---
title: "West Coast Customs Founder Is Selling Off a Bunch of Really West Coast Customs-Looking Cars"
date: "2025-04-22"
modified: "2025-04-22"
authors:
  - name: "Beverly Braga"
    job_title: "Weekend Editor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/beverly-braga"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/west-coast-customs-founder-is-selling-off-a-bunch-of-really-west-coast-customs-looking-cars"
categories:
  - "Builds"
  - "Culture"
  - "For Sale"
  - "News"
---

# West Coast Customs Founder Is Selling Off a Bunch of Really West Coast Customs-Looking Cars

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/WCC-4Runner.jpg>)
*\<em\>Mecum Auctions\</em\>*

An assortment of [West Coast Customs](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/man-worth-206b-asked-west-coast-customs-to-build-his-wife-a-porsche-minivan>) builds will be [open for bidding next month](<https://www.mecum.com/releases/mecum-auctions-and-west-coast-customs-team-up-for-a-great-cause/>) through Mecum Auctions. The five customized rides are from the personal collection of WCC founder Ryan Friedlinghaus, and all proceeds will be [donated to charity](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/aston-martin-db5-james-bond-stunt-replica-nets-3-2m-at-charity-auction>).

WCC and Mecum have teamed up before, previously joining forces to raise funds for [Operation Mend](<https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mecum-auctions-west-coast-customs-team-up-for-operation-mend-130359913.html>), a healthcare system collaborative established to treat severely wounded Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. Offered during the 2011 Dallas auction was a 2011 Chevrolet Camaro convertible decked out in a blend of camouflage colors. With no reserve, the final [hammer price was $333,000](<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfsy22X6rhU>).

Hoping for similar success, the recipient organization this time around will be [West Coast Customs Academy](<https://westcoastcustomsacademy.com/>) (WCCA). The nonprofit academy is a qualified 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization that provides tuition-free curriculum and custom automotive training. The WCCA offers two 12-week courses (spring and fall), and is open to prospective applicants ages 18 through 23 who reside in the Los Angeles area.

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Mecum-WCC-Collection-Indy-2025.jpg>)
**West Coast Customs* Mecum Auctions*

Having already graduated three classes of up-and-coming vehicle customizers, one of the auction vehicles—a [1997 Toyota 4Runner](<https://www.mecum.com/lots/1144400/1997-toyota-4runner-custom/>)—was built by the WCCA's class of 2024. The vehicle features a flame-and-pinstripe paint job and is equipped with a custom air suspension and 18-inch billet wheels. It's funny to think that it was built recently; it has a decidedly old-school look. Take a swipe through these slides to see some details:

- ![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/8.jpg>)
- ![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/9.jpg>)
- ![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/7.jpg>)
- ![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/6.jpg>)
- ![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/5.jpg>)
- ![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/4.jpg>)
- ![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/3.jpg>)
- ![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/2.jpg>)
- ![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/1.jpg>)
- ![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/10.jpg>)

[][][]

The other vehicles are a street-legal [2022 Toyota Camry](<https://www.mecum.com/lots/1144398/2022-toyota-camry-sedan/>) race car done up by pro driver Tyler Reddick and 23XI Racing, a [2006 Dodge Charger](<https://www.mecum.com/lots/1144396/2006-dodge-charger-custom/>) converted to be a two-door (pretty cool to see a couple of years before the Challenger came out), a Darth Vader-themed [2012 Volkswagen Passat](<https://www.mecum.com/lots/1144397/2012-volkswagen-passat/>) (probably the least exciting), and a [2018 Polaris Slingshot](<https://www.mecum.com/lots/1144399/2018-polaris-slingshot-custom/>) doing its best impersonation of the starship Discovery from the Star Trek show by the same name (easily the wackiest of the whole fleet).

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Vader.jpg>)

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Charger.jpg>)

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Nascar.jpg>)

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Star-Trek.jpg>)

There is no reserve on the [West Coast Customs Collection](<https://www.mecum.com/auctions/indy-2025/collections/the-west-coast-customs-collection/>) vehicles, all of which will cross the auction block at Dan Mecum's 38th Original Spring Classic in May. The Indianapolis auction also features a [rare Ford GT40 Roadster](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/the-only-open-top-ford-gt40-that-ever-raced-le-mans-is-going-to-auction>) (chassis GT/109), which we highlighted earlier this month.

*Got a tip? Send us a note at tips@thedrive.com.*

## Author
Born and raised in Hawaii, Beverly has been a prolific and published creative writer since her teens. As a contributor to The Drive, Beverly covers the weekend shift, blogging about all things automotive, mobility, transportation, and topics in-between. Currently a digital nomad, Beverly's only constant is her car, a second-generation Mazdaspeed3. Even though she's never in one place for too long, her hot hatch always feels like home.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<http://www.instagram.com/bev_b>)  
[LinkedIn](<http://linkedin.com/in/beverlybraga>)