Photography by Mike Gilbert / Words by JC Vallido for Canibeat.com
Canibeat’s photographer, Mike Gilbert, was given an exclusive opportunity to capture this Scion TC. While Mike was doing his own photo shoot, he was approached by a bunch of Scion guys that were also doing their own shoot at a distance. They exchanged greetings and out of the Scion bunch, this one really stood out to Mike the most.
The owner of this show stopper Scion TC is Mark Bello from Seattle, WA. Mike probably noticed this one out of the bunch due to its stance. And after countless emails and phone calls of a photo shoot with the owner, they finally decided an industrial location type would be a well-mannered background type to shoot the car in.
Now it’s rare for a photographer to provide additional details to the location and equipment used for their shoots. Well, Mike’s different, and he wanted to share some of the details with us.
“The rainy weather, the day before, laid down a perfect reflecting pool
for some tasty twilight images. With the help of Mark and his friends,
we set up in the vacant shipping container lot and waited for the
light to soften. Shooting and lighting with silver cars are a breeze as the
paint acts as one big frosty diffuser. I used four bare Alien Bees B800
for the shoot, At one point, I added some CTO (which stands for Color
Temperature Orange for the non pro photogs like myself)
gels to better match the amber color of the setting sun.” – Mike Gilbert
Mark plans to lower and space the car out some more in his future list of mods. He is also on a hunt for a new set of wheels.
Exterior: Custom Retrofit (done by Mark and his 2 buddies, Ashton Queja & Jason Empleo) and parts used on retrofit: Acura Tsx Clear Lens Projectors, BMW E46 Shrouds, Umnitza’s Predator Thin Line Angel Eyes, Phillips OEM 4300K D2S HID Bulbs, Custom Painted Flat Black Eyelids
VRD Foglights, In Channel Weathertech Visors, Oznium’s Full Red Third Brake Light, OEM Mudgaurds, Carbon Fiber B-Pillar Applique, Carbon Fiber Trunk Garnish, S2K Antenna, Custom Badgeless Grill
Interior: TWM Stg 2 Short Shifter, Doctor Isotope Cage Bushings, LED Map/Domelights, LED HEADZ Hvac LED Swap, Garage 1217 Red & White LED Gauge Swap, Custom D&G Interior ( A-pillar, B-pillar, & c-pillar ), Sticker Bombed Wink Mirror, Pioneer Avic D3, 10″ Elemental Designz Sub, Kenwood Amp
Engine: Weapon-R 4-2-1 Racing Header, Weapon-R S-Pipe, Weapon-R CEL Fix, Agency Power Light Weight Crank Pulley, Custom Polished Valve Cover, Rockblocker Air Diversion Panel ( Polished ), Doctor Isotope’s Cable Bushings, Tsudo Mid-Pipe, HKS Hi-Power Axleback
Wheels / Suspension: B+G RS2 Coilovers, TRD Front Strut Bar, Hotchikis Rear Camber Kit, SSR Vienna Dishes (17×8 +9 F / 17×9 +4 R)
Mark Bello supports SarapBuhay and Imperial.
July 20, 2010 at 11:26 am
wow this car is epic…it has so much custom parts in it yet it looks so stock and simple. That’s real car modification imo.
July 20, 2010 at 12:18 pm
lip kit would set it off nice..
July 20, 2010 at 12:30 pm
I met mark at a old school jdm/ euro meet, we went and shot my friends car. cool guy and a dope car.
July 20, 2010 at 12:34 pm
The dude is awesome at modding.
But i just wish it wasn’t a scion. :/
unless its the special RWD.
July 20, 2010 at 12:44 pm
lovin the mirror
July 20, 2010 at 12:45 pm
That first picture really sets canibeat from the other blogs. I think for every feature from now on should include the owner in the main pic. Just a thought.
-nickoli
July 20, 2010 at 1:40 pm
Gratz to the homie Mark. This is a much deserved shoot. He’s a very dedicated member and friend. From the very start when I first met him, before I brought him into the car crew. Not only was he super friendly but I could already tell how devoted he was to anything he put his mind and heart into. And this feature is a direct result of that passion he has. So, everyone keep an eye out for him next year.
July 20, 2010 at 2:34 pm
Conrats Mark. Sick Tc
July 20, 2010 at 3:04 pm
Great shots as always Mike.
July 20, 2010 at 4:12 pm
Congratulations sir Mark! all your time, dedication, and work has paid off! This guy is a great guy the loves his car, show him support. He is doing it big for us, thank you again to Mark and all those who have helped Mark make it to where he is now! Can’t wait to see what is in store for the future! =D
July 20, 2010 at 6:42 pm
Good lookin’ tC. Nice Stance.
July 20, 2010 at 7:22 pm
dude mark that’s way awesome!!!!!
July 20, 2010 at 7:52 pm
It’s a scionnn :’(
July 20, 2010 at 8:14 pm
Congrats Mark! Glad to see your feature finally up, well deserved!
July 20, 2010 at 8:25 pm
nice tC. Pinoy pride! nice “sarap buhay” sticker lol
July 21, 2010 at 1:26 am
206 represent! Dope ass tC keep it up !!
July 21, 2010 at 2:44 am
Congratulations Bro! Great job on what you have done to your car. All the time you dedicated working on your car is now paying off. More power to you bro!
July 21, 2010 at 6:40 pm
Awesome pictures. Car looks good.
July 21, 2010 at 6:41 pm
Im so proud of my hubby
July 21, 2010 at 8:53 pm
Car is nice but it’s no show stopper.
July 22, 2010 at 4:09 am
Haha, always gotta be some haters. Ya’ll make me laugh. But I guess everyone is entitled to their own opinion. But remember this, not everyone is born into money and can build a car right away. And he has put alot of effort into his project. Obviously he did something right to get it on to this well known site. So quit hatin people. I don’t see any of your cars on here. And if it is, i’m sure the people at canibeat would frown upon any haterizm and take your car off their site. Thank you, come again.
July 22, 2010 at 6:15 am
it’s a dope ride. and mark is a really dedicated person. congrats man way to represent!
July 22, 2010 at 9:57 am
Congrats to my bro! Ditto on your comment Shonn, some people really can’t accept the accomplishment of others. Leave it be though because if you hatin’ then that must mean my bro is doing something right. Once again bro, CONGRATS!
July 23, 2010 at 1:17 pm
damn those are some sick ass shots!
July 23, 2010 at 5:58 pm
This car is changed so much. Mad props.
Needs moar low though =P
July 23, 2010 at 7:22 pm
nice car..wat is it?
July 25, 2010 at 10:17 am
Ive beeen watchin Marks car grow into what it is now on clubsciontc.com its sooo dope. nice and clean. love the wheels!
July 25, 2010 at 8:31 pm
Photoshop those poles out of the background!! I was trying to figure out what the hell was sticking out of the top of the car!! haha
Nice shots otherwise and cool car!
July 27, 2010 at 3:28 pm
needs more low. saw a tc way lower than this at 512
July 29, 2010 at 2:05 am
Needs more low??? wth are you talkin about? obviously you haven’t seen the clearance under the car up close. Why don’t you bring out your car so we can judge it as well.
July 29, 2010 at 3:52 am
this is the cleanest tc ive seen
August 18, 2010 at 8:37 pm
hahah mark is always on the lookout for new wheels. he’s a wheel whore <3
congrats on the writeup, never got to post you some love bro. later.
and to kid Wiz – was the car tucked or flush. he can't get much lower when he's going poke …
September 29, 2010 at 7:32 pm
Dude Mark I’ve seen your car around bro but not like this! Mad props man! Toyota family is where its at! Deffinetly cleanest TC ever! Now I deffinetly gotta step up my game! Help a brotha out! hahaha
August 25, 2011 at 2:50 am
if i get a 2011 tc thats factory lowered with Five:AD how much ground clearance do yo think there will be? your TC is freakin bad ass bro!