SP Rides: The Blue Devil
BY MICHAEL KITCHENS
Year, make, model: 2010 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
Owner: Benjamin Mamuad
Age: 58
Occupation: AAA Roofers Hawaii
Hobbies: Cars and martial arts
Engine: LS9 block, hydro-dipped plastic panels with blue and gold, LED lighting, carbon fiber dress-up, light tune
Exterior: Vinyl-wrapped, Morimoto headlights, Morimoto blacked-out taillights, LED underglows, OEM carbon fiber front lip and side skirts, ZR1 style carbon fiber rear wing, aftermarket grille/brake ducts, blacked-out side markers
Interior: Aftermarket sound system, steering wheel wrap, dash cover, interior footwell LED
Wheels/Tires: 19-inch and 20-inch OEM chrome Vette wheels with Michelin Pilot Sports set 285/30ZR19s in the front and 335/25ZR20s, blue spiked lug nuts
Raised in Waipahu, Benjamin Mamuad’s first experience with cars was when he was 16 years old. All of his friends were rolling in Challengers, Chargers — you name it, the scene was pumping. Mamuad didn’t have the money to afford one outright, but fate would allow him the opportunity to make one his very own. A neighbor in Waipahu happened to have a 1958 Corvette that had become a lawn ornament and one that Mamuad had laid eyes on many a time.
One day, his neighbor said “Hey, you want that car? Go take it.” Upon learning this, another neighbor told him “Boy, go get that car, and I’ll teach you how to fix it.” What began soon after was decades of domestic love. Not all of them were Vettes, but a good hunk of them were. In fact, it’s recently that he’s really gotten back into Vette world — having owned anywhere from three to four in the past decade.
Which leads us to this 2010 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, picked up from Arizona, shipped through Long Beach and to these shores with just under 400 miles on the odometer. It was practically brand new. Satisfied for the moment, Mamuad spent a few months tooling around, but of course, that was short-lived.
“I just can’t help it. I have to touch it and make it my own,” Mamuad said. The first thing to change was the installation of 2-inch headers with 3-inch primaries (long tubes), married into 4-inch Corsa Extremes catbacks. The Corsa Extremes are pretty pricey and breathing was very important to the setup. Throw in a mild tune and this ride is pushing about 700-plus which is more than enough to have a good time.
The chrome rims are OEM, but are a super pricey upgrade. They’re held in place with some trick spiked lug nuts and feature Michelin Pilot Sports set 285/30ZR19s in the front and 335/25ZR20s in the rear. That’s some monster tread in the rear to sling some rocks with.
The body itself has a slew of modification upgrades like the sexy blue metallic wrap from KPMF. Although it looks dark blue at night, with a flash of light, the flakes shine through brilliantly. The front and rear lights have been replaced with Morimoto specials that really upgrade the look.
The rears are even blacked out and feature a healthy glow at night that stands out from the traditional setup. The front grilles for the intake and brake ducting have also been replaced with aftermarket options. The carbon fiber kit that graces the front and sides is further illuminated by an LED ground effects kit.
Of special note is the engine bay — the plastics have been hydro-dipped with a crazy skull pattern that blazes with blue and gold insets. It really changes the look of the bay. Featuring several dress-up modifications such as the battery box and filter setup, it looks incredible.
Mamuad just happens to be a martial arts master — and is quite the Blade fan — hence his license plate. If anything, though, this ride is a blue devil of a car.
“If I’m not at work, if I’m not doing martial arts, I’m enjoying my car,” Mamuad explained. It’s got what it takes to slice it just right.
