CSCondeMotor is the channel of Cristopher (36), the Galician youtuber who has converted his dilapidated Mitsubishi Eclipse into one of the few Galician replicas that have been made of the car from the movie A full gas (2001). Through thirty-one videos shared with his more than 386 thousand subscribers, the young man has documented the entire process under the name Project Eclipse. Although there are still some things missing to close this chapter, it has already become learning from home that has led it to reach 12 million views on YouTube.
Furthermore, at CSCondeMotor we can find a wide variety of content for automotive lovers, structured around indexes and series. In this way, from curious details about different car models and even information to install a radio, change the steering wheel or perform vehicle maintenance, the channel offers us a guide to learning and discovering the engine.
Before CSCondeMotor, had you developed any similar project?
CSCondeMotor emerged from a first channel created in 2012, CSConde, to which I uploaded all kinds of videos: origami, video games, cooking, some car videos… I wanted to test how the platform worked.
After a year, I realized that car videos were the ones with the most movement, so I decided to open a channel specialized in it.
And how would you define it for someone who discovers it for the first time?
It’s a place you come to be entertained, learn, and seek information. I have such a variety of content within it that you can find information of interest about a car you are going to buy; or information to install a radio, change the steering wheel or do maintenance. You can also see restoration projects and other very crazy ones like Fast’s Mitsubishi Eclipse
As you indicate, on your channel you cover a wide variety of content: You give advice, do reviews, repairs, tune up cars, even talk about vehicle registration… what do you feel most comfortable with of all that?
Perhaps what I feel most comfortable with is the part of giving advice because it is something based on my experience and not because I have read it or “I have been told.” I try to make people learn from my experience so that they don’t go through the learning process.
Although I feel comfortable in general with everything I do because they are videos that come from me, without a script, without anyone telling me what to do. It is something that I like, it distracts me, I learn with everything I do and I want to share it to teach and entertain.
Regarding the replica of the A Full Gas car that you have in your garage, why did you decide to start this project?
Full pandemic. At that time, I was going to record cars in Madrid and when they locked us all up, I had no choice but to think: what do I do now? Well, nothing, I wanted to do a crazy project, something like that at home to learn. I watched the movie since I was little and my favorite color is green. So, I started looking for Eclipses, the most dilapidated one in Spain appeared, I bought it (for €850) and I ventured into it.
And what was the process like?
The process was hell. Never make a replica of a car because you have to stick to a plan 100%. You have to put those tires on, others are not worth it; and that sticker, that screw, that tube, that battery, that steering wheel… And you start looking for parts from a tuned car from the year 2000. If it was already difficult to find them at that time, imagine twenty-two years later. I bid €4,000 for some tires on E-bay and lost them. So all the parts are going to be extremely expensive and difficult to get. In fact, I still need a rev counter that I have been looking for for four years and it is impossible to find.
Still, it has been an incredible process because I learned a lot. I had never done maintenance on a car and it has been nice to create something at home, from scratch and without prior knowledge.
What are you most proud of?
I am proud to have done practically everything myself, to have shared the project and to have entertained so many people. In total, it has 12 million views.
How much did it finally cost to make this replica?
The Eclipse Project is around €35,000 right now, although there are still things to do. This figure does not include the hundreds or thousands of hours that go into it, whether of work or research looking for each piece. It has been very intense and, after two years, I still dedicate time to it.
Besides locating the tachometer, what else is left to do?
I have to make a complete exhaust line, paint the underbody, redo the rear bumper, repaint the front… They are details, but of course, they are not exactly worth a little.
When you get it, will there be a project completion video?
The Eclipse is now finished on the channel. Maybe I’ll record something when I’m at 100%, taking a walk, but nothing more. It is a discreet car, to go for bread.
Do you have in mind starting a similar project?
In the short term, no. YouTube is not generating as much as what has to be invested in a project like this. You spend more than you earn. For now, I’m going to go with simpler projects, although I have things like Eclipse in mind and in the background I’m giving them a certain shape in case they can one day be carried out.
