In the world of sport compacts the Hondas get all the press, even though the Saturn is another great sports sedan with tons of potential and a loyal following in the "fast and furious" set. There are a number of companies making muscle parts that permit this all-American street machine to run rings around turbo rice grinders at will.
However, like all hot sport compacts, the Saturn has an image problem. It looks like, well, a sport compact-nice enough, in a generic, refrigerator sort of way, great for stealth street fighting, but not so hot from an aesthetic point of view.
Anthony Thurston felt he could liven up the '91-95 Saturn SC2 (or SC1 with a few mods) with a wild restyle and started his company, the Virginia-based Custom Coach of America (CCA), to build his Predator body conversion. He designed new body panels with a rounded, more aggressive nose and a vaguely Ferrari 308-inspired tail featuring a pronounced spoiler and twin taillights. On the sides lower fender extensions include vents that could be ducted for brake cooling.
The kit includes a front bumper assembly with a full-width chin spoiler, more aggressive front fenders, restyled rear quarter-panels, a rear bumper that integrates with the tail panels, fender extensions, rockers, door moldings to extend down into the rockers, roofline panels, and a hardware package, all on the low-end of the cost spectrum but high-end of the style scale. A custom taillight kit is also available.
Although Thurston recommends using the SC2 due to its improved specifications, the Predator kit can be adapted to an SC1 by using an SC2 hood and pop-up headlight assembly (available in junkyards).
The Predator body adds 8 inches to the width of a stock Saturn, so wider wheels make a big improvement in looks and adhesion. If you are sticking with stock Saturn wheels, Thurston recommends the use of hubcentric hub spacers (available from H&R Springs), which add 1.5 inches of track per side. The bright-yellow demonstrator shown here uses 8x15-inch Diamond Racing wheels with a 4-inch backspacing and 225/50/15 Yoko Avid T4s. Other tire and wheel combos (such as Compomotives) can be used as well.
The use of a modern donor vehicle allows the builder to enjoy modern conveniences, such as ABS, decent air conditioning, a back seat, a full-size trunk, power windows, and power steering, which are often missing from older donor cars. The mechanicals can be serviced by your local Saturn dealer, and junkyards have plenty of raw material for do-it-yourself guys.
The kit was designed for homebuilders, so all the parts attach to the stock Saturn bolt holes with stock hardware and without any welding, cutting, or fiberglass work. Simply unbolt the old panels and bolt on the new ones. Thurston says the kit can be installed and ready for painting in a week, using only common handtools.
Considering that used Saturns range from $700 to $8,000 (depending on options, age, and condition), Thurston suggests a complete Predator can be finished for under $10,000. This fills a void in the American kit car market for a four-seat kit with distinctive styling and a dependable drivetrain that can still be made to run with the big dogs.
For more go power, CCA also sells turbo kits for the DOHC engines (a SOHC kit is available as well), with remanufactured Garrett T3 Turbos and adjustable wastegates. A log-style turbo exhaust manifold is used along with a K&N Filter Charger and a special narrow-width electric fan. All hardware and instructions are included in the basic kit or the deluxe version with blow-off valve and intercooler. This kit will kick out around 200 hp. Other companies make a full range of engine, suspension and brake upgrades to help the Predator live up to its name.
This is one fierce ride that is gentle to the wallet.