As part of our 20th anniversary retrospective, we're showcasing some of our favorite vehicles of the past two decades. You'll be able to vote on your favorite car later. Here's the 6th installment.
Using his '95 240SX IASCA Expert SQ vehicle as the basis, Scott Bulwada set out to build a triple-threat: A car that was fast, stylish, and a sonic marvel. For speed, he opted for a 500hp twin-turbo Nissan Skyline RB26DETT engine. The installation was no easy feat, as the car had to first be converted to right-hand-drive. The conversion required the installation of a firewall from Silvia, some masterful cutting and welding, and the recreation of the factory asphaltic barrier between the new firewall to replicate the original.
One of the car's key elements of style is the motorized back window, which can be lowered to show off the four amplifiers mounted against it. Using a mold of the factory window, Bulwada used two layers of 22-ounce marine-grade fiberglass and two gallons of resin to create the new window. The result is an uncanny representation of glass. Once this was done, an entire water channel system had to be constructed to prevent precipitation from entering the vehicle. This involved welding the system together to create something that looked like a factory-original hatchback and installing a stainless steel 120-degree hinge, neither of which were a piece of cake to complete.
To create the perfect interior sound, the entire interior was first sprayed with Rhino-liner, a catalyzed bed-liner designed to provide a solid, consistent surface and to prevent rust. Once this was done, a double layer of B-Quiet sheet damping material was applied, along with a layer of B-Quiet laminated decoupling pad.
One of the audio system's highlights are the Hybrid Audio Technologies speakers, a company co-founded by Bulwada in July 2005. A Legatia L63 3-way component set consisting of an 8" midbass, 3" midrange and a 19mm tweeter was installed in each door panel. The kick panels feature 8" Legatia subwoofers. To keep an air of mystery, Bulwada is hesitant to divulge specific information about the alignment, positioning and crossover points. One thing he can't hide is the car's perfect balance of speed, style and sound.
Here are some of the other vehicles we've featured in our 20th anniversary retrospective:
Speakerworks Buick Grand National
Steve Brown's Acura