Hi all,

I hail from Malaysia and this is the story of my love affair with my Atlas Grey ’84 MKII GTi.

Originally spotted her in front a garage that had been sealed by the Police for Found her abandoned at a Municipal Yard waiting to be crushed. She was in a very sorry state, engine and gbox had been removed and the wiring loom had been cut, the interior had been used as a storage space for oily greasy spare parts and reeked with the smell of rat dung and piss! Managed to get a stay of execution despite the fact there was an outstanding judgment debt from owner to the Finance Company and said Finance Company had been wound up!

Got a low mileage ’97 MKIII 16v GTi donor from Japan and transferred the engine, gbox, both axles with the 5 lug hubs, 288mm brakes, instrument cluster, fuel tank, 15″ BBS rims and original MKIII front and rear Recaro seats into the MKII. Only mods are tinted front and rear lenses, a Passat twin fan, K &N open port filter, custom made fully adjustable coilovers, Votex center console and a factory A/C from a Japanese spec late model MKII.

The stock 150bhp from the 2.0 16v ABF engine really lauches the light MKII chassis and the 288mm dics provide reassuring retardation while the MKII 16v plus suspension, wider axles, antiroll bars and custom made coilovers keep her planted on the tarmac without being harsh so she is an ideal daily driver.

VAG Malaysia even borrowed her as part of on an onstage presentation for VW cars. She has gone for professional photoshoots at the Federal Administrative Centre of Malaysia named Putrajaya and I love taking her on long windy drives along trunk roads with my mates. MKIIs are pretty thin on the ground in Malaysia so I get plenty of curious looks and a few appreciative ones too.

Regards

Sreether