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2003 Autosalon Top 10 Final Battle up in Auckland, where he placed
sixth overall for the championship from a single round. Back then,
we detailed the swathe of trophies he hauled home and made the
bold claim that he was “bound to be one of the South Island’s more
prominent car tuners in years to come”. We weren’t wrong, either, as
Allan was back at the 2004 Autosalon Christchurch sporting airbag
suspension and a pile of upgrades for a repeat that saw seven more
awards added to the bank and a nomination for King of Autosalon at
the 2004 Autosalon Top 10 Final Battle — where he claimed even more
shelf ornaments and placed fourth overall.
It was there that Allan bumped into Rob from Rapid Radio as
they downed a few beers; Rob promptly advised Allan that his stereo
system was severely lacking and offered to rectify the issue. Allan left
the car with Rapid in Auckland with the idea of unveiling the update at
the 2005 4&Rotary Nationals. Rob crafted up a wild subwoofer box
that filled the boot; it was constructed out of Perspex to show off the
airbag set-up sitting in the spare-wheel well underneath, and included
lower hatch–mounted components and massive amps. These peak
period modifications nabbed Allan the titles of Best Honda and
Best Stereo Install.
Allan and the car were knocking on the doors of the top players
with a serious message to deliver, but, after heading back to Timaru
after Nats, it was not seen again. Some speculated that it had been
crashed and written off; others said it had been chopped up forInspired by the circuit and made for the street, the Mazda Soul Crystal Red–licked Rocket Bunny V1 kit
that ‘Vici0us’ wears packs modern aggression, injected by chunky over-fenders, bulging side skirts, a
sharp front splitter–and–canard combo on the matching bumper, and the sweeping hatch spoiler
EXTERIOR
PAINT: Resprayed in Mazda Soul Crystal Red by Cameron’s Bodyworks
ENHANCEMENTS: Rocket Bunny V1 bodykit, new OEM window mouldings, new OEM roof
mouldings, modified bonnet, door mouldings deleted, Buddy Club rear bumper, custom front
splitter, Spoon wing mirrors, Sparco fuel fillerINTERIOR
SEATS: Bride Lowmax, super-low rails
STEERING WHEEL: Momo tuner
INSTRUMENTATION: Haltech Street dash, Auto Meter fuel-pressure gauge, Blitz
boost controller
EXTRA: Dash vents deleted, Alcantara-retrimmed door cards and dash, Momo peach gear
knob, Momo handbrake leverDRIVER
PROFILE
DRIVER/OWNER:
Allan Grant
AGE: “Hmmm”
LOCATION: Brisbane,
Australia (currently); Timaru,
New Zealand (home town)
BUILD TIME: Three years in
current form
LENGTH OF OWNERSHIP:
21 yearsTHANKS: Love to my
family — my awesome
wife, Sonia, and our two
amazing children, Scarlett
and Carter , Chase and Nos,
our Jack Russells for helping
me through the late nights,
Alec Manderson, for the
effort he’s put in; Cam, Josh,
and the boys at Cameron’s
Bodyworks; Phill at Fitment
Solutions down the Gold
Coast for the sweet fitment;
and Leon, Matt, Alex, and
Paul (RIP, mate) for their help