The Rabbit Hunter Mini
Sitting in the driveway, all 1100cc, just asking to have an article done on it. I just couldn’t resist, out came the camera.
His ride; a Mini. His sounds; Pioneer. His dB; 126.1. Yes that’s right, you’re not mistaken, 126.1dB!
James started off with a mini running two 4″ Boschman speakers in the back. After finding they weren’t able to provide the musical experience he wanted, in went a pair of Pioneer TS-D160R 6″x9″s to replace them.
With a Pioneer DEH-P6450 Source Unit providing the only power to the 6″x9″s, you wouldn’t expect much from them. However, being in the confined space of a mini, using the whole boot as an enclosure and keeping holes from the old 4″ speakers as ‘ports’, they sounded mint. Sitting in the car, I couldn’t believe how good they sounded, I was sure there had to be a sub in there. This set up really has to be heard to be believed!
So just for a bit of fun, James entered the Sound off at Baypark, Tauranga on the 3rd of May 2003. Without knowing what kind of score he would get, he rocked up to the stand and cranked up the volume. To everyone’s surprise, up pops a 122dB from the little car! James had just taken 1st place in the new national Kiwi 1-2 Speakers Class!
Always thinking he can do better, James added a Pioneer GM-X404 amp to give some juice to the 6″x9″s. Now they’re pumping with a hefty 70w RMS. With the new addition to his system, he entered the Sound off at the 2003 Auto Salon in Greenlane, Auckland. Lining up against cars like ‘FATWGN’ for the qualifying, James cranked out a score of 126.1dB! The crowd went wild for the little beast. On the second run he proved his consistency, pulling another 126.1. These figures scored him another victory and allowed him to hold on to his 1st place Class 1-2 Speakers title.
In the future, plans for the little beast include Pioneer components for the front stage, mounted in custom door pods, and a trick custom fibreglass centre console.
James has kept the mini looking mint. A nice paint job, race stripes, tints (courtesy of Stripe and Moulding), flares, coby and even a bonnet scoop and pins add to the aggressive look of the exterior. The interior has been kept clean too, with colour matching on the gear stick and hand brake. Door trims have been re-upholstered by Waikato Upholstery with red and white vinyl, and the seats have been covered in a similar fashion.
The boot has been spruced up too; carpeted boards line the sides and bottom, with the Pioneer amp on display for all to see. Even the rear window has seen a bit of treatment by the guys at Stripe and Moulding; the Playboy bunny within a target above the words ‘I Read Penthouse’.
While chatting with the lovely Red Bull chicks I thought, what a good opportunity for a photo! So I asked if they wouldn’t mind ‘posing’ for a quickie. For my efforts I got a free Red Bull, beauty.
Owner Details
Name: James Bartlett
Age: 17
Car Details
Year: 1976
Model: Leyland Mini S
Engine: 1100cc
Car Audio
Headunit: Pioneer DEH-P6450
Amps: Pioneer GM-X404
Speakers: Pioneer TS-D160R
Special Thanks
Mad Soundz Hamilton,
Waikato Upholstery,
Stripe and Moulding
