by Michael Kitchens

Slammed.  Slammed with work.  Slammed with responsibility.  Slammed with two six-month old twins.  Slammed is Jonathan Fong in one word.  Jon is the co-owner of Auto Customs, a shop that does everything, but also specializes in wheels and tires for your vehicle.  Along with fellow owners, Jeff & Jubahl, Jon works six days a week making other people’s rides look sick which doesn’t leave much room for anything else.  “I think I’ve only taken about three vacations since I’ve been here.”   Combined with the newly-established responsibilities of two bubbling, bundles of joy and you can kinda see where this is going.

With all of this responsibility, there comes a time in every automotive enthusiasts life when they have to make that choice…the purchase of a “family car”.  Luckily for Jon, he’s is also slammed with one of the lowest, baddest family cars on the island.  His 2011 Toyota Sienna is so slammed your first impression could be that it’s wheels are painted on.  “I was just going to do some small things first. It kinda blew up into a bigger project than I intended. I just wanted to be a little different.”  A little different sure looks like a whole lot from here, which is pretty par for the course when it comes to Jon.

Jon has been in the business of automotive modifications for over a decade.  He originally started off as a customer of the former tuning shop, Eurosport, eventually becoming an employee in February 1997.  One thing led to another, and soon Auto Customs was born 3 years ago from the ashes of his former employer.  “We really wanted to continue what we were doing. We enjoyed it.  We do everything, whatever the customer needs.”  Thanks to his years of experience, Auto Customs has flourished and become one of the best known names for wheel and tire customization on the island…which leads us back to the gray mica van in front of me that’s currently defying the laws of physics.

The Sienna is sporting what I literally call “money”.  Over $10,000 worth of ADV.1  05 Track Spec Wheels wrapped in snug Nitto 220/30ZR22s at a massive 22×10 fitment.  This could possibly be the most expensive set of wheels on a Toyota Sienna in the entire state.  The wheel lips were actually custom painted a glossy black with flat black centerpieces by JL Autobody.  This family van’s stance is dropped by an intricate install of a custom fabricated air suspension setup by local airbags tuner, Forjworks.   The drop is so deep that you can barely get a finger between the tire and the fender well.  You could crush nuts with this drop.

For a bit of street cred flair, Jon collaborated with local graffiti hero, Katch of Natural Koncept  for a custom vinyl wrap.  The art pieces were selected by Kory Kuhns, then handed over to Tyson & Lisa of GFX Project Group.  Tyson hand-dyed and black marked the white vinyl wrap and applied it recently, just before Hellaflush.  Continuing  the theme of comfortable extravagance, the interior was treated to a makeover by Fred’s Auto Top Shop with color-matched seat inserts and 4 full color LCD displays in addition to the Kenwood eXcelon head unit.

What strikes me the most about Jon’s Sienna, is that fact that he’s married form, function, and the ability to hike his entire family around in comfort and style.  While in a rush to head home to his wife and twins,  Jon left me with a few words to live by…”You get what you give.  You have to work hard if you want good things to happen.”  I guess that’s why he’s Slammed.