39. AZTLAN MOTORS

Aztlan Motors is Stomp Streets auto body and customization shop.  They specialize in the wild paint jobs, low rider and hydraulic conversions, and the chopped and chromed look popular among the Latino car and bike enthusiasts.  They do engine work as well, but where they really shine is taking an older luxury or performance vehicle, and turning into a heavily modified and eye catching work of art.  Every car they turn out is completely unique, and the team does its own fiberglass and metal shaping work.

Stomp, perhaps above all other gangs in the Combat Zone, considers a man’s car to be sacred, and any gang member caught stealing or vandalizing another member’s ride is dealt with severely.  Great honor is placed on stealing the ride of a rival gang member, the flashier and more unique the ride, the greater the honor.  Stomp members stealing cars from civilians within the Zone is tolerated, but if you steal a family’s only vehicle, it is cause for dishonor, especially if the vehicle is stolen from a single mother.  In such cases, when found out, the offender usually faces a beating, and must return the vehicle in person, and apologize.   By the same token, this attitude has spread to other gangs, even outside the Zone, and stealing a Stomp ride given much respect, though the attempt often ends up in getting the rival gang member who tries killed.

Aztlan Motors has become recognized for their artistic quality, and even people from outside the Zone, in a few cases, outside the state, will bring in their cars to have the team work their magic.   In fact, one of the higher honors bestowed on Stomp members who prove themselves is having custom work done for free.  For non-Stomp members, having a car customized by Aztlan will act as a free pass in Stomp territory, as long as you don’t cause trouble, no one will mess with your car, or you while you are in it, as you are perceived as someone who has paid into the community.  As Stomp is closely allied with the 2-3 Set, members of that gang get their cars done for the same deal as Stomp. 

The expense of having your car worked on by Aztlan is greatly dependent on who you are.  Stomp members will have their vehicles worked on for the price of parts.  Zone residents can have their cars customized for negligible labor fee over the price of parts depending on what they want done, but for people from outside the Zone, the price is jacked up prodigiously.  It’s worth it too, as Aztlan Motors cars have won many best in show competitions at car shows across Norcal.

Written By Deric Bernier, image from APB

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