Some people would think it sacrilege or ridiculous to modify anything on a car that costs as much as a modest middle-class house in many states. As much as we appreciate customized cars, we too had to wonder if enthusiasts weren't going too far, modifying a Lambo, Porsche, Maserati or other high-end vehicle. Let's not forget that in the custom car equation it's not only about the value of what you own but also who will do the work.
If you take your six-figure ride to a high-end shop then you have less reason to fear for your car's life. That's what Jim Rose did with his '07 convertible Gallardo. He took it to top shop, Sound Decision, in Montgomery, IL. The objective wasn't to do anything too crazy but to make everything look integrated, as if the system were meant to be in the car.
Top shops of course tend to use top-end gear. The experts at Sound Decision started on the integration theme by going with Alpine's IVA-W205. The quality of the product may match the level of the car, but getting it to look right was a separate matter-and the real issue. To help with the integration, the installers made a custom bezel, which they wrapped in factory-matched blue vinyl. It may not look totally factory, but aesthetically it works. Aside from the radio, CD and DVD, Rose wanted Sirius satellite radio so they hooked up a SIR-ALP1 adapter, rounding out Rose's entertainment options. The W205 is also tied into a factory backup camera for added functionality.
The frontstage is composed of appropriately high-end speakers, Focal's Utopia Be Kit No. 6 component set. The woofers are in the factory door locations, but the Sound Decision installers built MDF baffles and rings to replace the factory speaker housings. As for the factory grilles, they were tinted with custom-matched blue dye. The tweeters are in the A-pillars, molded in with fiberglass and wrapped in blue vinyl.