From Colorado Roots to Audi Dreams: Austin B’s Selfvation Story

📍 Selfvation Spotlight Feature | Interview Video Below

Some builds speak louder than the spec sheet ever could. They tell a story — of grit, of patience, of long nights in the garage with nothing but tools, trial and error, and a dream that won’t die.

For Austin Baldwin, that story started on the back of a tractor in Southern Colorado.

“I actually learned how to drive on one,” he says with a laugh. “Kind of fitting, right?”

Now 36, Austin’s come a long way from his rural roots, but that same hands-on mindset — and love for anything with an engine — has followed him every step of the way.

The Fast & the Fundamentals

Like many of us, Austin was bitten early by the Fast and Furious bug. At 15, the dream was simple: go fast, look good doing it, and build something that felt like yours.

“My first car was a ‘93 S10 Blazer,” he recalls, “but I ended up trading it in for a ‘90 Acura Integra — and man, I miss that car.”

Since then, the list of rides has grown: BMW 328i, a Firebird, and others too many to count. But no matter the badge on the hood, the mission stayed the same — learn it, wrench on it, love it. Self-taught. Self-made.

The 2010 Audi A5: OEM+ With a Kick

Austin’s current build — a 2010 Audi A5 — has been with him for four years. And while it might keep a clean OEM+ look, under the hood it’s a different story entirely.

“The big upgrades started with a CTS K04 turbo and a Stage 2 tune from APR. I run it on 93 octane — it wakes the car up like crazy.”

The mod list reads like a careful progression:

• Cold air intake

• Rev9 front-mount intercooler

• APR high-flow cat

• Electric cutout dump (right under the passenger seat — yep, you’ll hear it before you see it)

• Clutch Masters FX350 (swapped himself after the stock clutch failed — on jack stands in the garage)

And he didn’t stop there: GFB blow-off valve, boost gauge, short shifter kit, pedal controller (to fix that classic DBW lag), and hard piping upgrades all bring the Audi alive in every gear.

Suspension and exterior? Purpose-built and subtle.

• Lowered 1.25” on H&R sport springs

• Drilled and slotted rotors

• Carbon mirror caps

• Front lip

• Rear duckbill spoiler

• 20” Vossen wheels (came with the car, but they stayed for a reason)

The goal was balance — clean but aggressive, refined but personal. And that’s exactly what Austin delivered.

Built, Not Bought — and Never Alone

If you know Austin, you know he doesn’t just build cars — he builds connection.

“The car community has always been my safe space,” he shares. “Selfvation gave that a name. It gave it a place.”

What he’s created — what we’ve all created — is more than a group chat or a garage night. It’s a family built around a shared belief: that our differences are what drive us.

“We’re not exactly a normal bunch,” Austin admits. “But we get each other. That love for cruising, for wrenching, for making something yours — it brings us together.”

He puts it best:

“Our lives are just like our cars. All the parts — the highs, the lows, the upgrades, even the breakdowns — they come together to keep the wheels turning. That’s worth a smile.”

🎥 Watch the Interview with Austin Baldwin

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Final Thoughts: Why This Story Matters

Austin’s story isn’t just about an Audi A5 — it’s about what that car represents. It’s about the power of persistence, the beauty of subtlety, and the joy of finding your people.

At Selfvation, we believe every build has a voice. Every person in this community has a reason why they started — and a reason why they stayed.

Austin’s build? It tells both stories. And now, it tells ours too.

💬 Want to be featured like Austin?

Drop us your build, your story, or come out to a Selfvation meet. You never know — your ride might be next.