Remembering import tuning origins

need4speed

A lot of people think of import tuning in this country and think
Of the japanese drift king and racing legends.
But in this country its influence started much smaller.
When I was a kid in puerto rico. 75% of most men entered a
The workforce in the trades. Most of them became mechanics
Cuz it was taught to them as children like kids learn to read and write.
Mainly cuz in those days in PR. You would be able to afford a car
But not the mechanic maintaining it. So do it yourself wasn't a hobby
It was necessary.
Puerto Ricos streets were vary narrow and paving was cobblestone n dirt.
Mountain roads were made of smooth dirt and highways were simple pathways.
This meant american cars were wayyy to big for most feasable driving and only
Few people owned american cars. Usually rich or affluent puerto ricans as
A status symbol. (So much can change in 25yrs.)
So most drove compact japanese cars like honda mitsubishi nissan isuzu suzukiand mazda.
From germany the volkswagen rabbit n beetle were as common as civics, sentras, mirages,
Etc.
Well these cars were what people owned. In the 80's there were 4 porsches on the island
And 2.5 million people knew who owned them. Lol
They were obsessed with sports cars and any good sports car from the U.S. or germany came with a 15k premium over the normal mainland US price.

So wat native PR's did was supe up the engine. Drop the suspension.
And often leave the car with primer as the paint look these cars were fast and agile.
Average displacement of these cars was 1.8 liters and moved like 5.7 liter v8's
This culture that began in the late 60's in PR was brought over to the east coast. Mainly NY
By the mid 70's lil pocket rocket 1.8's flying around NYC highways boggling the
Minds of many white affluent corvette and camaro owners.
The sight was comical in such a way. An old beat up RX7 or Z or corolla twin cam,
With a proper suspension drop proper tires. Strange growls coming out the engine
A house speaker rigged to the radio in the trunk as a stereo system... lol
White people made fun of us cuz they thought jap cars were crap.
African americans used 2 say we fit 20 relatives in our cheap compacts. Lol
We got it both ways and everyone thought why tune that junk when u can tune a V8 domestic. Answer. We couldn't afford them... anyway.
But these cars could pull an 11 second run on the quarter easily.
Even masta ace had a lyiric in 88 dissin us. "See this Puerto Rican Latin Chico Rico Suave
In a ReD COROLLA yo do he wanna play.
As a teen in 88 it pissed me off. But as a man in 09. I'm proud.
In the 80s driving a corolla was a joke. So it was meant as a diss.
In 09 that twin cam corolla is the most sought after drift car along with the 240sx.
As the years progressed and the pockets of puerto ricans grew.
Sadly many thru the drug trade. These corollas and jap sports cars got better bodykits
Flashy paint jobs n custom systems. By the early 90's people took notice of these
Cars. Soon after u began to see other races tuning compact imports. And the joke cars
Cars became domestic legends of today.
Sorry for run on sentences or if I jumped around a lil but I thought this is a cool story
That many of the young latino tuners would luv to hear and older latino tuners can reminice and enjoy. Everyone else. I hope u find it interesting.