Table of contents for June 2021 in Performance VW

Well, we’ve got another cracking issue for you this month, with a host of exclusive feature cars gracing the cover and Kyle Wilinsky’s bonkers Mk3 (p8) bagging the hot spot. This is the second time Kyle’s car has graced these pages, but we’re sure you’ll understand why, once you read about all the changes he’s made to this stunning creation. Next up we have a pair of Caddy vans that couldn’t be more different if they tried. First is a classic Mk1 pickup (p26) with a custom ABF 16v conversion, the second a bagged 2k van (p62) which many, including us, will class as possibly the ultimate, usable workhorse! If its true Performance VWs you long for, then the 400bhp Corrado 1.8T from Finland (p54), should be right up your…

There’s nothing like a bit of scratch and gouge to offend somebody who does bodywork for a living. The mere mention of 80grit, shopping trollies, keys and parking next to anybody in a busy multi storey will make many a painter weep and physically recoil whilst sucking air through those front teeth. Unless, that is, they’re one of the relatively new-fangled and endlessly versatile SMART repair specialists who can patch scratches with ease whilst waving their wizarding rods of paintless dent removal to restore a car to showroom like flawlessness without even going near a spraybooth. Anyone who’s ever seen this PDR witchcraft in action will attest that it’s considerably more complicated and highly skilled than any professional ever makes it appear. So, as we ogle a van that’s used…

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For many owners, seeing their hard work spread over the glossy pages of this mag marks the pinnacle for its progress. Sure, some changes are inevitable; a project car is never done, right? But there has to be some significant surgery for us to consider a revisit for our readership. While Kyle Wilinsky doesn’t possess a medical degree allowing him to slice and dice a live person, a panel of experts would be hard pressed to distinguish his MK3 in its current state to its previous life as a PVW page turner. “I’ve owned this car for about 11 years now,” Kyle informs us. “This car was previously featured in the July 2016 issue, although looking at that issue and the car’s current state you would never know they have…

Why cars?’ is a huge question. Often people struggle answer but for 47 year-old professional Gardiner, Phil King, who hails from Ash near Aldershot, it’s in the blood. He enthused that at 90 his father still lovingly enjoys the all-original Austin A35 that his grandfather bought new in 1958. Phil attends local classic shows with mum and dad, Terry and Eric, and further afield events with VW loving sister, Beverly and brother-in-law, Ed. Partner, Lisa sometimes comes along for a day out but a permanent fixture is 14 year-old son, Oliver who is set, one day, to inherit the gorgeous Mk1 Caddy that adorns these pages. A proper family affair. Phil explained that growing up as a child in the 1980s shaped his automotive taste: “I loved the Nissan pickups…

Of anyone could pull off a massive car show during this crazy era of Covid-19, we just knew the crew at Euro Tripper could do it! The team worked tirelessly to meet all the expectations and restrictions to pull off a safe, but yet still fun and massive event. Some may think that being a Florida event, the team could simply hold an event, and no one would have any concerns or restrictions. That could not be further from the truth! Paul from Euro Tripper tells us he had to make many adjustments to ensure the event was safe and met the expectations and demands of many stakeholders. The local authorities had expectations, but so did the corporate sponsors (Volkswagen, Unitronic, Airlift, Rotiform, etc) as well as the Boston Red…

After a crazy old year, it’s good to see that the world is returning to normal. Spring has sprung (it's snowing here – Ed), the odd car show or three has been mooted, and there is a bundle of great new project cars about to kick off. One of which, you see here – and when we heard of this new build about to start over at HP Tuners Europe, we had to find out more. In case you missed it, the respected US brand launched over here a couple of years ago, bringing their unique ECU calibration and tuning tools to Europe along with their clever range of apps to bring them all alive. Starting with the US-based stuff that they’ve done so well for so long was understandable,…

These pretty K-Braces from BA\F Motorsport don’t just look the part but they also stiffen up the back end of your car as well. Available for a number of VAG applications including the Mk7 Golf (2013-2020), the Audi A3/S3/RS3 8P (2005-2012) and Mk3 SEAT Leon 5F (2014-2020), they’re available in a number of colours (or bare metal) and priced very reasonably at £129.99. The guys at BAF told us they do carry some stock, but you may need to allow up to 21 working days lead time and holes will need to be drilled in your car to fix the brace in correctly. While a fitting kit is provided, the guys can fit the braces for you and prices for this service start at just £50. For more details and…

Although there’s an underlying risk of the unknown in any used car, the potential for pain is never greater nor more unpredictable than it is when you take on someone else’s project. Tracing the mental hoopjumping behind years of custom work can turn apparently minor headaches into a rat’s nest of problems, sometimes to the point of uneconomical repair. But for Teemu Vähämäki, that rollercoaster process unfolded in reverse. “About six years ago, I was looking for a Mk2 Golf for a 1.8T swap, and my tuner friend Janne was selling the Corrado with the engine already in it,” he tells us. “The car wasn’t pretty, but the plan was to slaughter it – to strip the engine out and use it somewhere else. But there aren’t many of these…

It did not take long after getting my GTI (PVW 1/20) on the road to realise that most of the events and drives would mean leaving my family behind – roll cage and race parts, it was not built for kid's seats or comfort. Like any car enthusiast, spending a lot of time browsing Craigslist, we stumbled upon this 1997 Volkswagen Cabrio VR6 for sale nearby at the shockingly low price of $2200! We figured, even if it is clapped out it is a decent price for the parts alone (this was in August 2019). We headed out the next day to check it out – low and behold, it was even better than we expected. If you could look past the bad tyres, cracked windshield and worn roof top……