On the outside, Eric chose to go the OEM+ route, fitting G60 flares, an '85 Golf rear window, 7" crosshair headlights and the aforementioned smoked Hella tail lamps. A badgeless Bonrath grille and Kamei grille spoiler completed the look. With the angular Mk2 body and the angry G60 under the hood, Darth Vader seems to be a completely appropriate nickname.
It would be foolish to risk such a good-looking machine with under-equipped brakes and suspension, so they had to be improved. Consequently, a Koni coilover system was installed, which, along with polyurethane bushings and a Neuspeed front sway bar, keeps the car flat through the turns. Eric rates the suspension highly, and was especially pleased with the balanced ride: "The coilovers are absolutely amazing," he said. "You'd never know they were aftermarket."
Brakes were Corrado G60-based and already on the car when Eric bought it, but in fairly rough shape until they were overhauled. All the worn bearings, hubs and spindles were also replaced, and new OEM rotors were added along with EBC Green Stuff pads to clamp on the 280mm discs.
A set of 15x7.5" Work Equipe replica wheels, originally meant for a Scion, now reside in the wide G60 arches. Although 10mm spacers front and rear provide a little extra poke and caliper clearance, 195/50 Kumho tires provide the necessary grip.
The wheels came from a friend and were essentially free, since Eric helped his buddy Josh with parting out a Jetta. "I saw Work wheels and thought they were cool and different, so I figured I'd try it out," Eric continued.
The interior is simple and straightforward as well. Lots of premium OEM parts have been employed, such as Recaros from a GTI 16v, a leather wrapped GLI steering wheel and a GTI 337 shift knob. Auto Meter boost and oil pressure gauges reside in a custom panel in the lower center console, with particular care taken to ensure the plastic matched perfectly. Eric flipped the polarizing filter on the OEM LCD screen for a reversed appearance; blue LED lighting is used throughout. The stereo is a simple combination of Alpine electronics along with Infinity speakers and a Bazooka tube for bass. A black suede headliner tops things off.
Many of us can relate to Eric's story. It's about friends helping with repairs, traveling hundreds of miles to co-pilot a project home or pushing a car out of an intersection when you break an axle. After reading about Eric's GTI G60 it's a fine example of the best aspects of our Euro lifestyle.
Tech Spec
1991 MK2GTI G60
Owner: Eric Hockman
Location: Dillon, CO
Occupation: snowboard and ski tuning technician
Engine: 1.8 8v G60 from a '89 Golf Rallye, rebuilt ported and polished G-lader supercharger, 65mm aluminum pulley, 3.5bar Porsche fuel pressure regulator, SNS chip, Techtonics 268/260 cam, ISV re-route and check valve, Bahn Brenner billet fuel rail, JL Audio battery cables, OE U-bend, front-mount Rallye intercooler, powdercoated valve cover, intake manifold and charger brackets, custom 2.5" cat-back exhaust with Magnaflow muffler and dual tips
Drivetrain: Mk3 2.0 five-speed manual with 16v pressure plate and flywheel, Sachs clutch disc, Neuspeed shift weight
Suspension: Koni coilovers, Neuspeed front sway bar, polyurethane bushings
Brakes: Corrado single-piston G60 11" front rotors with EBC Green Stuff pads
Wheels & Tires: 15x7.5" Work Equipe-replica wheels, custom Audi 100 polished center caps, 195/50-15 Kumho Ecsta tires
Exterior: Bonrath badgeless grille, Kamei grille spoiler, crosshair headlights, smoked turn signals, color-matched banana lights, OE Hella fogs, 16v front spoiler, '85-spec rear glass, 16v/G60 flares, armor door plates, black Wolfsburg fender badges, black short aluminum antenna, smoked Euro-spec Hella Magic Colour tail lights, polished Inxx hood lifts
Interior: Recaro 16v seats and door cards, GTI 16v floor mats, GTI 337 shift knob, Audi TT pedals, GLI leather steering wheel, black leather e-brake and shift boot, Auto Meter Pro-Comp Ultralight oil pressure and boost gauge in custom center console panel, blue LED lighting in cluster, climate control and gauges, rear seats replaced with false floor, fire extinguisher behind front seats, black suede headliner, B-pillar converted seatbelts
Audio/Visual: Alpine CD head unit with iPod Interface, Infinity Reference speakers, 4x6" in the rear, 5.25" in the doors, 3.5" in the dash and 8" Bazooka subwoofer
Thanks: Dan Held at DubZentrum, Hardy Baits at Hardey's Motorwerks, Katie, Mom and Dad, Kelly, Nate, Ryan Viola, Josh Jessup, Lildubber and Josh Moyer