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The students and shop instructor at the
Ritop School for Mobile Electronics
conceived the idea of converting an old Mass. Turnpike F-150 into a showcase
for their creativeness and fabrication skills. The project commenced with
the February 1999 class and the fabrication and installation by the students
finished in 2001.
The entire interior was removed including the dashboard. After the vehicle
was entirely stripped, a new custom interior was designed by the students
and staff of The Ritop School in
coordination with Rich Inferrera. The door panels and dashboard were
designed and fabricated using fiberglass and Bondo and painted yellow. The
dashboard has custom designed and fabricated gauges and switch gear. A
console housing the subwoofers was also custom fabricated and installed.
Throughout the vehicle purple neon is subtly featured. The door panels glow
when the doors are opened. Twin video monitors rise out of the top of the
dashboard at the touch of a switch. The subwoofer grilles and switchgear
were custom fabricated out of aluminum and reflect the purple neon glow. The
hood opens with actuators controlled from a button on the security system’s
remote. The seats are MOMO racing seats with yellow accents to match the
dashboard and vehicle exterior.
It was up to
the installers at Rich's Car Tunes to wire and install the dashboard gauges,
video and audio systems and the security system.
Fernando Ventura finalized the installation and against all odds made
everything work. Thanks to the staff and students at The Ritop School for
Mobile Electronics, Fernando Ventura and all the installers at Rich’s Car
Tunes, Barry Steinberg of Direct Tire, Leni Salgan of Munroe Auto Body,
Steve Leighton of Speedy Muffler, Watertown, John Wallace for his masterful
machine work.
The truck won Best New Truck and Best Truck/Van Interior
award at the 28th annual World of Wheels Show in 2002. |
