Will Castro

Owner/Founder Unique Autosports, Holbrook, N.Y.

Hometown: Brentwood, Long Island, N.Y.

Residence: Holbrook, N.Y.

Family: Wife (Marilyn), Daughter (Paige)

Will Castro is the guy A-list celebrities look to when they want to create their ultimate extreme ride.

An innovative, customizing guru for whom nothing is too "over-the-top", Castro turns the wildest automotive fantasies into realities - not just for his high-end clientele, but for the enjoyment of millions of viewers who tune in each week to watch him perform his automotive magic on Unique Whips, part of SPEED's highly-rated Wednesday night lineup.

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", Castro said. 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 girlfriend's (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 Willie's Shape & Shine in Islip, N.Y., 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", Castro said.

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.

Unique's first celebrity client was rap artist Erick Sermon, who after signing his first record deal, brought Castro a Mercedes 300 E to personalize. Castro's signature craftsmanship spread through the rap community, with legendary Busta Rhymes now serving as Unique's "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.

In 2004, SPEED launched a new programming schedule, and one of its instant hits was Unique Whips, featuring Castro and his Unique Autosports crew. The show was embraced passionately by enthusiasts across the country as Castro's talents as a designer, fabricator and innovator were showcased on a wild variety of celebrity rides.

Celebrity clientele come from a wide range of backgrounds, including entertainers 50 Cent and Patti LaBelle; athletes Carmelo Anthony, Michael Vick, Andruw Jones, Jermaine O'Neal and Byron Leftwich; NASCAR champions Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart; author Tom Wolfe; filmmaker John Singleton and fashion icon Marc Ecko.

Today, Will Castro and his team at Unique Autosports showcase their talents on the third season Unique Whips, opening with an episode with NBA All-Star LeBron James, who asked Castro to give his Hummer a top to bottom makeover, including some astounding 30-inch rims - a first for Unique Autosports. Castro and crew also have free rein to customize Pamela Anderson's "Lovestream" Airstream trailer and install a sound system on rap superstar 50 Cent's Lamborghini.

Castro's work continues to be the highlight of many of the auto industry's top events, including the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show. For the 2007 season, fashion designer Marc Ecko asked Castro to design two concept cars for Nissan to be unveiled at the industry's premier aftermarket event.

"Thanks to the visibility we've achieved on SPEED, Unique Autosports has been able to expand its services", Castro said. "We've transformed ourselves into a one-stop shop with a dedicated body and fabricating facility, nearly tripling our staff".

For a complete list of Unique Autosports' clients and services, please visit www.uniqueautosport.com.