Behind the extreme and unique vehicles built by West Coast Customs, one of the most famous custom car shops in the United States, there is the creative touch of an Indonesian designer named Musa Tjahjono.

Born in Surabaya, Indonesia, Musa has successfully brought Indonesia’s name to the global automotive stage. Not as a racing driver or mechanic, but as an automotive designer responsible for creating the concept, identity, and visual character of a vehicle.

From Sketching Cars as a Hobby to Entering the American Automotive Industry

Musa’s passion for the automotive world started at an early age. He was not only fascinated by cars as machines, but also by their shapes, proportions, and design elements.

His love for drawing cars eventually led him to ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, California, one of the world’s most prestigious schools for transportation and automotive design. Musa studied Automotive Design from 2007 to 2011.

During his time at ArtCenter, he learned how a vehicle is created from the earliest stages — from sketching ideas, defining design characteristics, creating 3D models, and transforming concepts into real vehicles.

However, after graduating in 2011, Musa’s journey was not immediately easy. Like many young designers entering the automotive industry, he faced challenges finding opportunities and worked on various vehicle design projects.

One of the projects that significantly changed his career was the design of the 1967 Chevrolet Camaro known as the “Ultimate 67 Camaro.”

Joining West Coast Customs in 2014

Musa’s name began gaining attention in the automotive world when the Ultimate 67 Camaro was showcased at the SEMA Show, the largest aftermarket automotive exhibition in the United States.

The Camaro project caught the attention of Ryan Friedlinghaus, the founder of West Coast Customs. Impressed by Musa’s design work, Ryan offered him an opportunity to join the company, and Musa officially became part of West Coast Customs in 2014 as Head Designer.

As Head Designer, Musa does much more than simply draw cars. He is responsible for transforming clients’ ideas and personalities into unique vehicle concepts.

His responsibilities include:

• Creating initial vehicle concepts.
• Designing exterior styling and the overall character of the vehicle.
• Producing digital renderings.
• Developing 3D models.
• Collaborating with engineers, technicians, and fabricators to turn designs into real vehicles.

Designing Cars for Global Celebrities

West Coast Customs is widely known as a custom car company that builds vehicles for celebrities, professional athletes, and major brands. Through his role as Head Designer, Musa has been involved in creating unique vehicles for high-profile clients around the world.

One of his most recognized projects involved vehicles owned by Justin Bieber.

Musa played a role in designing several cars for the Canadian pop star, including a Cadillac Escalade project featuring a highly customized interior concept. The vehicle attracted public attention because its cabin was transformed into a completely different experience compared to a standard SUV.

Beyond Justin Bieber, Musa has also worked on various vehicle projects for famous names such as Travis Scott, Post Malone, Will.i.am, and several professional athletes.

Design Philosophy: Every Car Should Have a Character

For Musa, a custom car is not simply about adding expensive parts or making a vehicle look more aggressive.

His design philosophy is that every car should have a story and reflect the personality of its owner.

That is why every project begins with understanding the client’s vision and preferences. The design is then developed to create something unique — a vehicle that stands apart from mass-produced cars.

This approach makes Musa’s work closer to true automotive design rather than just traditional vehicle modification.

Bringing Indonesia’s Name to the Global Automotive Industry

Musa Tjahjono’s success proves that Indonesian talent can compete at the highest level of the international automotive industry.

From a child in Surabaya who loved sketching cars, he has become one of the key figures behind exclusive automotive projects in the United States.

Today, Musa is recognized as one of Indonesia’s most successful automotive designers, working with one of the world’s most famous custom car companies and creating vehicles for international celebrities.

Musa has shown that the automotive world does not only need people who can build faster engines or improve performance. It also needs designers who can give a car its own identity, emotion, and soul.