Passion VIP members share love of cars Sue Lee/For PDN


Customizing cars means taking regular vehicles and adding a splash of its driver’s personality and style, said Karl Dela Cruz, president of Passion VIP. 

Any person can buy a Lexus, but throw in diamond studded tables, curtains, customized rims and mufflers and it’ll stand out in a crowd of its stock counterparts, Dela Cruz said. 

VIP is a sub-genre of car customization that was popularized by the infamous Japanese Mafia, Yakuza, said Chris Delfino, founder of Passion VIP, a VIP style car enthusiast club.

In the world of customizing cars, like any other art form or fashion trends, there’s a slew of modification pieces that interlink together to create a whole new beast.

And as individualized and unique a modified car can be, there are rules to conform to in each category. From hydraulic suspension jumping low-riders, colorful import cars, engine roaring muscle cars to booming sounds, a show car must look its part and a race car must perform.

And in the VIP genre of car styling, Delfino said, it begins with using a large luxury, limousine type sedan like the Nissan President and Toyota Crown as the base. Minivans like the Toyota Odyssey are now considered a VIP modifiable vehicle, Delfino said.

Because these sedans are available only to the Asian market, in the US, VIP favorites are the Lexus GS or LS, Delfino said. “Especially on Guam because these are the cars with more availability in parts,” he added. Luxury vehicles usually cost at least $60,000 and are V6, or six cylinders, and above.

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Since the age of 16, Delfino has tinkered with cars. He’s won hundreds of awards, and has won in several different categories, including VIP. He’s seen the landscape of show cars change and grow with every generation.

“When I started in the 90s, it was all about the lowrider hydraulics, the crazy paint jobs with the graphics and spoke wheels,” Delfino said. 

He opened his shop, Car Audio Image, 18 years ago, and has helped others win trophies as well. “Doing what you love is still hard work, but like a vacation.” He barely feels the long hours, has a sense of accomplishment with his creativity and it boggles his mind when overseas clients seek him out. 

“I consider my stuff artwork. When you love something and build something with your hands, it’s art. It’s not even about making money. I’m a designer,” Delfino said.

As the 90s passed, import cars and the racing scene started getting bigger. And now the young enthusiast are also getting older. Like Delfino, they worked hard and have better jobs. They can afford luxury cars.

In 2008, Delfino, Steve Oku and Jason Cruz introduced VIP style to Guam’s car enthusiasts.

“When we first introduced the VIP look, people said it looked like a stock car. It’s a very clean installation of designs,” Delfino said. The colors stay neutral black, gray, white or beige; additions compliment the stock body; and there’s nothing too loud with far-out decals.

But there’s still a distinction. You have to use parts by the original designer, not the knock-off brands that have copied that same design. For example, Delfino makes his own bar-like two leveled tables with metallic, silver lining. It’s installed on the passenger side’s dashboard or the back seat for the rear passengers. Diamond stitched pillows and mats are used to accessorize the interior. The trunk is functional even with the customized speakers in the back. 

The exterior can have body kits and skirts added, but must stay clean-cut and streamlines with the rest of the car,

But the best part of customizing VIP cars, said William Soriano, Passion VIP member, is involving his family. 

“My kids helped me pick out some of the parts and I like seeing them get involved. The other great thing about a custom sedan is that I can drive my family around in it.”


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