It’s a familiar story. Man buys car to commute to work. Man actually starts to modify car. Man turns one year-old daily driver in to a five-year show car project and annoys the wife in the process. Should you haven’t, you may, we’ve all been there and, even. It’s inevitable…
Josh Zetina has been customizing cars so long as he can remember. The shop he works at is known for building award-winning Donks and Lowriders, but he personally opts to get a more refined mode of transportation.
While the wild candy paint is easy to admire, Josh was affected by decades of eurotuner modifying trends and kept with aAs he was shopping for a GTI he nearly passed this car up. The color reminded him too much of the flashy world he was surrounded by at work. But the price was right and, all things considered, it was only going to be a day-to-day commuter.
Josh has owned VWs since that time receiving his driving license. He started with an ’87 Scirocco through high school but lost that certain in a collision. His next ride was an ’80 Caddy 2. 16v that received heavy mods but was again totaled within an accident. Next, Josh desired to experience more canyon driving, so purchased a ’94 Corrado SLC – and we’re happy to report this one remains to be in his garage!
2000 VW GTI VR6 R32 front bumper 05
2000 VW GTI VR6 porsche daytona race wheels 03
2000 VW GTI VR6 20th anniversary side skirts 02
A year of commuting inside the Mk4 GTI was enough for Josh. He then chose to explore the actual potential of your VR6 motor with a stage 1 VF-Engineering supercharger kit. This provided plenty of capacity to whip around Los Angeles like Senna in aTogether with the VR6 in place, Josh began to tidy the bodywork. El Primo Auto Body made sure every surface was laser-straight and shaved before a fresh coat of VW Rave Green was applied. With R32 bumpers along with 20th Anniversary skirts, the green monster gained some attitude.
2000 VW GTI VR6 shift knob 12
2000 VW GTI VR6 switches 11
2000 VW GTI VR6 VW beetle headrests 10
Despite all the work, the interior is how the magic happened. Josh decided to swing for the fences and covered nearly every plastic surface in Peanut Butter leather. Angel’s Upholstery in Santa Ana, CA piped, stitched and stretched the hide across the seats, dash, finished and doors it with black alcantara on the pillars and headliner.
Finally, josh addressed the stance with Air Lift suspension and R32 control arm bushings to help keep things tight in cornering exercises.A set of three-piece Porsche Daytona Race wheels (19×8.5 f, 19×10.5 r) fill the wheel wells, while and Zeetex HP102 (225/35 f, 235/35 r) tires are stretched to the max.
So after one year of hard work and top craftsmanship, Josh has a car he loves and also his Lowrider customers can appreciate. Hopefully his wife won’t threaten to sign the papers when she sees the bill for the custom leather interior!
Tech Spec
Josh Zetina
Van Nuys, CA
2000 VW GTI VR6
Engine
2.8L VR6 12v with Integrated Engineering pistons, ported and polishedhatch and bumper, painted VW Rave Green metallic
Interior
Peanut Butter leather interior, VW Beetle headrests, alcantara pillars and headliner.