Our next feature on the LiviCruise site shows a vehicle that needs no introduction for a number of reasons. Firstly due to it’s look and appearance being mistaken for no other car, secondly due it being the LC club mascot and finally because for the last month or so I have quite frankly toiled to find a way to introduce it. So I think it may be best just to say welcome to Jay’s Volksratten Polo.
Over the past few years I thought that I had written on just about everything in the modding scene; wild cruise nights, big kitted cars, track slags, euro’d out VAG’s, even companies which could be claimed to be the “connoisseurs” of the Scottish modifying scene. This was of course until my superiors on the site said “Jaffa you think you can do a feature on Jays Polo.” Judging by the pictures and the spec sheet they provided me with, it was always going to be a tall order. I mean when the modifications carried out on the car are described as “carnage on a stick” you know that the final article is definitely going to be an interesting read.
For a long time now Jay has been an active member within the scene and his attitude certainly for as long as I have known him has always been the same; buy cheap, modify cheap, have something that should look cheap but actually gets people saying “I love what you have done there.” His last project, a matt black polo (and when I say matt black I mean matt black, windows an all) got so much attention that it finally found itself on a Lothian and Borders police video which was sent out to high schools regarding road safety and modifying.
That car however is now long gone so it’s onto the car in question. For this project Jay has went down a route that is starting to become more poplar, particularly within the dub scene; Rat. For those who may not be familiar with the concept of rat it’s basically when the owner takes an older vehicle, usually of German origin and deliberately modifies it in a way to make the car seem less desirable. Normal attributes to modding a rat car is painting random panels, rust, stickers, steel wheels and huge cb radio antennas. So comparing the definition to the pictures it’s fair to say this little VW falls into that category.
So where to start with describing this car? Well I suppose the outside would be a decent place. The aim was to try and reduce the weight of the car so due to rust weighing less than carbon fibre the car with the most metal oxidation that money could buy would be the weapon of choice for Jay – the Polo certainly fitted the bill. The outside body colour was first to be changed as it was decided that the original blue as sprayed and intended by Volkswagen needed to be overhauled in black. Instead of matt this time the finish of satin has been applied with what can only be described as “urban gothic graffiti” designs sprayed in white with red over the top, all of which is perched nicely on a set of 13″ steel wheels that look like they may have just come out of Bertie Bassett packaging. In order to get his stance right Jay has taken on the argument that “Bags are for fags – and while we’re at it coillies are for posh gits with loads of money” and opted for the more old school approach to lowering by merely grinding out half of the standard springs.
On the inside, there quite literally isn’t a lot going on as everything has been stripped out to save weight as well as make space for transporting his beloved matt black BMX to and from the Livi skate park. What was left in the car however was replaced as the original driver seat was changed for one out of a Scirocco allowing for a far firmer seating position when ‘driving spiritedly’. Once it was realised that the fog light no longer worked and the fog switch on the dash was surplus to requirements, it was soon hacked out to be replaced by a fluffy rat that would then reside there. At the opposite end of the car a pirate’s flag had been stuck along the back window which would help double up as a rear window tint. Clearly all expenses spared here.
Engine wise, well what are we all really expecting from a 1.0 engine. Rumour has it there was 45 Hanoverian Stallions running this engine in 1994, and according to Jay there is no Torque to speak of in any way, shape or form. Some 15 years later with the only breather mod being the air filter removed and according to Jay, “chucked in the bin” it’s more likely to now be running the power of 45 German Sheppard’s rather than horses. 0 – 60 is calculated in calendar days and on asking what top speed is I was hit with the answer “not sure, depends if the speedo is working on that given day when I try. Although such “power” figures cannot be verified via rolling road it’s probably safe to presume that such estimates are in fact accurate.
Over the last few weeks LC has unfortunately lost it’s infamous mascot. After Jay decided he fancied a convertible, the roof came clean off for SMC and transformed into the “Volksratten Polo 911″. Although again, being the centre of attention on the LC stand there were some chassis issues which resulted in the vehicle not being able to do much more than 45mph without shaking wildly. Due to this it was deemed suitable for him to scrap it gracefully before VOSA had a field day with it and told him to lube up.
With the death of the Polo it may have also signalled an end to Jay’s modding days as a BMW M5 now finds itself parked proudly outside of the Phillip’s mansion. But never say never when it comes to this man and who knows what wild ideas he may conjure up next. If you can chop the top off a Dub why not cut the bottom off a Beemer?
Credits:
Article: Jaffa
Pics: StevenC
