1954 Volksrod Custom

It is a nod to the color

Ron Mckinnis

Growing up II was surrounded by A mix of vehicles from mini trucks , low riders , hot rods and Volkswagens each have their own distinct style . And let’s not forget every car guys gateway drug ! Hot wheels cars ! How does one combine all of these elements into one platform ? You build your own life sized hot wheels car . After a few years being involved with with an amazing group of people , Kahiko Kula old school VW club , our club president Leroy Tagavilla asked if I wanted to go to the elite and just clean show in Las Vegas .i agreed .and was suggested to bring my “rat rod” at the time it was basically a pile of parts and an idea .Not knowing the the true meaning of this acceptance at the time . A few weeks later I asked the Question of was I building for the “show” or the “build off” . Well at that point I was asked to enter the build off . After a moment of internal stress, can I do this ? Will it represent the quality of people this club represents ? The time line is super short . Can I truely make this happen . ? We will see ... Leroy then made a simple comment that fueled the fire . Do what you do only better ! Game on ! Rules of the build off were pretty loose , 1 year to build - less than 20k in parts , must have left the factory as an air cooled Volkswagen and drive into the show

Long story short - the build off is a 1 year time limit . I was asked to participate 3 months into the time line ! Leaving 9 months to the day to the show ! Time to rally the troops !

building started early in child hood with models , then bikes then cars . Basically the desire of of having a unique ride started as soon I had the ability to customize any thing with wheels !

Kahiko Kula Old school vw club

Live life ! Inspire those around me ! And be the best person I can be on a daily basis ! The biggest goal is to see the smile on a young persons face and maybe inspire the next generation of builders !

Original chassis build started in my one car garage in Tacoma wa at the time , And a defunct chopped body , deadline being as short as it was it was time to rally the troops . Calling on close friends and club members in order to have any chance of making this show ! It takes a village ! I took the body out to Derek Hess of tricitys wa for help with the fab work and bringing ideas to life .. Calling on friends And cub members for assistance in the tacoma area for suspension and chassis work running Back and forth from tricitys and tacoma every chance I could . Putting in late hours trying to make this happen in between two city’s 4 hrs apart .

The list of people to thank goes on and on .to those that have been a part of the insanity of making this happen from the inspiration and guidance . To fund raising , to Acutual hands on , donation of parts ! I thank you Kahiko Kula and the Ohana ! Leroy Tagavilla for the opportunity and bringing so many together in the form of a family we call Kahiko Kula ! Don west of west cost wipers Lawrence Sandborn - fabshop 104 Derek Hess Spencer Mathis Mike Alexander - flo air ride Chad chris Smittys smoothies Tim Hancock Tim’s acvw Byron’s interiors Avery’s air cooled Dougie heck

1967 suicide door bug 1979 bay window bus 1959 vw type 2 single cab pick up 1969 vw Fastback And many more

4

1835cc

Engle 110 cam 9.5 to 1 compression Full flowed Reworked heads

Bergman fan shroud Dual 40mm Webber carbs Remote oil cooler

Color matched block . Shroud matched to body

66 swing axle

Long axle conversion

2 in trans lift 10 in extension /frame braced Raptor lined in and out

Self

2.5 in drop frame extension 2 in trans lift

2.5 in dropped

Air

Custom rear link with ride tec r joints

Flo air compressors

Accuair vu4

2500 in front 2600 in the rear flo airride tanks and compressors

Fabshop 104 independent front beam , custom rear air rid setup

Powder coated components

Smitty's smoothies

Smittys smoothies

17x7

20x8

225 35 zr 17

225 35 Zr 20

Velvet cherry candy pearl

Basf

Spencer Mathis

Notched and reinforced

39 Chevy tail lights

Chopped , shaved , smoothed , cut and re stitched back together to be what you see ! Not a square foot has not been modified or repaired back to original appearance . The key to a successful modification is to make it look like you a.haven't been there . Every thing needs to look like it belongs ! The overall feel needs to be seamless like it could have left the factory that way . While turning every thing else on its head !

Derek Hess ,spencer Mathis and Jay Utterbruck

Custom hand turned monkey pod dash knobs

Speed hut GPS speedometer

Original 1954 wheel rebuilt and color matched

Fosgate blue tooth head unit

Dual Fosgate digital amps

10 in fosgate sub

Self

Cool Rydes customs crc shifter and pedal assembly

Low back seats Heated and recovered in garment leather

35%

Raptor lined floor pans with coco mats , seats and panels recovered in garment leather .

Feel free to shoot me a call 253 973 9743 if there is any more info needed

Byron’s interiors