One-of-a-kind 2018 Tesla Model 3: My Customized EV Journey

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Marcus Conner - 2018 Tesla Model 3

Instagram: @mr.pink3.ca

From JDM Roots to a Tesla Transformation

Hey, I’m Marcus Conner, just a Southern California native trying to live my best life. I’ve got a healthy obsession with craft beer, wild adventures, and baseball—loyal to the Dodgers, of course. Cars have always been a big part of my life, starting way back in the mid-90s JDM scene. Back then, I was all about racing those quick little Hondas out in Ontario, CA, until the scene shifted into more of a clout contest and the government started cracking down hard. When Pomona Raceway shut down, I went a different route and picked up a stock automatic Honda. It was a huge change, but life moves on.

Fast forward 25 years, and here I am building a Tesla.

Why Build a 2018 Tesla Model 3?

After driving my 2018 Tesla Model 3 for a few years, I started to get bored. Let’s be real—every intersection in Orange County has at least four Teslas waiting for the light to turn green. It felt like I was driving the same car as everyone else. So after the warranty expired, I decided to make it mine.

First up were MPP coilovers and some mono-block wheels. It was a solid start, but I knew I wanted more. That’s when I decided to bag the car. Everyone pointed me toward Kiel at Cruizen by Design, so I hit him up. We went over the options in person, and I told him I wanted the best. The result? Universal Air Supply bags with an Airlift 3H setup.

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From Daily Driver to SEMA Star

Things really took off when UAS invited me to SEMA 2022. With just four weeks to get ready, I called Robot Craftsman and said, “I need a full Hacker body kit with carbon fiber accents—stat!” They delivered big time, even moving a few orders around to make it happen (shoutout to Robot for pulling that off).

For the next month, I basically lived at Kiel’s shop, sanding parts for what felt like forever. We added a ton of carbon fiber upgrades, a new wrap, and some custom forged wheels. We finished the car just hours before SEMA roll-in. That was Version 3 of the build.

Version 4: Beautifully Simple

What you see today is Version 4 of my Tesla Model 3. I believe in keeping things clean and cohesive—no throwing every mod possible on the car just because I can. It’s all about tasteful choices that work together.

The Ultra Gloss Paint Metallic Raspberry Pink wrap makes the car pop, and the carbon fiber accents add just the right amount of edge. Driving it is wild—nonstop thumbs-ups on the freeway (mostly from bikers), people taking photos at red lights, and random conversations in parking lots. I’ve also made some great friendships through this car, which is one of the best parts of the whole journey.

2018 Tesla Model 3: The Build

Interior Mods

• Custom Katzkin leather seats

• Carbon fiber stalk covers

• Blue ambient floor lights

• All-weather mats

• Carbon fiber Airlift controller mount

Exterior Mods

• Robot Craftsman narrow Hacker body kit with carbon fiber accents

• Carbon fiber hood, fenders, trunk, spoiler, and mirror caps

• Raspberry Pink wrap

• Two-piece forged wheels (20x9 front, 20x10.5 rear)

• Cross-drilled and slotted rotors with upgraded pads

Suspension and Frunk Display

• Universal Air Supply air ride struts/bags

• Airlift 3H management

• Dual Viair 444C compressors

• Custom frunk setup by Cruizen by Design:

• Snake-skin fabric wrap

• Polished billet tank and stainless braided airlines coated in fuchsia PVC

• LED-lit acrylic show board

2018 Tesla Model 3: What’s Next?

Next on the list? A custom audio setup with a full trunk display. Like everything else, it’ll be done with subtlety and style.

Shoutouts

Big thanks to everyone who helped make this car what it is:
@ruined.ev @cruizenbydesign @lunarloox @r1concepts @alpharexusa @yokohamatire @supremeautostyling_ @tesplus

Dream Car

What’s my dream car? Honestly, it changes every day.

If you’re inspired by my Tesla journey, share your story with the community. Let’s keep pushing the limits of what’s possible with our builds and keep the car scene alive and thriving!

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