"You can drive back," offers Brian. I ask about the underpinnings and dub-status rolling stock. "The wheels were no problem; the Altima can fit 20x8.5s all day long," he bragged, "but no one made a suspension for the car yet, and I didn't want to roll into SEMA looking like I was representing the ATL..." he continued, "so I did a little research and found out that the new Altima suspension was very close to the '02 and up Altima sedan's. I called TEIN and had them ship a set of '02 Altima springs down to Kenny in Houston, along with the '02 Altima front top hat he needed to modify to make them fit. Bam. Lower, and able to out-corner a stock 350." And what about the brakes? Puny stock calipers and rotors would look straight lame behind dubs, especially on a 450+ whp ride. "Simple," answered Brian, "I called Stillen. Done. AP Racing rotors and calipers in the mail, dog!"
As Brian explained it, the car came together without a hitch, and days before showtime, only one area was left uncovered. "The car was always white," continues Brian, "but we needed something to set it apart from the rest. I got Kenny the full BASF treatment: full R-M White Pearl inside and out, with a little BASF flat black on the hood to keep it real." No corny vinyl graphics scheme on this one. "We showed love to the sponsors, and that was it; we didn't want to cover up too much of this car. Its lines are too good. It's like a baby G35... that's good in the snow."
After the big weekend, where the Altima took JD Power and Associates' People's Choice award for "best tuner car" of the event, it was shipped up north, to remain under the watchful eye of Mr. Fox, as it parades the eastern seaboard show circuit. "But I take this thing everywhere," he boasts. "Groceries, the hardware store... I drive it to all the shows: every HIN on the east coast, the Carlisle show, Tuner Evolution... pretty much anything I can find. Everyone loves the Altima," he tells. "I was able to track 27 new Altima sales to customers who said this car inspired their decision. Some 20-year-old kid saw pics someone posted of the car on one of the forums, and he traded his new IS250 in for an Altima the next day," he continues, "Another one was a 47-year-old woman who saw it at a show and bought a red one from my local dealership the next weekend. She got the base model with steelies, so I'm going to give her my factory wheels..."
Hearing him continue to talk up the car into the wee hours of the morning, it was easy to understand how much the car had grown on him. The man's built 87 cars, and has a mild to moderate case of ADD [Understatement of the year- Carter]; I've never heard him talk at such length on any of his past projects-let alone on any one topic in particular. Back at his shop, as I climbed into my rental and uploaded directions to the airport, I queried the future of the car. Brian's usual boisterous, confident tone changed. Gone was his characteristic, friendly braggadocio. In a quiet, slightly desperate tone, he replied, "It's going back to Houston next week."
On to number 88, I suppose...
Behind The Build
Head to the message boards at www.importtuner.com to chat about this feature vehicle
Name.
Fox marketing, turbochargers.com
Age.
33
Hometown.
York, PA / Houston, TX
Occupation.
Marketing consultant, TURBO development
Hobbies.
Fast cars, fast women
Build Time.
Four Weeks
Feedback.
brian@foxmarking.comkenny@turbochargers.com
Quote.
"Fuck it"
'08 Nissan Altima
Output 457.2 whp @ 12 psi
Engine
Artisan Performance turbo kit: Turbonetics GTK-650 turbo, 650cc injectors, fuel rail, 3-inch downpipe and cat-back exhaust; Artisan Performance battery relocation kit, crank pulley; AEM FIC; Amsoil 0W-30 Signature Series motor oil
By Luke Munnell
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