Welcome to this week’s FC Throwback, where we take a look back at some of our favourite previous feature cars. This week it’s Richard Klarby’s VW Golf R 2.0T from way back in 2013…
It may be a different country but it’s such a familiar story. Dude buys car for daily use, dude intends to fit some coilovers and wheels, dude intends to do the odd track day and that’s it, end of story. Wrong. Of course you know how the real story goes: somewhere in between, dude gets hypnotised by some mysterious modifying spell and goes bonkers, turning the daily into a full-on show storming project car.
We’ve all been there and let’s be honest, we’re all glad we have as it’s what we love. And, we’re also glad Richard was hit by this crazy curse too so we can drool over his glorious Golf! “I’ve built many project cars before,” Richard tells us, “But this really wasn’t meant to be one!”
So where did it all go wrong? Or should we say, spectacularly right! “Well, I fitted coilovers as planned and bought some 19-inch rims,” Richard explains. “But it turned out they were too wide so the arches needed work. Then I discovered the Rotiforms and that changed everything!” he laughs.
As wheels go these 20-inch concave three-piece rims have a ‘wow’ factor like no other, measuring a massive 11-inch wide on the rear and 10 up front. They’re hardly ‘bolt-on’ items but Richard hatched a new plan that included fitting an Air Lift system on custom struts and making the car wider, much wider!
This would be a major headache for most. But Richard, having recently sold a successful bodyshop business had the skills and knowledge to fit Audi Allroad arches. It was still far from easy, as they had to be extended further and blended back into the standard body. The moulding continued onto the bumpers too, with the front beefed up using clever corner splitters to give a sharper edge.
To balance this ‘jagged’ look, a carbon rear wing was added as well as the fantastic Lambo Aventador style exhaust. At first, Richard went with a black and red colour scheme to coat his fresh bodywork but soon changed it. Instead, he decided to show-off his painting skills with an amazing flat finished Ferrari Tungsten silver. It really works though, especially with the Rotis painted Candy Red. Subtle, no. Awesome, yes!
As the Golf was heading well beyond ‘daily use’ stage, Richard attacked the interior in a similar no-half measures fashion. A substantial sound-system fills the boot while the cabin, with its Recaro Sportster seats, has been completely re-trimmed in luscious red and black leather. It’s very much an OEM+ effect and the kind of interior that means you never want to get out the car!
This may have been an unintentional project, but the result is spellbinding! We just hope Richard’s inspired you to go to a whole new level.
TECH SPEC VW GOLF R 2.0T
Styling
Custom widebody with Audi Allroad flared arches; corner splitters moulded to front, extending to fenders, and modified wheel wells; gloss black debadged grilles and rear valance; blacked out rear VW badge; underside of bonnet painted candy red; VW Bi-Xenon head lights and LED-running day lights, Dectane RV39LSL LED rear lights; carbon rear wing with integrated brake light; shark fin on roof; gloss black LED-mirrors; respray in Ferrari Tungsten silver (PPG water base, matt top coat).
Tuning
VW EA113 2.0L TSi Turbo; custom engine cover; hand built stainless trapezoid Aventador-style exhaust; 271bhp, 350Nm torque; 6-speed dual clutch DSG gearbox; 4-Motion AWD.
Chassis
Rotiform Concave-NUE 3-piece forged wheels; 10×20-inch (f), 11×20-inch (r), with custom candy red centres and polished, deep dish lips (hidden bolts inside of the inner centre lip); stretched Nankang tyres 225/35×20 (f), 245/40×20 (r); Air Lift Slam Series air ride system; custom front struts; dual VIAIR 400c compressors; individual height control; 18L air tank; 96mm adjustability; remote control, 3.5º neg camber (r); Golf R 345x32mm discs.
Interior
Re-upholstered in red and black nappa leather with red contrast stitching; Recaro Sportster RS sport seats with ‘RK’ stitched on head rest; R-Sport steering wheel with grey contrast stitching and perforated leather.
Audio
Pioneer AVIC-P9310BT double-DIN headunit with NAV, DLS RM6-2 front system, DLS 426 rear system. In boot 4x DLS 6.5-inch RW6 drivers in custom box, DLS PowerCap 1 capacitor, DLS RA10 and RA25 amplifiers hidden.
Thanks
My family; Patrick Ädel; Fifteen52; Uffe at Lycksele Bildemontering; Niclas at DLS; Johan at Pioneer; Eric and Kotten at dialect; Micke at Carsystem; Matte (The Professor); VW-Smurfen, Bilskräddarna, Aker.
Words Steve McCann Photos Kevve.be
