It Don't Mean A Thing

Those of you familiar with chef/television host Emeril Lagasse are well aware of his adventurous and unpredictable antics with food. Best known for taking an average dish to the next level by "kicking it up a notch" or adding a little bam to the mix, Emeril is fully aware of what it takes to improve everyday eating and does so with precision and pride.

Ivan Tampi of Sylmar, California, is one who can surely relate to Emeril. Although not known for a good steak or a fine desert, Tampi does know how to take automobiles to the next level. As the owner of Ground Designs 2000, a body-enhancing firm specializing in--omigod!--import cars, Tampi takes it up a notch every day.

The sport compact scene is hot and, like it or not, appears to be here to stay. Even though diehard Mustang lovers shun the thought of watching a four-cylinder, front-drive rice burner buzz its way down a dragstrip, the fact still remains--these cars and the aftermarket supply of goodies for them are plentiful. But the buzz-bomb influence is being felt more in the late-model Mustang hobby every day, especially in California.

"Ground Designs 2000 began by constructing body components for the import craze and offers some of the sharpest body kits available," explained Tampi. "Recently, we have shifted into the Mustang arena and are hoping to do well there, too. We purchased the very first '01 Cobra (#177) to come out of one of the biggest Ford dealers on the West Coast, Galpin Ford, and began modifying it with some of our custom body parts. After using it as our guinea pig, if you will, we began selling a host of Mustang body kits and are very pleased with the results. We will even be doing Focus stuff and have an '03 on its way."

The Zinc Yellow Cobra was put together to showcase the craftsmanship of the company. "Because we are in the body business, we did not go hog wild under the hood but plan on doing so in the near future. Our main focus right now was with the body kit,"explained Tampi.

Don't be fooled for a minute that this powerplant is not capable of kicking some tail on the road, though. "I am a close friend of Gil Cormaci of Vortech Superchargers," recalled Tampi. "He approached me about installing the first supercharger kit that they had available for the '01 Cobra and I happily accepted. The Vortech staff installed a polished S-trim unit that breathes through a Vortech Aftercooler and is responsible for making upwards of 490 hp to the wheels."

Vortech also put the tune to it with a bigger set of fuel injectors and Ground Designs installed a full exhaust system and JBA headers, but other than that, the drivetrain is completely stock.

There is one other "performance item" hiding in the background and is one that works wonders with the eye-catching S-trim. "We installed a Nitrous Express adjustable nitrous system on it and shoehorned two polished nitrous bottles into the trunk," explained Tampi. "For now, the kit is just for show, but it is fully functional and ready if needed. Each bottle is jetted for a conservative 50 hp for a combined total of 100 hp."

The entire Cobra is decked out with Ground Designs' top-of-the-line body kit, known as the Black Widow system, and is a huge seller for them.

"We replaced both the front and rear bumper covers with our new Black Widow line and stuck on a set of Black Widow side skirts to match," said Tampi. "We then tossed the original hood for a Black Widow ram air version and even added a carbon-kevlar rear wing to the mix. Rather than repaint the entire car, we had a local body shop, Auto Explosion in Gardena, California, paint the components in the exact same Zinc Yellow paint as stock. You really cannot tell the difference. They did an awesome job making sure everything matched perfectly."

As striking as the body kit is, the first item many people notice is the new tonneau cover. It covers the rear seats and does a terrific job of adding that "speedster" look to the Cobra. "We just finished the tonneau cover a few months ago," explained Tampi. "It is so new, we don't even have it available to the public yet. Out of all the components we make and sell for the Cobra, the cover has generated the most interest. It should be available by the time this story appears."

Working to help accent the fresh bodylines are a custom set of 19-inch 5 Zigen Hyper 5ZR rims, which roll on 35-series Falken multi-purpose tires. Other advancements include a complete and chrome-plated Stainless Steel Brakes Corp. brake kit and a custom and chromed rollbar, which is the craftsmanship of Ruben of Monkey Bars in Whittier, California.

With the exterior lines completed, Tampi focused on the interior. Gone are the factory seats and in their place are Cobra Sidewinders, covered in black suede and yellow vinyl. Parts of the plastic dashboard were covered with a carbon-kevlar kit by Quality Laser Craft and the seatbelts are complemented with matching Shroth four-point safety harnesses. While the interior is hot, the custom stereo is what really makes this baby tick.

Starting at the front, one will be greeted with a Clarion 7-inch DVD screen (a 12-inch monitor was stuffed in the trunk as well) and matching CD player that is the craftsmanship of Greg Sounds of Alhambra, California. The power is routed through Alumapro 12-inch subwoofers and out to a set of OZ speakers, while two MC Chintos amplifiers spike up the juice signal.

Ivan and the entire Ground Designs 2000 crew have constructed one of the hottest Mustangs to hit the California streets, but are far from finished. They plan on performing a host of engine modifications in the near future and might even add to the already impressive body kit. I guess we should all get ready to add another notch to our belts. Bam!

Model:
Nicole Elyne

Cobra Sidewinder black suede...        read full caption Cobra Sidewinder black suede and yellow vinyl seats (complete with chrome-plated brackets) are wrapped in matching Shroth four-point safety harnesses. A Quality Laser Craft carbon-kevlar dash kit covers the factory unit and the original stereo was scrapped in favor of a Clarion DVD player, complete with 7-inch monitor.

The stereo is just as hardcore...        read full caption The stereo is just as hardcore as the body kit. A Clarion 7-inch DVD monitor and matching CD player send the signal out to Alumapro 12-inch subs and OZ speakers. Two MC Chintos amplifiers, as Emeril would say, "turns it up a notch."

A Black Widow Sport tonneau...        read full caption A Black Widow Sport tonneau cover (available in the summer of 2003) takes up residence over the rear seats and is accented with a carbon-kevlar Black Widow spoiler. A custom and chrome plated rollbar was constructed by Monkey Bars in Whittier, California, and gives the steed a sharper look while adding to its overall safety.

An adjustable Nitrous Express...        read full caption An adjustable Nitrous Express nitrous kit resides in the trunk and is ready and willing to participate in a little tire-roasting, street fun. Two polished nitrous tanks supply the laughing gas (50 hp in each bottle) into the inlet pipe on the throttle body. Without the gas, Tampi has made 490 hp on the chassis dyno.

A Black Widow ram air hood...        read full caption A Black Widow ram air hood keeps the engine covered, while a Black Widow front fascia allows plenty of air to be crammed into the custom wire-mesh grille opening.

The 4.6L Modular engine is...        read full caption The 4.6L Modular engine is stock internally, but was treated to the very first Vortech supercharger kit designed for the '01 Cobra.

The polished S-trim pushes...        read full caption The polished S-trim pushes its air charge through a Vortech Aftercooler and into the factory intake manifold, although it and the valve covers have also been polished.