2000 Saleen Mustang - White Noise

Gabriel Watts had his eye and heart set on a Mustang Saleen for quite some time. When the white 2000 limited edition S281 hit the streets, he could no longer resist the temptation. He gave in and purchased his dream car in May of 2000.

Watts, who had previously owned a '65 Mustang, had always been a fan of great audio systems. He had installed various components in his previous vehicles over the years. This time, he decided to go all out and turn his new car over to experts at an audio specialty shop.

Sound Innovations in Hayward, California, car audio experts for the past 12 years, tackled the extensive project. Owner Ernesto Onate and installers James Ngim and Daniel Rodriguez performed all of the work on the vehicle. Watts only had one stipulation that he wanted the team to stick to: the Mustang's interior had to remain intact. Watts explains, "I did not want to alter the interior visually, and I felt that the stock locations would work well for the system."

The installation began with the mounting of a Pioneer multimedia motorized in-dash unit in the factory head unit location. It features a 7-inch active matrix LCD color display. A matching Pioneer 6-disc changer is located below in the factory single disc spot. For video capabilities, a Pioneer DVD 6-disc changer and television tuner are hidden in the trunk.

The staggering effect is used again in an aluminum-laminated box on the left side of the trunk. Four MB Quart competition crossovers (included with the four MB Quart speakers) are encased in the box in a "staircase step" arrangement. Once again, green neon illuminates the box's contents from behind.

In addition to the audio system, there were quite a few modifications to the body of the car including the addition of a fiberglass hood, roll bar, speedster cover, a 5351 tailfin, and a ground kit. Saleen front and rear bumpers and Saleen decals were also added.

Pioneer's 8000R hideaway audio/video processor controls all of the multimedia functions. It is also hidden in the trunk, behind the DVD changer behind a cosmetic panel. It runs the DVD changer, TV tuner, video output to the monitor; and it includes audio/video inputs, outputs to the amplifiers, and built-in crossovers and equalizer.

A pair of MB Quart Referenz Premium components provides the midrange and high end to the front stage. Each set is installed in the factory locations in the doors and is made up of a 6.5-inch speaker and a one-inch tweeter. A matching pair of MB Quart's is installed in the factory rear locations as well. "We went with the MB Quart because they work very well with the rest of the components in the car," says Onate. "Their products' quality, reputation, and reliability made it an easy choice."