313 Motor City Modifications (CV22 Business)

Subtly located off the John C Lodge service drive near MLK and 3rd in Downtown Detroit, isolated in one of the poorest areas of the city in amongst the abandoned industrial units, MCM - 313 Motor City Modifications - a relatively inconspicuous custom automotive and bike shop, conducts its daily affairs as if it were your typical legitimate auto-body garage and customs. Owned and operated by the Vera brothers, born and raised in Detroit, these (non-blood related) adrenaline junkies were taken in at a young age by a low level, but no less street smart super-villainous known throughout Midtown as, Momma Bo Vera. The boys were quickly initiated in the urban street racing scene of grand theft auto, drugs prostitution and perhaps most importantly - infrastructure.

Property Type

Part of an ambitious real estate venture at the behest of his mother, Bo Vera purchased the foreclosed industrial warehouse as part of a larger small business portfolio. Little more than an address, eventually it was converted into a black market chop shop running parts and vehicles across the border into Windsor Ontario Canada for the Bacchus MCs. However a violent rift between the Veras and Bacchus would force the deadly band of brothers into a winner-take all shootout in the Windsor Tunnel. To the victors go the spoils. Wasting little time, parlaying several stolen kilos of breakfast on a mirror into legitimizing MCM, the Veras established their own street credibility separate from that of their more notorious and manipulative mother.

Now capable of laundering the Vera's dirty money, as well as maintaining a secret black market chop shop with a small international pipeline, the MCM maintains a utilitarian facade in perfect unison with the pot-hole riddled streets, burned out buildings, dimly lit overpasses, and all around haunting atmosphere of abandonment.

Yet inside the modest layout, name brand tools meticulously hung in appropriate order offer a small glimpse into the OCD like tendencies of the Motor City Mamba. Clean car bays and diagnostic booths display a sample of the upgraded tech subtly wired through its foundation.

Known in small criminal circles as the Chop, the basement of the MCM is the nerve center of the family's operation. True to form the doomsday preppers have fully stocked their subterranean retreat with a selective assortment of supplies, gear and accessories. In addition to their infamous 'prep-board' and 4 customized formula 1 racing frames. As a result of Bo Vera's fabricating abilities, capable of producing more outta less less, these junkyard F1 composites are completely absent of exotic materials like carbon fiber, vibranium, or adamantium.

Instead the initial chassis were built from a ladder frame consisting of 3-by-6-inch rectangular steel tubing with a lattice of welded steel tubes above that. The front suspension comes from a fleet of 3/4-ton mid-'80s GM pickup trucks with air springs replacing the original coils. In back, Dana 60 solid rear axles leverage up on another pair of airbags and are located by three fabricated links.

Segregated hydraulic steering for both front and rear allow for an independent transition between the front; operated by a conventional steering wheel, and the rear, which is controlled by a lever (similar to that used on a monster truck).Capitalizing on a rather deceptive 6.2-liter LS3 V8 loosely rated around 430 horsepower. But because of the mechanical tinkering, the engine is mounted backwards in each vehicle. Intercepting and sending power into GM Turbo 400 three-speed automatic transmissions that in turn, churn the Casale V-drive gearsets mounted just behind the driver.

The V-drive reverses the power flow so a small driveshaft can then feed the rear axle. Sexy in its simplicity. While the ramp car is very low, it's also very long and very wide, stretching out about 160 inches over a 130-inch wheelbase. It's so big overall that its massive Hoosier 31-by-16.5-inch Pro Street rear tires (think 419/55R17) look almost modestly sized. And the front tires (315/35R17 Hoosiers) are the same size as the rear tires on the old 1995 Corvette ZR-1.

Convenience was the first casualty in the schematic phase of development. Restricted access to the driver's pod means snaking around various labyrinths of exposed tubing, slipping past Plexiglas, before lowering into the narrow seat. The steel is bare and unpainted, your legs straddle the hydraulic ram which operates the "kicker" that really knocks cars up and over the cockpit. The OMP steering wheel is attached after your body is in place.

The cockpit is fighter pilot theme, all business but exposed. A Racepak digital dash rests behind the wheel j above the Autometer oil pressure and ammeters. Your right leg bounces up against the transmission's ratchet shifter while your left knocks on the Eaton lever that controls the hydraulic rear-wheel steering. This is an open car that somehow feels claustrophobic, but they're the purest form of vehicular warfare in an urban setting. It can turn its wheels left, right, reverse 180 or 360 degrees with the performance grace of an iceskater.