Luke Gerrard  - 1993 Polo Coupe Modified G40

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Luke Gerrard 

1993 Polo Coupe Modified G40

Instagram: @luke_g40

Photographer: @joshedwardmedia

I bought the car back in 2016 after writing off my first car, a MK3 Golf GL. The car was a completely standard Polo Genesis with a 1L engine and 4-speed gearbox when I got it. It was just intended to be a standard daily at first as my project car at the time was a 1982 Polo Coupe CX. I ended up slowly changing small bits on this Polo and ignoring the project. A lot of it was just basic and played out mods at first while I got more into modifying. I'm talking common wheels for old Polos like ATC Classics and BBS RA with a 60/40 lowering spring set. I've changed so much at this point I can confidently say there isn't another Polo the same as this one.

It's been an ever-evolving car and always will be. The original engine got swapped out for a 1.3 GT, then I owned a 1.4 16V AFH engine for it and about two years ago I swapped in the G40 engine it currently runs. I bought it as standard G40 running gear so a 1275cc running a supercharger for approximately 113bhp. I replaced the pulleys and the supercharger belt runs off from the twin V belt to a PSD toothed pulley set changing the supercharger to 65mm to spin quicker. The supercharger itself has been rebuilt and ported inside to R1 spec by Jabba Motorsport. I've just pulled the engine out to rebuild the block with forged rods and oversized 77mm pistons to increase displacement to 1341cc. 

Handling is taken care of by a custom set of Gaz coilovers with MaxRPM camber top mounts. For added stiffness, there are some poly bushes,  OMP 6 point cage and TA Technix strut brace. I've also fitted a Genuine Raid boss, quick release and Raid HP 300mm steering wheel for making quick turns easier. The car got stripped and carpeted in the rear and I fitted a set of early 1990s Recaros with the driver's seat being heated and electric. Currently running G40 brakes with EBC vented and slotted disks with Greenstuff Pads. As is now the car currently weighs about 840kg and that's with the cage, heated seat and spare alloy in the back.

To get the outside looking closer to how I wanted it I've gone through multiple custom bumpers, always getting my paintwork done by Adam at ATC Automotive in Burnley. The current front bumper has BMW E30 air intakes smoothed in, a 13" shortened number plate recess, custom cut around the intercooler and fully colour coded. I run a Reiger front splitter and side skirts I had imported from Germany a couple of years ago also colour coded. The boot lid has had the wiper and model badges smoothed off but will be getting Adam to turn his hand to it again as it's getting frenched with a short plate recess made to match the front. The wheels are pretty special and a very rare sight, especially on a VW; made by O.Z. for an AC Schnitzer tuned BMW E30 these wheels were actually imported from Sweden. The wheels are 14x7, I'm unsure on the offset but they sit perfectly on the front and just need some 10mm spacers fitting to get the rear sat right. Currently running 185/55 Uniroyal RainSport 3 tyres but in Spring I'll be changing these for road-legal semi-slicks.

The future plans for the car are to get the block built and forged ready for more power to get to around 220bhp. Once the block is built I'll be able to change the cam, injectors and port and polish the head. I can also consider changing the supercharger out for a turbo to get to the bigger power figure I'm wanting. To keep the power down I'll be upgrading to a Quaife LSD, semi-slicks and strengthened driveshafts. Just a few little jobs to do while I've pulled the engine like make a heat shield and do a wire tuck in the engine bay. There are a few more bits of bodywork wise me and Adam at ATC are planning for the car ready for next show season I'm excited for!

ENGINE

• G40 running gear 
• PSD 65mm toothed pulley set
• R1 spec Jabba supercharger
• Aluminium boost hose - Bartek 
• FMIC - Dark side Dubs
• Aluminium Radiator - Direnza
• Exhaust Manifold - Direnza 
• Exhaust system - Tony Banks
• 8” Cone filter - Mishimoto
• Slim Fan - Mishimoto
• ECU Chip - PPP 
• Iridium spark plugs - NGK
• Boost return delete

Handling

• Custom Coilovers - Gaz GHA
• Camber top mounts - MaxRPM
• 6 point roll cage - OMP
• Strut brace - TA Technics
• Vented slotted disks - EBC
• GreenStuff brake pads - EBC
• Sport seats - 1990s Recaro 
• Poly bushes

Aesthetics

Wheels - AC Schnitzer BMW E30 14x7

• Rieger Splitter 
• Rieger Side skirts 
• Raid HP wheel with Raid Quick release
• Custom bumpers 
• centre console and lower glove box delete 
• Tunnel basket fitted
• Smoothed boot
• Side strips removed
• Stripped and carpeted rear
• Painted black in the engine bay 
• Hand-painted cam cover

The car is a work in progress and has been a daily driver on and off for over 4 years so I've not done every mod as quick as I've liked. Alongside owning this I've owned my '96 MK3 Golf GTI anniversary, a 16V 3 door in Metallic Black with pretty much every optional extra from new, of course very modified as well. I've since sold that and daily drive my modified '91 Jetta Coupe import from Holland, dropped on Reversi 4 spoke wheels. My other builds will come and go but the polo is never getting sold.

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