Interviews from the Subculture: Juan Capo

"Brian Tschiegg" (WritingInCars)
10/01/2013 at 11:00 • Filed to: Donks, Chevrolet, Dodge, Charger, Camaro

When I was a kid, I remember driving through Atlanta with my family on our way to Florida. It was dark and the lights on the side of the highway illuminated a car pulling up on our left. The lights played over the bright green paint and I lifted my head from the window sill to look up at a Chevy Caprice. It wasn't too long before we saw another one and another one and another one. All brightly-colored and riding on impossibly big rims. It's hard to forget the first time you see a donk.

Born in the Miami, the term donk came from the Impala's logo which someone, somewhere at some time thought looked surprisingly like a donkey. The term stuck, but it also means other cars that are not Impalas from a certain period of time are not donks (If would like to know the other classifications of hi-risers, check out !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ). A hi-riser is any car large, American sedan or coupe that has been modified with large rims and a lifted body. They are usually brightly colored, and occasionally themed. It's claimed that they are the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , but I think there's room for everyone who loves cars.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Juan Capo owns a donk, and a pretty unique one at that. His lifted Camaro is a new twist on donks, and he took a little time to answer some of my questions about donks and why everything I just said in the last two sentences is wrong:

TheSupremeLou: I'm going to start with the obvious question: How big are your rims?

Juan Capo: My wheels are 32'' Starr wheels 32 x10.

TSL: How much is the car lifted to fit those?!

JC: The car is lifted 12'' total 4'' body lift & 8'' suspension lift.

TSL: What else have you done to your car? Is it all for show or are there some performance parts under the hood?

JC: Well to put 32s on such a small coupe took a lot more than just a lift. I had to upgrade the steering, transmission, gears, drive shaft, bearings and install an upgraded tuner chip for extra HP. My car also has a 6,000-watt music system which consist of 2 15'' kicker solobaric l7s as well as all upgraded mids, high speakers and tweeters. It also has chrome halo projector lights, a custom white upper and lower grill and HID Lighting.

TSL: What first attracted you to donks and the car scene?

JC: I was first attracted to the donk and the car scene when I was about 6 years old. Living in Little Havana, I used to be playing outside my grandmother's house with my friends, and used to see these outrageously painted cars with big wheels and loud music always driving by. It was then when I decided I would build the biggest, baddest one as soon as I was of age to drive.

TSL: Are there any unforeseen problems with your car being lifted so much? Have you ever run into a low overhang at a drive thru window or something along those lines?

JC: No unforeseen problems with being so high because my car is a coupe and even lifted as high as it is, it's still not as tall as most trucks. Good things about being so high are easy oil changes, and you don't have to worry about floods or running something over lol.

TSL: It seems most people who have donks tend to go for older American cars to modify, but you've got a new Camaro. What made you decide to go with a new model instead of something classic like a Caprice?

JC: Everybody chooses old school classic cars when it comes to building a donk. Miami is the originator of these donks and classic cars lifted on big wheels. You can drive through South Beach and see these things back to back every color, every size and style wheel possible. So when I had the chance to build a car like no one has ever seen I chose a new style body. It's a new age and, although the Donks will always be a part of our culture, I wanted to raise the bar when it came to the game. It's much less costly to buy a 1971 Chevy impala for $5,000 and put new paint, wheels, interior, and music into it than it is to buy a new car alone with no mods. Being that Donks are Chevy's I went and built what in my eyes would be a more modern day Donk. You can drive down any hood in Miami and see these classic Donks all over the place. But there is only 1 of my car roaming the streets of Miami.

TSL: What type of reactions do you usually get when people see your car?

JC: The reactions are crazy; Everyone wants a picture of it or with it. I had to put all limo tint on it because every time I take it out people just don't stop taking pictures of it and try to talk to me about it. I once had a little kid no older than 6 or 7 say, "God daaaaam" when I drove past him lol his mom didn't like the comment too much and gave him a bop in the mouth, but he stayed with a smile on his face the whole time.

TSL: If you don't mind me asking, do you know how much you've spent modifying your car?

JC: Just in mods and man hours of work I have over $20k into it and Around $50k into it including the car.

TSL: All I can say is: God damn. How does your girlfriend feel about you spending so much money on a car?

JC: No girlfriend No problem.

TSL: Any big plans for the future?

JC: My current project and plans for the future are the same concept except a 2014 Camaro convertible on 32'' wheels as well. It's in the making right now and will probably be released at the beginning of the new year.

TSL: What would be your advice to anyone who feels like their rims just aren't big enough, even if they're scraping the wheel well?

**JC: **My advice to anyone who feels that their rims aren't big enough even though they scrape the wheel well is lift it go higher and go bigger. I always used to feel like my wheels weren't big enough so I just went higher and put the biggest size sold to this date. I no longer have the feeling that my wheels are not of size.

You can find more of Juan's ride on his Instagram page @ibeenpaid_on32s

DISCUSSION (69)

thebigbossyboss > Brian Tschiegg
09/27/2013 at 10:21

Great interview. I am surprised all you talk of seeing donks as little kids. I thought donks were relatively recent. Maybe y'all is like 18, tho..lol.

Brian Tschiegg > thebigbossyboss
09/27/2013 at 10:23

Thanks, man! I'm 24 so I was about 10 or 11 at the time. Still a kid though.

GRawesome > Brian Tschiegg
09/27/2013 at 10:35

I think I saw this car last week:

Kinja'd!!!

Brian Tschiegg > GRawesome
09/27/2013 at 10:48

Yup that's him!

Mattbob > Brian Tschiegg
09/27/2013 at 11:05

" JC: No girlfriend No problem."

thebigbossyboss > Brian Tschiegg
09/27/2013 at 11:21

Yeah for sure. I think I like newer donks better than older donks you know. New `Maro donks are great but I just wish people would stop chopping up the big old cars. Mind you most of that stuff is reversible so it`s not that bad really. I ain`t much for the themes usually, they just dont do it for me, I dunno about you.

I do agree, that there is room for all people who like cars, eventually the donk fad will pass, like the big luxury suv fad did. Can`t wait to see what comes next!!

TheDon > Brian Tschiegg
09/28/2013 at 07:45

I applaud this guy. He actually put a lot of effort into the car and didn't just slap some stupid big wheels on it. I wonder if he upgraded the brakes at all?

Brian Tschiegg > TheDon
09/28/2013 at 08:26

That's actually a pretty good question. When I saw his car, I knew I had to talk to him though because it looked like a labor of love.

Aearonjer > Brian Tschiegg
09/29/2013 at 05:42

"I no longer have the feeling that my wheels are not of size."

It's okay fella.

Interesting to see car culture evolve, some crazy bikes here in Japan that look like the anime "Akira" types. Sweet.

Kinja'd!!!

Brian Tschiegg > Aearonjer
09/29/2013 at 22:37

I really want to do something on Bosozoku culture eventually.

Aearonjer > Brian Tschiegg
09/30/2013 at 06:53

It will be an interesting article. :)

Ted Ladue > Brian Tschiegg
09/30/2013 at 10:49

1. I occasionally flip through "Donk, Box and Bubble" magazine to see what's up. They always talk about the game. So and so is changing the game. This is upping the game. Raising the bar in the game. That the fuck game are they talking about?

2. One of my trucks has big ass wheels on it (35's on a LandCruiser) and when I pass these guys on the street I always nod my head knowing that my wheels are in reality big off-road tires in the city are performing much the same job as theirs are.

Brian Tschiegg > Ted Ladue
09/30/2013 at 18:31

I believe it would refer to the culture in a competitive nature a lot like rappers use it to refer to their genre.

Shmalworthington > Brian Tschiegg
10/01/2013 at 11:05

I love the step ladder...

switzerr > Brian Tschiegg
10/01/2013 at 11:10

I was going to post something catty about "no girlfriend", and then I realized that, as an autoxer with a Miata, and a track enthusiast with a modified BMW, perhaps I should just keep quiet . . .

Jon-o > Brian Tschiegg
10/01/2013 at 11:10

I wouldn't say donks are hated. Still car culture, it's still passionate people about their cars even if I think it's a bit silly. But in Canada we modify and spend that much on trucks so to each their own.

switzerr > Brian Tschiegg
10/01/2013 at 11:16

Did you get to go for a ride? Or drive it? I want a road test . . .

JayHova > Brian Tschiegg
10/01/2013 at 11:20

Somebody needs to do a piece about the subculture of people, who modify their cars to actually improve them.

Do these folks have a catchy name like dubbers, donks or hellaflush?

*waits for the hater-haters*

KamikazePigeon > TheDon
10/01/2013 at 11:21

I'm not a fan of donks. But I do appreciate the love and commitment he has to his car. It's nice to read the interview and see the passion he has come through the screen.

It's also a feat of engineering in itself.

zadtheinhaler > Aearonjer
10/01/2013 at 11:25

I am not normally a scooter guy, but goddamn, I would rock that pretty hard.

Jowens > Brian Tschiegg
10/01/2013 at 11:25

How do you do a body lift on a unibody car? And who installs "tuner chips" these days?

Jowens > Brian Tschiegg
10/01/2013 at 11:25

How do you do a body lift on a unibody car? And who installs "tuner chips" these days?

toplessFC3Sman > Brian Tschiegg
10/01/2013 at 11:26

Out of curiousity, on a unibody vehicle like the Camaro, how do you perform a body lift, especially of 4"? Is that just spacing the sub-frames (and usually at least the lower control arm mountin points) down from the unibody? So the engine in front would need to drop in the bay by that much, the transmission mount would need to be lowered too, and the rear diff would go with the rear subframe? I can't imagine the rear half-shaft CV joints are happy about an additional 8" of droop either.

HiMyNameIsNoLongerJay > Jon-o
10/01/2013 at 11:29

If you've read the comments on most donk/hi-riser articles on Jalopnik, you'd see that they are, indeed, hated.

designlife > Brian Tschiegg
10/01/2013 at 11:41

stupid ghetto people who listen to lil wayne and drink 40s

fintail > Brian Tschiegg
10/01/2013 at 11:43

"No girlfriend No problem."

Amen

fourvalleys > GRawesome
10/01/2013 at 11:43

I can see my house from here!

(not really, but almost)

hummer4douche > Brian Tschiegg
10/01/2013 at 11:52

While I appreciate all of the work that he put into it. I still don't get the attraction. Each to their own I guess.

JimSlade > Brian Tschiegg
10/01/2013 at 11:55

i usually hate donks...but i like this one...well done man...that's actually a nice ride...and you did proper upgrades for steering, suspension, etc....

nice ride!

MINI STIG > Brian Tschiegg
10/01/2013 at 11:56

While I commend all the work and craftsmanship that goes into something like this I can never understand doing something which totally destroys both the performance as well as the safety of the vehicle. A Camaro is supposed to be a at least fairly fast and fun car to drive. This would be neither.

meccapanzer > Brian Tschiegg
10/01/2013 at 11:58

"I think there's room for everyone who loves cars."

Kinja'd!!!

You're a better man than I sir.

Der Sportwagoner > Brian Tschiegg
10/01/2013 at 12:05

The black Camaro is cool looking. It has the ridiculous proportions of a Hot Wheels car but still manages to keep that usable-car appearance. Dare I say it's an understated donk?

These mods aren't for me, but I appreciate this aspect of car culture. Different strokes...

IHAVEAUTISMFUCKYOU > thebigbossyboss
10/01/2013 at 12:10

I'm 28 and I am from Atlanta and remember seeing donks as early as 10 in downtown Atlanta. I've seen it all from Dr. Pepper, McDonalds, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Skittles, Starburst, etc. donks around.

I don't know why I like it, but I do enjoy that they are filling the wheel well instead of having dead space. On the same hand, I enjoy a conservatively stanced ride too.

FILL THE WHEEL WELL FUCKERS THAT DEAD SPACE IS KILLING MY OCD

Du09 > toplessFC3Sman
10/01/2013 at 12:23

Wondering the same thing.

jimmyjet > Brian Tschiegg
10/01/2013 at 12:28

"It's claimed that they are the most hated car culture , but I think there's room for everyone who loves cars."

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Well put. I think donks are ridiculous and will never have an ounce of desire to get behind the wheel of one. That being said, I respect the work and I'll give a nod of approval to any well-executed donk.

Audio Tachometer > Brian Tschiegg
10/01/2013 at 12:46

I want to hate this but I can't.

MonkeePuzzle > Brian Tschiegg
10/01/2013 at 12:52

"there's room for everyone who loves cars."

my thoughts exactly... as long as its done safely and doesn't endanger my public road use etc etc etc etc etc blah blah

I REALLY love the white on this, its like a crazy matchbox car, but without the glitter paint I've never liked.

Great read thanks

MonkeePuzzle > Brian Tschiegg
10/01/2013 at 12:52

"there's room for everyone who loves cars."

my thoughts exactly... as long as its done safely and doesn't endanger my public road use etc etc etc etc etc blah blah

I REALLY love the white on this, its like a crazy matchbox car, but without the glitter paint I've never liked.

Great read thanks

ImOld > Brian Tschiegg
10/01/2013 at 13:13

His car looks awesome to me!

Brian Tschiegg > JayHova
10/01/2013 at 13:35

My next interview will be something you enjoy then. Stay tuned.

Brian Tschiegg > JayHova
10/01/2013 at 13:36

My next interview will be something you enjoy then. Stay tuned.

Brian Tschiegg > JayHova
10/01/2013 at 13:38

My next interview will be something you enjoy then. Stay tuned.

Brian Tschiegg > JayHova
10/01/2013 at 13:38

My next interview will be something you'll enjoy then. Stay tuned.

Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder > Brian Tschiegg
10/01/2013 at 13:40

I am a fan of these cars and I am looking forward to that post!

Bosozoku is a term most used for motorcycles, not for cars though.

For cars they use the term Shakotan or Zokusha.

Here is something to watch and get idea's from:

GRawesome > fourvalleys
10/01/2013 at 13:56

Are you in Miami too? Based on the oppo map, thought I was the only one. But have since met one other, you would make 2. We should start a gang...

Dest > Brian Tschiegg
10/01/2013 at 13:57

I'm worried that one day I'm going to get shot when I can't stop hysterically laughing as these people drive by.

Brian Tschiegg > Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder
10/01/2013 at 14:02

My favorite Dane strikes again. Thanks for the material. Part of the reason I wanted to do this was to learn about different car cultures and I definitely don't know anything about Bosozuku/Shakotan, so I think it would be a great one to try.

Brian Tschiegg > Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder
10/01/2013 at 14:04

Brian Tschiegg > Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder
10/01/2013 at 14:05

JayHova > Brian Tschiegg
10/01/2013 at 14:08

I'm looking forward to it.

protodad > Brian Tschiegg
10/01/2013 at 14:27

There is something to be said for using a newer vehicle. I noticed that the Camaros/Chargers of today have an enormous wheel well that can take 22" wheels without being lifted. Compare this to even 10 years ago when 20" wheels didn't fit some SUVs and trucks let alone any coupe or sedan.

Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder > Brian Tschiegg
10/01/2013 at 14:34

Kinja'd!!!

I'm Dutch.

protodad > Brian Tschiegg
10/01/2013 at 14:34

Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder > Brian Tschiegg
10/01/2013 at 14:57

But good luck with the Boso/Shakotan/Zokusha post!

Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder > Brian Tschiegg
10/01/2013 at 14:57

But good luck with the Boso/Shakotan/Zokusha post!

i ruin bmws > Brian Tschiegg
10/01/2013 at 15:09

Im really happy you did this post, i love donks, living in texas i see them alot

BlkBullitt > Brian Tschiegg
10/01/2013 at 15:13

Same guy? Looks like it. The only thing about this car that caught my eye is the female in the rim reflection.

Kinja'd!!!

Alleged Violations:

GRAND THEFT 2ND DEG/20K>

VEHICLE TITLE/INVALID/OBTAIN GOODS WITH

VEHICLE WITH ALTERED ID/POSSESSION, SALE

STOLEN PROPERTY/DEALING IN

GRAND THEFT 3RD DEGREE

thatmacfast > Brian Tschiegg
10/01/2013 at 15:33

The first picture of JC with the car...I mean it's hard to believe it's real that thing is standing up so tall. Love to see stuff like this on Jalopnik, nice work!

Gideon12345 > Brian Tschiegg
10/01/2013 at 15:33

TheSupremeLou: I'm going to start with the obvious question: How big are your rims? Juan Capo: My wheels are 32'' Starr wheels 32 x10. - ***Note: Juan was also thinking "They are wheels not 'rims' you asshole"

BrianMadigan > toplessFC3Sman
10/01/2013 at 15:47

4" is a lot of washers.

boxjohn > TheDon
10/01/2013 at 16:06

well yeah, he didn't just slap some stupid wheels on it...

boxjohn > Gideon12345
10/01/2013 at 16:08

I highly doubt he's the sort of person to know or care about that distinction. He said his current gen camaro had a "tuner chip"

Brian Tschiegg > thatmacfast
10/01/2013 at 16:27

Thanks! I know. And he's 5'10".

thebigbossyboss > IHAVEAUTISMFUCKYOU
10/01/2013 at 16:39

I guess I just didn`t know about them until recently then. I dont live in the US, so its hard to know what goes on in the south!

fourvalleys > GRawesome
10/01/2013 at 16:52

Didn't realize there was a map... now that I've seen it, your pin is RIGHT by my old place.

IHAVEAUTISMFUCKYOU > thebigbossyboss
10/01/2013 at 17:00

Most people only think of car culture in the form of what they see around their town, so I can't really fault you on that. I also remember seeing minitrucks that were bagged and stanced before people gave a shit about stance in the 90s.

thebigbossyboss > IHAVEAUTISMFUCKYOU
10/01/2013 at 18:55

Oh man, in that case, I don't even want to know what the car culture is around here Boring, generic, shitboxes: YUP. Damnit!

Aearonjer > zadtheinhaler
10/02/2013 at 06:57

I thought the same, when i saw it. They do look cool going down the road at night. :)

IHAVEAUTISMFUCKYOU > thebigbossyboss
10/02/2013 at 08:41

I would kill for most of the late 80s early 90s econoboxes out of Europe. So many hatchbacks that I just need.