About

Dave Lightner’s Journey over the years!

Started Racing go Karts in 1994

Started customizing cars in 1999

1st car was a 1989 Chevy Z24 Cavalier.

2nd car was a 1988 Mazda B2000 mini truck

3rd car was a 1991 Honda Accord 4 door

4th car was a 1988 Chevy S10 mini truck

5th car was a 1996 Honda Civic hatchback

Did my first full restyle and color change on a 1988 Chevy S10 mini truck in 2001.

Became a member of “UA” car and truck club with my s10 mini truck

Started in the collision repair program at Thaddeus Stevens college in 2002 after graduation from Susquenita High School

Graduated from Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology in 2004 – Associates Degree in Applied Science of Collision Repair

Completed Version 1 of my 96 civic hatchback in 2002

Started working for Boyer & Boyer Custom Autobody in late 2002

Won Best Honda at WRevolution02 / became a member of WrTeam car club

2002 DLights Customs was officially created while I attended Stevens College.

Worked with Boyer & Boyer on Version 2 of my 96 civic hatchback in 2003

Teamed up with Fox Marketing in 2004 to build the Honda Civic hatchback Kima widebody kit for Strictly Foreign

2004-2005 DLights Customs operated with 1 additional employee

2004 Built a Hyundai Tiburon for Ernie Manasala and Konig wheels

2004 SEMA Debut Scion XA built with WrTeam for the Scion Tuner Challenge

2005 Started racing go karts again

2005 Built a VW GTI for Make a wish Foundation with Strictly Foreign

2005 SEMA Scion TC built for Neil Tjin / Tjin Edition

2006 Teamed up with A.W Troutman Chevrolet dealership – new home for DLights Customs

Built 2006 Honda Civic si for Import Racer Tv on ESPN hosted by Tanner Foust

2006 Worked for RedBull energy drink as an account manager, sales and marketing

2006 Built another Honda Civic hatchback with a H22 motor swap

2006 Built a 1996 Honda Civic for Hot 92 radio station and Faulkner Honda with Fox marketing / Extreme Ride Revamp give away car at the PA Auto Show

2007 Built V2 of the H22 Honda Civic hatchback with Juliet Parrish Lightner

2007 Featured in Juiced 2 Hot Import Nights Video game

2007 SEMA Chevrolet Solstice For Neil Tjin / Tjin Edition

2007 Built 2 cars for Pete Colello, Toyota Celica and Ford Focus

2007 Started painting for McCafferty Ford Collision Center

2007 – 2009 Managed the national touring Tjin Edition Roadshow

2010 Built a 2002 Rocket Chassis Limited Latemodel dirt track car

Started Racing Dirt Late Models in 2010-2013 at Williamsgrove speedway, Susquehanna Speedway, port royal speedway

2010 Restyled a 2010 Dodge Challenger SRT8 for Andy Goodman of the National Custom Car Association

2011 Built Scion Tc for Glow Shift Gauges

2013 Started Teaching Collision Repair Technology at Thaddeus Stevens College

2013 was runner up in the I-car Collision Repair Education foundation make over grant competition, $10,000 to update the collision repair facility

2014 teamed up with Inshane Designs to assist on full wrap restyle projects

Ran a few go kart races in 2014.

2014 Built a 1996 Nissan 240sx right hand drive drift car

2014 SEMA won the I-car Collision Repair Education foundation make over grant competition, $50,000 to update the collision repair facility

2014 SEMA the 96 Nissan 240 was featured at the main entrance of the show

2014 SEMA inaugural Battle of the builders participant

2014 Brand Ambassador for NEO Motorsport

2014 Brand Ambassador for Visionary Brands (Glow Shift Gauges, LED Glow lightning, Max Tow Performance Gauges)

2015 Lightner Motorsports v2 96 Nissan 240 with Ls1 motor swap

2015 Worked with Spanesi Spray booths from Italy to install a new down draft spray booth and mixing system at TSCT college

2015 Worked with Chief frame straightening equipment to install a new frame bench at TSCT college

2015 Sponsorship Consultant for Visionary Brands (Glow Shift Gauges, LED Glow lightning, Max Tow Performance Gauges)

2016 Build Manager for Gurnade Design ( Built 2 Hyundai’s for Hyundai of America for SEMA)

2016 SEMA Battle of the builders participant / Young Guns challenger

2016 SEMA Hyundai Veloster build featured in Hyundai of America (HMA) SEMA booth

2016 SEMA Hyundai Tucson build featured in Toyo Tread pass booth

2016 Tested the Hyundai Veloster turbo build on Hyundai Proving grounds in the Mojave Desert California

2016 Auto body Consultant for Select Collision Group

*Alot has happened since this site was last updated, Stay tuned for lots of updates!!

2021 Bought Ford Raptor F150

2021 Bought 1995 R33 Nissan Skyline Gts type M

2022 Fully customized the R33 Skyline with a Pandem Rocket Bunny widebody