A Ridicubelous Stance Build
Written by: Tu Le aka OGdrift
Whenever I write an article, I like to do research on the build of the car and maybe get in a couple questions with the owner. This process helps me get more acquainted with not just the car but with the owner as well. This time, after getting to know the owner and his build, I feel that we have more in common than just owning boxy cars and that's the love and dedication we have for this scene called stance.
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Just like the majority of car people that gets introduced into the import scene through Hondas, Anthony has had his Honda days. At the early age of 14, influenced by his cousins and uncles with their imports, Anthony also started wrenching away on rice burners eventually owning a Del Sol as his first car. What a coincidence, I also owned a Del Slow during my humble Honda beginnings. From that to a JDM Integra build, the transition to a stance build was super easy for Anthony. Growing up, his dad once had a '79 lowrider and little did Anthony know, this would also be a big influence on his current stance build. The first lowered car style I was exposed to was the euro lowrider scene in the early 90s in So Cal, and I believe you always remember where you started from and that translates into your style as well.
Box owner: Anthony Trevino
Box: 2012 Nissan Cube Z12 Location: Dallas, Texas Instagram: @atitagain_ant Crew: At it Again C.C. |
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When the stance craze finally reached Texas, Anthony slowed down on his JDM Integra build and began thinking of his next platform for a stance build. While working for Nissan back in 2009 at that time, he was introduced to a tiny car that was named for what it looked like, the Cube. The Cube was like the xB in the sense that people had a love hate relationship with it. Hey, whenever there's a small box-like vehicle seen driving on the streets, you either hate it or love it. In this case, Anthony loved it. The Cube was a small, quirky car but Anthony immediately fell for the car's deceivingly spacious interior and had a vision for it which would require wide wheels and the appropriate negative camber.
When Anthony first got his 2012 Nissan Cube SL, of course there was a lot of backlash from his peers but Anthony kept true to his vision. Immediately throwing on some coilovers and 17x9 wheels just three weeks after purchasing one, his journey to a properly stanced out Cube with the desired fitment had just begun.
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Now everyone knows this stance thing doesn't just happen overnight; at least the more sensible ones at least, and Anthony was just about to get his fair share of a process called "trial and error." Even after fitting his first set of wheels, Anthony already knew of the fender rolling and fender pulling that was involved for fitment. But it wasn't until Anthony decided to fit a set of 18" SSR Vienna Kreis that he realized it was going to take more than a fender rolling tool to fit these wheels. This time, simple coilovers wasn't going to cut it and a complete Ksport air ride system was in order.
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What was supposed to be as easy as just installing the air struts and bags, turned out harder than it seemed. Upon installation of the Ksport system, Anthony noticed that the rear sat higher than it was on coilovers and the front all of a sudden, had lost the negative camber for fitment. All this can be seen as a set back but that didn't stop Anthony from working on his setup and eventually getting it to fit some wide 16" BBS. For some reason, the camber plates wouldn't work with the Ksport air struts so more slotting was needed in the front for negative camber. It wasn't until his current setup on 17" SSR SP1s that Anthony began totally tweaking out his air ride system for better fitment.
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Right about now, the vision of wide wheels and negative camber's hardest obstacle was the Ksport system itself not being adjustable to the new specs of the three piece SSR SP1. Some fabrication was involved by ways of extended lower control arms and a better fitting and lower bag mount in the rear. Again, for unknown reasons, Ksport had designed their rear mount plates too thick and the only solution was to replace it with Air Force bags and custom mounts. Plans for the future does call for the full install of all Air Force bags and an Airlift V2 management system.
Finally, the beautifully polished three piece SSR wheels can be mounted. The final spec of -10 camber in the front (made possible with some fabrication) and -6 camber in rear (made possible with Forjwork camber plates) to fit the 17x10 0 offset wheels on all four corners can only be described as one big headache, but that never deterred Anthony away from his vision. And this is where the determination part comes in. I've seen so many people give up after losing to bacon fenders and bad fitment. It really comes down to how much you want it and Anthony's ride is a testament to this with it's perfect dialed in stance.
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With it's good stance looks on the outside and its dual tone custom peanut butter leather interior on the inside, this cube also draws influence from the lowrider scene. I especially like the unique lowrider interior patterns because it's a good break from the diamond stitching that is so common in stance cars, thanks Clazzio lol. That isn't the only thing that Anthony has learned and taken from the lowrider scene. Being part of a lowrider car club "At it Again," based out of L.A. but with chapters in Texas, Anthony knows that respect for your build and holding the upmost quality and respect for other builds is what's most important. Too many times has a "f*ck boy" come on the scene thinking some tuner decals on their rides gives them clout. The stance scene is more progressive here in L.A. but believe me, we get those kinds of characters too.
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Just researching through Anthony's instagram account and seeing all his different setups throughout the years, I can relate where he's coming from. There's no shame in looking back to see how far we've progressed. Hey, even I signed up for the stance starter package with Sportmax wheels and lowering springs at one time. It all comes down to sheer determination and willingness, but we must not forget to be humble and if anything helpful to others while sharing this hobby to make our vision come to fruition. If you're jumping into this scene just for clout and without any passion, you're going to learn a thing or two. All I can say in conclusion is; respect is given where respect is earned. Much respect to Anthony and his 2012 Nissan"Ridicubelous" stance build.
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EXTERIOR MODS:
Oem front and sides aero kit - Cube krōm rear bumper -
Flared 3 inch quarter panels INTERIOR MODS: Custom full color change upholstery -
Star light ceiling kit - NRG short hub and tilt custom copper Grip Royal steering wheel with color matched leather WHEELS & SUSPENSION:17x10 -0 offset SSR SP1 5 inch barrels 5 inch lips - 205/40/17 Achilles 2233 tires - Ksport front air stunts drilled for more camber - Air Force suspension rear bags - Ksport air management - Forjworks rear camber shims - Extended front control arms
LIGHTING: - Exterior Retrofit projector headlights - Led side markers
EXHAUST: Custom exhaust
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
" I'd like to shout out Israel from Happy Stance for giving me my first feature when I started my build. Rick at Boxed Lifestyle for always supporting my build. Alex from Boxed Lifestyle for the friendly competition with the cubes, cant wait to we get to attend a show with you one day. Every one at Boxed Lifestyle for starting the boxed car movement. All the other box car pages for keeping the box car movement going. Daylen for selling me your control arms to get my car back out. My upholstery guy Joebro for the awesome work on the interior, my Houston homies Damian, Cesar, Justin, Adam for helping me put my interior back together and all the love and support with the cube. My Dallas homies that also helped with my build, Josh, Jonathan, Joseph, Mario. My homies at Team Diverse for all the support. And most importantly my family, My parents for allowing me to work on my cars and learn as much as I know now. My brother T-Bag for always being there for me and last but not least my wife and daughter, for allowing me and helping me continue my passion building a show car. If it wasn’t for all of y’all the cube would not be what it is today. Thank you everyone."
