It's one thing to build a cool car, but it's a whole other thing to top yourself. You may remember that Kevin Whipps of Scottsdale, Arizona, used to own the "Bad Apple" Honda Civic, which was featured on the cover of our October 2000 issue. You may also remember that promptly after that shoot, he rolled the car just outside of Blythe, California. Fortunately for Kevin and his passenger, no one was hurt, but the car was totaled, and Kevin was left with very little to work with.
After receiving a small amount of money for the car, Kevin decided that he needed something cool and different to build. He did have to top the Civic, so he needed a ride that was unique, and would make a statement. Kevin had an interest in the Ford Focus, and once he found out that he could get one, he drove on down to the dealership and picked out a silver Focus SE wagon.
Kevin's accomplished a lot of his goals with this car. "I've always wanted to get a studio shoot, and this shoot has definitely exceeded my expectations. I also showed my car this year for Ford Motorsports at SEMA, and that was a killer week," Kevin said to us at our shoot. "I'd also like to thank all of my sponsors. None of this could be possible without their help. Thanks to Boogie, Meguiar's, ShowTime Hydraulics, Directed Electronics, Street Beat Customs, House of Kolor, Optima Batteries, JBA, Power Stop, Speed Trends Racing, Pirelli Tires, KMC Wheels, Focus Sport, SPAL USA, MBRP, Flatline Graphix, MA Audio, Nitrous Express, Energy Suspension, EBC brake pads, Toucan Industries, APC, Eclipse, Hose Techniques, Triple XL and everyone else who helped me build this car. Finally thanks to Relaxed Atmosphere, my buddy Matt, and all of my friends in the FKW fan club."
Interior:
Two-tone gray ultra leather seats with orange Hawaiian print accents and shaved headrests stitched by J&W Classics in Phoenix. Orange Hawaiian print accents in the door panels and dash. Custom orange rollcage and mesh rear subwoofer cover built by the owner and his buddy Clint.
Rims and Rubber:
19x7.5 KMC Guido wheels and P215/35-ZR19 Pirelli tires.
Audio/Video:
Eclipse in-dash TV and DVD player, MA Audio monitor, Eclipse six-disc CD changer, 6.5-inch DEI amplifiers, 5.25-inch component set with two Studio 10-inch subwoofers and Eclipse navigation system.
Suspension:
ShowTime Hydraulics four-pump fully hardlined setup installed by the owner with Parker accumulators, 6-inch (front) and 8-inch (rear) cylinders, three Optima Yellow Top batteries and 16 switches. The suspension includes stock front and rear swaybars, Ractive upper front strut tower bar and Energy Suspension bushing kit.
Paint and Body Mods:
House of Kolor sunset orange pearl applied by Jai Stockdale of Phoeniz, Arizona. Body features shaved door handles, roof rack, trunk box and hood squirters, plus APC clear corner lenses, Street Beat billet grille, European model upper grille, 35x65 sliding ragtop, shorty antenna, European clear side markers, Trenz billet wiper stem covers, APC billet plate frame and SPAL 35-lb. door poppers.
Performance:
2.0-liter engine with STR cam gears and oil cap, JBA header, Ractive intake with chrome filter, Focus Sport plug wires, Optima Orange Top battery, Nitrous Express 50-shot nitrous oxide system, Hose Techniques silver engine dress-up kit and MBRP stainless steel cat-back exhaust.