The vehicle you see here, owned by John Malozsak, started as a 2002 Mazda Protege 5 wagon. When he purchased it from a local Mazda dealer in Southern California, he already had ideas for it. The concept, as outlandish as it was, was to transform the vehicle into a pickup truck. More about that later.
Unlike many project vehicles out there, this one would not include monitors placed in every open crevice, or thumping bass to be heard from a mile down the road. This vehicle would receive a conservative system that would flow with the rest of the vehicle, a theme that must incorporate the look and feel of the exterior, all the way down to the smallest details. For the audio project, Advantage Audio in Brea, CA was chosen. Malozsak took advantage of his great relationship with Clarion and acquired products from the company exclusively.
Audio
The brains of the install belong to a Clarion VRX925VD, a 7-inch, fully motorized monitor with AM/FM/CD and DVD all built into a single DIN-sized unit (the factory radio in the Mazda is slightly bigger than double-DIN). At the time of installation a dash kit was not available to use as a reference so one was made using 1/4-inch Masonite and plastic to fill the remaining hole. The finished dash has the Clarion unit surrounded by gray Alcantara suede. Mated to the unit is a Clarion DVH920 5.1 processor installed under the passenger seat.
Filling the cabin with sound was accomplished with a total of 10 speakers: two sets of components and two subwoofers. The bottom portion of each door was completely fabricated to accommodate four speakers, a complete set of Clarion SRS1384 5.25" components with external crossovers. After disassembling the door, pods were laid out and formed using various materials including fiberglass and body filler. The speakers were fitted into the front portion of the door and protected with powder-coated, 1/16-inch perforated steel mesh. The housing around the speakers was recessed so the grille could slide into place for a flush fit. This material was used on the front and rear grilles of the vehicle. The new lightweight fiberglass panel was painted in Lime Time paint to bring the outside in.
Bass for the system comes courtesy of a pair of Clarion SRW2581 10" subwoofers. Originally the plan was to install one woofer behind each seat, but that plan was changed. The guys at Advantage Audio along with Malozsak thought it would be a better idea to show off the woofers, so they were installed between the seats and against the back wall. The woofers fire in opposite directions, one towards the ceiling and the other down to the floor, each at approximately forty-five degrees. The enclosure is made mostly of fiberglass. The only wood used on the enclosure is the back wall, part of the sides, and the woofer rings. Both subwoofers share a common chamber measuring 11/2 cubic feet. The enclosure is secured to the back wall of the vehicle.
The amplifiers used for the system are a Clarion APX401.2 and APX401.4. The first is a two-channel amplifier used to drive the subwoofers while the second is a four-channel that powers the components. Each amplifier was installed behind the seats and is trimmed in orange leather. The trim panels are made of Masonite.
Due to the conservative setup, there were no major alterations made to the electrical system. Only an Optima battery was added.
The Wagon Turned Pickup
Turning this vehicle into what you see here was a painstaking process. Considering all the parties involved, communication was important and mandatory. The project started with a trip to Pro Design Hot Rods in Santa Ana, CA. Specializing in sheet metal fabrication, the shop was responsible for turning the wagon into a pickup. The back half of the roof was chopped off and the rear doors were welded closed forever. Sounds simple, but it was an extremely daunting task. Once the metal work was completed, DG Motorsports provided its wide body kit. This was all molded in so no seams would show. The one-piece front and rear bumpers were also molded to meet the sheet metal on the sides of the vehicle. Wet Works Garage in Stanton, CA applied the Lime Time Pearl Paint, courtesy of House of Kolor. Wet Works was responsible for not only the paintwork but block work as well. A wing by Wings West and a vinyl graphics theme by Modern Image complete the exterior work.
The transformed vehicle rolls around on AXIS Speed Six 19-inch wheels (19x8 all around). Not settling for a factory look, the wheels were powder-coated in charcoal. Yokohama Parada Spec III's, 215/35-19, keep the vehicle connected to the road. Behind the wheels are Wilwood brakes. The front brakes consist of Superlite model six-piston calipers on 13-inch rotors while the rear brakes are four piston calipers. Giving the Mazda its stance is a coil-over system by B&G Suspension Systems.
Beefing up horsepower is a T25 ball-bearing turbo installed by Protosport, with custom piping for the Intercooler by Underpressure. As if that wasn't enough, Malozsak called upon Nitrous Express for a dual tank wet system installed in the bed. Several fittings under the hood were custom fabricated. Other parts were polished or powder-coated in pearl orange.
Many amenities of the exterior were brought into the interior. For example, the orange stripe on the outside was brought inside with orange pressed leather supplied by Mazda. Cobra Imola II seats (wrapped in gray suede and orange leather) with Schroth four-point harnesses keep you glued to your seat at all times. The entire dash was wrapped in suede, along with parts of the door, shift boot, headliner, and center console. Stitchcraft performed the upholstery work.
True Concept
Malozsak uses this vehicle to promote his business, Ballistic Unlimited, as well as the products supplied by the various manufacturers. This car does not compete and is merely on display at many events throughout the year. What separates this project vehicle from others is the fact that onlookers oftentimes do not know what kind of vehicle it is. They think that it is a production vehicle that has been modified slightly. That is the biggest compliment anyone could receive. It just confirms the fact that the project is flawless!
DRIVER PROFILE
A member of Mazda Elite Project Team, John Malozsak is a veteran when it comes to building project cars. In the last 15 years, he has built approximately 20 vehicles. At first, gaining manufacturer support was difficult. However, as the years went by and the caliber of vehicles coming out of Malozsak's camp started to draw national attention, many manufacturers took notice. Today, when he is behind a project, manufacturers are more than eager to step up with free product. This Mazda is the third project with the carmaker.
John is also the owner of Ballistic Unlimited, a custom apparel imprinting business. Due to his overwhelming passion for automobiles, a large portion of his business is done with companies in the automotive industry. "I started this business to supply apparel to the aftermarket automotive industry," states Malozsak. You can say that his interest in automobiles is a part of his life in every way.
TECHBOX
Wheels: AXIS Speed Six 19"
Tires: Yokohama Parada Spec III's, 215/35-19
Performance: T25 ball-bearing turbo; Nitrous Express, iEquus Performance Instruments gauges, 5-inch shift light tach (www.iequus.com)
Suspension: B&G
Brakes: Wilwood
Seats: Cobra Imola II