Pat’s Point of View

As an avid car nut, and having a taste for the unusual, I have long had a fascination for unique automotive specimens. Something intrigues me about the way guys funk up cars that would normally be driven by people not part of the modified car scene. An analogy for this is that it’s a mums car, like a station wagon. Hence the phrase Pimp my mum’s ride, which combines the mum-ness and the name of a popular MTV series dedicated to sooping up old cars (Pimp my Ride).

Sadly, I have thought about this quite a bit, and the initial idea has morphed slightly to become a homage to any funked up rides that are a little (or a lot) left field. I have extended my definition to encompass two categories: Factory pimped (mostly obscure Japanese imports) and Street pimped ("necessity is the mother of all modification").

For example, how does a 250kW twin turbo AWD station wagon strike you? (pretty damn hard is the answer, so keep out of the way).

I dig this because it’s usually down to a young guy who is so passionate about cars that he will do anything for his “art”. Additionally there are a lot of guys (and girls) in the ‘burbs who don’t have much cash, and can’t go out and buy an expensive sports car or Jap import (their urban cousins usually do that). So they make do with what they’ve got. Usually a car they have inherited or just plain confiscated from a family member. Or it’s all they could afford to buy. Then they pour all their time, money, blood sweat and tears into it to create a master piece (or at least it is in their eyes!).

Often the results are pretty tragic (think poorly fitted Veilside kit on a Laser) but occasionally you see something truly unique and quite creative. It takes an eye for style and good judgement. You need to be considerate of the “host” vehicle and choose mods that suit and honour it. I think the guys who do well in this regard should think about careers in design.

To not go over the top, nor simply copy what everybody else does, is the key. I invite you all to submit rides you own or have seen cruising around, and tell the world. The idea is to make this a community governed forum. You have the power. So if you post something that doesn’t cut it (not unique or not in-line with the soul of the original vehicle) hopefully the consensus will react accordingly. Remove, edit, downplay.

The thing about the vehicles (both street and factory pimped) is an unusual, bizarre, off the wall choice; something mumsy! :)

Whilst Japanese engineers seem to be quite fascinated with maxing out unusual models, it is getting a bit formulaic as we are exposed to more of their creations through the grey import market. For example how many times can you stuff a hot engine and AWD into a runabout or wagon before it’s not innovative any more? Every auto show is packed with hi-po exotics.

So in a way, it’s much more interesting on the street or “home grown” scene. Sure some examples are based on factory models, with the usual accompaniment of aftermarket bolt-on bits, but there will always be that guy who’s stuck with him mum’s old Corona and mags it, bags it, drops it and pipes it. He earns the most points in my book.

The Pimp my Mum’s Ride recipe

Mag it

Fit some nice alloy wheels. Big is good.

Bag it

Fit some decent tyres. Low profile of course. Make sure they fit the rims.

Drop it

Reduce the ride height. Good quality lowered spring and sports shocks. Don’t forget to fit decent bushes and sway bars. Some negative camber looks good too.

Pipe it

Fit a good quality exhaust system. Stainless steel, mandrel bent and big! Nice shiny muffler at the back.

Here are some classic examples.

Factory pimped rides:

• Audi RS4 estate. No need to say anything more, these are the ultimate in factory sleepers.
• Subaru Legacy GTB Wagon. Once the fastest wagon on earth. Twin turbo sedan was sold here as the Liberty B4 for a few years.
• Nissan March SuperTurbo. Can’t decide between turbocharging or supercharging? Just use both! Similar is the Suzuki Alto Works turbo AWD.
• Nissan Cefiro GTR Touring. Basically a wagon version of the mighty Skyline GTR (coupe).
• Toyota Mark II Tourer. The Japanese equivalent of an SS Commodore, but better.
• Toyota Chaser Tourer. See above.
• Nissan Stagea. Big ugly wagon, but oh so sweet with a turbo donk.
• Mitsuibishi Legnum. Twin turbo wagon version of a Galant VR4.
• Mitsubishi Evolution Wagon. Rally bred, and it’ll help you move house!

Street pimped rides:

• Holden Calais VL turbo wagon. The VL turbo is massively popular, especially since the rise in popularity of Skyline turbos which share the same family of engines (the Skyline R30/31 had the same RB30 engines, shame we never got the turbo R31 GTS here). For added strangeness, make it a wagon.
• Mitsubishi Verada Wagon. I’ve seen a few of these around Sydney that are pretty cool. Guess they’re cheaper than most other big sedans.
• Lexus ES300. Basically this is just a posh Camry, but a few have been worked and come off looking pretty sick.
• Lexus LS400. The big brother. For ultimate pimp-mobile you can’t beat one of these big buggers lowered and riding on 20″ rims. And there’s the sound of that Toyota V8 singing at max revs!
• Datsuns (such as the 1600 wagon). Old favourites, but these days it needs to be fully gutted and fitted with modern Nissan hardware to cut the mustard.
• People movers. If you’re going to hot up a people mover, may as well do it in style. There’s a whole Japanese cult around ’slammed vans’ like a Tarago or Hi-Ace, it’s Jap Mini-truckin. A check out how they drift them!
• Subaru Forester. These look wicked when lowered (they’re essentially just Imprezas, so taking out the factory suspension lift does a good job). There’s an awesome silver ‘03 model around, with STi alloys and bits. It’s been dumped right down to the bump stops!

Popularity: 39% [?]