THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS

mk3

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When you’re known as ‘Carbon Man’ and you run a mobile ICE company, guess what your Mk3 Golf VR6 ends up looking like? Yep – you’ve got it.

When you’re as laid back as Paul Simms about your creation, it’s difficult to expect people to know how much hard graft has gone in it. “Keep it simple,” goes the modified mantra that all serious petrolheads have adhered to since the very dawn of car fettling, and when you stick to that hallowed principle, certain clued up onlookers are bound to notice. Take the judges from the MIVW show for example. When they afford you a coveted Best Mk3 gong at what was arguably 2011’s most hotly contested event you know you’ve done things right.

Yes, you read that right. Amongst a sea of very high class opposition Mr Simms was called up on stage to collect his trophy but he was a no show. Turns out the Edition 38 crew were already hot footing it back across Europe to make their ferry home, so Paul missed the honour of collecting his prize, in turn cementing our love for a car that we’ve oggled ever since the Players show at the tail end of 2010.

I met Paul for the first time at the UK’s spiritual home of all things watercooled. The popular bodyshop belonging to Sir Steve of Denton, otherwise known as Stylehaus in Northampton. Steve has been a staple in the scene and has been bolting together feature-worthy cars since before some of us were in the womb. This was at a time when the Mk3 VR6 was effectively VWs flagship model, and Paul was driving around in a Mk1 GTi.

Nevertheless Paul got the keys to this car in 2007 as a mint, one lady owner late ’96 Mk3 Golf VR6 with low miles on the clock. He worked for a TVR specialist as a sprayer and bodywork technician prior to setting up his own company, Platinum ICE, which specialises in high end stereo and genuine carbon fibre work. Because of this experience Paul is no stranger to the art of the install, or skillfully wielding a spray gun or filler knife when dealing with composite materials..

In fact he’s already got a list of show winning credits to his name, so when it came to building a demo car for both his business and to get him to and from shows the VR was the perfect tool. “It was a blue VR6 with fairly low mileage that I always planned on adding some nice touches to, at no point was it meant to go this far,” admitted Paul.

Simm-ple Simm-plicity

His laid-back approach has produced one of the most deceptive cars we’ve featured for ages, one that hides the amount of hard work so well because of the huge attention to detail and a level of craftsmanship that’s truly second to none, “Not many people realise that there’s a fully functional Mk4 Golf dashboard, steering column and a set of retrimmed Mk4 Recaros in there,” laughs Paul. “The dashboard was a total nightmare to get in if I’m honest. There’s probably 200 hours graft in that alone and I’ve even changed all of door furniture LEDs to match the Mk4 red illumination. I had to cut loads of dash away and reshape the door panels altogether, the wiring took a while too, but it’s definitely worthwhile.” What Paul doesn’t point out so swiftly is that he’s even recovered those completely remoulded door cards with similar vinyl to the texture of the Mk4 dashboard.

Perfection selection

When Paul first got the car he installed a Hertz based system in there along with a set of the much maligned fake BBS LM split rims. Shortly after he deleted the indicators, smoothed the bumpers off and dropping it closer to terra firma on a set of FK Highsport height adjustable coilovers. With a de-badged FK grille and a set of the oh-so-desirable Projektzwo mirrors.

“I was pretty happy with the result. Went along to a few shows, even got a couple of prizes, but there was still something missing,” Mr Simms told us. When his good mate and fellow E38 crew member Tank Patel offered him the Red leather Recaros from his Mk4 show car, Paul couldn’t really refuse. Having already gone to the trouble of installing genuine cloth Mk4 Golf Recaros both fore and aft, Paul knew they’d bolt straight in, only problem was, “The red just looked weird against the blue paint, so I stripped the car back to a bare shell in a couple of days and dropped it off at Steve’s unit.” mused Paul. “It was literally empty – no glass, no interior, nothing.”

Paint by numbers

Ahhh… that elusive paint code – well Paul wouldn’t reveal what model it was from.  Accentuating the colour the lads decided to throw the washer jets in the bin, graft in some Audi A6 door handles and meld a shortened plate recess out back. “We even smoothed the rear bumper and got rid of the exhaust cut out in the lower carbon fibre part of the back valance,” Paul’s mellow run down continues. Those with a keen eye will also realize the carbon weave on every single part – roof, front splitter, rear lights, lower rear valance, rear plinth and the numerous interior parts – all flowing in exactly the same direction.

Under the bonnet remains the trusty OBD2 2.8 VR6 treated to an afternoon of black rattle can attention, but that sonorous, creamy smooth exhaust is a custom made, downturned stainless system with a K+N panel filter providing intake harmonics.

Many people, perhaps falsely, believe that the OBD2 engine benefits from slightly more horsepower than earlier variants, but Paul’s not bothered about any of that as he’s the first to admit that this car is, “Too low with too much carbon on it to be concerned with thrashing it about. I’ve caught the front splitter a few times and it’s not a good noise.”

Besides he’s far too busy basking in a glorious aural assault from a largely JL Audio SQ orientated install that also packs a hefty punch. Those front door and A-pillar builds really are hard to fault, blending in thanks to the skillful use of fibreglass and some neat trimming as if they’re factory items, and they’re indicative of the quality throughout this car, everything looks like it belongs.

Move into the boot and things intentions become clear with a 500/1 V2 mono amp powering a pair 10W6 subs wired as a 2ohm load for monumental low end grunt that’s also incredibly speedy, punchy and direct. High and mid frequencies taken care of via a 300/4 V2 4- channel offering that bumps the tunes out to the front doors and some JL 5.25-inch TR co-axials incorporated into the bootlid along with an embossed JL Audio logo. Trust us, if you get bored listening to the sound of the VR6 we can’t think of better substitute than this leather lined and alcantara clad den of audiophilia.

Paul doesn’t settle for second best and that’s obvious the first time you clap eyes on this Mk3, especially as those 8 + 8.5 x 17 Schmidt TH Line rims smack you between the chops. Yes, this car looks like an expensive work of art, but Paul has invested blood, sweat and sometimes tears since 2007, and after four years of steady development he’s crafted a blinder. More power to you my man and here’s to 2012 and the next round of-what-are-sure to be superior additions.

The Low-Down: 

Engine:2.8-litre VR6, black paint throughout bay, K+N free flow panel filter, custom stainless steel exhaust with TDi style back box

Chassis: FK Highsport height adjustable coilovers, Schmidt 8 + 8.5 x 17-inch TH Line split rims, 195/40 and 205/40 Toyo Proxy T4R tyres

Styling: Full refinish in custom colour, carbon fibre roof, shortened rear number plate recess with carbon plinth, Projektzwo mirrors, TT filler cap, Audi A6 door handles, Indicators, washer jets and aerial deleted, smooth bumpers, carbon rear splitter, carbon US spec front splitter, rolled arches, Mk4 Anniversary headlights, all red rear lights,

Interior: Complete Mk4 interior retrimmed in Red Nappa leather by MJ interiors, carbon door handles, Mk4 Golf steering column, complete alcantara roof lining and boot build, carbon centre dash trims, carbon steering wheel surround, Mk4 Golf steering wheel, carbon rear view mirror, 4x custom made door cards retrimmed to match dash, Mk4 dashboard conversion incl clocks

ICE: Pioneer DEH-P88RS headunit, JL Audio C5 650 components fitted in custom made door builds and A pillars, 2 x JL Audio 10w6 subs, JL Audio 500/1 v2 and 300/4 v2 amp, JL Audio 5.25 TR co-axles mounted in bootlid with JL Audio embossed logo. Full custom boot build by Platinum ICE

Thanks: Steve Denton of Stylehaus for bodywork and paint, MJ interiors and J & K auto products for all the glass