PHOTOS BY: GABRIEL LUCERO
Suspension Mods
-Airlift performance struts front and rear with V2 management
-G60 front disc brakes with crossed drilled rotors
-Scirocco 16v rear disc brakes with mk4 calipers and cross drilled rotors
-Autotech polished strut bar
-Nuespeed front sway bar
-G60 front disc brakes with crossed drilled rotors
-Scirocco 16v rear disc brakes with mk4 calipers and cross drilled rotors
-Autotech polished strut bar
-Nuespeed front sway bar
Wheel Name and Specs
Fully polished BBS RS047s
15X7 front ET 38
15X8 rear ET 25 with 3° of camber
15X7 front ET 38
15X8 rear ET 25 with 3° of camber
exterior Mods
Painted GM Green (actual name of color)
-Shaved side markers, emblems and third brake light on trunk lid
-Shaved wipers
-Shaved antenna hole
-Completely shaved engine bay
-Custom Mk3 VR6 lip
-Postal taillights
-Hella rear fog light
-Custom retrofit HID projector headlights
-Shaved side markers, emblems and third brake light on trunk lid
-Shaved wipers
-Shaved antenna hole
-Completely shaved engine bay
-Custom Mk3 VR6 lip
-Postal taillights
-Hella rear fog light
-Custom retrofit HID projector headlights
Interior Mods
-Recaro LXB front seat
-Custom Recaro rear seats
-Custom Recaro front and rear door cards
-BBS 3 spoke wheels with custom Recaro insert and I also have a chrome Scirocco wheel
-Custom three VDO gauge panel and HVAC panel delete.
-Radio relocated to center console
-Custom fiberglass 10” sub enclosure in spare tire well
-Battery relocated to the trunk
-Custom Recaro rear seats
-Custom Recaro front and rear door cards
-BBS 3 spoke wheels with custom Recaro insert and I also have a chrome Scirocco wheel
-Custom three VDO gauge panel and HVAC panel delete.
-Radio relocated to center console
-Custom fiberglass 10” sub enclosure in spare tire well
-Battery relocated to the trunk
Performance Mods
-AGU Code 1.8T engine with SAI & Evap delete
-Port & Polish head
-Audi TT injectors
-Forge 008 Diverter Valve
-Forge carbon fiber engine cover
-K04xl turbo
-3” DP
-2.5” Techtonics Tuning exhaust with -Borla muffler no cat
-PS & AC delete
-Fluidampr harmonic balancer
-Denso Racing alternator
-Port & Polish head
-Audi TT injectors
-Forge 008 Diverter Valve
-Forge carbon fiber engine cover
-K04xl turbo
-3” DP
-2.5” Techtonics Tuning exhaust with -Borla muffler no cat
-PS & AC delete
-Fluidampr harmonic balancer
-Denso Racing alternator
Why did you choose this car?
Rafy's "I chose this car because it was sitting in my brothers driveway rotting away and I also have a long history with older air cooled VWs. The first car I bought with my own money was a 1984 Rabbit GTI."
What was the main goal when the build started?
Rafy's "The main goal was to transform the car into a show car/weekend driver to enjoy with my family."
Do you have a unique story behind the car or build?
Rafy's "Unfortunately this car doesn’t have an exciting back story outside of my brother owning it, not finishing it, and me buying it from him to keep it in the family and finish it."
What are your future plans for the car?
Rafy's "Future plans include a big turbo upgrade, rifle drilled connecting rods, aftermarket intake manifold, and CAE ultrashifter."
Is there anything you would have done differently if you could go back?
Rafy's "I would’ve had complete oversight of some stages of the build to make sure everything was being done to my expectations and level of attention to detail."
Shoutouts
Shout out to my wife for putting up with me for the three years this build was on going and not killing me or burning the car to the floor, my buddy Russ Davenport, Eric Shivley for the paint and body work, Gabe aka @hardparkmedia for the photo shoot and Matt Morrison owner and operator of Eurokraft Performance for not giving up on the car and ultimately having the car looking and performing top notch.
Follow Rafy and his 1989 VW Cabriolet
@wreckin_ralph
Photos by Gabriel Lucero
@hardparkdmedia
