Ep 2. The KMART Experience

Inside West Coast Customs is an American reality television show that first aired on Velocity in 2011. It follows the crew at the famous custom car shop of the same name, located in Burbank, California. The show's focus is on creating unique, one-of-a-kind vehicles for clients from all over the world.

Season 5 episode 2, entitled "The KMART Experience," is no exception to this rule. In this episode, the West Coast Customs team is approached by Kmart, the American discount department store chain, to help them promote their new shop-your-way points program. The challenge? To build a car that embodies the Kmart shopping experience.

The episode kicks off with shop owner Ryan Friedlinghaus meeting with the Kmart team to discuss the project. They explain that they want a car that represents the essence of the Kmart shopping experience - something that's fun, accessible, and uniquely American. Ryan is excited by the challenge and promises them something truly special.

From there, the episode moves into the design phase, where Ryan and the rest of the team brainstorm ideas for the car's exterior. They know they want to incorporate Kmart's signature blue color into the design, but they also want to come up with a concept that's unexpected and attention-grabbing. After a few false starts, they finally settle on a design that involves layering different shades of blue in a diagonal pattern. They also decide to incorporate some "retro" elements into the design, calling back to Kmart's heyday in the 1970s and 80s.

With the design set, the team moves on to the mechanical work. They take a used Dodge Challenger and begin stripping it down to its bare bones. This involves removing not only the exterior panels but also the engine, suspension, and other key components. From there, they rebuild the car from the ground up, adding new, high-performance parts along the way.

One of the most interesting parts of this episode is watching the team tackle some unexpected challenges. For example, they decide to add new, larger wheels to the car - but doing so requires modifying the wheel wells. This ends up being much more difficult than they initially anticipate, and they have to spend several extra hours cutting and welding in order to get the wheels to fit.

Another challenge comes when they try to install a new stereo system in the car. The Kmart team wants the car to be equipped with the latest in-car audio technology, but the Challenger's internal wiring isn't up to the task. The team has to splice in a new electrical system, which requires a lot of careful work with specialized tools.

Despite these challenges, the team presses on, and by the end of the episode, they've created something truly special. The finished car is a sight to behold - with its swooping blue design, retro trim, and shiny chrome wheels, it's easy to see why Kmart was so excited about the project. The car also features several unique features, including a custom sound system, a built-in iPad, and a personalized dashboard display.

All in all, "The KMART Experience" is a great episode of Inside West Coast Customs. It provides a glimpse into the creative process behind building a custom car, as well as the technical skills required to bring a vision to life. Fans of the show will love watching the team take on the challenge of creating something truly unique for one of America's most iconic retailers.