SP Rides: The Other Girl
by Michael Kitchens
As an automotive enthusiast, I know that we’ve all got that “Other Girl”. That girl that we spend copious amounts money and time on. That girl that keeps us up late at night until the morning rolls in. It’s an up and down relationship in Robby Chipley’s case because she’s a 1979 Lincoln Continental Mark S. Robby wouldn’t have it any other way, of course.
Although island-born, Robby grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. At the time, it was a central hub for the lowrider community. As a teen, he became a shop rat, sweeping floors and taking out the trash, simply because he loved the atmosphere. Hot cars & Harleys will do that to a boy.
Robby’s first car was 1967 Buick Riviera. Being on a budget, he cut springs and hustled the bay area flea markets for parts. His first set of 13″ Daytons were acquired at the age of 18, and a year later he was knee-deep in learning the automotive trades. While learning to bodywork and weld, he bought and sold enough rides to earn the nick “Young Hustler” from the old timers.
Fast forward a bit, and Robby became further engrossed in the automotive repair business. Upon returning to Hawaii in 1979, he worked at many reputable body shops, including his mom’s known as “Rocky’s Body & Fender”. In 1990, with enough experience under his belt, he opened his own shop called “The Frameman” which specializes in frame & structural repair.
Like all other girls, sometimes it takes awhile to find the “one”. Robby has owned G-body Cuttys, Grand Prixs, Montes, Town Car Lincs and more…until he happened upon his current ride.
With only 29,000 original miles, this ride is custom-built by Robby in his off-time. The Lincoln features a two-pump Black Magic setup connected with an old-school “whammy” tank. She’s equipped with 4 dumps, which allows her to get the party rocking from side-to-side, front to the back, pancake, and see-saw. She rolls low on 3X7 reversed 100 spoke wires with hex knock offs and paints the asphalt with BFG 155/80 13 white walls.
This lowrider is amazing to look at it…the paint is an impenetrable blackness set off by beautiful pin-striping by the ever-amazing DJ Wish. Emblazoned alongside the detail work is the name “The Other Girl”. The rear is a continuation of this masterpiece with a hand-crafted under-truck and a lavishly detailed mural completed by Wish which features Chinatown in all its dark alley glory. With the flip of a switch, Robby can light up the night with custom wireless LEDs behind the wheels, cab, and under-trunk. The interior is just as sweet with upholstery done-up in purple street suede by King’s Upholstery.
Although he’s not part of any particular club or group, Robby has nothing but love for the local lowrider community. He credits his friend, Brannon “Kajiki” Kajitani for being the technical guru for whenever he needed advice. Make no mistake; this is one of the sickest Lincoln’s rolling the streets of Oahu. Relationships come and go but when it comes to “The Other Girl”, Robby says “I’ll always be rolling low and slow.”
