They Hated His Paint Job… Until It Became a Lowrider Icon #Lowrider #CustomPaint #tropicalglitz

From painting cars in borrowed garages to creating some of the most recognizable lowrider paint jobs, Steve Santos has spent over four decades building his career in custom paint. We caught up with Steve at the Sacramento Autorama to talk about how he got started, the early days of Technicolor, and the stories behind builds like **Final Score, Perfect Score, and Krypto 9**. Steve shares what it was like when Final Score's bold paint job first received criticism, how Krypto 9 evolved from a relatively simple street build into an award-winning lowrider, and why some of his favorite projects still hold a special place in his heart. We also take a closer look at Steve's personal customs, including his 1962 Chrysler Newport, and the craftsmanship, body modifications, paint techniques, and influences that shaped his style. It's a conversation about taking chances, learning through mistakes, trusting your creative vision, and putting in the work. 00:00 Opening Highlights 01:12 Steve Santos at Sacramento Autorama 01:35 How Steve Started Painting Cars in 1984 02:39 Painting Cars in Home Garages 02:58 Opening Technicolor Custom Paint 04:34 Early Influences and Learning Custom Paint 06:01 Learning Candy Paint Through Trial and Error 06:42 Builder of the Year Recognition 07:51 His First Show Cars and Candy Brandywine Paint 08:33 The Mini Truck and Custom Graphics Era 09:26 Perfect Score and Final Score 10:20 Creative Freedom Behind Final Score 11:00 Why Final Score Was Criticized 12:38 Why Black Paint Reveals Every Flaw 13:17 Three Years Painting Final Score 15:45 The Story of Krypto 9 Begins 16:56 Hidden Rust Repairs and Pepsi Cans 17:18 Chris Roark and the Lowrider Build 18:24 From Street Car to Show Car 19:37 The Inspiration Behind Krypto 9's Paint 20:13 How Krypto 9's Graphics Evolved 22:38 The Hidden Details Underneath Award-Winning Lowriders 23:20 Steve's Personal Custom Car Collection 24:39 1962 Chrysler Newport Custom Build 25:42 Pastel Pearl Paint Inspiration 27:35 Unexpected Car Show Success 28:20 The Story Behind Another Personal Custom 30:45 A Car Built to Flip Becomes a Keeper 31:46 Choosing Custom Colors and Paisley Details 33:27 Steve's 1950 Mercury Custom 34:15 Building the Mercury Over Nine Years 35:05 Custom Bodywork and Traditional Styling 39:02 Closing Thoughts and Violet Fantasy If you're into lowriders, custom cars, candy paint, metal flake, pinstriping, or traditional Kustom Kulture, this one's for you. Subscribe to Tropical Glitz for more custom paint tutorials, builder interviews, and stories from the people behind the cars.