Check out photos from Season 3 of Unique Whips!
Will Castro
Owner/Founder Unique Autosports, Holbrook, NY
History: Working nights as a bus boy in an upscale New York restaurant, Castro was moved outside to valet parking because I kept spilling things and I knew how to drive a stick shift. Parking Cadillacs, Ferraris and other luxury cars, Castro developed an affinity for the craftsmanship behind the pricey rides and went to work in an auto body shop owned by his girlfriends (now wife) uncle, John Ferraro, where he learned detailing, light body work and a little bit about the business side of the car world.
After high school, Castro opened Willies Shape & Shine in Islip, NY, doing detail work for local clientele. My friends would come back from clubbing in Manhattan and tell me all about all the custom cars they were seeing -- rims, custom paint jobs, custom interiors -- and they encouraged me to get into the aftermarket business.
Intrigued by custom interior work, Castro crossed the state line into New Jersey to learn the trade. Forming Unique Conversions in 1984, before changing the name to Unique Autosports in 1998, Castro became a full-service customizer, moving into the world of ground effect kits, custom wheels and big-ticket specialty work.
Uniques first celebrity client was rap artist Erick Sermon, who after signing his first record deal, brought Castro a Mercedes 300 E to personalize. Castros signature craftsmanship spread through the rap community, with legendary Busta Rhymes now serving as Uniques unofficial spokesperson.
With the New York Jets practicing on Long Island, Castro found his way into the world of celebrity athletes when safety Erick McMillan brought a wrecked BMW to Unique Autosports, leading to additional work with Jets players and other high-profile athletes around the country.
Celebrity clientele include: Entertainers Jennifer Lopez, Busta Rhymes, Jadakiss, Eminem, Wyclef, G-Unit, Fat Joe, Patti La Belle and Marc Anthony; Tennis star Jennifer Capriati, NY Yankees slugger Jason Giambi, NFL stars Curtis Martin, Santana Moss and Lavar Arrington; NBA players Jermaine ONeal, Carmelo Anthony, Yao Ming and Steve Francis and social portraitist Tom Wolfe.
For a complete list, please visit: WWW.UNIQUEAUTOSPORT.COM
