Photos: Andrew Krycki / Words: Josh Rainwater
Ahh….The rusty and trusty MK3. The platform that for many, made us want to get into a Volkswagen and race down an empty desert tarmac like Jesse from FnF. OK well maybe not but if you grew into the Euro scene during the late 90′s then this was the must have sedan. The platform has proven to be a steadfast model indeed. Its been over 12 years and three successors since the car was in production but yet it continues to have a plethora of aftermarket support from anything from suspension to interior to engine.
Jettas’ of the Mk3 variety not only serve as the perfect stage for a novice enthusiast to hone his/her passion but can also be presented in a very professional manner as well. They are not only plentiful and cheap but are also relatively easy to modify compared to newer models like Mk5s and 6s. In fact this is the last chassis that I would lovingly classify as a ‘Toolbag Volkswagen’ i.e. a VW that can be repaired with nothing more than a few simple hand tools kept in the trunk. Nowadays you need a small garage in-tow to repair the more problematic 20v this or haldex that. In fact all you really need to keep on hand are 10mm, 13mm, 19mm, and crack pipe 
.
In the Jetta game you would be hard pressed to find nicer examples of real cars anywhere. Cars that are driven. Driven to shows, to this photoshoot. Trailer queens are nice and have their place; On a trailer. This pair of Jettas are 100% functional and do exactly what they were built to do- To Stunt. The pair are owned by friends Steve Snyder and Brian Zollo. Steve and Brian have spent countless hours bouncing ideas off of each other and can often be found wrenching on one another’s rides. Although both cars took similar path, both are unique interpretations of their owners own ambitions. Both were aquired with some halfhearted cheesy mods but through their own independent wills, were saved from ruination.
The Pennsylvania pair had their minds right when they rolled out these two stunning sedans.
This dope tornado red GLX when purchased had little more than a set of beat up coilovers and MK4 wheels. Owner Brian Zollo had little on his mind other than dumping it on the ground and calling it a day. Usually that fallacy falls by the wayside the day you roll out of bed and realized you just had to step over a euro bumper or tiptoe around a couple sets of wheels to get to your morning coffee. For Brian it didn’t take long to figure out that it wasn’t going to be just another daily beater. A few restless night surfing the ‘tex steered him in the direction he wanted to take his car: A European Vento.
Steve picked up his ’98 in a very similar manner as comrade Brian. He had little intention of doing much with the car until his great epiphany came only a month after ownership when he realized he had amassed enough parts for a very respectable build.
Mr. Snyder proved to be a real gear head at heart. This guy literally eats, breathes, and shits automotive. He is UTI auto graduate and works for American Muscle, the largest Mustang parts distributor in the US. He picked up his first MK3 when he was only 14! Few of us were concerned with owning a car at 14. I’m pretty sure at that age, I was still wearing Ninja Turtle onesies and eating Froot-Loops. The fact that someone had a passion that is still as relevant today as it was years ago is astonishing. In addition to his lust for MK3s, he has also owned a Mk4 GTi, TT, Evo 8, S13, and a five year long ’82 Rabbit project.
The car holds a bit of sentimentality because it was purchased from his hometown of Patterson, NJ. Steve reveals, “I lived there until I was six, so this is kinda like buying a piece of my childship.”
Brian has owned the red GLX for just over 3 years now and originally scored it in trade on an early B5 A4. He very well may of strayed down the path of evil if it wasn’t for his his 1993 Civic being heisted one day while he was away at school. That was all it took for him to shun the Honda scene and get behind something more… erm respectable. He disclosed to us that he had been into MK3 Jetta’s for quite sometime and had even wanted one while owning the Civic. So when the time came to pick one up, it was a definite no-brainer.
The sedan sits mighty right on a set of 16×9 Carmonas, all the way around. Very few Mk3s out there could pull off such such wide wheels with ease. You have to remember that these cars were designed to be nothing more than sporty FWD econo-boxs. The fact that you can fit a wheel that was intended for a RWD vehicle should not be understated. Brian said that the fitment was by far the most challenging part of the build. He credits a lot of, ” Grinding, trimming, and notching” to get the car to sit the way it does. Of course I’m sure a touch of air ride didn’t hurt either.
This car just shouts EURO! Around every corner you see the influence of the car’s European counterpart. It features smoked E-codes, Golf Euro bumper and authentic Vento rear. The Kercher wheels themselves are unmistakably European as well. The deep dish ‘fat 5′ style has been popular for well over the past 20 years.
Brian is satisfied with how his first Jetta turned out but one day hopes to do an .:R32 swap, fresh paint, and a full shaved and tucked bay. Since the motor is a bit further down on the wishlist totem, he plans on addressing the engine bay next and then look into procuring a true Vento front fascia.
Steve’s ‘TAILORED’ build was just that. It was the first blank canvas build he had completed by himself. It wasn’t someone else’s unfinished project but rather a fresh medium to apply anything his heart desired. He, like most of us, figured out what he liked after countless hours of searching local and international forums. Through what can only be defined as a trial and error process, he decided on the direction he wanted his Jetta to go. Although the work was 100% Steve, he commends his dad for inspiring him to follow his dreams and to never settle until you get what you want. This never ending crusade it what makes this scene so amazing. It’s this kind of mindset that keeps our love so vibrant and ensures it will never become stagnant and sustained.
From just listening to the manner in which Steve speaks of the car, you really get the notion that he really enjoys all the time and work that went into building it. Being a true perfectionist at heart, he is never satisfied and would love to eventually replace the interior with “Something crazy”, and ultimately swap in a power plant that has yet to of been done. At this point though, he is just enjoying his creation and remarks, “I always get a kick out of playing with the switches.” One day he wants to make it into magazines with one of his builds. He also hopes his wallet will outgrow his elaborate ideas. All I have to say is good luck with the latter. A dubbers mind is forever a restless one.
Car Specs: Steve “I-don’t-have-haters-just-fans-in-denial” Snyder
- 1998 Jetta VR6
Engine
- k&n drop in filter
- c2 motorsports chip
- magnaflow cat-back
Suspension
- air lift struts
- accuair management
- vu4 manifold
- switchspeed controller
- 5 gallon tank
- 1 viair 380cc compressor
- esm 16×7.5 165-35-16
- esm 16×9 205-40-16
Interior
- stock
Exterior
- vento grille
- euro front bumper
- vento rear bumper
- e code headlights
- gl trunk (with out spoiler)
- all red tails
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Car Specs: Brian Zollo
- 1997 Jetta GLX
Exterior:
- early vento grill
- vento rear bumper
- golf front euro bumper
- vento plate tub
- smoked ecodes
- smoked fogs and turns
- ABT replica side skirts
- textured moldings
Interior:
- NRG steering wheel
- wrapped headliner
- euroswitch
- false floor in trunk
Suspension:
- Airlift front and rear struts
- AVS switchbox
- 8 smc valves
- 5 gallon tank
- viair 380c compressor
- ¼” air line
Wheels:
- 16×9 et15, Kerscher Carmonas with 205/40 falken 512s
Engine:
- neuspeed pchip
- custom 2.5” exhaust with magnaflow muffler