to fall onto his lap and
while some have argued that it’s not the right wheels for his car, Noel thinks
otherwise. “Everybody gets so caught up in what I do with my car. Just like the
AirRex digital air suspension system I have; everyone acted like it was a sin
to ‘bag a sport car or something, but I didn’t really care what people had to
say,” Noel says.
Every
part in the FR-S works harmoniously
Though the FR-S is considered a sports car,
Noel has always found more of a connection with the style aspect of car
modification rather than the pure motorsports side of things. It should be
plainly obvious to you that his Vertex/Rocket Bunny FR-S screams style,
especially in Firestorm Red paint. Aesthetics are a big deal to him, but he
hasn’t let in hinder him from being able to build a complete car with his bare
hands. Everything from the AirRex air suspension, to the custom audio setup in
his trunk, and even the Vortech supercharger kit has all been meticulously
installed by Noel himself. Just because he caters to a particular style doesn’t
mean that he isn’t mechanically inclined.
2013
Scion FR-S side
The future is bright for Noel, a young and
knowledgeable enthusiast in our tuning community. His Scion FR-S mash-up has
garnered a ton of attention on the Interwebs and steals the collective
attention of the masses every time he pulls up to an event and lays the car on
the ground. He did it his way by his own hands and has very little care for
what his doubters have to say. “The goal of the build was to have a car that
flowed well,” he says. “From wheels to the wide-body kit to the interior, I
just wanted everything to have a good feel and flow to it. Nothing was overdone
in an attempt to please anyone else. If you have an idea and you want to push
the limits of the scene’s cookie-cutter tendencies, don’t be afraid to go for
it. You build will be your own, so make sure you build it how you want.”
2013
Scion FR-S back
Engine: 2.0L Toyota 4U-GSE; Milltek
up-pipe; ARK test pipe; Evolution Industries crank pulley; Vortech V-3 H67BC
supercharger kit; Bolt Boys engine dress-up kit
Suspension: AirRex Digital Air Suspension
System, front camber plates; Hotchkis 25.4 mm front sway bar, 19 mm rear sway
bar, endlinks, front strut bar; GTSpec rear lower control arms; TRD member
brace
Brakes: AP Racing AP6100 front big brake
kit, AP6150 rear big brake kit; Goodridge front/rear SS brake lines
Wheels/Tires: front: 18x9.5 -20 Work VS-KF,
215/40 -18 Falken Azenis FK453; rear: 18x11 -35 Work VS-KF; 245/40 -18 Falken
Azenis FK453; Project KICS R40 Neochrome lug nuts
Exterior: T&E Vertex front lip, side
skirts; TRA Kyoto Rocket Bunny rear diffuser, rear spoiler, front/rear over-fenders;
Beat-Sonic roof spoiler; JDM OEM FT-86 headlights, taillights; OEM Firestorm
Red paint; vinyl graphics by Stickyicons
Interior: Pioneer BeSpoke head unit; OEM
Audio+ SL Series front speaker, rear speakers, dual subwoofers, amplifiers,
stereo wiring; EcuTek ECU re-flash; engine tuning by Visconti Tuned
Gratitude: “My Phaze2 family for always
making me push the limit of what would flow with the car. FRS86 for helping out
in every aspect of the build; my brother, Hubert, for helping me knock out all
the body and motor work in our garage; OEM Audio Plus for creating such an
excellent audio system that not only looked amazing, but also performed
amazing; and Freddie at AutoFashion for being able to land the Rocket Bunny kit
when it was in such high demand. I would also like to thank everyone at
Canibeat and Style Over Comfort for all the inspiration. Thanks, everyone!”
