Weird Science

It doesn't seem a likely show vehicle and it sure doesn't look like one. But the self-installed mobile audio system in this 2001 Volkswagen EuroVan Camper doesn't know the difference. Built by Jon Whitledge, a scientist by trade and music lover at heart, this nondescript EuroVan looks totally stock yet reproduces musical recordings so well that it has won several mobile audio sound quality awards.

Another interesting point; Jon built the entire system himself in his one-car garage using simple hand tools. Jon is not an installer and doesn't want to be. In fact this is only his second installation but like any good scientist/engineer/tinkerer Jon has ideas of his own. Aside from a little advice from Select Products in Reno, NV and his retailer North County Mobile Electronics in Oceanside, CA, Jon tackled the project all by himself.

Wilkomen

Jon went for the timeless design and audiophile grade of McIntosh electronics for this minimalist installation. The no-frills McIntosh MX4000 CD/Tuner player was installed in the factory DIN mount with little modification. This unit pairs up with an external McIntosh MDA4000 D/A converter, connected to the head unit with fiber optic cable and RCA interconnects.

This fine combination of audio excellence is only intensified by the McIntosh MC440M six-channel amplifier. Installed behind the driver's seat at the front of the galley, the amplifier is located intentionally close to the source unit for minimum interconnect length -- something Jon took great care of throughout the installation. Not only is the amplifier near the source unit, it is near all the speakers in the system to minimize speaker wire length.

Installation of the amplifier required a custom amprack, replacing the tables that were formerly mounted here. With the tables relocated to the rear of the vehicle all functionality was retained.

The amprack was built from 3/4-inch MDF, which was contoured and finished to match the original cabinetry. In addition to the McIntosh amplifier, the McIntosh D/A converter and power and ground distribution were fitted to the rack as well. All stereo components were mounted using stainless steel hardware, as was the custom 1/2-inch-thick acrylic display panel.

Frontal Lobe

Although the factory door pods seem an obvious and simple speaker location, Jon first had to scientifically prove it. By building a temporary two-way system on portable plates, Jon was able to easily place speakers anywhere to determine the best possible location. As it turned out, the factory locations proved better than any other.

Improving on the situation was the introduction of a Dynaudio System 360 three-way speaker set, which includes an audiophile-grade adjustable passive crossover. After carefully and thoroughly reinforcing the door panels and speaker pods with a combination of Dynamat, fiberglass and other composites, the speakers were mounted to the modified pods. The System 360 is a robust three-way configuration with 8" midbass, 3" midrange and a 1" soft dome tweeter. Each of the three was placed as close together as possible to, "preserve the imaging and minimize sonic aberrations at the crossover points." Well put, Jon. Upon final assembly the door pods were stuffed with Acousta-Stuff and sealed to the door panel with silicone caulk. Jon notes that, "Every possible measure was taken to maximize rigidity and minimize internal reflections inside the door pod." I'll note that there is no way possible to cover in this story the attention to detail on the doors alone.

Bass Face

Popular belief is that low subwoofer frequencies are omni-directional, meaning that a subwoofer would not seem localized even when mounted behind the listener. Still, installing a woofer behind the listener is an anomaly reserved for mobile audio due to the near impossible feat of installing a subwoofer in the dash.

Jon wouldn't have it. He used available space between the gear shifter and lower console. Though small, it was ample for a single 10" woofer. Because of its favorable small enclosure sonic performance characteristics, Jon chose a dual-voice coil Eclipse driver to handle the sub duties in a very well-built enclosure. Using 1-inch and 3/4-inch MDF, Jon built the box to fit the contours of the original dash, maximize space and minimize internal reflections. The box was "screwed and glued" together, as he put it, and then lined with V-Block and bonded with Deflex pad internally. It was further stuffed with Acousta-Stuff before the woofer was mounted with stainless steel hardware.

Complete, the stereo system takes up only the space of the tiny subwoofer enclosure, about one cubic foot. Door speakers are in modified original pods and the amplifier and accessories are smartly mounted on a small yet effective rack that takes the place of the factory folding table (relocated to the rear). And even though there was a huge van to take advantage of, there isn't a single audio component one foot back of the cockpit. Still, Jon wins sound quality competitions with minimal gear and no signal processors at all.

Now that the installation is complete after eight months of build time, Jon doesn't see the need to change anything about it. "I'll probably leave the vehicle the way it is and enjoy it." And he does so on a daily basis.

Driver Profile

As an organic polymer scientist by trade, you'd think Jon Whitledge would spend his time pondering equations and compounds. Truth is, Jon spends most of his free time shredding on his mountain bike with pals or at the beach with his girlfriend.

With his previous vehicle, a 1995 VW camper van, Jon actually had a "pay-off" party at the beach for his friends. "I did a ceremonial check writing and served Italian food and wine," Jon laughs "I spent as much on the wine and food as I did on the van payment." Jon went on to sell that van to a couple in San Diego. After he purchased his new van the two got together for a beach party where the vans met.

Even though it's evident that Jon applied his scientist mind to the installation of his current Euro Camper, he doesn't go through life over-analysing every situation. Jon believes in simplicity. While his mountain bike buddies are riding the latest full suspension bicycles Jon prefers a full rigid. Sporting a titanium frame and chromoly fork for solid feel, Jon doesn't care that his pals are squishing around on the trails while he sits tough.

At the end of the day, with polymer thoughts left behind in the lab, Jon and his friends can usually be found at Torrey Pines State Beach enjoying a beautiful sunset with a bottle of champagne and cheese and crackers. For all Jon's EuroVan has to offer with its audiophile sound system and spacious creature comforts, it's the good times at the end of the day that make it magical. It truly is a magic bus.

Vechicle Profile

"Magic Bus" The Volkswagen EuroVan isn't fast. It isn't a rock crawler and it certainly isn't sleek. But what it lacks in performance and style it more than makes up for in party convenience. With comfortable sleeping for two, a sink, stove and fridge, the EuroVan is a loft on wheels.

In 1948, Ben Pon met with Volkswagen management (under British Authority at the time) to see about becoming the Dutch VW importer. During the meeting he told the automobile manufacturer of his idea about a transport vehicle. His sketches were crude but his idea was groundbreaking: a simple, lightweight van with plenty of cargo space and all the simplicity of the Type 1 (Beetle). In fact, the transporter would originally be named Type 2.

It wasn't until the '60s and '70s that it became popular for recreational use in the US, with traveling hippies, free love and free spirit abounding. The bus was such an icon of the period that The Who (kind of) wrote a song about it, "Magic Bus."

Westfallia began bus conversions to make the VW Type 2 more convenient for life on the road. Pop-up tops with sleeping quarters and more headroom made the bus more spacious. A small sink, stove and refrigerator could be operated with propane or hooked up to RV outlets.

Today we have the modern EuroVan. With its boxy design and liveable amenities it has withstood the test of time. Even the demographic is the same, if not left over from a more simple time. Our hippies of the '60s, the baby boomers of the '50s, have all grown up now. Perhaps their glory days are gone, but at least we still have the Volkswagen Type 2.