Big Chris' Car Parts is the newest clothing to come out of the LA scene. Features on ComplexRide and ACCLAIM have created a real buzz for this clothing line. Catering to clean design and custom car culture, BCCP also has what you need in auto care products and car parts that Big Chris himself has hunted down for your ride. Erwin Recinos was able to speak to Chris Martinez about BCCP and his own personal taste in cars.
What part of Los Angeles did you grow up in?
I was born and raised in Pasadena which is located in the San Gabriel Valley. Land of milk and honey!
Where would you say the best tacos’ in that city are located at?
La Estrella. There are four locations in Pasadena! Go check em out.
Is flipping car parts an easy hustle or is it like any other job that you have to work at?
It's not an easy hustle. It takes time to get to know what's good and what's not. You have to have a love for these cars. If you don't have the love then you won't be able to hang.
What's the most difficult part to find that everyone always ask for?
Whole Cutlass Euro clips and clean red rocket Cutlass tail lights.
Favorite place to find car parts?
The game is to be sold, not told.
What is it about kustom car culture that you enjoy the most?
Having a vision of what a car can look like and making it happen. It's not about buying a car that's already fixed up. That's for suckas. Ain't no fun in that.
One of my favorite rides from a movie is the '79 Monte Carlo from Training Day. Do you have any personal favorite cars from a movie?
Not really. Wait, I do like the Big Body Cadillac in Next Friday.
Have you ever been associated with any car clubs or have you just been a solo-rider?
Even though I have been asked to join a few car clubs, I have decided to ride solo. I do associate myself with a lot of people from different car clubs because of what I love to do.
If you could build your ideal car, with money no object, what would it be?
Wow! I would love to have a fleet of Euro Cutlass, Euro Cadillacs and Euro Luxury Sport Monte Carlos.
Ideal paint job for your ride? Flakes or no flakes?
No flakes! Keep it 100% clean. Like it just came off the showroom floor. I got my paint done in Pasadena at my boy RJ's Body Shop. His work is top notch!
Do you have a interesting story about acquiring car parts for our LATACO readers?
Man, you may not know this but you need a special tool to take a steering wheel off a car. You can hit the nut and bolt while pulling on it and it may come off. Well I did not have the special tool. I was pulling on the steering wheel so hard that when the wheel came off it hit me right in the head. I hit myself hard, I almost knocked myself out! My head lumped up crazy. I looked like a baby rhino. Funny thing is, even after all that I decided not to take it with me.
Which shirt from your collection is your most popular right now?
The L.A Skrapers. Designed by my boy Larry Dixon, who is part of the BigCCP Family.
What's next for BCCP Clothing that our LATACO readers should look out for?
Be on the lookout for our exclusive run on designs. We are going to try and have at least one exclusive design by well known artists for each of our collections. Right now we have an exclusive from Estevan Oriol which is on fire right now and almost sold out. Also, look out for a collaboration tee between Dual Forces/Rob Abeyta and BCCP.
Thanks for the interview. Any final words?
Just wanted to say thanks to everyone who has been supporting this dream we have. Also thanks to my lil' brother Patrick, lil' Larry, RJ for RJ's Body Shop, Brian at the car wash, my lil' homie Mario at Estrellas, Estevan, the homie Chaim. Last but not least my family, I mean they are the ones who put up with car parts everywhere. Love y'all. ONE.
Keep up with Big Chris' Car Parts on Tumblr and Twitter. View the latest of the BCCP Collection at BigCCP.com.
Photos provided by Erwin Recinos and the BCCP Fall 2012 Lookbook.
