When it comes to cars, we’ve got just about everything in California. There are hot rods, customs, lowriders, drift cars, VIP sedans, muscle cars, exotics and everything else. But if there’s one area of car culture where the West Coast seems to be lacking compared to other places, it’s Volkswagens
Sure, we’ve got amazing air-cooled stuff, but high quality water-cooled VW builds are a little harder to come by. Every time I see VW coverage from Europe on Speedhunters, I always feel like California has been outdone.
But that’s not to say that amazing water-cooled builds don’t exist in California – because they definitely do. And as proof I present this 1983 Rabbit from the HybridWorks crew, which I found at Wekfest San Jose earlier in the month.
The thing that’s made the European VW scene so famous is the cleanliness and attention detail you find in the cars, and this particular build ticks the boxes in both those departments. For starters, the smoothed-out body and paint are beautiful, with the orange hue coming from Lamborghini’s catalog.
The engine bay is immaculately detailed with a full wire tuck, and is home to a 3.0-liter VR6 swap mated to a 5-speed transmission with a Quaife differential.
The wheels of choice are 16-inch D90s from a Porsche 944, and they give the Mk1 a beautiful factory-inspired look without stealing all the limelight.
The interior is equally spotless, with custom color-matched upholstery, a roll bar in the rear and a Momo Prototipo steering wheel to complete the classic look.
Highly detailed Volkswagen builds may be hard to come by here in California, but that just makes machines like this Rabbit stand out even more.
Whether it’s a car like the Integra we saw recently, or this little VW, these are just more examples of the high-level cars that make events like Wekfest so enjoyable to attend. I’ll be back with another spotlight from San Jose soon…
Mike Garrett
Instagram: japanifornia_media
mike@speedhunters.com
OFFICIAL SPEEDHUNTERS SUPPLIERS
Less is definitely more.
Looking good. Have an 83 GTI myself and love it. Could do without the Porsche wheels, but props for the 5 lug conversion.
TheWedgeShop will most likely be running adaptors not a 5x130 conversion
Never been a fan of VWs but that looks like a quality build. Whats the story on the Porsche behind it?
Looks great! I am really starting to love the pairing of Porsche wheels with some of the VW models... don't think I've seen this particular pairing before. Can't go wrong with the VR6 power plant swap, I bet this thing has a nice snarl to it!
Woah , the engine bay is so clean !
Interior looks like they're fresh from showroom !
Just one thing though , clean engine bay is done by tucked in all the wiring & stuff , right ? Would it be something sensible for a car that would be drive like , daily ?
pilsbury69 TheWedgeShop
Thats how its done. 944 Wheels on VWs are nothing special in the european VW scene.
Gaaaadamn it!!! Now that's hawt
I'm more interested in the RWB beside the Golf.
But the mk1 and mk2 5 stud swap uses off the shelf custom disc and drums - no need for adaptors - done it myself in an afternoon.
Putasixinit 5x130 drums and discs? Where are they from, I don't remember the bells on my Mk1, or Mk2 being big enough to fit 5x130 on them...
RDS may be it´s thought to be spared ,since there is also no handle (at least on one side) to bring the window
up
Power window switches are in the dashes center. Like all good euro's.;-)
There's certainly a lot of good detailing going on, and the bay is beautiful. But why is there a strange secondary fender flare thing? It's like they took a second golf's fender, cut out the flare, and then glued it onto the existing one a couple inches further down... is that some strange factory option or a classic aftermarket piece I'm unfamiliar with? Otherwise it just ruins the fit and finish of the exterior for me.
That's How The Cars Came from factory they have a smaller flare that is part of the metal fender and then had a black plastic flare that went over top. Looks like they just smoothed and painted the top fender piece.
That's How The Cars Came from factory they have a smaller flare that is part of the metal fender and then had a black plastic flare that went over top. Looks like they just smoothed and painted the top fender piece.
Very, very nice ride! Engine compartment is so clean and uncluttered. And as always (mostly) great photography. Good job all around.
cutterjones13 Thanks!
cutterjones13 Thanks!
BryanMcLarenBulmer That seems to explain it.
jay8393 Check the story from when I went to FFTEC earlier this year, They handled the engine build on it.
RDS I'm guessing it's not a daily. And Bay Area weather is usually pretty mild so not having AC isn't a big deal for many
Smiggins RWB outsides with FFTEC insides. Good combo.
Chris 'Haffy' Hafner You can say that again.
Chris 'Haffy' Hafner You can say that again.
Chris 'Haffy' Hafner You can say that again.
I love the interior!!! Anyways im going to Los Angeles in August and i wanna catch some events or places i should really go...does anyone know any website good for that?The Petersen museum is closed and im really pissed! Thanks!
I love the interior!!! Anyways im going to Los Angeles in August and i wanna catch some events or places i should really go...does anyone know any website good for that?The Petersen museum is closed and im really pissed! Thanks!
1randomdude1974 thx .didn´t looked there, since there were never powered ones for a Mk1 from factory
and the mk1 cab has its switches in the armrest
1randomdude1974 thx .didn´t looked there, since there were never powered ones for a Mk1 from factory
and the mk1 cab has its switches in the armrest
At first I thought this was DJ-89-XF (you know.... THAT mk1 with the polished/chrome oettinger and polished everything else) I'm so glad it's not as you can't improve on that kind of perfection. For all you boys and girls who want a lesson in cleanliness seach that car. This car is still very good!
Less is definitely more.
the car was very good
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