2014 Bagged Ford Fusion - Gregory Harnish

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2014 Bagged Ford Fusion

Gregory Harnish

Instagram: @jokers_uber

Photographer: Jeremy Rogers

Instagram: @twin.lakes.design

I am a 38-year-old Marine Corps veteran, engineer, and husband. I was born in Florida and spending too much money on cars has been a lifelong affliction. As a perfectionist, living in this world can prove unforgiving at times.

My cars allow me to strive for perfection while also exercising my acceptance that perfection is ever illusive. My first vehicle was a 2000 Chevrolet S10 that I bagged and deleted the AC while living in Florida. From there, questionable decisions have become a habit.

Growing up in South Florida, my fate was sealed to be a "car guy". I think the combination of warm weather, money, and crazy creates a lot of cool cars and trucks and bikes in Florida. I remember being awestruck by the display of speed, noise, and beauty. I remember my dad teaching me the "universal sign" to get motorcycles to rev. When one, in particular, smoked his back tire for me I almost lost it. I guess what I am trying to say is, the relationship of man to machine and the translation to noise and speed has always been directly connected to my pulse. 

This car started as a work commuter for me. I was eligible to receive reimbursement from my company as long as my vehicle met certain criteria. Criteria like 4 doors, newer than a certain age, baseline gas mileage, etc. I found the Fusion and fell in love with its Aston Martin "Esque" styling and it fulfilled all the requirements. Like any car guy, no car can be left stock, even one used for work. From there it became an exercise in compromise. I found myself walking a fine line between what was reasonable to arrive at a customer account, and how I wanted to modify it while struggling to find companies to make parts. Until, when it aged out, the reigns were off.

Now I had a car free and clear that over 3 years I had stared at for many hours and the creative juices started to ooze. As time went on, due to the level of modifications I had performed, I became a bit of an "icon" in the Fusion community. I started hosting Fusion meets and the drive to make the car more and more unique was fueled by this. Now in 2022 with 5 years of "Fusion Flood" a car meet and charity toy drive in the books, the car is the image of the brand with lots of 1 off parts from myself and other talented tradesmen.

I'm a realist, I realize a Ford Fusion is not a cool car. But I'd have to say, I think Ive got it pretty close. Driving it is a fine balance of "not wanting to screw it" up and "enjoying the journey". I hear every rock that hits it, but keeping garaged its entire life is no fun for anyone. Having it out on the road brings unique reactions, from people wanting to race to the kid losing his/her mind just staring and pointing from the back seat. I hope I can inspire the next generation of car people to make their own creations.

What do I think makes my car Unique, Well, first and foremost, it is a Ford Fusion, especially when I started this journey, it was unique. I think my style has created a Mini Truck inspired family sedan. That may not be a novel idea but I think my particular perspective and implementation are like no other. The dirty secret is it's a hybrid. Due to my original use of the vehicle, it made sense. Now, with the way it looks, versus what is under the hood, you could call it the definition of "R.I.C.E." Rice may not be as unique as snowflakes, but my rice isn't like anyone else. Good or bad, my most heard reaction is, "that's different" so I think unique is THE adjective to describe my car.

What do you think?

Please leave your comments in the comments section at the bottom of the page

Build List: 

Engine-

• Factory low and Slow mode

Interior- 

Mostly factory for now until I go crazy on sound. I opted for black seats with red stitching from the factory so it has satisfied me to this point. The steering wheel is custom-shaped and upholstered, the airlift controller is mounted using a modified smartphone mount, simple airlift trunk setup is done until things are reworked for sound.

Exterior-

Custom two-tone wrap with embossed detail, 

Custom 1 off metal work hood,  

Parts sourced from the European version of the vehicle like the fog light bezels, 

Mustang style grilles, 

Custom-built side skirts, 

Custom build fully programmable ghost module headlights, 

Rear spoiler addition, 

Front lip extension, 

Deleted front ford logo, 

Colour-matched rear ford logo, 

Along with all the little mods like shark fin antenna, chrome delete, and upgrading to the highest trim level accents, etc.

Wheels-

3 pc 19 inch Simbolo X Designs JK-33

Suspension- 

Airlift 3p management with Airlift discontinued suspension parts

Brakes- 

Factory for now, *see Future plans section

Who did the work?

Ive installed all the off-the-shelf parts including the airlift suspension. The wrap was a collaboration of mine and a friend who used to own a wrap shop. He installed all the technical stuff of course. Various speciality shops have completed my custom bits and a couple of my close friends do paint work for me, they are brave souls taking on jobs for a perfectionist like me.

Future Plans:

I am planning to delete the rear seat and add a sound system in its place. Otherwise, I have a "plan" that would include widening the fenders via custom bodywork fabricated around new wider/lower offset wheels. Suicide rear doors with the door handle relocated to the front of the door, a factory spoiler delete and a custom fabricated and moulded rear duckbill style spoiler, and some other custom bodywork followed by a custom paint job. This plan only exists in my head and has no grounds in reality until I lose my mind completely.

Advice/Tips

Build what makes you happy the way you see it in your head. Be ready for that image to change as you mature, technology changes, and your excuses "not to do it" wain. Then, be ready to pay for it.

Shout Outs:

I'd like to shout out EVERYONE who has had a part in this build. Even my Mom has helped me at times with design. There are too many to list, you know who you are! I get all the  "Ations" from the car scene. Inspiration, motivation, stimulation, affirmation, collaboration, and even some frustration!

Dream Car:

McLaren P1 BUT ONLY with enough money to go bonkers on it so it's unique to any other. I can't leave anything stock! Lord help me!

Please leave your comments in the comments section at the bottom of the page

'The future is bright as long as we can still Smell the Fumes'

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