The impetus for doing an install can come from any number of places. But the desire to impress your family isn't often one of them. For Rick Bottom, a lifelong car audio enthusiast and former competitor, as his life's priorities changed from bachelor to family man instead of abandoning his passion he modified it to fit his new lifestyle. Hence this 2006 Buick Lucerne CXX Luxury Liner, a competition-level car designed and built for his wife and kids.
Head Of The Family
This install's head of the family, so to speak, is an Eclipse AVN6610, installed in the factory dash location with the help of an American International dash kit. With its touchscreen and built-in equalizers, it's perfect for Bottom's on-the-go family. To make operation easier, steering wheel modules put controls within reach. With four people in the car at any given time, options are never a bad thing. To that effect, Bottom can dial-in an Eclipse HDR105 HD Radio tuner, Eclipse iPC-106 iPod controller, Eclipse SIR-ELCnt Sirius Satellite Radio tuner, Eclipse TVR105 TV tuner or one of two Eclipse CH 3083 CD changers mounted in the rear seat area behind the center armrest.
Doors
For front speakers, Bottom went with a set of Eclipse SC8365 3-way components. The 6.5" midbass woofers were mounted in the factory door locations using American International plastic enclosure cups. The mids found a space above the woofers, while the tweeters were installed in the A-pillars. For the rear, another set of Eclipse SC3865's were brought in, with the midbass woofers installed in the stock location, and the mids and tweets arrayed above them.
With a last name like Bottom, you know bass is going to be important to this family. Making sure everyone stays happy, three Eclipe SW8000 10" subs were installed, each in its own sealed 0.75ft3 enclosure made from 31/44" MDF. "The SW series is one of the best kept secrets in the industry," Bottom says. "They are simply incredible and rival anything out there today."
Amplification comes in the form of five Eclipse amps mounted in a curved line in the spare tirewell in the trunk floor. Two Eclipse XA2000 2-channel amps, one for the front components and one for the rear, sit alongside three Eclipse XA1000 monoblock amps, each dedicated to a single sub. It's a clean design that delivers where it counts.
Keeping the kids occupied on long trips, two Eclipse MRE-700 headrest monitors are fed by the double DVD player in the source unit in the dash. Now if only there were a way to stop the dreaded, "She's touching me!" fights.
Not only are the kids happy, Bottom is happy too, as his ride has garnered the attention of GM, which has featured the car not only at SEMA but in some ads as well.
Exterior
At Rick Bottom Designs the car was pulled apart and 180 pounds of Hushmat was applied throughout. It also gained a number of body modifications, including a Razzi GFX body kit and a Corsa exhaust system. A thorough coating of BASF/Glasurit silver gold pearl was applied over white gold pearl, while a gold mist stripe provides just the right accent.
Thanks
Bottom would like to thank his staff: Cory Stuart, Brian Delong, Tony Espinoza; the guys at Sound Decision: Sean Young and Brian Mobley; and Baumeister.
Driver Profile: Rick Bottom has been obsessed with car audio ever since he was old enough to drive. He's chosen to devote his life to it with his shop, Rick Bottom Designs, and even met his wife, Jody, at a car show. When he isn't loaning his Lucerne out to Buick to use in advertisements, he lets his wife use it as a daily driver. The combination of great sound and deep luxury appeals to everyone in his family, including his two daughters, Elle and Emme, who love to watch DVDs in the back seat.