Lamborghini Huracan LibertyWalk by Zarate Steel Works

Crystal Zarate

2015 Lamborghini Huracan LP610

Instagram: @ZarateFamily & @Zaratesteelworks

Company: www.zaratesteelworks.com

Photographer/Author - Donnie Rochin

Instagram - @r0cean11

Facebook - r0cean11 Photography

www.r0cean11.com

“Respect the passion; always keep grindin! Never give up your hope!” ~ Crystal Zarate

Zarate Steel Works: Turning Dreams into Reality

I'm 38, born and raised in San Antonio, TX, and married to my high school sweetheart, Mark Zarate. We own our business, Zarate Steel Works. We started our business in 2016 as a result of my son being diagnosed with Leukemia when he was 9; we didn't know what cancer was going to do to us financially, so we came up with buying our first CNC Plasma table and got into doing custom metal art signs and home decor. At first, we started doing gun shows, then home and garden shows for the first few years. We initially wanted to do custom suspension components, but that market was so saturated, we didn't dive into that.

Then, when we rented a Polaris Slingshot in Vegas, we fell in love with the bike, and bought our first Slingshot in 2019, as many do. We searched online for custom aftermarket parts, and there weren't many. That's when Mark got the idea of making a few parts and started selling them on Facebook, and man, that took off like crazy. We created an online store, and every year since then, we have continually grown. Our business has come back full circle into the automotive industry, which was what our hearts desired. Today, we are the leading manufacturer of aftermarket auto accessories for the Polaris Slingshots. Many people know us for all our custom metal fab work on our cars and suspension. We also take on custom one-off builds for air suspension. We are an Airlift installer and dealer, and we also manufacture.

The Elementary El Camino

When I was growing up, ever since elementary school, I've always been into trucks and lowriders because my uncle had his Camaros throughout the years, and my grandpa had his '66 Chevy. I've always wanted an incredible ride of my own. I used to buy lowrider art magazines and sit in my bedroom late at night, learning to trace the art and redraw it. I'd get a glass from my nightstand and put the lamp underneath to draw, lol. Then, one day in high school, while on the bus, I saw an El Camino turn the corner and hit a three-wheel. I was in awe and had to know who at my school owned that car.

Well, I ended up meeting that guy… My future husband and he didn't even realize it then, lol. But yeah, I fell in love with "him" and the car, of course (cough, cough), jk, but that's the main person who got me into loving custom cars even more. Our first date was going to be a lowrider car show, so I stood him up. We built several vehicles together over the years, and would help Mark at first with his Ford Ranger build. I remember reupholstering crush velvet on his door panels and headliner in the living room; I had no clue what I was doing then.

Then we had our son, Gavin. Ever since he was little, he was also into all our cars, and we would take him to all the mini-truck shows. As he got older, we also fell in love with the JDM Import scene. We've built many vehicles, including hot rods, mini trucks, full-size trucks, and now imports and exotics. My son is 17 and is a two-time cancer survivor. In February of 2021, he received a bone marrow transplant, and then in May 2021, his health declined, and the doctors placed us in Hospice. They told us Gavin had less than 30 days to live. We were shocked! We never gave up our faith; God gave us a miracle, and Gavin's health was overturned. He overcame so much, and everything the doctors said would happen didn't! He is thriving more than ever and is healthy now.

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The Rebirth of the Supra

For his one-year post-transplant ReBirthday, we surprised him with his 2022 Supra at one of our favourite car shows, Lone Star Throwdown, and he was so surprised he never expected we would give him a new car. Dad and I had plans for it after that. We did a complete custom build on it with a LibertyWalk body kit and slammed it to the ground. He knew we were building the car but kept it under wraps until his 16th birthday that same year and did the unveiling at our club's (Severed Ties) 30-year reunion. He was so happy to see the car built, but also because we voted him in as a member and got his diamond logo. We commemorated his build and named the Supra "30 Days to Live" to give hope and inspiration to others to never give up!

The Dream of a Lamborghini

The earliest time I thought, "Man, my dream car is a Lamborghini," was when I was 17 and had this green Lamborghini diecast model. I would never think I would ever get to have one in my wildest dreams. When I bought my BMW I8 in 2020, I wanted a LibertyWalk body kit on that car. I've always wanted a LibertyWalk. I didn't care what car it was on, but once I looked at them, I knew that would be my dream kit one day. But I never got it for the I8 and ended up selling it. At first, I saw a Gallardo, then changed my mind and wanted the Huracan, but no one had tried to approve me for a car that had been costly since. A dealer even challenged me when they thought I couldn't afford one. I felt defeated, but it made me more ambitious to get one. I sold one of my cars, RV, and some assets, and then my husband found a good deal on the Huracan in Arizona. We finally got one! One thing about me is no one can tell me no. It just makes me work harder when that happens, lol.

A Journey of Custom Builds

My first car was a '98 Eclipse. It was an ugly forest green, but I threw 18s on it, lol. Then, my first official build was my 2004 Chevy Silverado. I got it brand new and went straight to Heatwave that year to buy some 20's. I started customizing it a few years later and did a complete tricked-out bagged build, and it debuted in 2011, featured in Truckin Magazine alongside my husband's 1994 Chevy 3500 Dually. In between, I also built my 2008 Dodge Charger, which was bagged with shaved door handles and ghost flames. Then I bought one of my dream cars, a '49 Mercury hot rod. Mark built it literally from the ground up, with a new frame, bagged, body dropped, and chopped with a 350 small block, blood-red paisley interior.

The movie Gone in 60 Seconds inspired me to build that car. It was featured on the cover of Texas Finest Magazine in 2013. In 2015, I sold it to Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs and bought our land, which projected that we could build our shop to have more room for our cars. At that time, we didn't even think of having a business, but we grew in life, so we wanted to build our home and have more room for our toys. When our son got sick, it was about when we started our business; we didn't know what the cancer journey was going to do to us financially. Once our business grew expeditiously over the years, it landed me the opportunity to buy my dream car, the Lamborghini Huracan. I wasn't going to modify it, but who am I kidding? I can't leave anything stock! We had the crazy idea to pull the trigger on the LibertyWalk performance kit. So we married the two together: a dream car and a dream body kit!

Building the Dream Lamborghini

Everyone freaked out when they saw us cutting up the Lambo! But it's just a car, in my opinion, lol. I still think, "Man, I still can't believe I own this car." I always check her out and look back at it! What makes me happy is having others enjoy seeing the car. When I see the kids get excited, I take the opportunity to have them sit in it and start it or rev it! I want them to be inspired to dream big and have that moment they'll remember being in a Lamborghini. I love seeing all those who freak out seeing a "LibertyWalk" car in person. Many of us collect the Hot Wheels and enjoy them, so I love to inspire others. Building the car was special to me; it was a massive milestone of achievement for us, and it was the ultimate build with a supercar.

Tips for Building a LibertyWalk Lamborghini

Man, this one for me was to save money and put a lot of equity into the car if you can't buy it outright. Banks think you're crazy for wanting a car like the Lamborghini, but money talks, and having a good history of previously owned higher-priced vehicles helps. Go with the Huracan and newer models. It's a beast with lots of horsepower for being a stock motor. As far as the body kit, man, be prepared to cut a lot off! But don't be scared because, after all, it's a LibertyWalk kit! LibertyWalk is the Gucci of most body kits. The installation was easy, and it fitted so well that it was turn-key for the build. And don't go cheap on parts; you WILL spend more money making those mistakes.

The fact that we repainted the whole car with graphics freaks people out. Most think it's a wrap, but I love to keep it old school with paint, and that a girl drives it—most can't believe it, lol. But I think having a bagged LibertyWalk Lamborghini makes it unique.

2015 Lamborghini Huracan LP610 Modifications:

Engine/Drivetrain Modifications -

• Stock V10
• Straight piped exhaust 

Suspension Modifications - 

• Custom Air suspension shocks by Sadistic Ironwerks
• Digital Controller Airlift 3P suspension kit
• Viair compressors
• FLO Airtank
• LEVVEL Air Fittings. 

Brakes/Wheels/Tires Modifications -  

• Custom 2-tone painted 3-piece wheels by ADV1
• Pirelli Tires 20x12 rear / 20x10 front 
• Interior Modifications -
• Custom Aluminium dash cover designed by Zarate Steel Works 

Exterior Modifications - 

• LibertyWalk Performance body kit
• Complete custom paint job with airbrush graphics by Mata’s Designs

The Work

Huge shoutout to my hubby, Mark Zarate. He built the car for me while I was in the hospital with our son; it was a good distraction. He worked long nights to finish the build, buttoning it up so nicely with the Airlift Suspension and modifying the car with the LibertyWalk kit. I love his passion for keeping our little family's hobby alive and building us badass cars. 

Future Plans for the Lamborghini  

Ooh, I’d love to twin turbo the Lambo, but I think I would leave it alone for now. For sure, add audio. That straight-pipe exhaust overpowers the radio. I’d love to buy another Lambo to track it; an all-carbon Super Trofeo is on my radar! 

The Lamborghini Car Scene

Instagram: @severedties_club! I've been in my club for over 17 years! I am proud to represent that diamond. We have a large group from all around the world, and it has introduced me to so many people on the scene and opened doors in the industry. I love the brotherhood and sisterhood relationships built over the years. They are my family. 

Over the years, I’ve seen so many trends in the scene (not me showing my age) lol, but I mostly love that we all share the same passion, and it’s the love for CARS. No matter the build, I’ve always respected the owner's taste and the time they’ve put into their car. Some people forget that no matter the vehicle we are in for the same reason, we should not downplay each other, man, and respect the effort and car. It’s our life, our passion. We love it and live it every day. To get personal, it’s helped me overcome many dark times; it’s been a huge distraction to keep me busy, not to dwell on those bad seasons. It’s United my family to be even closer because we all share the same passion. It’s brought me much-needed happiness and allowed me to have friendships with us for years. 

Shout Out to all my sponsors :

• Airlift Performance
• ADV1
• FLO Airride
• VIAIR
• LEVVEL AIR
• Zarate Steel Works 
• Ekstensive Metal Works 
• F7LTHY

Please Read My Son Storie

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