Forum member Shrugy has improved upon nature. According to National Geographic, the Black Mamba snake actually tends to be brown or olive (the inside of its mouth is blue-black). Shrugy’s 1992 Lexus SC400, aka “The Black Mamba Build,” is truly black.
Shrugy’s car rolled off the assembly line wearing black paint, but he took it a step further by darkening the tail lights and side marker lenses, and getting 20-percent window tint. He’s going to make his V8-powered metal snake even blacker, though. Shrugy’s put in an order for several parts, including center console trim, a dashboard, Cipher racing seats, floor mats, and vinyl wrap for his SC’s factory wood accents – all in Darth Vader’s favorite color.
Despite its sinister appearance, Shrugy’s car is surprisingly approachable. He said, “I get thumbs up by old men driving newer Lexus models, and one guy in an ISF left me a sticky note on my windshield complimenting me.”
If you happen to come upon this Black Mamba in April, it’ll be even more visually striking thanks to a few suspension mods, including coilovers. Perhaps Shrugy’s SC will have more venom from a turbo kit or a 2JZ engine one of these days.
We can’t wait to see more of your rolling reptile, Shrugy. Best of luck with your future mods.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
Where do you go for answers when you have a Lexus with a gorgeous leather interior but are not sure about how to maintain that luxurious look? The "Club Lexus" forums, of course.
