West Coast Customs gained fame among the MTV-watching set for hosting the popular show Pimp My Ride for a few years. So when Continental Tire wanted to outfit a car for their high-profile Power of 4 sweepstakes, which coincided with the DVD release of Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, they knew whose shoulder to tap. The tire company wanted to give away a completely driveable vehicle that still had a bold look and entrusted WCC with the task.
Following Continental Tire's parameters, WCC used some restraint and kept the system design simple. It may have become famous for extravagant (and in the days of Pimp My Ride, sometimes bizarre) custom work, but WCC stayed grounded for the two-day build of this Dodge Charger. The factory upgrade, which incorporated aesthetic changes and Sony gear, was just what Conti ordered. In March, April Ingannamorte of Altamonte Springs, Fla., got to drive it home.
Outer Beauty
The WCC team couldn't keep a lid on all their custom leanings, however. Exterior aesthetics could get a little crazy, as a little airbrushing never got in the way of utility. Alsa Corp. and WCC laid the Silver Surfer theme on thickly, giving the already aggressive Charger an even more intimidating appearance. And of course, since this is a Continental Tire giveaway car, sets of 265/30R22 and 295/25R22 Contis wrap around Giovanna Forged F-8 rims. An Eibach suspension lets the Charger sling low and mean while a Gibson exhaust and smoked taillights add some oomph to the rear end. Up front, T-Rex grilles bring an ominous feel to the fascia.
To The Source
WCC stripped the vehicle down in order to run Directed Electronics wiring from the new double-DIN Sony XAV-W1 source unit to the amps, speakers, and other A/V components. The touchscreen head unit required that the team modify the original radio location. A little body filler and paint created the perfect fit. For optimal sound, WCC adjusted the system with the XAV-W1's built-in EQ.
Up HighLike the dash, the factory speaker locations wouldn't work perfectly with the Sony 6.5-inch components right out of the box. To get the XS-D170SI sets to fit just right, the install team cut adapter plates out of MDF. They followed the same process for all the speakers in the vehicle, including the additional set of XS-D170SI's that filled in the rear.
Down Low
In the trunk, which was dampened along with the doors by plenty of Hushmat, a pair of Sony XS-LD127P5 subwoofers lodges in a custom box. Made using a subframe of MDF with fleece stretched on top and fiberglass stiffening up, the enclosure provides the goal airspace of 2 cubic feet. Although the building techniques aren't anything out of this world, the chrome paint finishing it off brings it to a higher, more Silver Surfer, level.
Amping Up
A custom amprack holds the pair of Sony XM-2002GTR amplifiers for the mids and highs while a single XM-GTR6001 feeds the pair of subwoofers. The amps pull power through Directed Electronics cables from a Kinetic deep-cycle power system-dedicated battery.