Whether you dig the import fad or not, you gots to give the compact crew props. A couple of decades ago, most people perceived imports as little more than econo-autos, known more for great mileage than cosmetic appeal or performance abilities. But thanks to widespread availability of inexpensive bolt-ons and the creative impulses of a million kids who've fallen in love with racing, the 2NR aesthetic has grown to heights challenging domestic and Euro automotive trends.
Shinsuke "Junior" Yamamoto of La Habra, Calif., is among the fallen. Rollin' a '95 Supra Twin Turbo, his toy is the paragon of sport compacts everywhere: improved stance, beefed-up engine, body kit. Unfortunately it lacked one key component, an emptiness remedied by Greg Kim and the bunch at Autosound Specialists in Westminster. Yamamoto set out to balance his car's fresh looks and increased power with a good helping of audio/video love.
Commissioned to bring a complete media system to life, store manager Kim got down to business with some Dyanmat Super, as well as what he calls "special secret" deadening material, in the doors, rear panels and hatch. Then in the double-DIN dash, he dropped in an Alpine CD player and multimedia receiver with flip-out monitor.
To the left of the steering column is the face for the Alpine digital signal processor, while the brain of the unit is concealed in the trunk. Opposite the DSP in the glove box is a PlayStation 2, ordered direct from Japan and held in place by a Bondo/MDF/fiberglass/vinyl cocktail.
A set of MB Quart 6 1/2-in. components handles the front stage. The mids kick in the factory door spots while the tweets fire from the dash. An Alpine center channel fastened to dash with a special adhesive-said to leave no blemish once removed-fills out the front stage.
In back, Junior made the difficult call to forgo rear-seat lovin' in favor of a quartet of 12-in. JL subs in a V-shaped, sealed enclosure. Another set of Quart components are set in a custom rear panel that hems the enclosure opening, while a transparent mirror etched with a Supra logo is backlit in blue.
The area under the hatch is truly the pifce de rfsistance, home to a pair of McIntosh amps mounted on the floor beneath Plexi', while another appears higher up in the trunk.