Sometimes there are good memories attached to a vehicle, such as a birthday, a first date, or the first car you purchased with your own money. Other times, you just want to get as far away from the memory as you can. When James Skinner was carjacked in his 2003 Ford Crown Victoria, he learned just what it meant to live through a bad memory. And while the thief only got about a mile away from the scene of the crime before being apprehended, Skinner decided he wanted to trade in the car and make a fresh start with something new.
His first plan was to purchase a Dodge Charger, but after seeing a 2006 Magnum at a dealership and being impressed by its features, he was soon behind the wheel of the sporty station wagon. After a few miles of driving, the car was his.
Skinner began to improve the vehicle’s performance, starting with a cold air intake that added 15 horsepower. Skinner installed a custom computer chip to manipulate the engine’s output and control its intake more efficiently. Another big-ticket item was the Air Ride suspension system, which Skinner spent countless hours researching to find exactly the right setup for his car.
| Stats box |
| » Engine: 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 |
| » Performance: Big Bully cold air intake, DiabloSport custom tune chip, Universal Air Ride Suspension with AccuAir E-Level |
| » Wheels: 22-inch Verde Allusions |
| » Exterior: Demolded and debadged, tinted windows, custom painted taillights, high-intensity discharge headlights and fog lights, Chrysler 300C front-end conversion with custom painted accents and Hemi vinyl |
| » Interior: Custom-painted interior pieces, custom black leather seats, Kenwood DNX-9960, navigation with backup camera, iPod, custom Tampa Bay Buccaneers subwoofer enclosure, HiFonics 2000-watt amplifier, two RE Audio SXX12D4 12-inch subwoofers |
The stock wheels were dispatched in favor of black 22-inch Verde Allusion wheels. While wheels are one of the most common swap-outs, Skinner said they proved to be his greatest test of patience.
“Finding rims to fit the AWD Magnum is by far the hardest thing I’ve been through with this car. The AWD Magnum is pretty rare,” said Skinner.
Everyone who considers cars more than a form of transportation knows there is prestige in letting the whole world know what you are driving. But there is also a code among tuners that debadging the car can draw even more attention. So Skinner removed the badges as well as all the car’s molding to give the project a cleaner look.
To stylize the vehicle, but also as a security precaution, he tinted the windows.
The interior was treated to a full audio makeover including navigation, subwoofers and maximum amplification. But perhaps the most over-the-top custom feature on the car is the front-end conversion, which removed the fascia and replaced it with that of a Chrysler 300c. Skinner actually found another person looking to do the same conversion in the opposite direction. So, the two of them swapped handshakes and then swapped fronts. But even this conversion is temporary, as Skinner said he plans to find a front fascia of a Dodge Charger — a fitting tribute to the car he went to buy at the dealership.
What do you drive? An Inferno Red 2006 Dodge Magnum RT AWD.
Why do you drive it? It is the best all-around car that I’ve owned. The Hemi is fast. And it has the room of an SUV. The OEM and aftermarket options are endless.
What makes this car so special? After my divorce in 2006, I got custody of my son full time and I wanted to stop riding motorcycles, even though I continued to buy them and customize them. I stumbled upon a website at custommagnums.com and found that the options for my car were endless. After diving headfirst into the car-customizing world I found new friends from all walks of life. This car has given me my life back, and every time I drive my car it puts a huge smile on my face, and every time I add something new it gives me a sense of accomplishment.
What is your most memorable driving experience? My most memorable ride was after my first modification. I installed a Big Bully cold air intake, and I was terrified that I was going to screw something up, being that it was my first time working on a car. It took me an hour to complete the install, and when I started my car the check engine light came on. I found some solutions on the web and the first thing I tried fixed the issue. I decided to take a quick ride to test her out. During the ride I could feel the increase in hp, and the sound of the cold air intake was awesome. That quick ride turned into a couple hours, and the whole time I had the biggest smile on my face!
What was the first vehicle you owned? A 1984 Chevrolet Celebrity station wagon.
What kind of music are you currently listening to in your vehicle? Wiz Khalifa, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, or whatever hits hard.
And your first ticket? What was it for? I have never received a ticket in this car, but my first ticket was for going 74 in a 55 mph zone.
Got a custom car you want to show off? Email [email protected].
