Adrienne Janic, aka A.J. to fans of the TLC show, spends a lot of time around vehicles that have seen better days. Far better days. In every episode, the Overhaulin' team takes a junker that's been languishing in someone's driveway and rebuilds it under the direction of automobile designer Chip Foose. The results are one-of-a-kind rides that anyone would be proud to drive. But when you're surrounded by these overhauled rides everyday, it's nice to take a break with a bit of luxury. Enter this Mercedes-Benz.
Although A.J.'s Mercedes is pretty much stock on the exterior (except for a set of 18" Foose wheels), the interior received some tasteful overhauling by Larry Anderson of Bananas Hi-Fi in Fresno, CA, who also helped out on one of the show's makeovers. A.J. had only two main requests before handing over the keys: a hook-up for her iPod and that the trunk space be preserved so she wouldn't have to chuck heavy grocery bags into the back seat of this two-door. Other than that, she let Anderson surprise her, in the true spirit of Overhaulin'. The subtle install that resulted boosts the audio capabilities and personality of A.J.'s Benz without impinging on the car's luxe details.
Useful additionsIn the center stack, Anderson mounted a Pioneer AVH-5700DVD above the Arc Audio XEQ preamp. The preamp allows for greater adjustability of the system and a 5-volt output to the amps, while a cable attached to the head unit lets A.J. hook up her iPod. As a surprise, Anderson also ran a backup camera to the receiver. "I've backed into a few things and my bumper had a few dents," A.J. confides with a laugh. The "A.J. cam" prevents future incidents (and Anderson was so nice as to patch up her bumper to conceal the previous accidents). For a cohesive look, a CNC-machined piece of ABS plastic trims the new electronics in. Its burl wood appearance matches the dash to help maintain a semblance of stock.
Getting PersonalThe front doors hold a set of Arc Audio Foose Series 6.5" components. To fit the new speakers in, Anderson had to rebuild the lower half of the door panels using fiberglass, body filler and grille cloth. With a custom grille on top, the new components and refashioned door panels look almost factory. The actual factory speaker locations he saved for something special.
"I love the door panels," A.J. exclaims. By moving the location of the front speakers, Anderson made room for a personal touch: a set of custom door lights. When the doors open, they beam A.J.'s initials in a cool blue glow, which looks especially fantastic at night, A.J. says.
In The BackTo save space per A.J.'s request, Anderson built the enclosure for the Arc Audio 10" Foose Series subwoofer at the side of the trunk. Consisting of MDF and fiberglass, the 1ft3 pod required a lot of sanding to get just right. If you try this at home, don't forget your dust mask! Anderson says that the slight angle toward the rear of the trunk improves the sub's performance, making it sound like two subs instead of just one.