“What’s the retail on one of those? “
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One of these day’s I’ll stop quoting the greatest movie of all time, one of these days. This shoot and feature is the product of chance – or fate, if you believe in that sort of thing. I just so happened to make it out to a local automotive event and Ramiro just so happened to pull up in his 720S that day, which was about an hour drive for him. The thing I came to learn about Ramiro is he doesn’t quite fit the typical stereotype of an exotic car owner; these cars get driven.
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It’s been a great feeling getting back to shooting cars that I want to feature. To have that drive of being creative again behind the camera, writing a few words, and ultimately connecting with fellow enthusiasts. But, if you had told a younger me that I’d end up photographing cars like this, he probably would have shrugged and not really cared much – oh, young Bobbert. Once cars started catching my eye, it was all about the everyday cars you’d see on the road. I’d imagine myself in any of the 3 top American muscle cars (Mustang, Camaro, Trans-Am) and think about what I’d want to do to them to make them my own. There were no Ferrari or Lamborghini posters on my wall, and I think a lot of it had to do with the notion that cars like this aren’t really driven much, if at all – so what’s the point? Then you grow up and realize that sometimes the owners of these vehicle’s are just as much of a car enthusiast as everyone else.
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Ramiro’s collection of vehicles over the years fits the list of cars that were meant to be (and should be) driven. From some of the elite Japanese cars, including the R35 Skyline and NC1 NSX, to an Italian supercar icon like the Lamborghini Huracán, each of them saw the streets regularly, with no intention of being garage queens or an art piece you look at in your garage. As he’d put it while we were out shooting, “I’d hate to do that, I have to drive them” – which was a breath of fresh air. I’d like to imagine that someone at the McLaren production facility in London smiled that day, to have one of their 20-vehicles-produced-a-day actually see the road over being a trophy piece.
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One of my favorite things about this 720S is the fact that on its own, the vehicle itself is incredible – but staying stock was not an option for this one. Once the engine comes to life, it’s ridiculously clear that this McLaren has had some work done to help it achieve it’s 1000HP badge. The titanium exhaust from the fine people at Ryft helped free up some power and give it it’s fierce exhaust tone that echoed throughout downtown Brownsville. Pair that with a set of SOUL Sport Downpipes and a Stage 2 Tune and you got yourself a 720S that’s more than a contender on the streets.
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It took me over 30 years to finally understand the appeal of cars like this. I think it had to do with the idea of the stereotypical owner- the guy that doesn’t know anything about cars, uses them as a status symbol, and keeps them in the garage- only to be used on the weekends. And while there are plenty of those cases, it’s become clear that sometimes you’ll end up with a diehard car guy behind the wheel that challenges the stereotype. The guy that see’s something that was built and designed with extreme craftsmanship and precision, and still has that voice in their head that says, “I can should be faster, and look better”.
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Ramiro Lucas’s 2019 McLaren 720S in Muriwai White || 1000HP
Performance :
Ryft Titanium Exhaust
SOUL Sport Downpipes
Stage 2 Tune
Cosmetic:
Ryft Body Kit
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Photos and Words by : Bobby Villarreal