"Costing more than £75,000 to create, the award winning VIBE Dredd is the most extreme ICE demonstration vehicle in the UK and possibly the world! Crammed full of the latest amplifiers and subwoofers, it is capable of creating earth shattering bass. "
We always wondered what ICE demo vehicles of the future would look like the VIBE Dredd gives us a taste!
The eagle eyed among you will recognise this vehicle as a taxi from the film Judge Dredd starring Sylvester Stallone. Set in the year 2099 the futuristic film features futuristic vehicles and this is one of the original vehicles from the production. Based on a Land Rover 101 this is one of only three fully working vehicles which were made for the film (Stallone owns the other two!).
Somehow this example found its way back to the UK where the VIBE team stumbled across it purely by accident and in no time it was sitting in VIBE HQ ready to be transformed into the most extreme demonstration vehicle in the country if not the world!
Planning and Fabrication
So where to begin? Well the VIBE R&D team set about planning just what they could squeeze into the rear of the vehicle. After careful calculations it was decided that 24 SPACE II 12" subwoofers could be crammed in if they were built into a tunnel. The guys set about chopping and forming the basic shape for the enclosures from MDF.
While they were at it the guys fabricated the amplifier rack which runs along the centre of the roof like a spine. This rack is home to the Monobox IV amplifiers which power the subwoofers. It was also time for the team to run the 900 foot of cabling throughout the vehicle. With 20 amplifiers needing power, ground and earth as well as RCAs and 24 subwoofers needing wired up and don´t forget the 28 full range speakers too you can imagine how much patience and concentration it took to get it right.
Exterior:
With the basic framework in place for the install it was time for the vehicle to be shipped to the bodyshop who were in charge of transforming the outside. Being a film prop not all of the doors opened and the pods at the rear were fixed, so the first job was to make them all function. Hydraulic kits were fitted to the side door and the two rear pods which now open and close at the touch of a button. At the front it was decided that a change of lights was needed in order to give it a fresh look in the end the guys settled on BMW Mini headlights which were then crafted into the existing fibreglass bodywork.
The rear is where you will find the most drastic modifications. First of all a massive hole was cut out of the rear of the vehicle which was then fabricated into an alloy Turbo Port. Not only does this look fantastic but it also turns the entire vehicle into an enclosure with the sound emitting from the port. The bodywork at the rear was then extended down to give it an appearance of being much closer to the ground.
Finally the vehicle was painted yellow and black with the final touch being airbrushed crackle effect paint throughout.
Interior Installation
When the Dredd arrived back at VIBE HQ the transformation was phenomenal and the team couldn´t wait to get stuck into installing the audio equipment.
While the Dredd might look pretty big from the outside it is a totally different story on the inside especially when you are lying on your back holding the subwoofer in place with your knee while screwing it in! The same had to be done with the amplifiers a job the R&D guys never want to be reminded about ever again! Prior to being fitted each amplifier was set up on the test bed to ensure each one was giving out exactly the same amount of power.
Rear Pods
Now that the rear pods lifted up on hydraulics it was the perfect chance to install speakers underneath which could be exposed at the touch of a button. 16 SA-K 5" speakers were used (8 in each pod) and these supply all the midrange needed on the outside to compete with the massive levels of bass.
A new take on wheel trims
No your eyes are not deceiving you! Those are 15" VIBE BlackAir II+ subwoofers in the wheels! In a moment of madness or was it inspiration the guys noticed that the subwoofers would fit into the wheels surely this must be the only vehicle in the world with this modification.
How it sounds
The end result is a barrage of bass if you are brave enough to stick your head into the port you feel like you have been hit in the head with a sledgehammer! Each 12" SPACE subwoofer punches so hard the volume needs to be kept low otherwise the fibreglass body simply couldn´t handle it!
The Dredd has become one of the most famous demonstration vehicles in the world and it is easy to see why, it combines awesome bass with crystal clear midrange in a totally unique vehicle what else could come even close!
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Click here to check out Dredd related downloads
MAXPOWER: The Dredd at Donny show 2006
The VIBE Dredd and truck kick up a storm at the 2006 Donny car show
"Just three of these Judge Dredd vehicles wewre built. Stallone has the other two. Greedy git."
FAST AND MODIFIED: VIBE Stand packs a punch
Fast and Modified magazine write a feature on the VIBE stand at Donny 2006
"The massive VIBE stand was the centre of attention on the first day of the show as they unveiled their demo car for 2006"
NUTS: It's the UK´s loudest truck!
NUTS Magazine write a 2 page spread on the VIBE Dredd Demo car dubbing it as the UK´s loudest truck, 32 times louder than a shotgun!
"This is the ´Vibe Dredd´ demo car by the in-car entertainment gods Vibe."
THE DAILY STAR: Truckin loud!
The Daily Star report on the new VIBE Dredd demo car
"HERE´S a big yellow truck that will make carmad blokes green with envy because it's been kitted out with £75,000 sound system."
FAST AND MODIFIED: The VIBE Dredd feature
Fast and Modified Magazine feature an extensive review on the the VIBE Dredd, including its build, design and stages through to the final construction.