09/01/2026
Some dream cars start with a poster on the wall.
Oscar Salazar Jr. started with a movie.
The moment that bright green Mitsubishi Eclipse appeared in the first Fast & Furious that was driven by Paul Walker, Oscar knew one day he wanted to own one.
More than two decades later, that dream became reality.
On this episode of Trucks & Auto Stories, we met Oscar and checked out his 1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX — transformed into his own tribute to one of the most recognizable tuner cars of the early 2000s.
Oscar has been building the car little by little, recreating the look while putting his own touch on it with a carbon-fiber hood, body kit, 18-inch Axis wheels, Toyo tires, APR Racing wing, TEIN coilovers, Sparco racing seats and steering wheel, HKS 3-inch cat-back exhaust, StreetGlow neon lights, carbon-fiber mirrors and more.
And because this isn't just any Eclipse — it's a GSX — he's starting with one of the most sought-after versions of the platform.
Now when Oscar drives it, people stop.
Thumbs up at intersections. Phones come out. People wave. And an entire generation immediately recognizes the inspiration behind the car.
But that's what makes Oscar's story so relatable.
A lot of us discovered our dream cars when we were young. We saw them in movies, magazines, video games, or driving around town. Back then, we couldn't afford them.
So we dreamed.
Then life moves forward. You work. You build a career. You become established. And sometimes you finally reach the point where you can go back and build the car that the younger version of you always wanted.
Oscar did exactly that.
That's what Trucks & Auto Stories is all about.
We're traveling to car shows, cruise nights, museums, garages, and automotive events to preserve the stories behind the vehicles and the people who make this community so special.
Because every build has a journey.
Every owner has a story.
And every conversation helps preserve a piece of automotive history.
👇 Do you have a vehicle with a story worth telling? We'd love to feature you on a future episode of Trucks & Auto Stories. Send us a DM or contact us at [email protected].
