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In Tune at SP Engineering

testarossa_hamann_sp Finding the right shop to work on your prized vehicle can be even harder than finding a good primary care doctor. Extreme analogy? Possibly - but when it comes to automotive enthusiasts, most of us don’t take anything regarding our cars lightly. They are an extension of us, so we want everything done right... the first time. Having been involved in the aftermarket industry for more years than I’d care to admit, I’ve heard all kinds of stories (both true and false) regarding EVERY company you can think of. Pretty much every shop has some kind of story, especially shops with the most commercial exposure. One shop that I’ve never personally visited in over 20 years of aftermarket exposure (there, I admitted it) was SP Engineering. I’ve heard a few stories, but none negative towards their work – aside from their labor pricing, which I’ll just plainly state – you get what you pay for. They’ve been around for quite some time, founded in 1996 by Alex Shen – as a primarily JDM/Import based tuner shop. If you’ve been able to expand in this industry and grow your clientele to European exotics as well a large international clientele, you’ve gotta be doing something right. sp_front Rather than make an appointment to come and shoot a feature, I figured what better way to get to know a shop than to just show up? Just like trying to find the right physician, it’s good to see what the place looks like when people AREN’T expecting you. Most shop features you're likely to read are “staged” in that specialty cars are brought in, the place is spotless, and customer cars are filling every available space – this would be a real opportunity to see what SP Engineering's day to day is like. I drove up to SP Engineering at 11AM last Thursday, completely un-announced. I asked for the shop manager, Eugene – who was out on a test drive. While I was waiting, Alex Shen (founder/owner) saw me waiting and asked if I had been helped, this may not sound out of the norm but you’d be surprised how many times an owner of a company would walk by without saying anything, too busy with more important issues. Later I’d learn that Alex's thoughtful attention is just a part of the customer service they provide. When Eugene walked-in, I was greeted with a handshake and I started to explain why I was there. I wasn’t sure what reaction I’d get at this point – this guy doesn’t know who I am and I show up unannounced to take pictures and snoop around his shop. Many places would probably request to reschedule, but again, I was surprised with his willingness to not only show me around but also let me wander and take pictures. Eugene actually said, “Make yourself at home” and “We have nothing to hide”... which was pretty badass. lobby_sp The lobby itself reminds me of the old school '90s aftermarket shops that have since closed down or are long gone, it’s got such a cool feel to it – or maybe I’m just reminiscing. Parts behind glass cases, stacks of catalogs, Redline Oil stands, and walls full of magazine features just bring me back to the pre-Fast and Furious SGV vibe that I grew up with. There’s a couch and that faint smell of cigarette smoke that reminds me of ditching school and putting test pipes on Honda’s, LOL! gtr_sp_lift murci_tt_sp Walking thru to the workshop reminded me just how far away from those times I was. There were no less than 13 Nissan GTR’s onsite, all in different stages of progress – being wrenched on by the SP Engineering Staff. gtr_2_sp_lift kuwait_gtr_sp While the GTR is the bulk of their business right now (as Eugene mentioned, it’s what’s hot and it’s what they’re actively prototyping for) SP works on ANY CAR as long as you can meet their labor rate. Twin Turbo Lamborghini? They’ve done quite a few. Overseas customers? Yes, from Dubai to Taiwan – they’ve got you covered. hamann_sp Case in point, how many Hamann Testarossa’s have you seen? Yeah, I’ve seen A LOT of rare vehicles and this is my first time seeing one of these. sp_workshop_ A 2-wheel, in-gound dyno, as well as an above ground Dynojet dyno, is available for customizable tuning of your vehicle. The facility also has 5 lifts (that were full) and racks and racks of in-stock parts. These guys ARE the business. alcon_brakes They’re master distributors for some of the biggest names in the industry, and have been for quite some time. You don’t stick around for 18 years if you’re not doing SOMETHING right. The quality of the vehicles that were onsite for service are a testament to the build quality SP provides for their customers – reliable high performance. gtrs_sp After about 30 minutes of walking around with my jaw dropped, I made my way towards the sales office to let Eugene know I was good to go. I’ll definitely be bringing one of my project cars here in the future. murci_sp The doctor is in and ready for your car at 424 Turnbull Canyon Road, City of Industry. More info can be found at www.sp-power.com
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