Meet Constance Nunes: A Glam Girl Wrenching in a Boys World
Constance stars as the lead mechanic on the Netflix original series, “Car Master: Rust to Riches,” where she has helped the team at Gotham Garage build unique specialty cars for 5 seasons with a 6th currently in production.
The Twin Cities Auto Show will be the host to one of the most incredible vehicles Constance worked on at the Gotham Garage, Splittin’ Image. Splittin’ Image was a Hot Wheels car created by designer Ire Gliford. These toys were produced from 1969-1973, and a retool was done in 1993 and ended in 2023. The car was designed to be the same design on the driver’s side as the passenger. Most creations have the toy being built from the real car. The Splittin’ Image car that will be at the Twin Cities Auto Show is the real car built using the toy as a model.
This custom Spittin’ Image is built on a 1986 Corvette. The engine and transmission are original to the car. The customizing and building was done by Gotham Garage owner Mark Towle in 2015. it is probably the only full size and drivable Splittin’ Image ever made. Check out Season 1 of the Netfllix series to see it built!
Constance has over 19 years of experience in the automotive industry. She is the CEO and lead mechanic, designer and builder at CARS By Constance in Southern California.
Meet Constance in the Cars Against Crime display. Autograph cards will be provided.
Constance became the first female ever to be featured in an Edelbrock national commercial in 2019. She has raced in numerous high-profile races including Targa Trophy and The Gumball 3000 Rally as a professional celebrity driver. Constance is known for her specialty in classic restorations, hot rods, and more specifically, classic Mustangs. “Babystang,” her numbers matching 1964.5 straight six Ford Mustang, has become quite the internet sensation garnering its own following and has even been featured with several online publications including Hot Cars. Constance and Babystang have been together for nineteen years and have inspired many young builders and female auto enthusiasts to follow their passions within the automotive industry. Her passion extends beyond just automotive to motorcycles and even off-road builds and water motorsports.
Three years ago she became her own boss when she opened her hotrod shop, “Cars by Constance”. Constance is a driving force for women in the auto industry and strives to create future opportunities by bringing brand diversity and connecting with female auto enthusiasts. She has a passion to break down a barrier, where she can be a strong feminine force in a primarily male-dominated industry. “Women are always competing in mens’ worlds. But they compete to be like the men. I don’t get that,” she says. “Be all woman. That takes a lot by itself. Added on top of doing a job just as good as the boys do, if not better. That’s much more fabulous to me. I just really believe you can be in a stereotypical ‘man’s job’ and do it with the grace of a woman and not lose your femininity.” Constance strives to be a role model for girls and young women across the globe. She is an inspiration not only to those interested in the automotive industry, but to anyone who aspires to achieve anything outside of what is expected from stereotypical gender norms.
