SP Rides: Getting the VIP Treatment
By Michael Kitchens
Name: Samson Mak
Age: 36
Occupation: Auto Shop Owner and Installer
Hobbies: Cars, cars and more cars
Year/Make/Model: 2005 Lexus LS430
Color: Mercury Metallic
Short Mod List:
Engine: Apex ground kit, Anceltion carbon engine cover, Blitz throttle controller, JDM Tanabe Medallion eR Tune Dual Exhaust, Nintendo reservoir cover, Tom’s Carbon Air Intake Duct, Tom’s Air Filter, TRD oil, gas and radiator cap
Exterior: Admiration roof and trunk spoiler, Artisan Spirits front and low fenders, Silk Blaze front lip and protector, tons of JDM OEM Toyota Celsior components, custom painted rear trunk garnish, custom painted daughter’s portraint inside gas lid, custom side mirrors with blinkers
Interior: Seat Sonic LED lighting, Dynamat rear deck, Garax dome light diamond housing, Luxus Luxury pedals, Slik Blaze gun grip steering wheel and shift knob, more Celsior components, etc.
I.C.E.: Alpine Double Din DVD player, Headrest monitors, 6×5-inch pro components, 2x 8-inch subwoofers, Beatsonic ADD a Aux adapter, Micro video amp, Musee 4- and 2-channel amps, etc.
Suspension: Airrunner “On the Ground” air suspension, stainless 4-gallon tank, pressure gauge, sender manifold, paddle switches with dual needle gauges, Accuair E-Level management system, remote control, VU4 manifold, water trap, ViAir 380cc air compressors, Nagasa front and rear camber and control arms, Tom’s front and rear braces
Wheels, Tires and Brakes: SSR MS3 Spectrum Silver Finish 20×10 F, 20×10.5R Wheels, with Hankook V12 EVO 225/35R/20 Front, 245/35R/20R, Brembo GT BBK 8- and 4-Pot Calipers front and rear with 380MM and 345MM rotors, respectively
Let’s get straight to the point: This 2005 Lexus LS430 is one of the finest examples of VIP that I have ever seen. It is simply immaculate while also being representative of the finest quality parts available. The car exudes luxury upon first glance while further investigation brings detail upon detail to the surface. In short, owner Samson Mak doesn’t play around when it comes to VIP.
Samson operates Revision Audio, a local shop that presides heavily in the VIP market. He’s originally from Hong Kong and has spent the past 10 years building and modifying some of the finest rides on the island — even before people knew what VIP was. We had a long discussion about what it means to be VIP, and what inspires him to build them.
“The inspiration comes from Japanese tuning. There is a right way to build a proper VIP car,” says Samson. “It’s all about the parts selection, whether it’s true VIP or VIP-inspired. When you throw it all in a basket, the outcome should be obvious.”
One thing is evident, though: Samson is a perfectionist. His mods list is simply too extensive to fit in this article. He spent eight months combing the Internet looking for the perfect vehicle, with little concern for the asking price. Eventually, he found a low mileage, black interior LS430 that was perfect as the base platform.
Samson spent the next four years planning and building the car. For the exterior, he chose to mix components such as Artisan front and rear lower fenders, Silk Blaze front lip and extension, and aerodynamic parts such as the Admiration roof and trunk spoilers. All of the components were color-matched with gorgeous Mercury Metallic paint. Accents include the custom mirror blinkers and JDM OEM add-ons, while custom puddle lights were installed to light up the night.
This car can drop it like no other thanks to the absolutely extensive amount of suspension components. An Airrunner “On the Ground” air suspension has been added for serious drop and is complemented with a custom painted 4-gallon tank. The trunk is chock-full of suspension and audio, and layered in plexi-glass and paint by DJ Wish (aka Mike Quering). Mike even took a moment to hand-paint an image of Samson’s daughter on his interior fuel door.
The interior hasn’t been neglected and features an enormous amount of JDM goodness such as a Silk Blaze Gun Grip steering wheel and shift knob. The audio is already insane courtesy of Alpine receivers, headrest monitors, and two Alpine 8-inch subwoofers.
Performance mods, which include an Apex ground kit, paired with a Blitz throttle controller as well as a Tanabe Medallion dual-exhaust setup, have been added. Several dress-up items such as the sexy carbon-fiber engine covers, also are on display. Finally, the ride sports enormous SSR MS3 Spectrum Silver at 20×10 in front and 20×10.5 at rear, while huge 8- and 4-pot Brembo GT brakes are on full display.
When it comes to building a car, Samson believes you should “take your time, do it once, do it right, and don’t settle for less.” That’s what makes this ride such a flawless victory.
